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The firelight flickered softly against the walls of the Lin Kuei temple, casting warm shadows over the otherwise cold, stone surroundings. It was late—so late, in fact, that the halls were eerily silent, save for the faint crackling of the fire and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind outside.
But sleep had evaded Tomas entirely.
He sat near the hearth, his elbows resting on his knees, his fingers raking through his silver hair. His thoughts were tangled, one thread shining brighter than the rest. It was you. It was always you.
The sound of soft footsteps drew his attention. He glanced up, startled, to see you standing in the doorway, your figure backlit by the faint moonlight streaming in from the hallway. You looked worried, your arms wrapped around yourself as if warding off the chill.
“Tomas?” Your voice was soft, barely above a whisper. “What are you doing up?”
He hesitated, his stormy eyes studying you for a moment before he sighed and gave a sheepish shrug. “It’s 3AM, and all I’m thinking about is you.”
Your breath hitched, his honesty catching you off guard. For a moment, neither of you spoke, the weight of his words hanging in the air like an unspoken promise.
“Me?” you finally managed, stepping closer, your heart pounding against your ribs.
He nodded, his gaze dropping to the fire. “I can’t stop thinking about you. Your smile, your laugh, the way you look at me as if I’m more than just a shadow.” His voice grew quieter. “It’s like you’ve filled every corner of my mind, and I—”
You knelt beside him, placing a gentle hand on his arm. His words trailed off, his eyes meeting yours. The firelight danced in his irises, but it was the vulnerability in them that made your heart ache.
“I think about you too,” you admitted, your fingers curling slightly against his arm. “More than I probably should.”
A faint, hopeful smile tugged at his lips. “Is it wrong to hope you think about me as much as I think about you?”
You shook your head, your own smile growing. “Not wrong at all.”
He reached up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind your ear, his fingers lingering against your skin. “You make me feel like I belong somewhere—like I’m more than the shadows I was born into.”
Your chest tightened as you leaned into his touch. “You’re so much more than that, Tomas. And you don’t have to be alone anymore.”
For the first time in hours, Tomas felt the tension leave his body. The fire crackled softly between you, but it was your presence that truly warmed him. He pulled you closer, his forehead resting against yours.
“Stay with me,” he murmured.
You nodded, your arms wrapping around him. “Always.”
And as the night stretched on, the silence between you was filled not with words, but with the unspoken promise of two hearts finding home in each other.