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The first thing Aglaea notices is that she can see again. Or at least she could before she closed her eyes as soon as her brain registered how bright it was. The brief glimpse of her surroundings before she shut out the world revealed to her that her vision was once again clear and sharp.
Unfortunately it also *felt* sharp.
But the second thing she noticed was that her golden threads were gone. Meaning that she didn't have the form of sight she'd used for centuries. How ironic, her vision had been restored and yet she'd never felt more blinded.
Her breath came in short gasps. The corner of her eyes began to sting for some reason. Her lips parted to gasp for breath, was she panicking? She wasn't sure. Panic had been a foreign emotion to her for so long. But she knew whatever it was she hated it. She didn't know what to do, she couldn't even think.
Was she dying? No, she'd just come back to life. But why did everything feel so wrong?
She heard voices around her, terrifyingly not all of them were familiar. One in particular stood out though. Cutting through her clouded thoughts.
"Aglaea, Aglaea listen to me"
Anaxa. She'd know that infuriating man's voice anywhere. His hands gripped hers and before her conscious mind could even process what she was doing, much less decide against it, she hugged him. Her grip was tight, bruising probably, her forehead resting against his shoulder.
She clung to him like a lifeline, as if he was the only solid thing around her. And in a way he was. After all, she couldn't see. Or at least was unwilling to try. So he was the only part of her surroundings that she could be sure of.
A broken sob tore from her throat, she sounded frantic even to her own ears. She was crying? That explained why her eyes stung. But she couldn't bring herself to care. If she wasn't so out of it she'd be mortified by her behavior. Logically she knew that but for the first time in so long logic was very firmly taking a back seat in her mind.
"Aglaea... it's okay, you're safe" Anaxa told her , his voice a low and soothing tone. She wanted to believe him, really she did. But it was so hard. How could it be okay when she felt like she couldn't breathe?
"No" was all she managed to get out in between sobs and desperate gasps for breath. She didn't have it in her to protest when he sat down with her and pulled her into his lap. As long as he was there to hold onto.
"Focus on my voice and my breathing, okay?" He told her, his fingers beginning to comb through her hair.
She tried to speak, to agree or say something, anything. But it only made it harder to breathe and she couldn't get any words out.
"Don't try to speak, just focus on trying to match your breathing with mine" he said, his chest rising and falling against her in what was probably exaggerated deep breathing.
She tried, really tried, and she had absolutely no idea how long it took before she could reliably speak. She was still trembling all over and struggling to catch her breath. But she was breathing better. it didn't feel quite as dire anymore.
But then Anaxas body tensed up and a new rush of fear shot through her.
"Foolish man, don't tense like that you'll scare her" a familiar voice spoke. One she hadn't heard in such a long time. She tried to open her eyes to look but the light still felt sharp, and her eyes sore from crying.
"Hysilens?" She asked, her voice sounding weak and pitiful.
"Mhm, it's me. You've done so well Aglaea." Hysilens praised in a soft and gentle voice. From the sound of it kneeling beside her and Anaxa who had said nothing so far.
Aglaea didn't even know where to begin. There was so much to say. And being told she'd done well made her feel like crying even more, though she wasn't even sure why. She opened her mouth to speak, say something, that she missed her, or thank you, or I'm sorry, any would be better than nothing.
But Hysilens hushed her before she could try.
"Shh.. we can talk to your hearts content later. Here, drink."
Aglaea felt a straw held up to her lips and took a few sips of water from it. The cool liquid soothing her throat. She hadn't realized she was thirsty.
"Better?" the other woman asked when she was finished drinking. Aglaea simply hummed affirmatively.
"Now let's get you somewhere more comfortable. Who should I fetch? Considering your boyfriend here certainly isn't strong enough to carry you"
Hysilens bold comment, combined with the indignant noise Anaxa made in response was so ridiculous and unexpected Aglaea actually laughed in response. "Hysilens!" she protested, her laugh cutting to a coughing fit.
She wanted to say that she wasn't injured and could walk just fine, but even lifting a hand made her acutely aware of how shaky she was. Unfortunately hysilens call of having her carried home was probably a wise choice. But not one particularly easy to agree to.
After a few seconds of silence she finally replied.
"Chartonus has seen me in worse shape" it wasn't untrue, dying was worse than whatever this is. Probably. At least then she hadn't had to live with embarrassment about it, but she'd cope.
Anaxa stayed with her while she was safely returned to her room. With the lights off and curtains drawn. She was still holding onto his hand, now laying on her bed. Her breathing was finally back to normal and she felt more calm.
But mostly she was just exhausted her whole body felt weighed down, the adrenaline having drained away and left only a bone deep fatigue behind. Well, fatigue and a headache.
"Do you want to try opening your eyes now? The dark should help." Anaxa suggested quietly, running his free hand through her hair.
She made a soft hum of protest but after a moment she slowly opened her eyes, blinking in the low lighting. It still felt strange, but it wasn't painful anymore. Her gaze swept across the room, before she finally looked up at Anaxa himself.
He looked... like he used for the most part. Still worryingly thin, resurrection couldn't do everything she supposed. But healthier. The hole in his chest was gone, and she suspected his other eye was back as well. But he still wore the eyepatch anyway.
It made her smile, she still remembered sewing it for him all those years ago. "Thank you" she said after a moment of looking up at him. Then she laid her head in his lap and closed her eyes again. "The dark helps, but I'm so tired, it's hard to keep my eyes open" she added in a soft and tired voice.
"You're welcome" Anaxa replied, attentive and gentle in a way that made her feel so safe and cared for. The feeling of safety only made it harder for her to stay awake.
"Lay down with me?" her voice was barely above a whisper, as she opened her eyes to look at him, struggling stay conscious long enough.
"Of course" Anaxa replied, laying down on the bed and letting her snuggle up against him, wrapping an arm around her as she lay her head on his chest
"I love you" Aglaea murmured, and she knew now more than ever that it was true. There wasn't another person in this world she'd rather be with right now. Her newly heightened emotions making it harder not to cry simply out of not knowing what else to do.
"I love you too." Anaxas reply was the last thing she heard before finally falling asleep.
Safe, loved, and able to live for herself instead of everyone depending on her.