Adrift: Sea of Dreams

He wasn’t sure if he fell asleep or if he was drifting. However, whatever it was, a familiar scent drifted to his nose. A smell he only really connected to one person. Breath hitching a little, his eyes fluttered open and…

“....Ro…” He breathed.

Not the same Ro that he had been talking on the phone call. Nor was it Rozyus either. But rather a Rodessa that he hadn’t seen in a long time. Unbidden, he reached out and ran his fingers over her soft hair, half expecting her image to fizzle away, but she was there, and she felt solid under his fingers. Even with his heart twisting with mixed emotions at the sight of her, he couldn’t help the fond smile tugging at his lips.

Then her eyes fluttered and he froze, paralysed. He could only watch, breath trapped in his lungs, as the eyes slowly opened, sleepilly meeting his own. As if it was an ordinary day, she reached up, gently laying a hand on his cheek, the pad of her thumb brushing over his lips before leaning forwards pecking them tenderly with her own. Once, twice, until a trembling sigh escaped his lips, his body relaxed as she pulled back, her lips curling into a smile.

“Been up long?” she asked, a note of teasing in her tone. “Or have you been watching me all night?”

Huxian snorted slightly, amusement shimmering in his eyes as he met her gaze again. Relaxed as he was, the words came out on their own. “As much as I’d love to have said I had, last night was...ah...quite physically demanding.”

He wriggled his eyebrows, if only to get her to snort. It did. Accompanied by a slight playful push of his shoulder and a wry stare back. “You say that,” she quipped, eyes wracking his form for a moment, “yet you’re ‘up’ and raring to go.”

He shrugged, shamelessly, leaning forwards to nudge his forehead against hers, nose rubbing hers cheekily.

“Well, it’s morning,” he noted, “And there’s this wonderful little vixen nuzzled so close to me with this tantalising scent…”

He pulled her closer, nuzzling against her neck and breathing the scent there. The tiny part of him that recalled falling asleep sorely missing the scent. Huxian had no problem letting himself breath it in that little bit more, especially since it made Rodessa shudder pleasantly in his arms, a sleepy chuckle, almost giggle escape her lips.

“Y-you know they’ll burst through that door any moment now,” she breathed shakilly, “I’m surprised that my father didn’t last night and -ah!”

Huxian couldn’t help but grin at the squeak that escaped his lover as he nipped the tender love mark he made the night before (Was it? It felt like so long ago…) running his tongue over it to sooth the mark, even as he could feel her shuddering against him.

“I made a deal with your mother,” he explained once he was sure he had her eager once more. Not to disappoint, she wrapped her legs around his waist and squirmed so she was straddling him, her hips rocking, though whether by instinct or desire he wasn’t certain. All he knew was it was excruciatingly slow. Biting down a growl, He bucked his hips, only for her to ground down with surprising force. Swallowing back a yelp, his eyes met hers, only to find an almost predatory lilt to her gaze that made his breath hitch. As if sensing that slight weakness, she leaned down, capturing his lips in a long, lingering kiss. However, the moment he his hands went to her hips, she slapped them away, wiggling her fingers as if to silently tell him no.

It was so rare that she got like this that he could feel his heart speed up, the longing grow that bit stronger. However, he forced himself not to splutter, instead scoffed out a huffed “Minx.”

“You called?” she chirruped cheekily. “Can I help you, my lord?”

A laugh bubbled in his chest. Gods, no wonder his old friend would give him such disapproving looks from time to time! They’d taught each other so many bad habits. It had to have been driving the old wolf into conniptions!

Still, if she wanted to play...Well, foxes weren’t known as tricksters for nothing.

The only warning she got was a sly glint in his eyes before his fingers bypassed her hips entirely and snaked up to her ribs. Her expression flashed into alarm as she realizes what he was about to do before she was squealing with laughter as his fingers danced over her ribs and under her arms. Advantage over him lost, he flipped them over, pinning her against the bed and blew a raspberry against her stomach, making her squirm, trying to get out from under his hold.

“Want me to stop~?” he sang songed, grinning mischievously.

“Don't, Hue, dont! Hahaha!” Rodessa blustered helplessly, “Stop, I'm gonna-!”

“Hm….Well, what do I get if I do?” Huxian purred, heaning over her, his tails lashing payfully.

Rodessa tried to stifle her giggling to give him a serious look. “I-If you’re a good boy, I might treat you to….s-something when the mission is….is over, regardless of the outcome.”

Huxian tried not to grin at the fact the mischievous glint in her own eyes and the stifled chuckles betrayed her. And the fact she stuck her tongue out at the end. He swooped forwards and caught the tongue between his teeth playfully, giving her one last tickle before leaning his weight against her, letting go of her tongue as he rested his head on his hands, his elbows either side of her face. “Oh? What do you have in mind, giggles?” he teased.

“Well,” Rodessa said, absently circling a finger on his chest, likely as much she she could try to push him back if he started tickling again as to seduce, “I made connections in the mundane world. There’s this really cute, all inclusive hotel.” She looked up at im with hooded eyes. “Just the two of us,” she breathed. “For a week. No distractions. And we could do whatever we want. Fine food, great alcohol, soundproof room...Suppose it really depends on how much or little you want to be pampered.”

He knew something must have shown on his face, because that smirk that danced on her lips was just that little bit too self satisfying. Like a cat that had the canary just within reach of its trap.

Honestly, though, it wasn’t a hard bargain. The idea of the two of them having the time together, without the disapproving gaze of Rodessa’s father, or the knowing looks from her mother (as much as he loved both of them to death, it did get a bit waring) and a pampering hotel where they could do anything they liked after a hard day, especially after Rodessa’s first trial mission for Pandora...well, it seemed almost too good to be true.

“Where’d you find this place?” he asked curiously, as he lowered one of his hands to toy with her locks, letting them slide through his fingers.

“I have my ways,” Rodessa hedged. “Besides an old friend owes me, for, uh… housekeeping… yeah.”

“And how assured you are of that,” Huxian said, dryly, trying not to snicker at her shifty expression. He leaned down, nuzzling his nose against hers. “Well, who am I to turn down such an offer? A week to do anything I like with you? Sounds like heaven, little minx. Though…” he felt a laugh splutter passed his lips as the expression of outraged horror Engetsu was sure to give flashed through his mind. Laughing, he pressed his head against her chest to smother the giggles. “H-how’re we going to get that one passed Enji?”

“Well, the old man will be on a capaign to investigate some secret agency or whatever,” Rodessa explained, her lips quirked into a grin against his ear. “I think its one that ravels Pandora.”

Huxian paused to think for a moment, trying to think of the many different small agencies that dealt with the supernatural, but nothing came to mind. Al least, nothing that had the same goal. Though there was one group that he knew had at one time or another viewed Pandora as it’s adversary.

“...Phoenix?” he asked. He could feel her hun in agreement as she absently toyed his his hair, scratching near his ear in a way that made him almost purr.

“Yeah,” she nodded. “You read the report, right?” At his hum, she continued, “They’re not reforged, but there’s rumours people baring their seal are lingering. So the old man and mother’s also going to be doing some...housekeeping.”

That was….slightly worrying. But if it were that serious, then Pandora be giving the heads up to even out layers like him, who only really had connections through other agents, such as he was connected to Engetsu and his family, both biological and his ‘Night Parade’ and was occasionally an aid to them, like a consultant who would occasionally pick up jobs that fell in his territory. As it was, it was only the odd report that mentioned them which helped keep him up to date, just in case he was called upon.

That being the case, there wasn’t anything that would stop them from being able to have that time together.

“Sneaky,” he chuckled approvingly. “I’ll be sure to ‘take care of you’ while they’re busy, then. And, if you do well on this little expedition we have coming up, I’ll have to make sure I reward you, too.”

“Oh? Well, now I’m looking forwards to that,” she nuzzled against his bicep, looking p at him through hooded eyes and lips quirking into a smile as she placed a light kiss against the muscle, her eyes never leaving his.

“MM,” Huxian hummed in agreement, shifting to he could catch her ear in his teeth, nipping it gently before breathing promises into it in a tone he knew would make her shiver. “So much to do to praise you, and so much time to do them,” he ran his tongue over the rim of her ear. “Ah, I’m spoilt for choice of just where to begin, my little minx.”

She smiled, hooking her leg around him to pull him that bit closer so his body was flush against hers. “I’ll return all that you give, my lord.”

“Promises, promises,” Huxian chuckled, curling his hand around the back of her head and closing that that tiny bit of distance to catch her lips against his, coaxing her mouth open to deepen the kiss.

For a little while after that, they lost themselves in each other, kisses, toying with each other’s hair, nuzzling each other and mutterings of sweet nothings as they enjoyed the feel of their closeness, interspersed with soft chuckles and playful slaps to the arm if Huxian managed to sneak in a corny flirt that still made Rodessa laugh even as she scolded him, though that was often interrupted by a sneaky kiss or nipor stroke to make her shiver and lose train of thought for a moment. Though there was once or twice she caught him before he could finish off his comment and gave as good as she got in return.

They were smothering giggles with kisses when the door slammed shut and they froze.

“Well,” A familiar female voice spoke up, causing Huxian to look around quickly to find the girl’s mother standing in front of the closed door with a raised eyebrow and a barely hidden smirk. “Aren’t you two having fun? But it’s the morning, and these walls aren’t sound proofed, you know.”

Rodessa’s face flushed crimson. With a yelp, she dived under the covers. Meanwhile, Huxian huffed, yanking up the blankets to cover his modesty as he glared at his friend. He was less flustered by being caught out, but it still didn’t mean he wanted to be watched by his friend and his lover’s mother.

“Gods Woman,” he groused. “Will you knock?”

“I did,” her brow raised further, tone desert dry. “Twice. I even opened the door, stood inside and cleared my throat and neither of you heard me.”

And maybe you didn’t think we were just ignoring you for a reason so you’d go away? Huxian was tempted to snark in return, but bit back the comment. Honestly, they hadn’t really been paying that much attention. Huxian certainly hadn’t been paying attention to his usual instincts since he had been more interested in pleasing Rodessa.

Instead of digging himself in further, Huxian sighed, running his fingers through his hair, a half frown on his face as his claws met snags from the bed tussling. “What is it then,” he grumbled distractedly as he smoothed out the strands as best he could. “We were getting to the good part.”

Under the sheets, he felt Rodessa pinch his leg in retaliation for such openness with her mother, a sound of a deflating balloon reaching his ears in her embarrassment. He tried not to snicker.

If the Valkyrie heard her daughter’s sound, she didn’t make note of it. Instead, she crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe. “Oh, nothing. Just wanted to let you know breakfast ends in an hour, the briefing been moved to two and that one’s father will be hounding her with paperwork until the end of the day. Oh, and your team will want updates on the mission you were asked to participate in, so you really only have a few hours for the….uh…’skinship’ and getting the fuck ready, Mr and Mrs I’m’a-skip-the sunrise-meeting-because-we’re-both-in heat Couple.”

“Watch your fucking language,” Huxian grumbled back, unable to stop himself from a tease at the woman, before sighing. As much as he’d love to argue, he knew he couldn’t. They had responsibilities and the last thing any of them wanted was to be caught in this position by Engetsu. “Sorry,” he sighed. “We’ll be there in a moment.”

“Hm….” Her eyes narrowed playfully. “You’d better be. There’s only so much I can do to keep that wolf distracted. Oh, and I know she’s been gone for half the year, but don’t overdo it before a mission. Right, Ro?”

Huxian offered a lazy salute, while Rodessa’s muffled voice from under the covers murmered a mortified “Y-yes, ma’am.”

“Good,” The woman tossed her head and straightened, turning to the door. “Then I’m off. Enjoy yourselves!”

With that, she opened the door and headed out, whistling a jaunty tune as she left, the door clicking shut behind her.

For a while, both of them were silent.

Finally, “...Well, if that wasn’t a mood killer…”

A mix of a huff and a snort sound from under the covers. “Told you.”

Well, there was no way they could get back to what they were doing before, now that there was the distinct possibility of interruption by homicidal wolf demon, so, sighing, Huxian encouraged the blanket ball to open up, sneaking a last lingering kiss from her before reluctantly slipping off the bed.

“Wanna take a shower together?” he offered. While it was impossible for them to get back into the mood, it didn’t mean that Huxian didn’t feel any less a desire to care for his partner. Helping to preen and primp her for the day and receiving the same attention seemed like a nice way to start the morning, especially considering they would be having a rather busy few days ahead of them.

The shy smile she cast him lit her face brighter than the morning sun through the blinds.

“S-sure.”

Smiling back, he held his hand out for her, gently helping her from the bed with the ease of lifting a feather, gently setting her on her feet. Hand still clasped in hers, he lead the way to the bathroom. Like the Valkyrie had said, it had been a long time since he had spent time with her. Huxian wanted to make the most of it. Any time he spent at her side, be it in a carnal dance, a loving embrace or simply in comfortable companionship, was time to be cherished.

Rodessa was a treasure, after all. One that was worth more than all the gold in the world.

[END]

Where The Shore Meets The Sea Pt 6

“Eck!” Rodessa threw up her hands, a pout on her lips. “You’re no fun, Hue…”

“I’m lots of fun, dear,” Huxian grinned. “You just haven’t learned all the rules of the game just yet.”

Rodessa snorted, rolling her eyes. “You ass,” she scolded, almost fondly.

Huxian grinned, offering her a wink. “Of course. I have a great ass, why not let everyone appreciate it?”

“I’ma kick that ass when I next see you, if you’re not careful,” she shot back snidely. “How ‘bout that?”

Huxian just fluttered his eyes and blew her a kiss in response. Clicking her tongue against her teeth, she flopped back down onto the bed.

“Awww, don’t be like that,” Huxian cooed. “But hey, if it gives you something to look forwards to, we can have a good run around when we next meet. It feels like its been a while since we had a go against each other.” He winked. “Maybe your new partner will learn some things from us, too?”

Ro made a noise that sounded a little like a balloon losing air. “Pph, doubt it,” she huffed. “I sometimes just wanna throw one of the lamps in her direction and scream ‘LIGHTEN THE FUCK UP!’, I swear.”

“Well, maybe she has her reasons,” Huxian shrugged, gaze a little distant. “Sometimes it’s hard to understand people.” Hell, he knew that he still had some trouble understanding humans, even after all his years among them. Still, he shook off those thoughts before they went into dangerous territory. Instead, he offered a smile. “Well, we’ll see when you guys get over here, hm?”

He would have said more, however, the communicator began to bleep. Blinking, he flicked through a few options and realised that there was another call wanting to come through. This time from Alister.

“Ah, looks like business is calling,” he noted. “No rest for the wicked, huh?”

“Oh…” Rodessa’s expression fell ever so slightly, something that Huxian would have missed if his eyes weren’t so inhumanly sharp. However, it was only for a moment. If he’d blinked, he would have missed it. “Alright then. I’m off to bed, too. Night Hue.”

“Sleep well, Rose Bud,” Huxian added softly, heart clenching a little at the fact that he had to cut things short. “I’ll try to give you a ring before things go down over here, ok? Kick ass on your end, honey.”

He offered her a wink and blew a kiss.

“...Yeah…” She mumbled, shifting almost nervously, “Stay safe, Hue and...Uh…” She opened her mouth, obviously thought better of it, her face tinged a little red. “Well...night!”

And with that, the call ended.

Huxian just looked at the screen for a moment, torn between being concerned and amused, before huffing a sigh, blowing his pale fringe from his face before picking up the other call.

“Yin here.”

Alister raised an eyebrow, a small knowing smile dancing on his lips. “Was...I interrupting something?” he asked, tone dry as a desert. “If you desired it so, you could have continued to converse with her longer. I would not have been adverse to waiting”

Huxian rolled his eyes, not even bothering to ask how he knew it was Rodessa he was talking to. Alister had the highest clearance in Pandora other than Violet and maybe himself if he actually decided to play around with technology. His communicator, at least, was a much more technologically advanced one in comparison to Huxian’s though, allowing him to be able to track who was calling who and when, especially considering his administrative role within the company.

“I’ll call her before the mission,” Huxian sighed. “And for all I knew, it could be something serious. Better not to get into the habit of ignoring calls from the head honchos.” He eyed him. “So? What did you need?”

“Ah, Brother, you wound me.” How was it possible for Alister to act mock hurt without losing any of his poise? It made Huxian want to bug him into telling him, if only so Huxian could irritate the hell out of everyone by mimicking it. “Can one not call an old friend to enquire about their health?”

Despite his words, Alister flashed a file at the screen, one that Huxian realised was the one that belonged to Ro, yet was likely one the girl in question would never see. Seeing he had Huxian’s attention. He laid it on the desk, his lips quirking into a smile. “Besides, I shall be joining you in approximately a week. It has been a while since we last shared a drink.”

“Yeah,” Huxian nodded, leaning back a little. “I’ll look forwards to that. A good drink after dealing with undead trying to destroy things in my territory sounds nice.” He eyed the folder. “As you can see, I’ m still alive, kicking and ready to squash would be necromancers like the bugs they are, so when you come for that drink, we should have the pest problem under some kind of control. Besides,” he offered a slight smirk. “I’m always ok, right, ‘brother’ dear?” He nodded his head to the desk where Alister’s hand still lay over the folder. “I’m a little more interested in what you have there than how I’m feeling, honestly. Assuming we’re not going to play ‘dance around the subject’?”

“My friend, you are baring your fangs quite a bit this fine evening,” his hand rested over his heart, a mock mournful expression on his face. “And here I thought we were close.” His expression became a little more serious, meeting Huxian’s eyes. “If I may be frank, I had hoped to join you on your crusade against my ‘cousins’. As they say, more swords make short work of one’s enemies. Speaking of swords, I have a prototype that you may be interested in. But I will cover that when we meet in person.”

Huxian’s brows rose a little. A prototype blade? He was a little unsure as to what that would entail. Admittedly, it had been a long time since he had been presented with a blade that could rival whatever he had been using, and nothing yet matched the one that he used during his personal vendetta all those years ago. Still, where Alister and the Science department were concerned, he was never certain what they could come up with.

“I’ll look forwards to that then,” He agreed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “....I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to….heh….bite your head off. I guess I’m just a little irritated by this target. I want to set whoever it is on fire already.”

Not that he’d be allowed to before Pandora could question him. Dammit.

“I hope when you’re done with this one you’ll hand them to me for proper punishment for messing with my territory,” he added, a slight vulpine growl echoing under his words.

“When we are finished with them,” Alister reminded him, sternly, before his expression shifted to something more apologetic. “Although with Phoenix involved, it may not be possible,” he admitted. Obviously, he must have seen something in Huxian - the narrowing of his eyes? The way his pupils slitted a little, perhaps the hint of a fang or fingers twitching into claws - as he quickly continued. “We need to make use of all resources available to us. The double agent, Lorenzo, has been quite helpful so far, however….” He paused, shaking his head. “One hurdle at a time.”

“Fine,” The fox lord growled. “When you’re finished with him, then. But that doesn’t mean I can’t make them suffer before I can obliterate their miserable existence. Some things are worse than death, and I’m not letting them go so easy for this infraction.”

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to relax. There was nothing he could do about it right now. He’d just have to take his frustrations out on those Jiangshi in the meantime. He took a second breath, curling his tails (which had popped out during his snarling) around himself, partly in comfort, partly in distraction as he smoothed the bristling fur with his fingers.

“The file?” he asked instead, if only to get off the subject that boiled at his blood.

Alister thankfully took the change of subject.

“Already emailed to your communicator,” he explained. “It is quite thorough. The main point of change is that, whether she is aware of it or not, she is beginning to gain a sensitivity for supernatural presence. She currently seems to not show a full understanding of the concept, however, she has expressed a willingness to learn, which is favourable.”

Huxian hummed in agreement. While it still made his insides clench to know she was getting closer to the eventual breaking point of the seal, it was something which would be helpful in the long run, an ability that the most successful of those who worked among mystics tended to develop, if only because it helped with their survivability.

He would never say no to something that would keep the girl alive.

Alister, however, continued and Huxian turned his attention back to the man. “However, there is still some tensions between Miss Hunter and Miss Masuyo - both tending to lose patience with the other. Understandable, since we are being forced to rush things. Still, I can’t say I approve.”

“It’s not the most optimal thing,” Huxian agreed with a sigh, ears flicking back with a frown. “Honestly, if we had the time, I’d certainly be complaining about it - I even brought up a similar concern to Violet earlier. But then Rozyus showed up and….” He sighed, shaking his head. “I don’t like it. But what choice do we have?”

Alister steepled his fingers, resting his chin against it, brow furrowed. “The situation is ripe for missing important details,” he sighed. “And my intuition tells me that something will be missed.”

“Forgive me for hoping that intuition’ll be wrong,” Huxian bit his thumb claw, pushing down his own misgivings. “I’ll be doing my best to fill in all the gaps that I can once she’s with me, and if something goes wrong then I’ll do my best to keep things from going to far.”

He could only pray that it didn’t come to that. He didn’t want to fail her again.

“Just….keep me posted, ok?” he added quietly.

Alister’s eyes flicked over his own for a moment, a soft hum from his throat, before nodding. “Very well. I will keep you informed. As for everything else, the details are within the file. Read through it at your leisure and I will debrief you once their mission has been completed. I should be with you then to deliver it in person.”

“Thanks, Al,” Huxian offered him a strained smile. “I appreciate it. I’ll try to be in a better mood then for you. Perhaps playing pest control now that I’m no longer being forced to remain a keystone for the barrier will help.”

Alister’s lips twitched up in amusement. Huxian tried to ignore the fact that the man knew his dislike for being so confined. Thankfully, other than the breath of a chuckle and an amused ‘I see’, the man didn’t tease him about it. Instead, he looked Huxian over for a moment critically. “At the risk of sounding like a mother hen, perhaps it would be best to take the special pills you recieved from Goddess Parame, if only to return your mana to full strength. Your body….well, it wouldn’t be the first time it had been ‘put through the wringer’...but it doesn’t mean that one should handicap oneself when there is a solution, as I’m sure you are aware.” He paused while he held a cigarette between his lips and lit it, taking a draw of the smoke. “Admittedly, the only reason I will be joining you is to get my hands bloody.”

“How nice,” Huxian snorted, flashing canines at him. “Careful, now. I can smell the blood lust from here, hunt buddy.

“Don’t tempt me,” Alister huffed a breath through his nose that on a lesser man would have been a snort. “One of my bars suffered greatly due to the raids. I’m sure you recall the one with the expensive chandelier.”

Huxian wracked his brains for a moment, “Ah, the one with that gaudy statue?” he said finally. That did have a rather grand light fixture. Not that he was usually looking up when he entered a bar unless it was to find a target. “Ah, that one served good drinks too,” he sighed. “Shame.”

“Tell me about it,” Alister sighed.

Huxian offered him a somewhat sympathetic look before shrugging. “Eh, I’ll help you fix it once the threat is dealt with. Better to wait so it doesn’t get trashed again before then. Still, I’m sure I can offer a spell or two to speed things along.”

Alister’s lips twitched up in appreciation. “My thanks”

“While I have you here, I may as well let you know the plans,” Huxian added. “That way we can get to work the moment you join us, and you can have your gorgeous payback that much faster.”

Quickly, he filled Alister in on what had been discussed on the meetings, from the investigations of the agents, the updates from the CUC, who were handling the civilians currently, and the plan to take out the undead forces. He also filled Alister in on the second part of the plan involving the necromancer, since Alister would likely want to have said criminal in his custody as soon as he could, if only so Huxian wouldn’t be tempted to rip their spine out through their nose or something.

Eventually, Alister had as much information as Huxian had for the situation.

“I will be with you within a week,” Alister reminded him. “Until then, if you need any assistance, do ring me.”

“Sure,” Huxian agreed. “Until then, friend.

“Jusqu'à la prochaine fois, mon ami.”

With that done, the call ended.

Huxian sighed, brushing his hair from his face before he flipped onto the bed, pausing only to pull the little pouch of pills over to himself. Alister was right, he was going to need to build up his mana stores for the operation, He had enough to do that and have at least a couple in case of emergency if things went wrong during the mission itself.

Shaking one out into his hand, he knocked it back, swallowing it dry. Thankfully, it didn’t taste as horrible as human medications - it had a tint of peach to it. Unsurprising, considering it was a peach pill, but who knew, it could be some kind of psychological effect than an actual taste.

Yawning, he curled himself up on the bed, closing his eyes. There was little he could do now other than read the files, but he always felt a little distracted by the feeling of his mana being effected, so it was better to sleep through it and read the files once he was more refreshed.

He wasn’t sure if he fell asleep or if he was drifting. However, whatever it was, a familiar scent drifted to his nose. A smell he only really connected to one person. Breath hitching a little, his eyes fluttered open and…

“....Ro…” He breathed.

Not the same Ro that he had been talking on the phone call. Nor was it Rozyus either. But rather a Rodessa that he hadn’t seen in a long time. Unbidden, he reached out and ran his fingers over her soft hair, half expecting her image to fizzle away, but she was there, and she felt solid under his fingers. Even with his heart twisting with mixed emotions at the sight of her, he couldn’t help the fond smile tugging at his lips.

Then her eyes fluttered and he froze, paralysed. He could only watch, breath trapped in his lungs, as the eyes slowly opened, sleepily meeting his own.

[END]

Note: jusqu'à la prochaine fois mon ami = until next time my friend. [FR]