MHA #8, Early Sunday Morning

[stykera]

It was morning, again. Stark was trying not to think about what that meant. There was a time limit here. Only hours left, now, and then he would lose Zhaan again. He didn’t mean to sigh so loudly when that thought struck him. It just happened.

“You’re awake,” she said softly from behind him. Of course Zhaan was the big spoon in this relationship. If anyone currently on this island knew that sometimes Stark needed to be held it would be her. There was someone else who might know, but she was currently far away and might not admit to knowing anyway.

“I am,” he confirmed, turning carefully to face her without moving from the circle of her arm. “Did you sleep?”

“You needn’t concern yourself with that. I am rested enough.” And more rest would come soon.

“You will always be a concern of mine.”

“And you of mine,” Zhaan said gently, moving her hand to stroke his cheek. “Always.”

[Mostly establishy so I can talk to myself in the comments, but if someone has a reason to knock on the door go for it!]

Comments

[flora_evolved]

"You know I would stay if I could," Zhaan continued, carefully tracing the outlines of his features with her fingers, smiling fondly when he closed his eye in response to her touch. "But this must be enough, for now."

There was always hope that another visit might be allowed someday but it was far from a guarantee.

[stykera]

"It's never enough," Stark protested, opening his eye back up. "There will never be enough time. I'll lose you again."

He has lost her too many times. One time was too many.

"The other you left me," he added. He has told her this already and it is an old hurt now. An old hurt but still a deep one. "The you that was here. Without even saying goodbye."

[flora_evolved]

"She must have had reason," Zhaan told him though she had no idea what that reason might be.

"I wouldn't cause you such pain if it could be avoided. You know that." She knew she had caused enough pain without desiring to do so. She couldn't bear to add to it deliberately.

[stykera]

"I do know. She wasn't truly you," Stark said after a long moment. "Much as I wanted her to be."

[flora_evolved]

"I am myself," Zhaan assured him, not for the first time this weekend. "And I will not leave without a farewell. But that is later. It is, I think, still early in the day. I would like to see more of your home. Perhaps more of your friends?"

[stykera]

"Of course." Stark was hardly going to deny her anything today. "Whatever you like."

[flora_evolved]

"Good." Zhaan smiled at him, before pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"But it's still early," she said softly. "And I would have you to myself a while longer before I must share you."

[stykera]

That was a clear invitation and one Stark was only too happy to accept.

"I am yours. You know that." For a little while longer at least.

[flora_evolved]

"For now." She thought, perhaps, he might not be solely hers any longer. That was a good thing. She wanted him to be happy.

She kissed him then. Long and lingering, fingers working at the buckle on his neck as she did.