xxxxxxx
Mia's POV
We're waiting again, this time in Contigo.
Isaac's giving everyone the silent treatment as he broods over Felix and Jenna. Especially Jenna.
Garet has gone to help the villagers work on the wings. After he got bored out of his mind doing nothing forever, that is. He seems pessimistic on the chances of Felix ever coming to see us.
Ivan, well, he's disappeared again. Probably off in the Anemos Sanctum, where he discovered that he was given away as a child. Exploring and re-exploring every nook and cranny, even though he's been over the whole place a million times before.
And I suppose that's why I'm here at the Sanctum. Looking for him. He can't spend our whole mini-vacation moping over some lost mother he never knew.
I can hear him in there, but I can't get to him. He's our only Jupiter adept. The only one who can cast the reveal necessary to get inside to the dead end of the passage, offering the tantalizing glimpse at the heart of the sanctum. I want to run to him, but can't. The cold, hard layers of stone between us are unheeding to my silent pleas, unyielding to my probing touch.
He moves off, deeper into the silent sanctuary. I am about to leave, go back and wait the day out for his return, when there is a flash of light and the door stands open before me.
I turn back to see what has happened, and catch a glimpse of fleeting lavender-gray hair and a peaceful, if secretive, smile. I hurry in before the psynergy fades away.
Inside, I have second thoughts. He did come here to be alone. But it's too late now, there's no way out without his powers.
I move down the passage, again awed at the marks of an ancient civilization long declined. He comes into sight, and I see him sitting on a block, and I think he's crying. More like muffled sobs into his cloak, but the effect is heart wrenching.
I gently set my arm around his shoulder as I move to sit beside him, and he doesn't bother to look up. He knows. He waits until the sobs are done before he looks me in the eye.
xxxxxxx
Ivan's POV
She's here.
I hoped she would come. That she would care enough to find a way past the walls separating us.
I still can't accept that she might like me back, might love me back. Even hearing the words seems like it wouldn't make me believe.
She's patient enough to wait for my tears to subside. She knows when to push and when to hold. She knows me.
I owe her some sort of explanation for my behavior, the seclusion and depression of the past few days. If she doesn't know already.
I look at her, stare deep into those compassionate eyes. Even in her eyes is the solace and comfort that is her being. Such things that words are too shallow to near accurately express.
I close my eyes and fall into the half embrace offered, holding to her as thought to the last solid thing left in this world.
"She… She couldn't even give me away… I was so worthless that she had to offer money for Hammet to take me… My mother had to bribe him with gold to take care of me… To raise me…" I mange to choke out in a faint voice. Sobs threaten to overcome me, and I bury my face in her hair to hide them.
She understands. She understands, and still she came. Still she stays. Still she cares.
"Shhhh…" She murmurs soothing words to me, nothing solid, but the sound of her voice calms me.
I release my grip and push myself back until I am looking at her face again. She seems to sense that I am ready to listen.
"You aren't worthless. Not to me, and not to the world. Not to your mother who was seeking a better life for you elsewhere. Not to Hammet or Lady Layana who raised you and loved you. Especially not to me. I love you, Ivan. More than anything on this world." She speaks the words to me, and I can tell that these aren't just empty nothings. She means it.
No matter how much I think it or she thinks it, nothing quite prepares you to hear those few words spoken aloud. I break into tears again, this time tears of overwhelming joy. I hug her and whisper back in her ear.
"I love you, Mia. With my whole heart and soul, forever."
xxxxxxx
We venture forth into the sunlight, hand in hand. Nothing can stand in our way now.
We may not be able to have quite a perfect, or even open, relationship right now, but these moments keep us going.
When the world is safe, and we can rest, then we can live only for each other, treasuring each other more than all the jewels in the world. Waking each day to the other's smiling face.
Until then, we can wait.
Every time I glance at you, and you glance at me, when our eyes meet silently, I will know that you love me and I love you.
And that is enough for now.
I will wait forever for the day we can speak those few, simple words to each other in front of the whole world.
I love you.
xxxxxxx
-Kit