the distance from me to where you'd be

He felt her stiffen only slightly as he wrapped his arms around her and in return felt her squeeze hold more tightly to him. She didn’t show affection, he knew her past caused her to react to physical touch, but she really had changed and softened to him over the time they were together. She held him tighter and reassured him quietly, letting him know she would be here for as long as he needed. Still, Gypsy went on, she had heard what happened, she heard the words flung between them. What Aslatiel said was meant to rip and tear at him, to hurt him as much as she was hurting in kind. That was why he was cut down so low, he couldn’t imagine trying to hurt her intentionally. Never would he have done anything on purpose, but she wanted him to feel this.

Gypsy tried to give him hope that Aslatiel would realize walking away was the wrong decision, and it was the only hope he had so he would cling to it like he held to Gypsy. She kissed his brow, the most precious kisses just for him as she tried to soothe the ache in him. He had her, Segin, Emersyn… She didn’t say Duch’s name. Conflict continued to fill him with regards to the mottled woman and what would happen next. He was too caught up in the painful pit that was his chest.

We all love you, Indigo. He leaned his head against her, in the soft white and purple fur against his face. ”I love you, Gypsy.”Though he had never spoken them aloud he admitted quietly now as he clung to her there in the woods. He felt broken and shattered yet here she was, holding him together. The tiny woman keeping him afloat all on her own. It felt like it would take a lifetime to recover from the pain he felt, and yet Gypsy still remained, her tiny arms wrapped around him.