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Kronii has never really minded her scars too much. She shows them around like trophies, and Fauna would be lying if she said that she wasn’t at least a little into the flexing.
It wasn’t like she liked Kronii getting hurt or anything, but the way that the Warden showed them off was… rather beautiful really. There wasn’t a trace of fear or embarrassment, and Kronii actually liked how they added to her image.
Even if they hurt at the time, Fauna was there to help heal her, and Kronii loved her for that.
It was simple.
Kronii loved Fauna.
Yet, Fauna was… hiding.
She knows that if she ever showed Kronii, the Warden would love her no matter what. She’s stated before that she loves Fauna, thorns and all, yet Fauna still felt like she had to keep some parts of her hidden.
Nature survives, but not without a few scars.
Kronii smiled as she walked into the bathroom, walking behind Fauna to lazily throw her arms around her in a hug, resting her chin on the kirin’s shoulder.
Fauna takes the towel off from her face to look at Kronii through the mirror with a quirked eyebrow and amused smile.
“What are you doing?”
“I can’t admire you?” Kronii muffles into Fauna’s shoulder, covered by a long sleeved shirt. It was another way the two were different, Fauna choosing to warm herself in longer clothes while Kronii chose short-sleeved tees and tank tops as an excuse to snuggle into the blankets even more.
“Hm,” Fauna pretended to think. “I guess I can allow it.”
“Thank you, milady.” Kronii whispers before pressing a kiss into Fauna’s neck, the kirin giggling a little bit due to the ticklish feeling. It only makes Kronii want to pepper more of the exposed skin, until Fauna has to push her away with reluctant hands.
“Okay, okay!” Fauna laughs as she points over to the bed, still keeping Kronii an arm’s length away from her. “Go wait over there, already. The sooner I finish up, the sooner I can join you.”
Like a dog who just got told they were going for a walk, Kronii brightened up and ran towards the bed, diving into the covers. Fauna scoffs as she rolls her eyes so she can finish up.
When she eventually does, Kronii welcomes her into the blanket with open arms before wrapping Fauna into the covers as well, holding her closely.
“You seem excited tonight.”
“I finished all my work.” Kronii smirks at her proudly. “That means I can sleep in, and therefore, you’re going to sleep in as well.”
“Why me?”
Kronii digs herself into Fauna’s neck once more. “Because I’m not going to let you leave.”
Fauna starts squirming again, holding back a laugh as Kronii begins her little attack once again. She stiffens though when a hand sneaks under her shirt, and immediately Kronii pulls back.
“Sorry.” Kronii instantly apologizes. “I, uh-”
“No, it’s fine.” Fauna reassures by moving her hands to cup Kronii’s cheeks, craning her neck to press a quick kiss to her nose before moving to her cheeks and finally her lips. She smiles when she feels the Warden melt under her touch. “It’s okay.” She whispers. “Just… not yet.”
A moment of silence as Kronii readjusts herself, letting Fauna use her arm as a pillow as their bodies intertwine once again.
“Fauna?” Kronii asks after a bit of silence.
“This better not be another apology.” Fauna murmurs into the Warden’s collarbone.
“It’s uh… It’s actually a question.”
Fauna moves away a bit to look up at the Warden with a quirked eyebrow, only visible in the moonlight.
“Can I-” Her voice cracks for a moment, before she clears it. “Can I ask why?”
Fauna bites her lip, moving down to nestle herself into the crook of Kronii’s neck once again, mainly to hide her face.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.” Kronii tangles a kiss into the Keeper’s hair as her fingers wind themselves through it. “I’ll be fine as long as I can love you.”
Her heart flutters for a moment, hands tightening around Kronii’s tank top for a second before she relaxes again, a sigh escaping her.
“It’s… ugly.” Fauna whispers.
It’s like she can hear Kronii blink, facial expression blank as she processes the words.
“Ugly?” Kronii parrots.
“I have scars.” Fauna mumbles. “From things like natural disasters.”
“Oh.” The Warden breathes.
It made sense, considering most of Kronii’s scars came from rips in timelines. Although they were mended, she still had their effects stamped onto her body, scratches and healed tears etched into skin. So why wouldn’t Nature, a concept that was constantly fighting everything in order to survive, also have a few battlescars?
More importantly…
“Why would they be ugly?” Kronii blurts out.
Fauna digs herself further into Kronii’s neck, not wanting to ever escape. “They just are.”
“Hm. Well, I think they’re beautiful.” Kronii shrugs.
Fauna bites back a little laugh of disbelief, leaning back to look Kronii in the eyes once again. “You’ve never even seen them.”
Kronii smiles at her. “I don’t need to. They’re part of you, and you’re beautiful. It doesn’t take a genius to put it together.”
Her cheeks flush a little bit. Of course Kronii wouldn’t think she’s ugly. She knew that, it was just some silly voice in the back of her head that she wished she could drown out.
Oh, she knows the perfect way to drown out her thoughts.
Fauna closes the gap between them, giving a little peck to Kronii’s lips before moving back in for more, hands on Kronii’s collarbone to wordlessly ask her for more.
The Warden is quick to comply, carefully easing Fauna onto her back as she hovers over the kirin, a hand tracing the hem of her shirt.
“Can I?” Kronii mutters against Fauna’s lips when they break off.
A slow and hesitant nod comes from the kirin, which almost makes Kronii stop, but before she can move her hand away, Fauna’s overlaps it, closing it around the shirt so Kronii can lift it up.
Fauna tries to help, slightly lifting her body up while the Warden gently takes the shirt off, settling between her legs to look down at the Keeper’s body. The moonlight’s dust framed her perfectly, and with sunset eyes that looked up at her with such trust, she was just breathless.
“D-Don’t stare so much…” Fauna mumbles, moving her arms to cover up her body the best she can. “It’s embarrassing.”
Kronii leans down with a smirk, giving a little kiss to Fauna’s lips before moving down just slightly. “You’re beautiful.”
She moves to Fauna’s collarbone, giving a little kiss to a faint scratch that she’d seen before, but never pointed it out. “You’re gorgeous.”
More shuffling as she lays another kiss over Fauna’s chest where her heart is, and also where a burnt mark from a wildfire takes hold. “Breathtaking.”
Another kiss downwards on the kirin’s stomach, a few healed cracks from earthquakes. “Absolutely amazing.”
Kronii moves back up to give a little kiss to Fauna’s cheek, prompting a small giggle out of the kirin. “All of you.”
“Kronii…” Fauna whispers, unable to fight the small smile on her face as she reaches up to drape her hands over Kronii’s neck. “You’re just saying that.”
“I’m just telling the truth, Fauna.” Kronii smiles back with such genuine love, that Fauna can feel it in her soul. “I love you.”
“I love you too but…” Fauna bites her lips as she glances downwards for a moment before looking back up at Kronii, who just gives a little scoff of a laugh.
“I don’t love you because you’re beautiful.” Kronii whispers, pressing another kiss to Fauna’s forehead this time. “You’re beautiful because I love you. Okay?”
Fauna smiles as she pulls in Kronii for a hug, snuggling back against her as the Warden laid back down on her side, settling to have Fauna in her arms once again.
“Okay.” Fauna breathes, melting into the little touch of Kronii’s fingers tracing her body once again. A hand lingers on the side of her waist while another one rubs circles into her back.
Kronii thinks that the kirin would’ve fallen asleep by now if it wasn’t for the meek voice that hits her collarbone.
“Kronii?”
“Fauna.”
“Thank you…”
A little kiss to the top of her head to seal the deal.
“Of course.”
Nature survives, but not without a few scars.
But Time heals all wounds.