We Could Play Pirates.

As she whispered those words, Aresenn felt a thrill of anticipation run through him. They were dancing on the edge of something monumental, something that would irrevocably change them both. He relished the honesty, the rawness in her voice as she admitted their mutual struggle with emotions. It was a mirror to his own struggles, a reflection of his own fears and hopes. He might have laughed at the absurdity of it all—two individuals so adept at dealing with the world around them, yet so woefully inept when it came to handling their own emotions. But the moment wasn't one for ridicule; it was one for admission, for confession, for acceptance. “You're right." His words were barely above a whisper, laden with an earnestness that was rare from him. "We can call it whatever we like."

For a moment, he allowed himself to bask in the serenity of their connection. The world outside ceased to exist; there was only her- the warmth of her body against his, the soft panting breaths she drew, the glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. It was a quiet moment, one filled with the shared understanding of something that could no longer be denied. A shift in their world that neither of them could ignore any longer. His breath hitched as her words finally washed over him, each syllable etching itself into his soul. They resonated with him, matched his own desires in ways he never would have imagined possible. He saw his own fear, his own hope, reflected in her eyes. Her confession was the most powerful thing he had ever heard and it left him momentarily speechless.

"I... Absinth," he started, his voice barely a whisper; a mirror of her vulnerability. “I will be yours- sometimes. Always. That I can promise you.” He couldn’t help but think back to the promise he had made Andromeda, and how eerily similar her sentiment was to him, as his was to the lavender fae. Be with me now, when it matters the most, and come back as soon as you can. It went without saying. It didn’t have to be said. "As long as you are mine." The words spilled from his lips like a fervent prayer, meant only for her. It was a pledge - a promise of dedication and commitment that he had never given before. His heart pounded in his chest, a loud drumming that echoed the intensity of his feelings. Each beat was a silent affirmation of his words.

It could no longer be helped, the pull to her had become too great, and he found himself being overwhelmed with desire. The desire for her touch, for their connection, for her. Aresenn leaned in, gathering her in another kiss- but this one more frantic. Need burned through his veins too much to absorb all at once; it was madness. Nothing else mattered in this moment, only her.

"Aresenn Praetor"