Wake Up

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael shook his head.

The arm that snaked around her quickly pulled her towards her even more while the other pulled around her to snake in front of her. Essentially, he made her lay on top of him, though he kept her way from the open end of the cut.

“No.” His voice was stern, stubborn, and commanding. “I will survive the night, you need rest.”

There wasn't any changing his mind, that much was clear. The bleeding was minor, and would come to a stop in a few seconds.

 

[Kira Talith]

He moved fast for one in his situation. His deep voice was right next to her head. Arms would snake round, and in her weak state, there was no room for protest; she wouldn't have the strength to unhitch his grasp of her.

The solid wall of his chest was at her back, while she sat cradled between his legs, almost as if he were a living, breathing, warm chair. He'd settle the cloak around her, making sure she was fully covered. Her knees would draw up, and after a moment of soft protesting, she'd give up.

There was no arguing with the man.

The crown of her blonde head would fall back, tiny frame settling against him. It would take a bit for the fire to warm their little area, but it would take the bite of the chill.

After a moment, her chest would rise as she'd take a long deep breath. Half lid eyes would stare out into the fire, floating between exhaustion and slumber.

Silence would fall, save the the steady lub-dub of his heartbeat at her back, every breath he'd take tickling her bangs. Finally, in a soft voice, as if she'd been mulling over it for some time, while she was feeling brave before she'd let oblivion take her, came a quiet muffled question.

"Why did you kiss me?"

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael looked at the fire ahead of Kira.

He didn't answer her for the longest time. Not because he was trying to think of something deep, not because he was contemplating his answer or anything of that sort, but simply because he was thinking about her. It was an odd question to him. Why would anyone kiss anyone? Because they liked them enough to try. Because they wanted to.

Thus, Kira's question didn't really make any sense to Soliael. She might as well have asked him why he had feet. The perplexity came to a crux, and he focused on the flames for a moment more. Perhaps there was something else to it? Perhaps she was asking more than simply why. Perhaps she was asking for his motivation.

“Because you're kind.” Soliael said quietly, nearly a whisper into her ear. “Because you're beautiful, accepting, hopeful, and so many other things.”

He let silence ring for a few moments, only punctuated by the crackling of the flames. “Because you're you.”

That was all that was really to it. Soliael didn't love Kira. Truthfully Soliael didn't even know what love was, but he held an affection for her, a string of emotions that to him were nothing but an oddity. He had no reason not to kiss her, not to try.

So he had.

It was simple.

 

[Kira Talith]

Whatever clarity he’d try to give her would be lost to the Lorrdian. Her lids fell shut, and her head would lay against the crook of his shoulder, fast asleep.

He too too long.

Well, more like her body had enough again. While she had determination and tenacity in spades, she was worn out, tired, and he was simply far too comfy and warm to not be lulled by the steady rise and fall of his chest.

Ironies of ironies, really -- haha, but who could blame her? Either way, those words would slip into her unconscious mind. Perhaps they would plant a seed. Or maybe she’ll never remember them. It was a freezing cold night. Everything was a mess and nothing seemed to be going right. Here she was, lost on a planet she had barely even heard of with a man who many would rightfully claim she didn’t really know.

But she didn’t care.

Right now, he was warm. He’d done everything he could to help her and keep her safe. And he genuinely meant it.

He was a good man.

That was enough for her trust to rest upon.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael felt her slump against him only a few seconds after he spoke. A wide grin crossed his face as he felt her body relax, tension in her shoulders becoming unknotted, her neck loosening up to roll her head against his shoulder, and her arms slacking slightly as she fell almost immediately into a deep unconscious sleep.

Had she heard him?

Had she found his answer satisfactory and decided that enough was enough? He didn't know.

He didn't know why she had asked the question. Was it a curiosity for her? Was it the fact that it was a Sith Lord that had kissed her? Or was it...Something clicked in his mind all of a sudden. Had it been a new experience for her? Had Kira found never been kissed before? The sudden rolling of thoughts kicked in his head, and he reminded himself what the Jedi Code called for.

No attachments.

Soliael frowned slightly, casting his glance down at Kira. She had attachments, to Oliver, to children, to the other Jedi, but did those extend to lovers? His mind began to form connections, how she reacted to seeing him nude, how she had responded to the stolen kiss, his comments, everything. His head tilted to the side slightly, and Soliael understood.

A smile crossed his face, and lightly, he began to hum.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

Hours later...

Maybe there were some girls who would sleep all pretty like and adorable. Kira wasn’t one of those. Clearly, when she gets into the type of deep sleep of utter exhaustion, the Lorrdian would snore.

Yes. Snore.

Not great scary rumbles, but just loud enough to barely be heard. Almost heavy breathing to a bit, long deep breaths that would turn into a sudden startled movement. Half awake, half asleep low mewlings where she’d wiggle a bit, snuggle closer, then proceed to pass out again.

She was not a still sleeper, often times like a little kid with how much she’d move. There might have been a bit of drool there too. Considering she had dried ice monster poop on her, that was likely the least of anyones concern.

Sometime in her slumber, she’d shifted onto against Soliael’s chest. Her knees were drawn up, hands curling against her chest, her head resting against his right shoulder.

Kira had the faint sensation that she was snuggled up against the fluffiest blanket ever. It was so warm, and cuddly, and…

Dark blonde lashes would slowly flutter open, the faint glow of the dwindling fire casting a soft amber glow over her head. She’d stir quietly, consciousness coming in degrees as her bones and muscles would remind her of their ire.

Frowning, her head would slowly rise, peering around as if trying to collect her bearings.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

While Kira slept, Soliael kept watch.

He had realized it the second Kira had returned. What she brought was poop, from a creature or an animal of some sort, and that had meant there was something down here alive. He hadn't a clue what it was. Wampa or Tauntaun, beast or fluffy white bunny, but regardless, Soliael decided that while Kira slept, he would keep watch.

There was no sense of tiredness or exhaustion, no faulting the resting Kira, no complains. Bright orange eyes shifted throughout the cavern, making out figure and shapes of crystal, watching pools of water, and peering into dancing flames.

Throughout his watch, Soliael hummed. Hours passed, and the tunes changed, but the low thrum of his throat and chest resounded within the cave, rumbling a stirring Kira who seemed to either be having the best of dreams, or the worst. When the Jedi Master awoke, when she began to stir, her neck tensing and her head beginning to swivel around, the noise within Soliaels throat continued.

His head swiveled down to look at her, but he did not stop, not until she spoke.

 

[Kira Talith]

Blue eyes caught sight of a very scruffy jaw, and beyond that bright orange orbs within deep set eyes. Weariness would cut dark shadows and angles over his face, but the level of alertness still thrummed in the depths of his eyes.

The soft rumble of his voice would resonate as he would hum, sending a slight fluttering by here ear where her head would lay upon his chest. It had a deep thrumming echo, reminding her so much of the purr of a Bha'lir.

"Hey..." she'd say, her voice husky with slumber, blinking rapidly so as her eyes could focus.

"How you feeling?"

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

The thrum cut off abruptly, stopping as she said her first word.

“Fine. The bleeding stopped some time ago.” He had noticed that nearly four hours ago when Kira had tried to shift to his other side. The pulled open part of the wound had long since closed off again, and the blood that had spilled from his open abdomen had dried on his skin or within his thermal bodysuit.

Soliael was still concerned about making the trek back home, but he kept that to himself.

At the very least it would be dawn outside now, Kira had slept for nearly six hours ad by his estimation the sun should be rising on the surface any time now. How she had slept so much was no mystery, so much energy had been used on her part, so much that she should never have had to use.

“And you?” He echoed. “How are you feeling.”

His arms shifted slightly, ensuring that she was warm and comfortable.

 

[Kira Talith]

"That'ts good to hear," the Lorrdian blonde would say, giving a slight grimace as she'd shift to turn from her side onto her back, allowing her to stretch out her legs.

"Better," she'd add, her petite body stretching as she'd take account of her ills. Muscles were stiff, but she didn't have that drained sensation anymore. The rest did her some good. Granted, this was just about when a loud rumble would come from her belly. Yup, she was hungry. Granted, I'm sure I'm not the only one.

"How long have I've been out?" she'd ask, only to have a frown draw over her face as a thought came to her. She'd then turn to look back at him. He didn't have the same relaxed look about him. Yeah, there was that slight bit of tension familiar to the Jedi. The ones the Jedi Guardians and blade-masters would have set upon their faces when they went all.. well, protector mode.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

Soliael cast a glance down at her. “Six hours, give or take a few minutes.”

He paused for a moment, looking at the fire in front of them. The flames had nearly died down, becoming little more than a smolder now. He was amazed at how long poop had lasted as a fuel, and he assumed that whatever the creature had been he likely had quite a few nutrients to produce something that burned for so long.

He hoped they didn't run into it.

“What?” Soliael asked her as she looked at him with a strange face.

 

[Kira Talith]

Kira would start to rise to sit up, scooting under the cloak of heavy furs in order to face him. On her knees, she'd peer at him critically, reading him and the signs of weariness.

"You didn't get any rest." she said plainly, the worry in her eyes plain to see. "You need to sleep."

In her mind, they could switch places now. Perhaps she could explore some more, gather more resources, maybe even find some food.

Either way, she wasn't too fond of the fact he stayed up for six hours while she passed out. "You should have woken me up hours ago," she'd chide softly.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“You needed the rest far more than I did.” His eyes shifted to the darkness for a moment, then returned to her face which was only a short few inches away from his own.

“I'll sleep when we return to the fortress.” Oddly, that was true. He didn't feel exhausted for tired, but strangely he wanted to please Kira, make her happy. Soliael was never much one for sleep. He usually was not comfortable with sleep and in fact he hated the sensation of it. During sleep you were completely vulnerable, your mind and body shut down, and anyone could do anything to you or around you. There would be nothing to it. For one of the most powerful men in the galaxy, sleep was the greatest danger one could think of. “You can even tuck me in.”

He said it with a relaxed smile, though there was still tension in his body.

From the look on his face it was obvious that Soliael would never even have considered waking her up from her rest unless something got very out of hand. He was worried about her, very worried. It had only been two days since she had first awoken from her recovery, and even then some of her deeper wounds from Nemene were still very much healing.

He was worried.

 

[Kira Talith]

The corner of her mouth would quirk up, she couldn't help herself. Then came a snort of half amusement, "And read you a bedtime holotale?" Kira would quip back. It was clear she wasn't too happy about the situation, but realistically it would be better for them to get to the fortress as quickly as possible.

"What about your back?" came the next question, the touch of her hands along his ribcage would follow shortly, lightly probing and searching to double check for herself.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He winced slightly, not because of hurt or pain, but because he had not expected her touch. His smile twisted slightly, as if he was embarrassed that she had managed to make him jump from surprise. “As long as you remember the Kiss Goodnight.”

His back still hurt, the dull throbbing along his spine and up into his neck had actually worsened form sitting all night, but it was not as painful as it had been before she healed him, and he would be able to walk, and even fight, when the time came. That much he knew, though the dull throb would likely annoy him wherever he went until it was fixed, something that likely needed more advanced healing.

“Throbbing.” Soliael, then quickly added. “But its manageable.”

The False God didn't want her to tire herself out again, he assumed they would need all their strength.

 

[Kira Talith]

Bright blue eyes would flicker up to his face. There was no denying that wince.

"...from a scale of one to ten, how badly does it hurt?" her fingers would continue their exploration, reaching up behind him to trace up the sides of his spine.

She had some options she could do -- but it would depend on how serious his injuries still were.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

“Five.” It was all he said before reach and grabbing her arm. He moved the tiny appendage back and then placed her hand on his chest, over his beating heart. Not for any purpose save for getting her hand away from his, but the stern look he gave her told of disapproval. “When we return.”

He said the words in that same tone that told of stubbornness.

They needed to get back to the fortress by the end of the day. It wasn't a matter of want, it was a matter of need. They would follow the tunnels until they managed to exit into the mountains, from there Soliael and Kira could make it back to the fortress. He could blink them now, but doing it so blindly, and towards the direction of a place so filled with Sith Magic was dangerous.

There was a chance the magics of the Fortress could rebound even on him and cause his death, or worse, Kira's.

Soliael wouldn't take the chance. He need to see the fortress so he could blink them back onto one of the balconies of straight before the golden gates. It was the only way.

 

[Kira Talith]

Was it her imagination or was his gaze a little bit predatory there? No, stern. Determined. The set of his jaw and the draw of his brows set in disapproval. Ahh, but underneath all that...

Kira could read the subtle nuances of his face. He was worried, just as much as her. There would be no arguing with him, she caught that as her fingers would dribble against the flesh over his heart.

"Hold your banthas there, your highness," she'd say the title with a token amount of amusement. However, under that was true concern. Not to mention, she could be just as stubborn as he.

"Just want to make sure you can handle the trek," she'd tell him, "Can you control it?" came her question. "The pain? If not I can teach you how. It would make moving around easier for you. "

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

He nodded.

That was really enough answer. Crucitorn was it was called had been taught to him by Dissero, though he had never really used it before. Pain fed the darkside of the force, it made him stronger, more powerful, it allowed him to do things that he could not. Strong emotion of any sort did that when it came to the Darkside of the force.

He supposed that he would no longer need that at all. His eyes closed.

Soliael let out a deep, hot breath, which headed directly towards Kira's face.

The False God focused on himself, first letting the pain spread over his entire body, then separating himself from his body. He focused, allowing the dull throbbing of his body to be remembered elsewhere, as if the pain was happening to someone else, not him. His eyes opened, and he grinned at Kira.

“I am actually a Prince you know.” Another thing to add to the list.

 

[Kira Talith]

Oh so he had some sass did he? Her eyes would narrow. Then she'd pull her hands from his grasp. Had to teach this little Prince a thing or two.

Mainly, that she didn't care if he was royalty or not. "That so? Well your majesty, how about we get you back to your throne, mm?" it was said with a tinge of teasing mockery, her finger moving to flick him lightly upon his forehead. Truthfully though, she was relieved he knew how to use the Force to dull his pain. That was one less worry to be concerned about.

Well for now. Controlling one's pain through the Force was a short term solution, not long term. She'd start to pull back from his grasp, the bite of the surrounding cold air coming to her as she'd move out of the cover of the cloak.

"Come on," she'd say, slowly if a bit unsteadily getting to her feet. A hand would reach out to him thereafter, a faint smile of encouragement shining down upon the male.

"Let's go."