forum The Only One // One on One // CLOSED

Started August 23, 2019 by @ElderGod-Icefire

tune

Ayce fell asleep after a few minutes, obviously used to sleeping just about anywhere. His black and white hair was messy, as usual, hanging into his face and across his shoulders, spread out on the bed.

(Time skip to morning?)

(Yeah.)

Nolam woke up early tge next morning, before the sun had even began to peak over the horizon. He smiled as he noticed Ayce still sleeping in his arms. He stayed still, not wanting to wake the fae.

Ayce was curled up beside Nolan, still sleeping. He hadn't had nightmares this time, or if he had, they hadn't been nearly as bad. Maybe it had helped, having someone sleeping beside him. Not being alone. Or maybe it had just been from exhaustion. Either way, he had slept deeper, and mostly dreamless.

It wasn't until the sun was rising that Nolan gently shook Ayce awake. "We need to get going. Do you want a little bit of food before we hit the road?" He asked gently. He was stroking Ayce's hair again, to keep his calm.

Ayce blinked awake, staring at him. He nodded slightly, slowly sitting up. "Please." He said softly, looking at Nolan. He felt hungry now, though he hadn't felt hungry yesterday. He tucked his knees to his chest yet again.

Nolan nodded. He grabbed the jerky from his bag and handed Ayce a piece. "Small bites so you don't make yourself sick." He instructed. He grabbed the water and took a sip before stretching the canteen out towards the fae.

Ayce nodded, taking small bites out of the jerky. "Thank you." He said softly, taking the canteen. His eyes flickered to Nolan's face, then away again. He took a sip from the canteen, then set it down to the side.

Nolan ate bits and pieces of the jerky. When he finished his piece he got out of bed and got ready for the day. That mostly meant that he was strapping his weapons to his body. "Are you ready to go?" He asked Ayce

Ayce nodded, finishing his piece of jerky. He stood, swaying a bit. He wasn't used to standing anymore, and he stumbled slightly. "S-sorry." He stammered automatically, biting his lip. He hated this. Hated that he was so weak hated that he needed help for every little thing.

"You're doing just fine. We'll take it one step at a time okay?"Nolan gently placed a hand on his shoulder steady him. He packed away the few things he had laying around. He extended his hand towards Ayce. "Alright. Let's get going." He gave him a reassuring smile. "We'll go as far as you can okay?"

Ayce nodded. "Okay." He replied softly, taking Nolan's hand. He picked up the canteen again, holding it in his other hand. He shifted slightly, still wobbling a little as his muscles got used to fully bearing his own weight again. Which sounded sad, but…in Raifa, he had always been either chained or being dragged or supported by a guard. He hadn't had to stand on his own in a long time.

Nolan kept a tight grip on Ayce, not because he was afraid he would run, but to help support him. "You're doing great." He smiled. He slowly started to step towards the entrance. He watched Ayce, going as slow as he needed too.

Ayce kept pace with him carefully, looking down at his feet so that he wouldn't trip. "Thank you." He said softly. He held tightly to Nolan, still trying not to fall as he walked. Why now? Was the question that still swirled around in his brain. Why get me out now instead of 100 years ago when I first went in?

"Of course." Nolan offered him a small smile. He held open the fron door for him, letting it close behind him. "Our first stop is going to be a town. We'll get you some proper clothes and restock our supplies." He explained, walking slowly beside Ayce.

Ayce nodded. "Okay." He said softly. His eyes flicked to Nolan, and he hesitated. "I-I need to…wash off, too…" He said slowly, looking back down at his feet to make sure he didn't trip and fall and tear open the still healing wounds. "And…do something about my hair…"

"We'll take care of all of that. I promise." Nolan said with a small smile. "Once we get there, we'll get a room and a bath. Get something warm to eat. Then we'll get supplies."

Ayce nodded. "Okay." He said softly, following Nolan's lead and gripping tightly to him. He stumbled slightly, nearly falling. Take forever this'll take so long and then…and… His thoughts were a jumble.

Nolan helped steady him. "I got you. Take it slow. I don't want you to hurt yourself." He pulled Ayce closer to his body. He didn't want anything to happen to the fae.

Ayce looked at him, and nodded. "Okay." He said softly, holding onto Nolan. He kept his focus on the ground to watch where he was going.

Nolan was a little irritated about how slow they were going but he didn't let it show. It wasn't Ayce's fault. And it would probably take hik a long tine to feel confortable on his feet. The best thing Nolan could do was help him through it

Ayce walked as fast as he could, but he was weak from the years in the dungeon. He knew that, and felt guilty for slowing Nolan down like this. His legs also hurt quite a lot due to injuries on his thighs, but he had already decided he wasn't going to say anything.

Nolan kept his eye on Ayce the entire time they walked. He wanted to make sure nothing was going to happen. "What do you perfer, sunset or sunrise?" He asked

"Sunset." Ayce said softly. He glanced at Nolan. "You?" He sucked his upper lip between his teeth for a moment, then released it with a soft sigh.

"Sunrise. It reminds me thats it's a new day, a new beginning. Anything can happen." Nolan smiled. He loved to watch the sunrise in the mornings during training.

Ayce nodded slightly. He looked down at his feet still, trying not to trip and fall. How much farther? He wondered. But he wasn't going to ask. He knew he was the reason they were traveling so slow.

"Have you ever wanted a pet?" Nolan kept talking to keep Ayce distracted form walking. "I always have. I'm not sure what kind of pet I want though. Dogs seem like fun, maybe a cat. Then again birds can always be useful if they're trained to carry messages. Maybe a lizard, just because they're cool."

Ayce glanced up at him. "I…had a cat once. Before…" His eyes slid away. "I don't know what happened to it." Before the dungeons, he meant. Before Raifa. But he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Nolan smiled and nodded. "We'll get you a whole army of cats when we get back, how does that sound?" He asked. "And whatever else you want. Name it and I'll make sure you get it."

Ayce looked at him, eyes confused. "Why?" He asked softly. "Why are you doing…any of this?" He looked down at the ground. "I don't understand…" He mumbled something to himself. The stars stand alone the stars dont need support or help so why do you?