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Eight hours, it had been just eight full hours since 'Philip's Perishing' when Eda found Raine curled up into themself on the master bathroom floor, body shaking with broken sobs. Honestly, after everything the poor bard had gone through, not just today but over these last few months as a whole, Eda was impressed they'd made it this long before finally falling apart.
"Rainestorm?" she cooed softly as she gingerly stepped into the room, wincing when Raine full-bodied flinched and jerked away from Eda's sudden presence despite how carefully she'd advanced. "It's alright, Rainey, it's just me." Raine hastily sat up, using their sleeves to roughly swipe at their face to clear the tears.
"E-eda, s-ssorry. I d-didnt hear you come in. " they hiccuped, voice hoarse as they tried to force a smile so brittle the late autumn breeze could sweep it away in seconds.
"It's okay, luv. I was just finishing up helping Camila put the kids down for bed and wanted to check in on you." she knelt down a few feet away from them, close enough they could lean forward and touch her if they wanted, but also far enough away as to not suffocate them. "How're you holding up?"
"I'm fine," they lied quickly, Eda giving a soft disbelieving snort as Raine swipped at their face again. "Just needed a moment, is all."
"No, you're not fine, but that's okay. No one expects you to be fine after all of that, least of all me."
"But.. but I'm a covenhead. There are... expectations of me that I need to -"
"Hate to break it to yah sweetheart, but I'm pretty sure Belos' death helped signify the end of the Coven system." Eda tried her best not to sound too pleased at the idea, though the light snort she got from Raine told her she'd failed some. "All I'm saying is that it looks like your only major obligation for tonight is taking care of yourself and trying to relax, and I'm here to help with whatever you need to make that happen."
"No, but I can't, though, Eda. I can't!"
"You can't what, 'Storm?"
"I can't relax! I'm so scared that if I do, he'll come back. H-he'll come back and take over my body again, but this time I-I- I might hurt you! Or one of the kids! Or- or-" their breathing picked up into raspy gasps, pupils dilating and body trembling.
"Shhh, easy luv. Just breathe, okay? In and out nice and slow with me, " and Eda took long exaggerated breaths of air, reaching for Raine automatically before catching herself and pausing. "Is it okay if I touch you?" Raine hesitated for a few moments before giving a timid nod. Eda slid closer and caught one of the bard's hards in her own, giving it a reassuring squeeze before raising it up and planting their palm against her chest, just left of her gem. "Feel my breathing and try to copy the rhythm." and it took a few tries, but eventually, their breaths grew slower and deeper as their eyes slid shut, exhaustion evident on their face. " And for what it's worth: I've known you damn near my whole life Rainestorm, you wouldn't harm so much as a fly. I promise you that you would never hurt any of us, okay?"
"But I did hurt you!" Raine whimpered, eyes filled with guilt. "If it weren't for my failed Day of Unity plan, you might not have been in danger, and might not have had your arm ripped off!" their free hand came to rest just above the stump as fresh tears dripped down their face. "How does a witch even begin to try apologizing for something like this?"
"I dunno, probably some extravagant fruit basket or some shit. Though with the current state of- well, everything, I'm pretty sure all the businesses are closed and you're just screwed."
"Eda, I'm being serious." Raine chided gently. "How can your forgive me for something like this?"
"There's nothing to forgive Rainey; had you not acted like you did, I likely would have died - hell, we all probably would have! You had the courage to stand up and speak up when no one else would, you took actions that put yourself in danger in order to help other people. Not only am I not mad at you, I am so proud and grateful that I get to be a part of your life again."
"Thank you," they breathed out finally, voice barely above a whisper. "I'm still so sorry, Calamity."
"Whatever do you think you have to apologize to wittle ol' me for?"
"For being so weak; coven system or not, I'm still head bard and supposed to be stronger than this. I shou-"
"Now you stop that nonsense right now, alright?" Eda interrupted, voice caring but firm. "Being able to show when you're hurt isn't weakness; it takes real strength to show what hurts to those you love. At least that's what I remember some dopey smitten bard trying to teach me so ever many years ago."
"Dopey?" they chuckled. "If I'm dopey, what does that make you?"
"A dingus. I thought we had already clarified that in our first meeting." That drew the first genuine chuckle from Raine that she'd heard in so long it made her eyes grow all misty. "Titan, I'd forgotten how much I'd missed hearing your laugh," Eda blurted out, cheeks coloring quickly upon realizing just how cheesy she must sound. "Ugh, I think the kids' gushiness is infecting me."
"Hmm, it sounds serious. Any ideas for treatment?"
"Nope, afraid it might be chronic at this point. I'm doomed to forever be a corny dewy-eyes mess. "
"Mmmm," Raine cooed playfully, hand slipping up Edas chest to rest against the base of Eda's neck, drawing her close enough to press their foreheads together. "Well I for one, am honored to offer myself to be the target of your unrestrained romantics." and they pulled back to meet her eyes, hopeful but clearly nervous all the same. "If you'll have agian, that is?"
"Wait- holdup! Wait a minute! Are you serious? Does that mean what I think it means?!" it was Eda's turn for her heart to start racing as her eyes widened; she felt her whole body practically humming with anticipation. "Are you asking for us to be partners again?!" and it was Raine's timid nod that broke the damn holding the flood at bay. As hot tears poured down her cheeks, Eda grinned so hard her face nearly hurt. "Yes! Fuck yes! I cannot put into words how much the answer to that is 'yes please' in so many ways!" and she lunged forward, arm winding around Raine's waist and practically pulling them into her lap as she pressed her face into their neck, sighing contentedly when Raine's cheek pressed against her temple.
"Y'know, usually I don't think witches usually cry when they agree to go out with one another." Raine gently teased despite how evident it was in the crack of their voice that they too must have tears in their eyes. Eda just snorted and chuckled softly.
"Oh please, when have the two of us ever been anything besides abnormal? And besides, it has been how many years with these back-to-back apocalyptic catastrophes?! I think we're entitled to being however emotional we damn well please to be at this point!"
Raine just chuckled and wrapped their arms around her, holding Eda like they never wanted to let her go ever again.
"I think I might actually be fine now. Better than fine, honestly." they murmured into her hair, scratching at the base of Eda's scalp in a way that made her purr against their throat. "For the first time since everything went down, I think I finally feel safe again."
"That makes two of us." Eda affirmed softly, taking a few more moments to bask in the physical contact before leaning back. "Is it too presumptuous to ask if you'd be willing to share a nest tonight?"
"I would love nothing else!" Raine stood first, reaching down to pull their girlfriend up beside them, stretching up with the intention to press a kiss to her cheek, but catching onto their plan Eda took the initiative to turn her head and catch their lips with her own, purring happily when Raine cupped her face and kissed her back with the same enthusiasm.
The world might be a mess right now. It was going to take many years to finally fix and repair all the infrastructure that had been broken, much less heal the wounds that had been inflicted on everyone. And yet, as Eda eased herself down into her nest for a much needed night of rest, she felt Raine drape their around around her waist as they tucked close against her side and in that moment she just knew that despite how hard it was going to be, things would one day be okay again.