𝘥𝘦𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘴

deimos squinted.

“your light dimmed.”

“why the frown?”

deimos only laughed shortly. he was lighter, almost happy.

“oh, nobody said I wasn’t mad.”

“missed you too.” he said with less irritation than usual.

with the softest smile, he returns the hug.

reluctantly allows it.

falls over.

he reached up to cup her face and pull her in for a better kiss, the kind of kiss one gives before charging into battle, purposeful and holding nothing back.

"I'm sorry." he leaned down to kiss her gently. "though if you saw me, you wouldn't be worried." he smiled then, something dark and dangerous, fear everpresent.

"stop what?"

"ow." he laughed, rubbing his forehead. "what? it's true. if I saw you in death, I would feel blessed indeed."

"I am lucky." he smiled at her fondly, marveling for a moment over how they had come together. "what a beautiful death it will be." he brushed the hair back from her face, fingers running gently down her neck. "I love you too."

"I do not care. I can endure their teasing." he stared at her, like there wasn't another thing in all the world to see. "then I will definitely return, if I have such a beautiful sight to come back to. death couldn't keep me away."

deimos did not let her pull away fully. he did not want to. his hands found her waist, drawing her back. he cared not for the gossip of his family anymore. let them talk and tease. "all will be well. I promise. I will come back to you."

++ "I have held a sword since I could walk. no mortal is a threat to me."

he almost laughed at that, so confident in his own power that he felt no fear. her parents might be a fright, but war he knew as well as he knew himself. he lifted her chin gently, looking down with a smile. "I will be fine. don't worry." he leaned down to kiss her softly. ++

++ for battle, his long hair braided back from his face. he looked towards the palace, a bit surprised to see @LUNARWLNGS, coming to see him off. gods, was she beautiful... a soft smile formed on his lips as he came to greet her. "no one's ever seen me off to war before."

the sky was a pale, stormy gray. rain was coming. he could feel it in the air as much as the electric tension that always seemed to exist before war. the chariots were ready, father preparing his armor. deimos stroked tremor, calming the horse. he was already dressed ++