His teasing had been something that she missed, as his teeth move across her jawline, tickling just a little and making her grin all the more. She’d never had this kind of camaraderie with the brood of siblings that came after, usually in pairs of two that made her question her parents’ sanity. But with him, it was always something special - that kind of bond that survives growing up and is so easy to come back to.
No, she’d never made an admission to them being more than the very best of friends. She never wanted to lose his friendship because she cherished it above all else, even though his charms and flirtations are quick and delightful. Wander chalks them up to his character - he wouldn’t be who he is without them! But they stir things in her that only adults feel, turning childhood crushes into more.
He is ever so quick to just press himself into her and she laughs at his nosy intrusion into her mane. It is the easiest way to discern what she has been up to, given that she probably needs a good long soak in a hot spring or river to rid herself of all the road dust. Then again, why wash away the marks of her travels? Worn like badges of pride and circumstance. Oh the tales she could tell him!
Oh! His rueful admission makes her heart stutter and the breath stop in her lungs. She’d never meant to cause him any aggravation like that! Wander looks at him, unable to recover her smile in just that moment; “I’d never be able to stay away forever.” She almost wanted to tell him that he should know that but how could he?
Wander knew that she hadn’t even had the heart to tell him goodbye or ask him to come with her. How could she blame him for thinking that? His assurance of time for her is enough to pull her up out of the doldrums of her own making and she smiles at him once more. “Good, I would hate to think you could have gotten too busy for little ol’ me.”
Teasing, light and airy on Wander’s own way as she gives him a quick nip to his neck, marveling at how he’s always been the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen. Then he kisses her and it’s like the world sets itself to rights, even if it was just a friendly kiss. “Heir, huh? Do you really want to rule? Seemed to me like you always wanted to fight and fly and explore,” she chuckles, unable to imagine him as a king and chained down by so much responsibility.
She knew he would do it though, and excel at it because that was just who he was. He never seemed to back down from a challenge and he’d view his kingship as that, at least until he tired of it and hungered for a different kind of fight.
“Oh all over and yes, way outside Beqanna. I’m sorry, I should have told you I was going and at least said goodbye so you didn’t worry.” for once, Wander couldn’t meet his eyes. Here stood her bestest friend in the entire universe and she couldn’t even tell him how that quest to heal the whole of Beqanna from the plague had broken something inside her. Something that she had left in search of and still hadn’t found, so the hole was healing up all jagged and wrong.
It still felt raw, bruised, and left her looking wilder than before, even as she turned her face back to him and flashed him a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
@[Pteron] ❤️