Coming Home

[Zesiro]

Once again back on Kesh, Zesiro had attempted to return to her duty to Edric. However, he still insisted she recover for at least a few more days. It was during those few days she met Solan and that was an interesting exchange for sure. Being kept alive after that, she at least had the hope of being accepted by his father.

Finally being given the green light to return to duty, Zesiro returned to her room in palace and changed into different clothes that weren't days old. Letting out a sigh, she was given free run of the palace for the most part. Private quarters were off limits unless invited in. As much as she might want that, Edric had yet to invite her to his rooms.

So she now went in search of the wayward man she was supposed to be guarding. Having spent a good amount of time near him, Zesiro felt she knew him well enough to know where to find him. It would be one of three or four places. Checking the time of day though, the most likely was going to be the garden.

Turning to head in that direction, she walked casually but with a sure stride. Not in a hurry and not dragging her feet. It seemed like it had been a long time since she had been at his side.

True to her intuition, she found Edric wandering through the garden where they had walked before war broke out and she had been called away. That war had lead to further war and ended up with her in the infirmary which she had just left earlier that day.

Hardly showing any hesitation, even if she might have felt some, Zesiro walked out into the garden to join Edric. Giving him a real smile, there was one thing she could be around him and that was herself.

"Hey. Been a while."

[member="Edric Vanyan"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

Edric looked at her long before she spoke and just smiled at her, letting her approach him and speak first as he knelt down, his hand touching at the flower of one of the plants in his garden. He ran a finger across its petals and closed his eyes, letting it grow slowly larger to match that of the others beside it. He smiled and kept his eyes closed until she finally did speak. Only then did his eyes open and he look up at her from where he was kneeling, carefully straightening back up so that he could talk with her comfortably and perhaps take a walk with her.

"Hey there Zes, it has been a while. And some of us have some explanations to give." He didn't stop smiling, his eyes still kind and soft as he looked over the garden. He was not done talking though.

"Do you realize the danger you were in? Especially if I had been needed to provide support for the ground forces. It would have been horrid to know I had caused your death you fool." He looked at her, not so much as hesitating in getting to the point. He wanted to get past this hurdle now and quick, not dwell on it and let it fester, knowing that he would only tear up his own insides if he did not get the fear off his chest. He would hate to cause the death of any of his friends, much less close ones.

"Got anything to say about that?" He looked at her, waiting.

 

[Zesiro]

As she expected, Zesiro found him outside on the garden. Giving him the time he wanted before he spoke to her, she watched as he brought more life to the flower in his hand. If the conversation with his father had been a difficult one to get through, this one was going to be harder. She really cared about Edric and when he pointed out she had some explanation to do, she gulped slightly and looked guilty. Even if his attitude was soft and friendly, caring even, his words broke her more than his father's had.

Letting out a sigh, she had picked one of his habits and ran a hand across the back of her head, playing with her hair just slightly. Meeting his eyes though, she wasn't going to attempt to not look at him.

"I was called away before that time though. We won't have to worry about that happening again, but I got hurt in a war before and was on Tatooine recovering. The rest is history from there, I guess."

It probably sounded totally lame but it was the truth.

"Just ended up on the wrong side of the lines and I'm glad you didn't have to worry about sending help to the planet. Didn't even know you were there. I won't leave your side again."

[member="Edric Vanyan"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

Edric returned to saying nothing, only looking at her for a few moments when she finished talking and then sitting by to think on what she had just said a seconds before. He didn't quite know why he felt the way he did, honestly he was a bit annoyed with himself for her being so dismissive of the situation she had placed herself in and what side she had chosen. Why had she even chosen that side in the first place, he understood what those people were like and knew that he would not find any agreement with them.

He thought on the matter and looked at her again to try and figure out what he should say to her after this, but he was lost in what he should say to her so he just turned his head back to the plants. His throat felt dry and he tapped his hand on his leg before pushing his hand through his own hair once more. He had to say something to her, but what escaped him, so much so that he was left wordless and his throat itching.

"You ended up on the wrong side." He began. "That much is quite obvious Zes... what were you even thinking in joining them? Why would you even join them, or stay with them. I know you were with them when we had met, but I would have thought that you had left them when you showed back up on Kesh only a short time ago, after you said you had left to come here and find a place away from them?"

 

[Zesiro]

What Zesiro had been saying all along seemed to be going in one ear and out the other of everybody. All people could say or think about was that she had been found on the side of the Empire. Never mind what had actually brought her there. Then to add to mix of confusion was the reason she had even got into hiding on Kesh. She hadn't been running from the Empire, but the First Order.

"Edric, when we met I was with the Empire and I was taken prisoner of the First Order while I was with them. Prior to my escape from them, the year I spent with the Empire was the best of my life until that point. My year with the First Order was horrible and I ran. However, in my year away from that Empire, I had moved beyond them in my life. They had held me back. The First Order held me back as well. On Kesh, I was able to make my own life and give myself a new opportunity. Honestly, the three years there ended up being the best thing to happen to me. Knowing you had a hand in that, I..."

Words failed Zesiro at that point, she was beyond tired of having to say the same thing over and it made her want to cry. Out irritation, shame and all sorts of other emotions all bundled into one.

"I'm sorry and I..."

Unable to finish what she was going to say, she fell silent and didn't look Edric in the eyes. If he picked up on her emotions, he would know she meant everything she said and then some.

[member="Edric Vanyan"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

[member="Zesiro"]

Edric listened to her attentively, his eyes unmoving as she spoke and her emotions flared up like an explosion. He knew it had been his words that triggered this, and he did not regret what he had said. He thought what he said was correct and necessary, especially considering that she had placed herself in a spot where he could have been the reason for her injuries in another time or reality, one that had not had him stay his hand. The thought pestered at him, but he was not so self absorbed that he would ignore her emotions as they hit him like a truck.

With a sigh he simply shook his head and leaned forward when she started to say she was sorry, he quickly wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight with her losing her words. He would not mind being there to listen and help her, but still had thought the words were necessary. He was not so simple to repeat or pester her longer with his own feelings on the matter, knowing she was already hurting enough that pushing the issue would serve no purpose.

"You get too emotional, maybe a lesson from the Jedi might help there?" He smiled at her as he hugged her, hoping the joke would lighten her mood or calm her mind, even if faintly.

 

[Zesiro]

At first it appeared her words and feelings had no effect on Edric, but when she started to lose what control she had and he wrapped his arms around her...Zesiro fell silent and just sort of whimpered in his embrace. The words he said had been needed. Same for her words, even if she lost all sense the more she said. Everything was true though from both of them.

It was something Zesiro loved about him. That was the first time that emotion actually crossed her mind and her arms wrapped around him. Taking a gulp and shaky breath, she pulled away from him only to look up into his eyes.

Her own were slightly teary, but his words brought a small smile before she put her head back on his chest. Taking a few moments to try and calm down, she listened to his heart beat and knew she would never leave his side again if she could help it.

"I never thought this would happen in all my life."

She didn't mean the situation of the past, but how she felt now.

"No Jedi teachings for me. I am who and what I am. Edric...I think, no, I know I love you. There isn't anything else it could be."

[member="Edric Vanyan"]

 

[Edric Vanyan]

He sighed as she took shaky breathes and her voice faltered, meanwhile leaving him there to hug the woman and just let her calm down. He knew his words had caused that and like before he would be happy to simply hold her until she was good to speak again. He didn't mind how long that might take, there was no reason for him to move or leave and he had no intention of doing so in the near future.

When she spoke again he listened as attentively as ever and smiled softly when she said her words. She was looking into his eyes and he was staring back while she finished. He didn't think very long this time, instead he just smiled a bit wider and spoke.

"You being who you are is why I love you too, if that wasn't clear before." He leaned forward and kissed her once more.

He figured continuing their conversation was unnecessary, especially considering the turn of the mood. No need to make her upset again if he could avoid it.

 

[Zesiro]

Things had been a long time building between them. Today was the first time either of them had given voice to their feelings for the other. At least on a personal level. It had not been something Zesiro had ever though could happen to her, yet here she was. On second thought, they were both here.

"I had no idea."

Their lips met after that and she just enjoyed the feelings shared between them. Unspoken no and there was no real need.
​
One thought did come to mind, but it was just an idea. Nothing formal or even clearly imagined. Just a base that this is where she was meant to be. Beside Edric.

[member="Edric Vanyan"]