Tomorrow Comes

A reprieve from recent restless nights, even if only brief, was most welcomed, even needed, by Aya. This could be why she rises earlier than the norm and yet is more energized than she has been for one or more weeks. Daed is left to rest, despite the temptation to rouse him. Aya can move softly and silently when desired, afterall.

There is no haste to leave the sanctuary of his home, however; not yet. She indulges in a minor re-touring of his kitchen when a thought strikes. A gesture that can be returned, and some of her energy to use while still relaxing.

Thus it is that Daed might rouse to the wafting smells of ... burning material and acrid smoke.

The terrible smell did indeed rouse Daechir from his room upstairs, luring him down not with the thought of delicious breakfasts but instead with wry amusement and some small concern for the state of his kitchen. He stands in the threshold between the kitchen and the rest of the house for a small moment, watching Aya dealing with what she's created whilst he slept and can not help the small smile that creeps to stay across his lips.

"Morning Aya. I see you found your way to the kitchen."

Fortunately, his kitchen is not aflame. Not entirely; only a small portion. Only the pan that Aya has removed from the heat, in fact. The flames and smoke are defeated as she rather franticly upends a bowl above it to drop a large mass of batter/dough into it with a smothering PLOMPF.

It's only then that she registers his greeting and she whirls in place to stand between him and the pan of ... whatever it was supposed to be. She currently wears one of his shirts; not the pasta-drenched one from the night before, but a fresh one. Formerly fresh, that is. It now bears some damp spots to which flour clings, and possibly a portion of egg and shell. She clears her throat and offers a strained smile.

"Good morning. Did you rest well?"

Red eyes take in everything, the shirt - his - the pan - blackened - her... His smile never wavers an inch. "I think that I had the best night's rest I have had in ages. Though the smell of smoke was somewhat unexpected to awaken to." He has clearly taken the time to throw on some new clothes himself, a fresh shirt and pants, but then it /is/ his home and his things are more readily available here. He steps into the kitchen, and moves toward her gracefully, his bare feet hardly making a sound as he moves. "I am glad to find you here and not a dream."

One snowy brow arches as she looks up at him, head tilting moreso as he nears. "Did you dream that I razed your family's home to the ground? I am here, and it still stands." Perhaps not for unintentional lack of trying.

Aya is annoyed, certainly, though his constant smile makes it difficult if not impossible for her to remain so. It is dangerously contagious and creeps upon her face. Daed chuckles. "I dreamt of you vanishing like smoke in the shadows, that I would awake and you would be gone." He's close now, and he wraps one arm around her not minding the wet spots or flour on the shirt that she'd borrowed. Still smiling in spite of his oh-so serious words, he caresses the edge of her chin. "It is my pleasure then to find you here and... are you trying to make pancakes? For me?"

Despite his mirth and smile, the reality of his concerns strike her firmly enough to flatten the contracted smile. A simple nod, and slight so as not to remove her chin from his touch. "Tried," she notes, correcting both past tense and lack of success. "I wished to, but ... the last time I did so was as a child, more than a century past," she offers in explanation and apology.

One hand reaches around him to his back though her flat expression dips further in pursed lips. "I am here, and I wish to be ... though I cannot remain long."

He notes her change in demeanor easily enough, and he lets his own smile fade to an expression that is somewhat concerned. "It makes me happy that you wanted to do something so kind for me, and it makes me even happier that you want to stay here." Daed finds himself unable to resist touching her. Moving her hair back from her face so that he can get a better look at her. "I would ask what draws you away from where you want to be but... I know that you have your reasons."

Aya exhales a sigh and leans in to put cheek against his chest, even if it may disrupt his view. A second arm joins the first to embrace him. "I am hunted, due to my own actions," she explains (reminds?) plainly. "I do not fear it, but I will -not- bring that hunt to your doorstep, to you..."

After resting against him for several heartbeats (she can easily count his), her head lifts and turns, eyes lifting to his again. The are concerned, yet curious, possibly searching for something in his. "What would you be willing to do to protect those you care for, Daed?"

"I know you value my life Aya, but I would weather such a storm to keep you safe if I could." Daed holds her, squeezing her tightly if just for a moment. Then he strokes her hair thoughtfully, thinking about her question before actually replying. "I can not think of anything I would not do for the sake of one that I cared about. But saying that is easy. The doing of it more difficult. There are so very few people on that list Aya. So few, and it seems a small thing to offer anything I have in exchange for their wellbeing."

"For me, that anyone could be trusted, could find their way into my heart and allow me into theirs... What action would I be unwilling to perform for that? The truth is Aya, that I would work great evils for their sake, and think nothing of it... Does that make me a terrible person?"

Aya simply watches him as he speaks, again or still focused on his eyes; his countenance; even his concerned not-smile. It's not until he finishes that something of her prior smile returns. It is not broad and overfilled with delight as the night past, but it is earned and ... content.

Her head shakes. "No, that does not make you worse... though some deeds, even with the best intentions... you may undermine yourself." She may have some experience regarding this topic. She then straightens up from the embrace and takes his hands; still an embrace, yet easier to converse (and perhaps not be distracted by his heartbeat, in her case).

"It does make you one who understands. I do not doubt that you would stand beside me, that you would prefer to, yet ... allow me the comfort of your safety, if not always your company?"

He finds her response comforting, and gives her a somewhat wry smile. He suspects, but does not say, that she has done something of late to find truth in her own words. What... he can not know. All he can do for now is nod and accept her desire. "Do not think I have no curiosity on this matter, but... I will not force answers that you do not wish to give Aya."

Answers that cannot or should not be given. That is another matter that Aya has had far too much experience in as of late. She spends a long moment considering, even shifting her gaze to his chest for a portion. In the end, eyes return.

"You have my favor and my heart... but I cannot claim you were the first to touch it..." Even if he would have preferred such, and is likely already aware. Her smile does not fade, end even curls slightly further, though is now wistful, nostalgic.

"A child. Innocent. Naive. Eyes filled with wonder and without worry. She was the first, even if I did not understand it at the time." The smile now firms to a line. "She now suffers for my actions, my mistakes. I cannot leave her to that. I am not certain that I can free her, but I must try. Even if that means that I might ... cause you pain." Once again, her eyes search his.

A brow arches. "Does that make me a terrible person?"

He touches her cheek gently. "No. Not at all. I can bear a little pain for the sake of someone else who holds your heart." Daed smiles at her, then leans down and kisses her gently. "So, how much longer do I have you for? Long enough to reteach you how to make pancakes?"

Aya exhales a breath that she may have been holding, and seems to relax at his words. This leaves her to, at the gentle kiss, to ... melt against him. She is utterly comfortable in that moment when he asks the important follow-up question.

There is naught for her to do, but laugh; a delighted, giddy exaltation. That it is a pertinent question only makes it all the more amusing in timing.

"Of course!" she assures, somewhat breathlessly. After a moment's thought, however, she adds, "Though this may keep me here the rest of our lives..." A brow quirks. "Was that your intent all along?"

Her good humor brings his and his red eyes sparkle with good will. "Ah, you have found me out!" He pulls away a little and dusts some of the flour off his shirt. "Firstly, we will have to clean this up. I think I see shells in the mix."

He shakes his head in mock horror and begins to clean up the kitchen, one bit at a time. "Now, when I set fire to my kitchen in a little bit here, just remember that it is completely on purpose to keep you here longer." Daed winks at her.

Aya moves to assist him, albeit from close at hand. There is no reason she cannot brush off flour, or pick up shells, or wipe up whatever that was -supposed- to be while still maintaining some contact with him. "I will not forget, nor will I fault you. Just remember that when the kitchen burns, it will destroy all proof that -I- ever burned anything..." Plausible deniability: the goal of any true aspiring mul'niessa.

-End