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Truth be told, Jasmine just wanted to forget. Forget their adventure in the Shadowlands; forget the weeks spent stewing in anger, pain and longing.
She wanted to forget the hope she had felt so deeply in her soul only for it to be brutally ripped away.
She wanted to forget how easily she had lead him into danger and how quickly, without thought, he had followed her. She wanted to forget how badly it tore her up inside, twisting and gnawing, threatening to strangle her.
She just wanted to forget.
But the claws of the Crystal are buried deep within her soul and even now, hidden as she is in the dark treetops of one of the few trees that still stood tall in the Palace grounds, she can feel it searching for her.
She sucks in a deep breath and fights down the desire to run, run and run, and not stop until she has reach the safety of trees that grew so huge that they could block out the sun, so huge that their own voices would drown out even the cruellest of whispers.
But she promised. She promised she would not run again, that she would not leave his side. Not without telling him first and then… he would follow her, as he always did. Always.
She hears the snapping of a twig and for a moment sheer terror fills her at the thought that the voice has somehow conjured itself a body to drag her kicking and screaming back into the Palace, back up to that room, and…
“Jasmine?”
The call is soft, not much more than a whisper really, but it is as if the caller knows that she will hear him, no matter what, no matter where he or she might be.
“Here Lief.” She calls back just as softly from the branch she is curled upon. She can see him now, he’s movements slow but precise as he makes he’s way over the tree she is in. When he reaches the bottom and they simply look at each, him leaning his head all the way back while she leans as far as she can downwards without falling out of the tree.
In the light of the crescent moon, he looks so tired and drawn, the weight of the world rest so heavily upon his young shoulders.
She wonders briefly what he sees as he stares up at her before she half rolls, half leaps off the branch, landing lightly upon her feet beside him. The fact that she has to catch herself when she lands, swaying ever so slightly, goes by unmentioned between them. No words are needed, not now. There is an understanding between them, that wasn’t there before, before she ran off in search of a phantom and he chased after her for all the reasons he should have let her go.
“I can’t sleep.” They admit in the same breath and for a brief moment a smile is shared. It isn’t a particularly happy smile but that does not mean it was any less true or real. The smile shared is again one of pure understanding and of reassurance, offering the simple comfort of ‘I am here. I understand. I am here.’
“You weren’t in your room.” Lief finally speaks, his eyes half closed as he lifts his face towards the moonlight.
“It was too loud.”
He looks back at her and nods, his hand silently seeking hers.
“It’s better out here.” He mumbles.
“Not by much.” She whispers back. He’s head nods again, a jerky motion and he clutches her hand more tightly.
The cruel whispers try to tear into them both, she knows that he can hear them too by how tightly he is holding her hand, but they are nothing more than a dull ache in the back of her skull. Her focus is upon Lief and his is upon her and the understanding between grows a little stronger. They will beat this together… or not at all.
Hand in hand they wander back to the Palace, each burden with their own sense of dread, but the strength they find in the other is enough to keep them going.
Jasmine doesn’t even bother trying to make it back to her own room, and simply allows for Lief to lead her to his, Kree dutifully guiding the way. The guards they pass say nothing, though both know that at first light or maybe even sooner, one will rush off to inform Barda or Doom of their late-night wandering.
One’s existence is indeed sad, when one does not trust that they are safe in their own bedroom, but that is the truth of the matter, and in silence Jasmine helps Lief search the room for any hints of danger, small and inconspicuous until the moment it lands it killing strike.
They find nothing except the cruel whispers still hissing cruelly in both their ears.
Lief sits heavily upon his bed first and she follows shortly after, their hands once more intertwined.
They still don’t speak much; words are not needed at this moment.
It is in actions that Jasmine has always felt that speak far louder than words ever could.
Which is why when Lief starts to shake, his fingers tighten to the point of pain around her own, she wraps her arms around him, burying her face into his neck and holds him so tightly that she is only thing he feels.
And its how they fall asleep, wrapped in each other arms.