Aara Awakens - Closed
Who: Xanth stillseecracks and Aara angha_firebird
Where: Around the barracks -- Then probably in one of their rooms?
When: After Aara wakes from dying( Read more... )
Where: Around the barracks -- Then probably in one of their rooms?
When: After Aara wakes from dying( Read more... )
Scrubbing her body until it was red and raw, Aara didn't really have time to look at Xanth's back. When he started talking to her though, she leaned out off the shower and quickly grabbed the shirt she slipped from her shoulders, hoping to wash the blood she had gotten on it. Only then, casting a quick glance in Xanth's direction, did Aara notice the scars that riddled his frame. She gasped, eyes widening as her pale gaze mapped the patterns on his flesh, her brows coming together in worry and concern. The lines across his skin are not bleeding, or scabbed, so she assumes they must have happened a while ago. Moving back under the spray of water, thoughts slowing as she tries to process what it meant--that Xanth had been hurt...repeatedly...
It does not sit well with Aara.
Turning off the water, Aara wrings out the shirt and carefully hangs it, stepping out of the shower. She does not bother with a towel--the thought doesn't even cross her mind. Her intent is solely on Xanth's riddled back, and what all those scars mean. Xanth might have noticed the water shut off. He might hear her footsteps as she approaches, her form wet, cold, and dripping.
He might even have a chance to turn before her cooled fingertip finds its mark--hoping to lightly trace along his back.
"Xanth..."
She would get him to try to sleep. He said he needed it. Right now, though, this concerned Aara more.
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The sounds of the water cease, but Xanth doesn't turn around. He's intending to hand Aara the towel without risking another glance at her - but before her does, her icy fingers touch his back.
That gets a gasp and Xanth starts, twisting to face her. His mind is not on his scars or whether Aara saw them; rather, his mind is on the fact that Aara is, once again, completely naked in front of him. Red in the face, he looks away and holds up one towel.
"H--Here. Um."
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His reaction to her touch has her jumping, pulling her hand away and watching him miserably, wondering if she did something wrong. She doesn't understand why he won't look at her--was he angry? Then he is handing her the towel, and red in the face, and Aara had to try to piece together pieces of a puzzle she didn't fully understand.
"Thank you..."
Shivering--suddenly colder than she was before--Aara accepts the towel with stiff fingertips, unfolding it awkwardly so she might wrap herself up in it. Her wrap-job is a little messy, and awkward, but she manages decently enough, and holds the corners together under one arm, shuddering into the fabric and desperately seeking warmth.
"X-Xanth..." She would like to know about those scars, please.
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"Wh-- what is it?" he asks, frowning in concern. "I-I can-- I-I have-- l-lots of blankets, i-if you-- want?"
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They were both blushing. A giggle erupts from her chest at that. She brings a hand to her face, feeling the warmth there, before giving a small, shy shrug with one shoulder.
"I am cold... but I do not want to get your blankets all wet. I will wait until I am a little drier. Besides... do you not need to try and sleep, Xanth?" She gives him a knowing look, there. She can't take all his blankets. He needed to be comfortable enough to sleep, after all.
Expression turning solemn once more, Aara gently reaches a hand out to Xanth's bared shoulder, concern in her gaze.
"Xanth..." She doesn't want him to be upset with her, but she wanted to know. Maybe there was something he needed protecting from. "Why were you hurt?"
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"B-But I'm... I-I'm not...?"
And that's when it clicks: she must have seen his scars. His confusion abated, Xanth just sighs.
"I-It's okay," he says, taking Aara's shoulder and attempting to turn her toward the bed. "Th-they're... th-they're all o--old."
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She didn't know how she knew that. Why she thought that.
"They do not hurt you still? I..." She what? What had she been about to offer? She only wished she knew. "No one here has harmed you, right?" Now Aara turns to look back at him. She was well and truly distracted from anything, and would apparently keep asking questions until she felt she had a few answers.
"You would tell me if someone did?"
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And then to her second question, he nods. Here, he's always been lucky: no maiming; no rampages; no true harm has been done.
It's her last question that makes him hesitate. Would he tell her if he'd been injured? He wouldn't want her to fret. However, he's learned that the less you say, the more people worry, and it can be so hard to hide a wound.
And so, again, he nods.
"Y-Yeah. But... n-no one's-- hurt me. N-Not in... a-a long t--time."
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"Good." Then, a moment later, "I'm glad."
Shivering harshly for the span of two seconds, Aara turned back around and burrowed into her two towels. Her feet kept moving, however, and Aara wondered where Xanth was directing her.
"I hope no one ever hurts you, Xanth. You are very kind, and giving. Thank you for helping me."
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He directs her towards the bed, then motions for her to sit. She looks cold, and he wants to get her dried or under blankets as soon as possible. She asked him once if he got cold easily, and it seemed that she did, as well. Not that he blamed her body for her chill; those showers were none too pleasant.
After a moment, he starts again: "B-But you... y-you don't have to th--thank me. I-It's just... w-what... friends do."
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Her body began to shiver and quiver afresh, gooseflesh rising over every inch of skin. Her trembling remained this time, and Aara curled frozen toes in an effort to keep them warm. When Xanth motions for her to sit, Aara looks at the bed, then back at Xanth in question.
"But... you are the one supposed to be resting..."
Still, Aara sits slowly, watching Xanth all the while. She made a promise to watch over him, and with all he was doing for her she would be certain she kept that promise. Bringing her legs up so she could hug them to her body, Aara huddles in on herself and wraps her towel around them in an attempt to both dry and warm them, though her movements are stiff and shaky until she finally gives up.
When Xanth speaks again, he has Aara's undivided attention. Her cold body is forgotten and warmed by his words, and a hesitant smile finds her lips before suddenly and completely blossoming as she beams up at him.
Friends. She shivers again, and Aara is too happy to wonder if it is caused by the cold. The word filled her, and Aara had to wonder if she had a great many friends or not. All she knew in that moment was that she would do anything to keep this precious gift--this friendship.
"You are a good friend." She said it with all the warmth she was feeling, and she hoped Xanth saw and felt her gratitude. "I hope we are friends forever, Xanth."
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But that thought is so, so depressing. Xanth pushes it away.
"W-We-- we gotta g-get you dry," he says absentmindedly, then lifts the edges of the towel over Aara's shoulders. Instead of removing it entirely, he just folds it over the top of Aara's head and then scrubs gently to dry her hair.
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At least while her memories remain a mystery, Aara is able to hold on to this peaceful and new feeling.
When Xanth moves to dry frigid, wet strands of Aara's dripping hair she pauses for a moment, somewhat surprised by the action. His help coupled with his movements are not a bad feeling overall, so Aara leans her head down slightly, allowing Xanth a better angle. She folds her legs down and to the side, out of the way, huddling into her extra towel and seeking any small bit of added warmth.
After a few moment, a smile finds Aara's hidden face and she giggles. A light and happy feeling overwhelms her, and she doesn't quite realize the wonderment fluttering inside her is because she is unused to people fawning over or caring for her in such a way. The only realization she holds is that her chest feels oddly light and giddy; that the feeling inside of her was so full of wonder she couldn't withhold her laughter--though she did try. A bit.
She lifts a towel-covered hand up to her mouth in an effort to stifle any added laughter, lest Xanth think she was laughing at him.
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"Wh-- what're you l-laughing at?" he asks, teasing in tone. Perhaps he's tickling her, or perhaps she's just realized how silly it is to have your hair dried by a half-naked boy standing in front of you.
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"Have you ever felt happy and free before?" For some reason, Aara's own question prompted the thought of wind in her hair, but Aara doesn't puzzle over that for too long. She has this new and blossoming happy feeling within her, after all. Another light giggle. "You are helping me. Taking care of me. You make me feel that, Xanth, and it makes me want to smile. To laugh."
There was humor in her gaze, innocent frankness in her tone. She couldn't keep the smile from her lips, and she wondered if he might laugh with her or think she was silly.
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"I-I'm glad," he says, gaze cast off to the side. He's felt that way before - not for some days, but he knows exactly what it's like. When he and Aara had spoken before, she seemed so shy, so expecting-of-punishment. To hear her so happy and carefree was... very nice.
Xanth takes the shirt on his bed, then holds it by the shoulders and offers it to Aara. "H--Here. I-It might not-- fit, i-in fact it... p-probably won't, b-but it's... y-you know. S-Something."
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