chrysopteron | (no subject)

"Oh? No more words than those, Charles?"

Stepping towards his space, larger somehow with her wings poised behind her, Iris thinks, I can return here by your tokens. I learn to love a mortal here, though I never had before in eons of service. You want to solve my problems, but you cannot. My problems exist because of you. My solutions exist because of you. You cannot put me back to sleep again; Hypnos will not take me.

She's daunting and her words and thoughts aren't easy to hear, so he stands firms and says,

"No, I don't know what to say or do other than be here for you."

"And I know not how to act or speak right now except that whatever fault has occurred at the time by my anger, it is my own making, not yours."

Worry not, Charles.

"Would you rather fly once more?"

If that would help her then she should do it and he squeezes her hand. He can't help but worry though he'll try to not worry too much.

"I do not know."

It's a side effect of not really bothering with compassion before now.

"I cannot do anything that helps the situation to my own satisfaction."

"Oh Iris," That is a situation he does know quite well, "Sometimes you can't do anything and can only learn how to process it."

Iris doesn't approve of this particular scenario very much. She nearly vibrates with it.

"It's what I do most of the time when I see people in pain. I try to help but usually there's little I can do. It never stops hurting. Sometimes there are ways I can provide a little assistance but I can't easily say to someone that I felt their pain, heard their thoughts and want to help. Then I'd be thought mad and no good would come of it."

What Iris actually internalized from that: 'It never stops hurting.'

Her wings droop slightly.

I do not wish to return this evening.

"Then you don't have to. I'll stay with you tonight,"

He takes another step forward towards her.

Iris exhales, bringing her wings around Charles lightly. "That is not a requirement."

"I want to. Everything can wait."

"You are by far welcome."

It's simple, but simpler truths are the easier ones.

"I apologize for worrying you."

"You don't have to be. I care about you, that means I worry about you."

Iris shakes her head, more at herself than at Charles' statement.

"It seems such a simple concept to require so much from me."

It's a matter of practice.

"Relationships have a way of being simple and complicated all at once,"

He kisses her cheek.

"I should be studying more."

A small attempt at a joke.

"I will always help you with that, Iris,"

It makes him smile slightly.

When she lets him, Iris admonishes herself.

"Let us retire inside?"

"Yes, what would you like to do?"

Not remember. For a little.

It just comes out as a shrug.

He pulls her close to kiss her,

Then I'll find a way to keep you occupied with other things so no pain can slip in.

Iris is shaking her head at Charles' over-reaching in his thoughts - he does not need to be her protector. She should be doing so for him.

But the kiss is welcome, and so is the enthusiasm, and all of him against her.

"Lead on."

It's what he wants to do for her and he will do his best to achieve it.

He breaks the kiss and starts to lead her to the Bar, "Shall we get the same room as before? We can order dinner upstairs and I can take care of you tonight."

"...We can."

With an undercurrent of Yes, please.