So Much Harder To Leave

Alastor wasn't blind, and he didn't miss the way Relm's expression grew tense when they talked about Manea and Kichi. He didn't address it though; he knew of Relm's emotional struggles. Her struggles with Manea made sense, given the intimate nature of the relationship he shared with her. He could only assume it was the same reason why she grew hard at the mention of Kichi as well. Not out of malice, but out of discomfort. Alastor understood, which is why he said nothing on it. Instead the two continued their walk around the lake in quiet while Relm picked her words to use in response to his question. That was good, it meant she was taking the time to really consider what she thought and how she felt. He knew he would receive a genuine answer instead of a manufactured lie used as a placeholder for the truth.

When Relm stopped so too did Alastor. The dire brute angled his body to face the young woman, cocking his head to one side in an almost comically confused fashion. Relm explained that this was hard for her and that it wasn't easy for her to be around Manea. Alastor's jaw tensed, his lips pulling into a fine line while he nodded in understanding. He knew why it was so difficult for Relm to exist the way she was. She wanted Alastor, wanted him all to herself. In another world, another life, maybe they would have been what she wanted them to do. The demon wolf breathed a heavy sigh and stared down at where the grass met the pebbly shore of the lake, lost in wistful and distant thoughts. "I know..." A simple answer, but the whole-hearted truth. He knew. He understood. He also didn't know what or if he could do anything about it. "You know, I wanted to kill your father from the day I met him." Alastor gave a dark chuckle laced with incredulity, the giant wolf shaking his head while he gazed out at the lake. "Now I'm wondering if I had, what would that have done for us." Would it have ruined their relationship to execute the woman's psychotic father when she was but a pup? Would it have freed them up to pursue the relationship they had now? Or had all this been dependent on Alastor slaughtering Kafka when he'd been inside his own daughter?

Relm explained that this was a first for her, and while her vagueness may have seemed off-putting to some, Alastor actually understood her clear as day. Relm had grown up without a pack, without ranks and roles and jobs, kept alive by Kafka until she was old enough to care for herself. Everything she was experiencing in Elysium, both personally and professionally, was all uncharted territory for her. When her head turned to look at him, Alastor was already turning his head to lock gazes with her, ebony meeting silver while she heralded him as the reason she was still here. Alastor tilted his head again, considering her words for a moment. Then he stepped up to her again, closing the short gap between them until he was standing facing the young Abraxas woman. "I'm glad you took this promotion, Relm," he spoke in low, husky tones, shifting a massive black paw closer to rest over one of hers. "You are the only wolf in this world I trust to be at my side in the ways that you are. I wanted you to be the one in that rank."

Alastor opened his mouth again to keep speaking—and then paused before he said the words that he had said last time they'd been at this lake. When he'd done what she asked him not to when he admitted his love for her. He didn't want to upset or panic the young fae again, so he simply closed his mouth without saying anything. After a beat, a little smirk twitched at the corner of his lips. "Plus, this new role means you'll be spending a lot more time with me, one on one." He didn't feel the need to spell out the implications of what that new dynamic would mean for their relationship. Relm was a clever girl and would figure it out. How easy would it be for a meeting of the Genetor and Generalis to turn into a make out and cuddle session, or a training spar to devolve into the winner fucking the loser absolutely silly? He still couldn't give all of himself to Relm like they both yearned for, but this would be a good way for the two to spend more time together like they were a couple.

"Alastor"