Disclaimer: What makes you think anything's changed between this chapter and the last one?


Scent

Rydia collapsed into the chair with a sigh, letting her head rest on the table, cushioned by her arms. She wasn't out of shape, but Izayoi had still run circles around her, and casting so many spells in a row had done a number on her throat. She didn't look up until the clink of somebody setting down a teacup on the table caught her attention and she raised herself up on her elbows to take the cup of steaming liquid into her hands. Zangetsu smiled at her, patted her shoulder, and left when she nodded in thanks and sipped at the tea.

Eblanese tea was subtler than most, and while she occasionally missed the explosions of flavor that Fabul or Baronian tea offered, Rydia found that the quiet hints of mint, lavender, and something called 'chai' were soothing and tastier than she had initially expected. Across from her, pages ruffled, and Rydia looked across the rim of the porcelain cup to see Edge running his fingers along the pages of what looked like a new book. She sighed again, and, in a futile attempt to mask it, brought the cup back to her lips.

His blindness, still so new, was difficult on all of them. She hated seeing him like this; fumbling around the castle that he used to be able to find every nook and cranny of, never knowing where he was or who was around him, though the latter had proven to be less of a problem as time went on, and he'd always known whenever she was near. After a week of wincing whenever Edge stumbled or ran into something, she'd gotten him a cane. Embarrassing though it was for him, Edge had reluctantly accepted it, and the slim white walking stick now rested against the arm of his chair. It had proven its worth several times over, and Rydia smiled into her teacup as she remembered a purpose that the cane had developed that she'd never before considered - Edge had wacked Tsukinowa with it when the younger ninja had tried to sneak around and surprise him.

Edge's head turned slightly to face her completely and the corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled underneath the mask. "Did you enjoy yourself?" he asked lightly, eyes fixed on her own, sending agreeable tingles down her spine despite the fact that she knew he couldn't see her.

For a while, he'd worn the bandages. Rydia suspected that it was mostly to keep Izayoi quiet rather than concern for his injuries. Soon enough, however, the bandages had come off, the mask had returned, and for a while, Rydia hadn't been able to look at his face without crying.

She was used to it now, but all the time in the world would never change the way that Edge could look right through her soul even without his sight.

With a start, Rydia realized that she'd been staring, and she broke the gaze by leaning back in her chair and glancing down at her tea as she shifted position to make sure it didn't spill. "No," she replied wryly, getting a chuckle out of him.

"What, hurling lightning bolts at Izayoi isn't your favorite pastime?" Edge teased.

"She wanted to spar." Rydia closed her eyes. "Never again will I agree to the whims of your cousin," she vowed.

"Please tell me you hit her at least once."

Rydia opened her eyes just in time to see him tug his mask down to his neck with skilled, nimble fingers. "Edge," she reprimanded – then stopped. Her brows furrowed. "Edge," she began, slowly.

"That's my name. Don't wear it out." Without the mask, she could properly see his smile, but her thoughts left her unable to appreciate the way it softened his face.

"How did you know I was using thundara?" Rydia asked, curious.

Instead of replying, Edge raised his arms and held his hands out to her, palms upward. She considered him for a moment before relenting, setting the tea down on the table and slowly rising from her chair to meet him at the other side of the small, circular table, taking his hands in hers. His eyes drifted shut and he pulled her closer even as he stood, bending his head to touch his nose to her neck. She heard him breathe in deeply, and when he exhaled, his warm breath sent a shiver up her spine. "Edge –"

"Magic," he murmured, his lips brushing against her skin. "You smell of the crackling energy that lightning leaves behind in a summer storm."

He drew back, much to her disappointment, and raised an eyebrow. "Did that answer your question?"

"Yes." That said, Rydia slid her hands out of his, cupped his face, and pulled him down into a kiss.

"Electrifying," he whispered when they parted.

Rydia agreed wholeheartedly.