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Staying in the Ancient Retreat is strange; it has been strange, not even knowing there was a woman living in the foothills of ancient mountains, but now I’m living here too-
Strange life ahead of me, huh?
But it’s not bad; not at all. It’s good to be away from everyone; the clan settlements aren’t too far and requests aren’t being shoved down my throat the minute I leave my cabin in Jubilife. It feels good to be a little on my own-
“Good morning!”
“Jesusfuckingchrist- Volo, you have to announce yourself,” I scold, sighing as my heart races, arms wrapping around my chest from behind.
“Right- I’m sorry,” Volo apologizes, kissing the top of my head softly, his arms around my arms, holding me against him like a doll.
“Good morning to you,” I say after a moment, relishing in his warm hold, “What were you doing?”
“Wandering.”
He’s not lying; that’s good.
“You always get up so early.”
“I’m used to it.”
“You could stay a little longer in bed, you know.” I softly whisper, his chin resting on the top of my head.
“I could…” Volo contemplates for a moment, tightening his grip on my arms, “But I feel like I’d accidentally wake you up some mornings.”
“I’m fine with that,” I hum.
Volo holds me against him, slightly swaying as he relaxes against me, his calmness a quiet comfort to the vines in his head starting to untangle.
“How have you been feeling?” I ask, squirming my way for his arms to loosen up, turning around to face him; his hair in a low ponytail and halfway out of his face.
“Calm,” Volo sighs, resting his forehead on the top of my head, “More content.”
“That’s good,” I smile, gently cupping his face- a soft noise leaving him at the gentle touch, “Still touch starved?”
“If that’s what you’re calling it, sure.”
“Do you wanna lay down with me?”
“You just got out of bed.”
“Yeah but we don’t have to go to sleep.”
Volo cocks his brow.
“Not that either. Maybe later.”
“What then?”
I smile, taking his hand and pulling him back to our bed; everything felt sudden with Volo, staying with the man who backstabbed me in a way I never anticipated, to staying with him and helping him into a more normal state of mind. Maybe that made me mad; if Volo really wanted to, the only thing that could really stop him from hurting me would be my Pokémon- he could easily overwhelm me with our height difference-
But something told me he wouldn’t do that.
“Lay down,” I instruct, laying on top of the covers as Volo joins me, absent-mindedly pulling me against his chest. I hum as I pull myself out of the grasp, pulling myself up in the bed higher to meet his gaze- pulling him against my chest as I kiss his forehead.
“What’s this?”
“You’ve been busy recently, and I thought it would feel nice if you were the one being held.”
Volo stays quiet as he readjusts, wrapping his arms around my back and resting his head against my chest, my hands playing with his hair absently.
“I’m still not used to this.”
“I know, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have it,” I kiss the crown of his head; it’s strange to be in this position because of the natural difference in height.
“Does it feel alright?”
Volo nods, sighing deeply, relaxing further into my grasp.
“Volo?”
“Hm?”
“Can I ask you something heavier? Or would you prefer it if I didn’t?”
“Ask away.”
“Have you ever had this type of companionship before? One where it’s completely out of choice and confidence, not out of necessity?”
“I… I can’t say I have.”
That’s terrible.
I sigh as I stroke his hair, my nails lightly scraping against his scalp- a satisfied hum leaving him at the sensation. His arms tight around me as he clung onto me as if I was the only thing keeping him here.
“Maybe you just needed someone to stick by your side,” I mumble, closer to talking to myself than anything else.
“Maybe,”
“You’re adorable like this.”
“Shut-”
“Little sweet Volo-”
“I summoned the god of anti-matter-”
“Sweet baby Volo-”
“It’s not too late to kill you.”
“Yes it is- You love me.” I smile to myself smugly, his sharp sigh eliciting a giggle. “You’re a demon.”
You literally sided with a demon you little shit-
“You’re my demon though.”
“I thought giratina was your demon-”
“I am not against gagging you to make you stop talking back.”
“But that’s mean, Volo.”
“You don’t think it’s mean the other times I gag you-”
Stupid little smirking motherfucker-
“-We can’t have Cogita hearing you.”
“I think we both know that she knows.”
“Yes but I believe she deserves to sleep.”
I roll my eyes, continuing to stroke his hair as Volo contently holds me against him, his little piece of normalcy-
“Thank you,” Volo whispers against my chest.
“You don’t need to thank me for anything.”
“You care about me don’t you?”
“Of course.” “Thank you.”
I hum, stroking his hair from root to tip, letting him melt further into my grasp- a small whine from him not escaping me.
“You alright?” I gently ask, his grip tightening around me momentarily, a soft hiccup leaving him. He presses his face further against mine- tears falling on my skin.
“You’re alright, you’re safe,” I reassure him, holding him tighter against me, his grip tight.
“I’m not-not used to this.”
“Do you want me to sto-”
“No.”
I smile to myself, holding him in reality, his small hiccups dying out as he relaxes under my grip again- little content noises leaving him.
“You know, whenever you’re feeling starved, you can just tell me,” I remind him, kissing the crown of his head.
“I’m not good at noticing it.”
“Understandable.”
“I’m not used to having someone there, who desires me,” He mumbles, resting his face in the crook of my neck.
“Well, as long as I live, you will have that.”
Volo sighs, smiling against my skin, pressing light kisses against my neck.
“What’d you plan on doing today?” I ask.
“You said you had something you wanted me to do.”
“Oh, right,” I kiss the top of his head, “Could you, perhaps, write down all of those legends you know?”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because the passage of time is very real and the few people who know these legends may not be able to continue them orally.”
“I feel like you know something by your ominous wording.”
“Okay- there’s books written about myths and legends and they’re worded exactly how you recite stories.”
“Hm,” Volo pulls himself up, pulling me on top of him, “And what would I get in return?”
“Something to focus on that isn’t a cataclysm?”
Volo shoots me an unamused glare.
“Okay, um, I’ll think of something.”
Volo rests his hands on my hips, pulling me down to lay on top of him, my legs straddling his waist.
“Hm,” I smile at him, his eyebrow cocking.
“How about when you get done,” I tap my fingers against his chest, a little mimic of hitting piano keys, “You can marry me.”
“Alright get off of me,” Volo abruptly sits up, grabbing supplies laid out on a desk in the bedroom. “Are you going to do it right now?” I giggle.
“I am going to have this done in 6 days.”
“Volo-” “I am going to get this done and I’m going to marry you.”
“Volo this is gonna take, like, a year.”
“You underestimate me.”
“Volo-”
“Shh, dear, I’m writing.”
I smile, laying down and watching him-
I’m definitely dancing in fire.