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It’s raining again. You take a deep breath, sighing softly as you rest your head against the wall. You’re drenched, soaked down to the bone at this point. You know you need to get up, to head inside so that you don’t get sick, but you just can’t. The idea of moving, of bringing yourself to do anything right now except sit under the rain is bordering on painful. The rain mixes with the tears running down your face, masking them somewhat and the thunder drowns out your cries of anguish.
“There you are!”
Rafayel’s voice cuts through the heavy sound of the rain beating down on your skin. You open your eyes, blinking away the rain drops and the tears from your lashes as best you can. In front of you is Rafayel, crouched and looking equally as drenched. He’s frowning at you, brows furrowed in an expression that betrays his genuine displeasure at finding you out here like this.
“What do you think you’re doing?” He asks, frown deepening. “Gods, you’re shivering.” He reaches for you, and you flinch away from his touch. He pauses.
“Don’t.” The word is small on your lips, more of a whimper being drowned out by the thunder overhead than a proper word.
Rafayel watches you carefully, worry in his eyes. “Love, it’s pouring rain and you’ve been out here for who knows how long…” He sighs heavily, runs a hand through the soaking wet fringe of his hair, pulling it back away from his forehead. “What are you doing?”
“I just–”
“Out here looking like a drowned cat, it’s not fitting for you and your beauty.” He’s teasing, a light lilt to his voice, but there’s a softness in it, a genuine worry that soothes some of the ache in your chest.
You bring your hand to your heart, clutching at the soaked through fabric with a shaking fist. “I couldn’t stop–”
Rafayel shakes his head. “Don’t you dare blame yourself.” It’s a command, a sharp and quick statement that leaves no room for argument.
It gives you pause, looking up at him with eyes wide.
Rafayel takes a deep breath, reaching out for you but keeps his hands off of your frame, cognizant of how you’d told him not to touch you. “You didn’t do anything wrong, that attack was too much for any sole Hunter to handle.”
You take a shaky breath. The night wasn’t supposed to go like this, you were supposed to meet Rafayel for a nice dinner and a rainy day walk along the pier. It wasn’t supposed to end with you having to try and evacuate an entire restaurant during a wanderer attack, the whole thing collapsed into the ocean, and you knew, something in the pit of your gut told you that everyone hadn’t made it out. It broke every protocol in the book, but you couldn’t stand to stay there once the other Hunters had arrived and the attack was subdued. After you’d given your report, you ran. Bolted really, taking off in a sprint before Rafayel could even process what had happened or where you’d gone. You didn’t know either really, just ran plagued by the guilt and the pain of watching a beloved family restaurant fall into the ocean because of Wanderers.
Now you found yourself here, curled up against a brick wall, sobbing in the thunderstorm with Rafayel looking at you like it physically hurts him to watch you blame yourself. Maybe it does, in a way.
“I didn’t do enough.”
Rafayel shakes his head. “You did, darling. You did.” His fingertips brush along the skin of your arms, leaving a path of goosebumps in their wake. “Can I?”
You nod before you can stop yourself, wanting nothing more than to sink into him. He pulls you to him, hugging you so tight that you swear it’s harder to breathe. Yet, it’s not tight enough. You cling to him, trembling fingers sinking into the drenched silk of his red shirt. He’d dressed so nicely for tonight, just for you. Another sob forces itself through your lips, wracking your frame.
Rafayel doesn’t say anything, simply picks you up in his arms. He stands, and it surprises you a little at how he manages to do so with you being held so securely. One of his arms slides under your legs effortlessly, putting you into a bridal carry.
“Rafayel?”
He looks down at you, expression still unguarded and a little unreadable. “I’ve got you. Let me be your bodyguard this time, okay?”
You nuzzle into his chest, the silk fabric sticks to your cheek. He carries you, the rain beating down on you both from overhead. “I can walk…”
“No.”
It’s a simple word, one laced with so many unsaid emotions.
You nod, unwilling to argue with him as he carries you. Another clap of thunder overhead, and you look out at the ocean to see the mess of waves crashing against the beach. It mimics your insides, a tumultuous swirl of different emotions cresting into the tears that had stained your cheeks long before the rain had soaked you through.
You hear a door opening, and are greeted with the warmth and comfort of one of Rafayel’s studios. He always keeps the temperature inside warm, and now it feels like a wave of heat like his Evol kissing along your drenched skin. You shiver in his arms.
“My silly bodyguard, sitting out in the rain like that…” Rafayel muses softly, takes off his shoes at the entryway and carries you straight to the bathroom.
He puts you down on the countertop, right next to the sink. He quickly picks up a fluffy towel, and wraps it around your shivering body. “You’re almost frozen to the bone…” He mumbles softly.
The towel is warm and soothing around you, but the cold that has seeped into your body is too deep. Suddenly, it’s warmer, the soft touch of heat beginning to melt into you. You look up at Rafayel, who holds his hands over the towel. He’s rubbing it softly, hands glowing a soft orange-red as he uses his Evol, imbuing the fluffy towel with more warmth for you.
“Why did you run?” Rafayel asks softly, one hand coming up to card through your hair gently.
“I–” you swallow roughly, the words dying in your throat.
He waits, patient as he continues to rub one hand over your back and the other gently moving the wet strands of your hair off of your face. His face is passive, but you can see the depth of worry and fear in his eyes as he looks at you, waiting for your answer.
You swallow again, gathering the courage within you. “It just hit me all at once.” You sigh, bottom lip trembling as another set of tears threaten to fall. “I couldn’t take it.”
He takes a deep breath. “You don’t have to bear it by yourself.” He says softly, pulling you into his chest once more. “You should never have to endure the weight of sadness by yourself.”
You nod softly.
“I’m right here, love.” He says, voice cracking softly. “I’m right here,” he insists again, “you’re never alone.”
You take a deep breath, clinging to him like you’re afraid he’ll be taken from you in a moment. The storm raging outside and in your heart swirling around you.
“You’ll never weather the storm alone with me here.” Rafayel’s lips are soft as they touch your forehead. “I’ll always be right here.”