It was the first actual night they had ever slept in the same bed. Since the war, they were dating, Cress supposed, but they never had much romantic contact. They went on dates, but were reluctant on kissing because of the tentiveness from the battle and a new relationship though once in a while he pressed a kiss onto her cheek.
One thing Cress knew he as well as she was quite insecure about, was the scars they had given each other.
It was an accident, falling asleep together. Cress was sitting next to him on his bed while he told his stories of before he met Cinder with avid detail and glowing eyes. They were enjoyable- although she knew the captain exaggerated the details, it made her happy and laugh to see him so passionate in his storytelling.
And although his stories were anything but boring, Cress laid down with a yawn and continued to listen, until of course she fell asleep.
Cress figured she had only been sleeping for about twenty or thirty minutes when the movement of Thorne shifting in the bed awoke her. The lights were off now; he must have turned them off after she fell asleep, and it seemed like he was trying to get to sleep beside her. For a moment she was flushed in embaressment, realizing she was in the same bed as a boy for the first time ever.
She turned over as well to see his back facing her. Cress trailed a quick hand through her messy blonde hair and readjusted herself, trying to slow her heartbeat, when she suddenly noticed Thornes hand.
Three fingers- that was right. Cress had never forgot she had shot his hand, it had just become routine to her. But she was the one to shoot him. Make him amputate his fingers.
With eyes struggling to spill tears she turned onto her back and squeezed her eyes shut. Thorne didn't seem to notice.
After another minute or two he finally rolled over to face her. Although she was asleep, she could feel his guilty gaze resting onto her abdomen, bare from her rising nightshirt.
It was ugly. A bright red scar with black and blue bruises surrounding where Levana had forced him to stab her, accompanied with a few last stitches holding it together to heal. But Cress didn't blame him- it was Levana. But he seemed to blame himself for It and Cress blamed herself for shooting him.
Cress finally blinked open her eyes with a shallow breath and turned towards him, giving a weak smile and lacing her fingers in his three sadly.
"Cress, don't blame yourself- you had to shoot-" he began.
But Cress quickly cut him off. "So stop blaming yourself for stabbing me. It was Levana, not you. And it's horrible to have you feel so guilty about this disgusting scar."
Thorne looked into her eye sadly, but finally nodded. "Okay. Only if you stop feeling so guilty about shooting at me."
"Fine," Cress smiled. She was sure there was deep, dark bags under her eyes from lack of sleep and her hair was a mess, but he pressed a kiss onto her forehead gently.
"The scar gives you character. Says you survived a war," He said suddenly.
"You too," Cress added. "I think you're the only one I know who has three fingers."
Thorne rolled his eyes in amusement. He stretched an arm around the both of them and waiting until Cress nodded in consent before moving closer, and Cress felt like she was home and in comfort.
That's the thing about war. When you try to find peace, you end up with a few bruises and scars. But sometimes that's more beautiful than the most perfect girl, Thorne thought.