Azriel
Words escaped him as he looked down at Elain, her gaze sinking into him like an arrow through the chest. He had felt utter shame as she had asked about his scars, not about how he got them like most usually would but if they felt the same as hers. He fought not to stare at her perfect, long, beautiful fingers as they rested in the dirt beside him. Not normal, broken, marred, less than his mind chanted as he stared down at his hands. He couldn't remember, would never know what he had lost when they had melted his hands. How much feeling had he really lost. How much feeling had he pushed away, buried deep within himself in those years in the dark. He didnt have anything to compare it to now. He was utterly broken and he didnt even know how much.
Azriel's shadows had swarmed around his hands, to hide them from view or just simply because his thoughts had been consumed by them.
She had grabbed his hand softly, so softly, and it grounded him in that moment. He could feel her delicate hands on his, he could feel the wet dirt beneath his fingers. He wasn't so much a monster. You can feel, you feel too much he chanted to himself, trying to drive away the demons that latched onto his mind like the shadows around him.
"Take your shoes off" Elain demanded, pulling him out of his own head as she pulled her hand from his and stood up, staring down at him as her bare toes wiggled in the grass beneath her.
"Come on Az, take your shoes off," She repeated, crossing her arms over her chest and smirking down at him. He couldn't deny her anything, not when the shadows flew around his ears, you upset her, she saw your sadness and feels it in her heart.
Elain slipped her delicate feet into the soft soil as he unlaced his own shoes, dirt flecked under his fingernails as they weaved through his laces. He sunk a foot into the soft ground next to her and hissed as the cold hit the sensitive arch of his bare foot.
Elain's toes wiggled wildly in the dirt next to his as her singsong voice chimed, "Isn't it glorious?" Leave it to Elain to bring joy to every little part of life. Azriel could hear in the tone of her voice how much she absolutely adored her time in the garden and wiggling her small toes in the cold dirt.
Her warm hand slid into his, fitting perfectly between his fingertips, sending little bolts of lightning up his arm. And in that moment he wondered how he had ever worried that he last lost feeling in his hands. With Elain, he felt everything, his nerves a choir of electricity as they brushed against hers.
"It's cold," Azriel forced out, his breath no longer stolen by the cold but by Elain's sheer presence.
He stared down at her and wondered how he had ever been so lucky to find her in his life. Her smile was as radiant as the sun, maybe even more so. And Azriel was suddenly hit by a wave of dread, no wonder her mate is the heir of the Day Court, she is the embodiment of light and life. But Azriel pushed down the thoughts, determined to not let his own mind suck him back down into the abyss.
Do you hear that? the shadows taunted, how her heart races when she looks at you.
Do you see that? they whispered to him, how she warms at your touch.
Azriel felt his own pulse speed up in response, as she continued to stare at him with her kind eyes and glowing smile. He willed his shadows away, feeling them brush past as they wisped away.
"Thank you, Azriel." She said, her voice barely above a whisper.
His heart pounded in his ears as he kept his eyes on hers, for what? He wanted to say.
"Thank you." He replied instead, his voice matching hers in volume. "I've never planted anything before. And we used to go barefoot in the mud at the Illyrian camps but never have I buried my feet into dirt for pleasure."
Azriel watched in triumph as a deep blush crept up Elain's neck to her cheeks.
"If you ever need help in the gardens and I am available, I will be more than happy to assist you here." Azriel added, keeping his hand in hers and his feet in the dirt but pivoting his body even more towards her.
"Watch what you're offering!" She teased, her face twisting into a mischievous smirk, "You'll regret it once I really put you to work."
"I'm sure I won't, dear Elain."
They gathered up the tools that she had brought out throughout the day and grabbed their shoes before heading back towards the small shed that was nestled against the house. Her garden really was glorious and Azriel didn't waste a second there as he drank in all the beauty that it offered him.
When he was unable to sleep, or just needed to think, Azriel would come to her garden in the dead of night. The bright moon and stars lit the world, catching the flowers and leaves with a calming blue light. Night always reminded him of different shades of blue, a color he always held to his own heart, the color of his siphons, the color of the midday sky, the color of the calm sea as he flew overhead.
While Azriel was a creature of isolation, he yearned to share those nighttime walks with Elain, wondering what she would look like in the cool blue light among her most prized pieces of work.
The words caught in his throat as he started to pose an invitation for just that. Azriel used the minute that Elain sorted through the shed to compose himself and work up his own nerves to ask her. It was a harmless offer, one he was sure she would accept but he couldn't help but hesitate.
"Elain," he started, trying not to bite back the words as soon as they left his mouth. She turned quickly, her eyes wide and round as she looked upon him. His wings flared involuntarily, casting a light shadow on her. "I must confess, I come to your garden quite often to clear my head, to see the beauty you create. It is a most beautiful sanctuary."
Elain blushed at this, a wide smile filling her face.
"It is most lovely here in the moonlight," he continued, cutting her off before she could reply, "it really is a sight to behold."
"Thank you, Azriel." Her cheeks stained pink as he felt her reach for his hand again, warm against his. The familiarity of the gesture made his heart squeeze as she once again smiled up at him.
"Come walk here with me tonight, I want you to see it for yourself."
She continued to stare up at him, her hand squeezing his lightly. "Okay."
"Okay."
"Stay for dinner first." Elain whispered.
"Okay."
"Okay." She repeated, her hand leaving his as she reached to swing the shed door shut.
Azriel tamped down the laugh that bubbled up in his throat, he had done it, had actually asked her and she had wanted him to stay for dinner too. He had never sought out someone to join him in his alone time, had never wanted to share one of his quiet moments like he did with her.
They made their way to the large kitchen on the main floor and found it absolutely deserted. Elain set off to gather some supplies to start making some semblance of a meal but Azriel quickly had another idea. He stopped her as she struggled to pull a bowl down from a high shelf, grabbing it from her hands and sliding it back into place.
"I have an idea, Elain." Azriel beamed, suddenly flooded with an overwhelming excitement over what had popped into his mind."Let's grab dinner elsewhere, I know the perfect place."
Elain's eyes once again grew to wide saucers, either at his smile or his excited offer to go out, "Okay."
"Okay." He joked, quirking an eyebrow at her.
"Give me some time to change and we'll go."
A quick nod was his only response before Elain bustled out of the room, her dirt stained dress swishing behind her. Azriel scrubbed at his hands in the sink, coaxing the dirt out from under his nails before making sure the his clothes were clean before stepping into the entryway to await her return.
Azriel had hardly gotten lost in his thoughts before Elain appeared again before him, wearing a crisp baby blue dress and a tight French braid holding back her still wet hair.
"Let's go!" She beamed, gesturing for the door.
Azriel took them on convoluted path, down some of his favorite side streets to the markets on this side of the Sidra. He knew exactly where to find his favorite booth as they wove through the crowded stalls. Elain kept close to his side, her fingers lightly brushing his any time the crowd around them became too dense.
They stopped in front of a table laden with pastries of all shapes, sizes and colors and Elain gasped lightly beside him. An older fae rose from her seat behind the counter and gave him a small bow.
"Spymaster, it is good to see you." She beamed, the slight wrinkles next to her eyes puckering as she looked at the two of them. "Your regular?"
"Yes." Azriel replied, "Double it and add two fruit tarts, two stuff croissants and an extra violet pastry for the lady."
Elain looked up at him with wide eyes as the fae loaded up a box with almost a dozen treats. Azriel graciously took the box and, as always, forced the baker to take the coin she always tried to refuse. He nestled the box under his arm and motioned for Elain to follow him to a different stand.
"That's Hearth." He motioned to the baker they just left, "She's the best baker in all of Prythian and swears on the Cauldron that her mother named her such because she started baking right out of the womb."
Elain giggled at that as they wove through the busy booths. They stopped in front of another stand, completely covered in bottles of varying colors.
"And this is Nem, he makes the best and most interesting teas in all of Velaris." Azriel explained, gesturing to the bright purple bottle that lay right in front of him. "Any preferences?"
"You choose!" Elain beamed, wonder filling her voice as her eyes remained wide saucers, taking in every detail of the market around them. She was a sight to see, her pure wonder and excitement radiating from her like heat from a furnace. His stomach danced at the sight of her and the pure joy she emitted.
"Nem," Azriel inclined his head at the familiar vendor in front of him. "One rosemary rose tea and a lavender mint."
Nem packed two glass bottles without a word and pushed his empty palm out for payment. Azriel tamped a smile down as he reached out his coin, a man of few words, just as he liked it.
Azriel hooked the bag under his arm with the box of pastries and offered his other elbow to Elain, "My lady" he said with a quick bow of the head, making sure he saw the smile that now danced across his lips.
Elain took his arm in hers and followed him through the crowd out into the streets of Velaris, he found them a spot in the sand down by the river that only popped up when the tide was particularly low. He placed the box of pastries and two jugs of tea in front of them as Elain lowered herself onto the ground, her dress fanning around them.
"A picnic." Elain commented, her voice barely a whisper as the words escaped her mouth in realization.
"I hope it's okay." Azriel blushed, suddenly regretting his choice, wishing he had brought her to a restaurant with proper food and wine and chairs and tables. "I should have at least brought a blanket, I'm sorry Elain."
"No" She placed her hand firmly on his arm and he met her gaze. "No, Azriel. This is perfect."
And it was.