dolevalan | Word 186

Title: Taking of Leave
Fandom: Original
Rating: PG

Author's Note: I think Nicolas and Stella want to become something longer, but I don't know. They've sort of hijacked the 15 minute fics, for the present.

It was a sunny day. That was, in itself, an odd thing. The sun didn’t shine out here very often, and when it did, it was usually a pale, puny cast upon the world; it was nothing like the island. But today, the sun had come out clean and clear and lit up the sunflowers springing up around the edges of the field, the rows of wheat a brilliant gold as the wind rippled them.

She breathed in, deeply. It was beautiful here, as much as she wanted to deny it. There was something about this place that would always speak of home. Out here in the stillness. She could hear him coming up behind her, as quiet as he tried to be.

It was coming. She was going to tell him. Tell him everything. How she’d changed, what she’d said. Everything, that is, except where she was going. What her new name would be. The secrets hung all the heavier between them because they were so few.

He stood in front of her, face open. It hit her, in a flash. He stepped in and kissed her, tasting like blood, blood and woodsmoke. She was frozen, unable to return the kiss, unable to pull away, locked in the moment with him. His hands were on her, warm and heavy and strong, and everything was wrong and right and there was thunder in the clear blue sky.

And then it was gone. He hadn’t kissed her. He had just stood there, stunned, as the words came spilling from her lips. He shook his head, tried to argue, but she could see he knew she wouldn’t be moved.

He didn’t touch her. He said goodbye, and turned, wading away through the wheat as the sun beat down.

Though she could feel the wind on her skin, it made no sound at all.