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“Pandreo…?” Alear groggily calls out to him. The high priest startled in the middle of his prayer.
Pandreo stood before the railings of Alear’s bedroom by the piano. Rained upon by the pale blue of the moonlight, another day having come to a close. Another prayer offered to the divine dragons of his faith after another deadly skirmish. The golden gaze of his shone underneath the light, twinkling ever slightly as his gaze slid to his beloved who slowly raised from her slumber and ran off the sleep from her own eyes.
“Hey there, sleepy head.” Pandreo smiles warmly then makes his way over to the foot of her canopy bed. White roses and petals littered amongst her bed, the soft scent of it lingering upwards to his nostrils. The scent is all too familiar as it clings to her skin even in the bloodiest battles of war, like a beautiful rose with vibrant multicolored red and blue petals.
The rose he found amongst the desert.
“Wha–” she yawns. “What are you doing here?”
“Panette said I should go check in on you. Y’know, nagging me to not be like our parents.” Pandreo takes a seat on the cush bed. The silky sheets cool beneath his palms.
Alear leans up, “I don’t think you could ever be like them— do what they did.”
“Heh,” Pandreo smiles bitterly, head tilting back to gaze up at the ceiling. “Well, I certainly don’t want to be like them.”
The gentle touch of Alear’s hand covering the back of his causes him to snap his head back to face her. Alear’s cheeks had the faintest dusts of pink, a half-smile with a loving gaze. Silence creeps over them, the only sound heard being their breathing, Pandreo’s a sharp intake through his nose as his golden eyes glance back down at the small hand covering his much larger one. His heart rate quickens— one that can only be caused by her, that not even an exciting party could make him react in such a way.
Pandreo removes his hand from beneath hers, choosing to lock them instead. His fingers curling around the back of her hand, intertwining their fingers like a form-fitting glove.
“Divine— No, Alear…” Pandreo swallows the saliva that hangs around the back of his throat. Instead, words that he desperately wants to say take its place. Words so overused, but nothing more so perfect he wants to convey to her. “I—”
Those golden orbs of his flick back up to find where he believes her face to be.
“UWEEEEEIII!”
Alear is practically nose to nose with him. He flails, nearly head butting her in the process. Alear simply giggles shyly, her free hand covering her mouth. The way he howls and exclaims surprise was always similar to each other, yet it never failed to amuse her.
“Y-y-you can’t just do that!” The syllables race off his tongue at a frantic speed. His heart was running at a similar speed.
“Hahaha, I’m sorry! I apologize! I just wanted to see your face better.” Her cheeks rise, being held up by a toothy grin.
“What kind of excuse is that?!” Pandreo exclaims, flustered. But Alear only giggles more.
“It’s because I love you, Pandreo. I want to be even closer with you.”
“Seriously! You and your—” Pandreo pauses. “…what?”
Alear had beaten him to it. I love you. Words he had almost never heard directed at him. Words that neither he or Panette had been blessed with hearing. Words he wanted to say to Alear.
“I said,” Alear leans in again, noses ghosting their own kisses. “I love you, Pandreo.” The quietest whisper of affection, breath tickling his lips.
Suddenly, that saliva from earlier has found its way back to hang at his throat. Swallowing hard.
The creak of the bed breaks the quiet, Pandreo leans in, deciding action was the best way to convey how he felt for her. A kiss that lasted no more than a few seconds. Innocent and gentle.
When he pulls away, his hand reaches up to her cheek to rub circles with his thumb. “I love you too, Alear.” The pact ring on his ring finger glints underneath the moonlight. As if Lumera herself was watching over them.
Alear lets out a long sigh, relaxing into his touch. Similar to that of a pet receiving attention from their owner. Her eyelashes flutter, eyes falling shut.
“Pandreo, I think I’m still sleepy.” As if on cue, a yawn escapes her.
“Then, ahhh-” Pandreo yawns in suit, her yawn contagious. “Then go back to sleep, I’ll skedaddle on out of here.”
The warmth of his hand leaves her as he moves to get up from her bed. Alear pouts childishly before rushing to take hold of his jacket sleeve.
“You won’t stay?”
Pandreo pauses and looks back at her. Her voice sounds so pitiful, the look in her dual-colored eyes mimicked that.
Of course, he wanted to. Nothing lewd, but rather just to lay next to her. Holding her hand as she drifts off into sleep, without daring to worry about their final battle that was approaching faster with every passing day. To hold those tiny hands so tight that she would never disappear like his parents did.
But, it wasn’t right. Not yet. Pandreo turns to face her one last time for the night.
“When this war is over, we’ll spend all our days napping together.” His eyes thin with a peaceful smile tugging at his lips. “So for now, can you wait a little longer?”
Alear blushes when Pandreo kneels before her and takes hold of her hand, kissing her knuckles. A promise so featherlight against her skin.
“Yes… I can wait. But, don’t make me wait too long, ok?”
“I didn’t think you could be so demanding, Divine One.” Pandreo teases her as he gets back up to his feet. Ready now more than ever to see the end of this war.
“I’m just deciding to take advantage of my title for once.” Alear giggles.