songerein | closed 🌠 safe and sound, alive under the stars

[It's like time stops the moment he leans in and kisses her. As if the snow has stopped falling, the world's stopped turning, and she's sure that her heart had nearly stopped in her chest too, if it weren't for that breath of him that she takes before she melts into the kiss, yielding to his lips.

Her hand finds his, fingertips brushing over the back of it before they touch the starflower, the petals so velvety, soft, and warm...

She falls into him easily enough, and her other hand tightens around his, a silent promise that she will not ever let go as she feels his ring pressing into her finger.

And when she parts for air, their warm breaths turning to clouds in the small space between their lips, she smiles.]

... Is that really what you wanted to do back then?

[His own hand squeezes hers before he breaths a small sigh.]

...Yes, though I wasn't thinking of it at the time. More of an...impulse.

[He gazes down at her, eyes deep with those emotions as he briefly thinks back.]

It was only after I parted did I realize then that I had feelings for you.

Edited 2023-12-16 06:45 (UTC)

Mm...

[Her lashes flutter up at him under the weight of those emotions. She'd been so clueless then, so caught up in her own feelings at the time that she didn't even now how he'd felt. How much she wished so, so bad that he would have leaned in to kiss her, but then regretting even thinking it for a second. She'd been so presumptuous back then, and a little bit selfish for wanting more than what he could give...

But now...]

You don't have to worry about it anymore. [A pause, and she presses up further to him.] And... I think you should do it again.

[There's a quiet laugh as he smiles against her lips.]

I think you're right.

[And in the next breath, he kisses her once more, this one a little deeper and a little longer, his hand cupping her cheek as he pulls her in even closer. As close as they can for this moment.

And around them, starflowers will bloom over the tree, the ones in the branches seeming to shimmer under the moonlight.]

[Closer, still, as her body gives a small shudder in response... if such a thing were even possible, but he finds a way. She would meld right into him if she could, give him her whole soul. Alas, this is all that they can do for now, but it's good enough. It always is with him.

Her fingers curl around that flower in his hand, and mid-kiss, she pulls the stem of it gently from between them so that she can hold it instead.

She remains oblivious to the world around them, but she swears he looks just a little more ethereal right now as she lets her eyes flutter open to gaze into his again.]

... Think I wanna keep this one.

[He just gives her another kiss, remembering the flower he still he has in that box where he keeps various little mementos of their time together.]

You should. ...I still have the other one.

[She twirls it between them, accepting the kiss and then stealing another, soft and quick but still lingering even after her lips are gone from his, though never far.]

I know.

[She remembers the day that he showed it to her, too. Told her about what happened that night. And, in some ways, a part of her always had a feeling that there had been something, but she could never figure it out. Not until then.]

We can put it with the other one?

[She nuzzles her nose against his.]

Mm...sure.

[And he is so, so tempted to kiss her here. To just continue where they left off earlier right here. But after taking in her breath, he looks at her.]

...We should take it inside. Keep it somewhere safe.

I think so, too. It's getting a little cold again.

[A complete lie. Nothing more than just an excuse to get her through that door and into his arms where she can wrap herself up in his warmth more properly. The air around them is actually quite cozy, her joy keeping the heat buzzing gently, enough that it tingles on her skin but isn't too overwhelming.

Comfortable.

And, without any warning whatsoever, she wraps her arms around his shoulders and leaps up, expecting and trusting that he will catch her.]

[A laugh as he does indeed catch her, holding her close as he steals a nuzzle, breathing in her scent and taking in her warmth.]

Hmm, carrying you over the threshold like this.

[A look up at the tree before he opens the door.]

Seems fitting for our anniversary.

I thought so. We did get married here, after all.

[She holds on tight, kicking the door with her feet just a little to open it further to allow them through. The house itself is cooler, but the warmth seeps in fairly quickly. And with a single wave of her hand, the hearth lights up with a fire, burning bright and hot already as he carries her inside.

... And as she kisses him again before whispering against his lips.]

So. What's this next surprise you've got for me? ... Or do you wanna see yours first?

[A quiet laugh against her lips as he keeps his hold on her.]

Better if I show you mine first or we may never get to it.

[And with her still in his arms he walks up towards the stairs.]

Mm. You're right. Wouldn't wanna spoil it.

[She really does have half a mind to just ignore all the surprises, the anticipation of the entire night leading them here all abuzz as it follows them up the stairs. And he really is going to carry her all the way up in his arms, is he?

She holds on, her face buried into the crook of his neck, and as they arrive on the landing of the top floor, she slips off her heels and kicks her feet, giggling quietly with excitement.

She really has no idea what it could be, but there's a heat that settles and twists in her belly as they near the room. Their room that they had made for themselves here when they spent more time at this tree.]

[...Except they won't enter the door that still remains closed. Instead he walls past it down the narrow hall towards the back of the tree where another door is. It's one she likely has never been to before given there had never been a need nor enough time spent here for her to. Not to mention it looks like a closet door.

But when he sets her down in front of it before he opens to reveal another set of stairs that spiral upwards. As he steps inside and presses his hand against a square sigil in the side of the tree wall to activate the dim lights inside, he looks at her.]

It's a bit narrow, but follow me.

[She does lament a little when he takes her away from the bedroom, and then again when he sets her down on her feet, and maybe she should have kept her shoes on for this, as she glances back to where they had clattered to the floor down the hall.

She follows him, curious as to where this door might lead. It's true, she's never been through here before—never had a reason to. And she wouldn't have known about the sigil even if she had opened this door, so when he leads her through, she has to stop a moment to stare, the lights twinkling in her big eyes as she looks up, around, and then at him, head canting with a silent question before she walks after him.]

... I had no idea this was here.

[Fortunately the steps are smooth, so it won't be too rough her. And the steps are uneven and steep in some places, so it's probably better she was barefoot.]

The magic in this tree has it so even if you see the door, anyone not a guardian will ignore it. That's because...

[When they reach a landing, with more stairs still continuing up, there is a small, shuttered window that he opens for her to see out.]

This is like a sentry tower to help keep watch.

[Tifa is careful and light on her feet as she ascends with him, making sure not to trip on any of the uneven steps as they go, and it's only once they reach the top and he opens the window does she remember—]

This was where you were... That time I found you here, isn't it?

[She moves to the window, looking down, and then out, seeing the snowcouple still sliding along the ice holding their little twig hands together, and once again, she finds herself wondering what it is he could even have planned for this because surely that wasn't the surprise, was it? Especially given how that meeting had started...]

Mm.

[Just a quiet hum as he continues to gaze out before he closes the window, the tree automatically sealing it shut before he continues upward.]

The guardian is supposed to protect the tree and its wards... And this is where they keep watch.

[And for Eustace, be able to snipe from above while remaining hidden and obscured by tree's large branches. Even though it happened what feels like forever ago, he can still remember it so clearly...

But he continues up, higher and higher.]

[She also remembers that day well, and although the memory itself is a bit sour, they wouldn't be where they are today if it weren't for it. This family that they have created together would not exist if it he hadn't found this tree, lost his memories, and maybe even not if she hadn't found him her.

So strange to think how so many of those roads leads to here...

She stares at him first—wait, there's more?—before padding after him.]

... And the dogs wanted you to be the ward. Their new guardian.

[Her voice is soft. Fond. Though, a little sad.]

[A few steps in silence.]

...Mm. But it could have been because I was the first to find them with Alice, and the first one who stepped through the door. It could have been anyone else...

[... Does that upset him, she wonders? Tifa watches him in the silence, and when he speaks, her hand finds his back.]

But it wasn't anyone else. It was you.

[Yes, it very well could have been whoever stumbled upon it first, but she likes to think that there was a reason for all of this.

She hopes that he can at least hear the pride in her voice.]

And honestly? Can't exactly imagine anyone else more fit for the job. Or someone who'd love them more than you do.

[He feels her touch and hears it in her voice, and he can only smile a little before he reaches back so he can take her hand to help her up the last few steps as they finally near the top landing where...there is no visible door.]

I like to think the same.

[As unfortunate and harrowing as it had all been, he's glad he had the opportunity to have his little corgi family. A family that has since grown.]

I know it's the case.

[She gives his hand a reassuring, confident squeeze before she's peering around at the empty wall behind him.]

... Another magic, secret door?

Hm.

[A amused hum as he looks at her for a moment before he looks up. Again nothing so obvious, until his hand touches the wall and a secret hatch door opens and a ladder made of vines and wooden slats appear. It dangles loosely for a moment before the bottom slat hits the ground, and then it suddenly stiffens, as if solidifying.

Placing his hand on the ladder, he looks at her.]

Just a little further.

[And up he goes.]

You are just full of surprises tonight.

[She's in complete awe of everything that's just unfolded in front of them, and she needs another moment before she starts to climb the ladder. Yeah, definitely better that she left her shoes behind, or else she would have had to get rid of them here instead.]

Makes mine feel pretty mediocre in comparison.

[As she hops up onto the landing.]

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