Completed Anything But Normal

[Ispir Sione]

Ispir would nod at Zinnia 's hesitant answer and, squeezing her hand reassuringly, would frown before stepping between her and the glowing mass of constellations. Turning his back to it as he faced her and took her other hand, looking up at her with determination as he spoke.

"Zinni.... we can leave if you want. It only got more intense last time I was here. There was an explosion and a sword and.... uhh...."

He actually blushed a bit.

".... a-a rabbit....."

He shook his head. Sounding foolish even to himself before he sighed.

"Umm.... I didn't...."

He actually choked up a bit, remembering that voice so so familiar from within the blade, that voice that even the memory of made his heart ACHE with longing to hear again. A tear rolling down his cheek and he didn't even realize it as he drew in a shaky breathe.

"I wasn't ready last time. A-And... I'm still not... I don't know what it wants or means. It's..... scary. It makes me.... different. Irman Harefoot thinks I'm some sort of Fae. I don't even know what that means but apparently it's bad."

His hands squeezed hers, shook in hers, and he couldn't meet her eyes anymore as he closed his.

"I'm sorry. To show this to you. It took a l-lot of bravery for you to show me what you did and I.... this is so different. It.... Is it too much?"​

 

[Zinnia]

When Ispir's eyes shut he'd after a moment he'd feel Zinnia's hands leave his. For one aching, tense second there would be silence. Then he'd feel Zinnia's arms wrap around him in a tight hug.

The stars seemed to hang still around them.

"Ispir, no. Please don't be sorry. It's okay," she spoke softly, hand stroking over his hair. She could only imagine how scared he must have been, how awful it must be to bear the weight of this strange place alone. It was, truthfully, not that different from the burden of truth she'd carried since her eyes first changed color.

"This is...a lot. But you trusted me enough to show me, and that means a lot. I'm not going anywhere, I just...don't have any answers..." she said, her voice genuine as she tried to offer him some small comfort. She leaned forward, pressing her forehead to his. "But I want to help you find them, if you'll let me."

 

[Ispir Sione]

Ispir would nod, just a bit, and take a shaky breathe before feeling Zinnia touch her forehead to his. The intimacy, the closeness, made him burn a soft pink. He still wasn't sure how to process these emotions when they came. Like butterflies and lightning in the pit of his stomach. All he could do was stare into Zinnia's eyes.... nod slowly.... and his own eyes would widen as he remembered what came next.

All but tackling Zinnia backwards Ispir would wrap one arm under her torso, the other cradling her head, as he threw himself bodily over her in a crouch as the structures all around them, proud and austere, would begin to wither. The pillars would chip, dust and small bits of stone beginning to fall from their otherwise proud surfaces. Then, to crumble, larger shards raining down as Ispir tightened his protective hold on Zinnia, her chin tucked atop her head with her face buried in the crook of his neck and chest, in the scent of him.

The mass of starlight up above would begin to pulsate and radiate heat, flaring with power and twisting the gravity of the realm they stood within. Sending sharp bits of debris and rock swirling and lashing as if caught in a tornado in all directions.... save for upon them. The light would grow so intense, so radiant, so blinding, that to try and look beyond Ispir would be to blind oneself.

Only when the structures had been torn utterly asunder, leaving the two of them now on the only single path of jagged stone up the steps to what had once been that miniature star, now there was only a churning mass of celestial energy and, atop the stairs, a single blade hovering above a maelstrom of starlight. Ispir, panting softly, would nestle his face into Zinnia's hair and breathe out in a hushed, worried breathe.

"W-We should leave...."

Though the light now dimmed for Zinnia to catch glimpses of what lay beyond and a faint, light-born silhouette of Ispir standing before the steps, separate from the real one currently holding her.

Spoiler: The Scene

 

[Zinnia]

There were a few moments shared where the two could hold each other and feel comfort in each other's arms. Alas, the strange reality, or perhaps vision they found themselves in seemed to protest.

What followed was terrifying, what little stability to be found sundering itself apart. However, in the chaos, Zinnia found herself suddenly in a position she'd never been before: being sheltered and kept safe by a boy. And not even a fellow Dreadlord, not even a warrior, but a fragile bard smaller than herself.


Zinnia lay on her back after the dust had settled, shaken but unharmed, staring up at Ispir wide-eyed. She looked sidelong at the vision that Ispir saw, that duplicate of him and the celestial blade before him, swallowed dryly, then looked back to Ispir.

"Yeah. Home, please."

 

[Ispir Sione]

Nodding quickly and closing his eyes Zinnia would be able to feel and heart the thrum of his heartbeat against her chin. Steady, a bit fast maybe, but even and regular as he drew in a slow breathe and.... took them back.....

All at once Ispir would jolt in the still-warm water of the tub. His hands still clinging to Zinnia's shoulders, the gentle sight of her golden scales and her crown of horns made him smile and he would blink his eyes a bit before he withdrew his hands, instead gripping the edge of the tub and sighing.

"Z-Zinnia? We're back.... ummm.... thank you. For letting me share my secret with you. At least.... the parts you saw."

So focused on the vision, the... experience, or whatever it was he had shared Ispir wasn't even blushing at the fact he was naked before her. Thankfully everything below his stomach was still hidden in the tub.​

 

[Zinnia]

Reality, true reality, flashed back into view. Zinnia still knelt exactly where she'd been before Ispir had taken them...wherever else they'd gone, panting as though she'd just run a marathon. A building had just collapsed on top of Ispir. Was he okay?

Zinnia seized Ispir's face in her scaled hands and looked him over, hastily but thorough. Nothing. Not a scratch. She didn't register that he was still naked. She barely registered that he was speaking. She just hugged him again, quick and secure, and let several seconds go by as her heart began to calm and get breathing steadied, her head rested on his shoulder.

"You're full of surprises, you know that?" she asked softly, stutter notably gone.

More of what just transpired ran through her head. His protection. His scent. The same scent she was breathing in now. It was...nice. Calming.

 

[Ispir Sione]

Eyes would widen immediately as his face was seized. As claws came dangerously close to his throat and head. The hug though.... the hug was nice. It was a hug he returned, tightly, though he would sheepishly cover himself once she started to look him over so closely. Face burning a bright cherry red before she hugged him again and he let out a shaky, uncertain laugh at her soft question.

"I-I am? Well.... you are too....."

Hands would slide up her back to gently touch and play with her horns before he added.

"Miss Golden Dragon.~"

It was a name given playfully, as he still wasn't EXACTLY sure what she was, but he nonetheless peeled himself from the hug to look up at the crown of horns on her head before meeting her eyes.

"You're really brave, you know that?"

He would ask, somewhat teasingly, but still serious. Echoing her tone and choice of words before he shyly sunk down lower in the water. His self-consciousness returning to him as he calmed down.

Zinnia​

 

[Zinnia]

The name gave cause for Zinnia to blush now as well, and a swishing sensation manifested behind her. Her shifting had brought about her tail, of the same color and scales as her hands and forearms. It moved happily from side to side behind her, having sprouted from the small of her back and pushed the back of her shirt up to make room for itself.

Zinnia, too, was unsure of what she wholly was...but the title did fit.

As Ispir sunk down Zinnia leaned away a bit.

"Brave, huh?" she felt a breathy laugh escape her. Rarely did she feel brave. In fact, usually she felt caged by her own fears. Maybe it was time to do something brave now.

Zinnia stood up, staying by the tub's side.

"Hey...Ispir?" she started to ask, he hands finding their way to the hem of her shirt as though she was about to lift it over her head. "I think...after all that, I could use a bath too."

The implication weighty, obvious, but spoken nonetheless:

"Mind if I join you?"

 

[Ispir Sione]

He would nod without a second thought about how brave she was. Smiling all the while. When Zinnia stood up he would nod again, expecting her to fix the folding screen and go do something else. Returning to washing his arms only to blink and look back up at her as she called to him. At the mention of her needing a bath he blushed, but not for the reason she might have expected, and he would smile sheepishly.

"O-Oh yeah I...."

He had been about to say that he had technically been in there awhile only for Zinnia to ask a very obvious question that went right over his head. His head tilting in confusion as he asked obliviously.

"W-Wait don't you want the tub to yourself?"

Blink. Blink.​

 

[Zinnia]

Zinnia smiled, laughed, shook her head. She pulled her shirt up and over, leaving just a sports bra beneath. As promised, her abdominal muscles were toned and prominent, proof of her years of consistent physical conditioning. Her arms, too, bore definition; her physique was not a bulky one, but her lean muscle was abundant, a body belonging to someone who'd brought herself to the peak of fitness.

The draconic girl tossed the shirt aside.
"No, I wanna share. I wasn't done washing your back, and this way you can get mine, too."

She began to unstrap her belt next. Oddly, she was casual about it all, feeling no shame as she disrobed. If Ispir was opposed, now was his time to voice as much.