Shell Shock

Summary: I am drowning in a pool of hazy mist that coats a darkness over my eyes. A constant fog surrounds me. I feel as if I am hearing, seeing, speaking, all underwater. Somewhere submerged deep inside me something is screaming, hysterically crying, breaking, but it is so far down that I hardly notice. Yet it is ever present, a nuisance to my hazy reality that annoys like a persistent gnat. Disturbing images plague my mind and memory, taunting in their familiarity... So I sleep.

Hahn POV

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Pray

She is soft against me and warm, like the dying embers of a smoldering fire. The sweat on our combined limbs mingle, cooling our heated flesh. I wish to hold her like this, clasped so tightly to me that our hearts blend two rhythms into one. But from beyond the noises of the awakening camp penetrates, reaching us.

I step back and watch as she rearranges her clothing, pulling down her servants tunic and drawing up her leggings. I adjust my own leggings and resent the euphoria of release evaporates so easily in the chill of the morning. All we have are stolen moments, a glance across the ice, a brush of fingers against a hand, late night rendezvous; rushed and desperate. It is not enough and yet it must be.

The brief moments spent together consist not only of the sharing of physical pleasure but also that of conspiracy. She tells me of her discontent and disgust with her nation. And I learn there are others just like her and just as dissatisfied.

We talk of change, of rebellion. We think, we plot.

We speak of revolution.

Together we spread the word, her to her people and me to mine. Change is on the lips of the people.

As the days blurred to weeks and then months I found my connection to her had strengthened not only by our common revolt but also that of genuine like. Attraction was always below the surface waiting. And when it first blossomed it bloomed red hot and all consuming. It is recent moments like these, when she blushes under my scrutiny and smooths her hair with fingers still trembling with remnants of shared passion, that I think the like might grow to something else, something much stronger.

Much more.

A day of toil awaits me. A day of hard back breaking labor as monotonous as the last. A day of degradation and humiliation, of utter helplessness.

A day of bitter slavery.

It is made less bitter with a parting kiss from her that spreads warmth down to my toes and lingers sweetness in my mouth.

We are as unmatched as any. We come from different continents and separate faiths. She prays to the sun, I the moon. She has lived her life in servitude and I grew up surrounded in luxuries a royal requires. Yet the fates have destined to bring us together. A servant and fallen prince.

Different as night is from day.

And yet for the first time in as long as I can remember I have hope. And I pray. I pray to La and Tui. I pray to the moon, to Yue. I pray to the ocean and tide. I pray to the whisper of wind and the fleeting ghosts of time.

I pray and I wait.

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Another Hahn/Jin'g chapter. Hopefully you guys are liking this pairing. If not...