daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

I'd love to.

[her smile widens, and she takes his hand. hearkening back to when she first let a touch of her feelings out, when it had been so simple to agree to another date, considering it just a touch of carefree entertainment to enjoy.

how blind she had been.]

Though if I fall, I expect you to laugh all over again, for man was not meant to balance on thin edges on the ice.

I may laugh, if only to offer to help you to your feet again. What sort of husband would I be, otherwise?

[It doesn't take them very long to reach the same place they visited last year -- the weather is comparable but the crowd is a slightly less so, given that they are a day late from Valentine's. But it hardly matters. This is a day spent with Grell, and that's all that Ardyn truly desires at this moment in time.

Though there is one stark difference compared to the last time they were here. Ardyn finds that it is not quite so difficult to balance himself on the ice, and it doesn't take too much effort to exert himself along it at a decent pace. It's a far cry from the almost-stumbling about from before, in which he had to focus quite hard to not fall over. Sticking close to the edges, to further aid him in that.

And Grell? She seems to be doing even better than him. There's a grace and elegance to her that he wishes he could possess.]

I thought you were supposed to fall over so I could catch you!

[whatever changes in her that make it easy to glide on the ice, she likes them. she feels like a spirit of the ice, awoken and delighted in the dancing of blades on ice. maybe she should have been a skater so she could feel like this always. to think that now...

Ardyn's words cut across her daydreaming, and she laughs, skating over to him and deliberately lets herself fall back, trusting that he'd catch her.]

Of course, my love, of course. How could I have forgotten?

[He laughs as she draws closer, with such an ease that he's nearly jealous of it -- and when she leans back, he reaches out to catch her without much effort.]

I think perhaps you were too caught up in how easy you find this, as compared to a year ago. I suppose not all changes done to us have been all that bad.

[Since she's leaning most of her weight against him, it's easy enough to twist his momentum around into a little spin.]

Though I thought I'd never say such a thing.

[a spin with him actually works, if she stays relaxed, and she finds herself smiling contentedly, ready to catch her balance if she has to.]

There are a few changes that aren't terrible. This, my hair, figuring out things like swords...I'd gladly take more like that. But if you hold onto my hands, maybe it'll be easier for you too.

[she'll guide him around the ice, and the world can consist of him and her alone for now - other people are only obstacles to carefully avoid. compared to the last time they did this, she feels more free to get shamelessly wrapped up in him, to watch his golden eyes and soak up all the time she has with him until he has to go back. part of her thinks it's foolish to be so affected by such a short time apart, but then again, true love runs deep. as long as he's fine with her clinging on, she'll never cease.]

[It's easy enough advice to take. When will Ardyn pass up a chance to hold hands with Grell? Practically never, and he enjoys the feeling of her warmth in contrast to the chill of the skating rink, as he's guided around the ice.

Maybe it is shameless, and an inordinate display of public affection. But Ardyn doesn't care; let her cling as much as she wants, let her drape herself across him. He only wishes to be close, he wants to enjoy this evening to the fullest, his limited time all the more precious because of it.

At some point, she gets a kiss pressed against the corner of her lips, followed by a murmur:]

A year ago, did you ever think that we would be like this?

[she's happy, she knows, like this. with the familiar touch of his hands, the buzz of the world around as background noise, the way she can still feel the touch of his lips on her skin even when he pulls away. happy, truly happy, and she holds onto it, more precious that the stars.]

No. I thought for certain we'd have our fun for the day and then go back to the same way we were - that you'd see it as another way to tease. That you'd never look at me and I'd never get to look at you. Even after you coaxed a second date out of me.

[He holds onto her hand as they continue to glide on the ice, and even as he pulls away his focus is only on Grell.]

I admit, I did tease you often, didn't I? But it was easier that way -- to play it off as some grand joke if you ended up showing no interest. I was almost sure that you wouldn't.

[So much that he was certain he was setting himself up for disappointment of the most poignant sort, even when she accepted the second date.]

When did you realize, then, that it was more than mere teasing on my part?

When I realized you had begun to look at me for just a little too long when we met. I could feel your eyes on me, and it wasn't something purely friendly.

[he looked because he wanted to, not because he had to, and it made all the difference.]

When was it clear to you?

Was I that obvious?

[-he asks, amusement clear in his tone. Though perhaps it's true enough; even now, he gaze upon her face often lingers for one second too long. But that was merely a sign of his fondness, admiration, and love in its permanence.]

For me, I think it might have been that day on the beach. Do you remember it? When a wave crept up on you when you weren't looking.

[That felt like a lifetime ago. Things were... simpler then, especially where memories were concerned, but he would not trade what they have now for anything in the world.]

The way you smiled at me. I thought to myself, 'surely that can't be the look of a woman who is only interested in remaining friends.' And even after that day, you were more generous with affectionate touch with me than you ever had been before.

You came to my aid, like a gentleman. Showing such concern for my soaked state. I remember.

[and she had already thought that perhaps, if they kept seeing each other like that, it would have been enough to live on for a while. that slowly, she could let herself show what she might feel.]

I couldn't help it - you don't know how much I had to restrain myself before that day. Stop my hands from touching yours, or keep some distance when I didn't want to. It would have been so obvious, otherwise, the way you made me have a crush like some schoolgirl.

[He laughs, delighted at the very idea. When they had initially found out how long they were actually attracted to each other, it had been a moment of wishing he had acted differently in the past. But it didn’t matter now. Now, he was thoroughly in love with her, married to her, and he could ask for nothing else.]

Like a schoolgirl? Oh, if only I had known. The things we could’ve done, in that first year of my knowing you.

[But it was no real regret, not really.]

But it’s all a moot point now, isn’t it? You’re mine, and I’m yours. And I can’t imagine spending a slightly-belated Valentine’s with anyone else.

Don't think too hard on it. We were still friends, weren't we? All part of the thoroughly enjoyable road to today.

[and who knows, they might never have connected as they did without that time spent together.]

Where there's no second date I have to be jealous of.

Forgive me, my love. Forgive me a thousand times over for making you jealous on that day.

[Really, it was his nephew's fault. But it was also his nephew's remark that caused Ardyn to reach out to Grell in the first place, giving him a silly reason to point to if she rejected him, or if she did not take to him. How funny that all seemed now.

Ardyn skates ahead of her just enough to turn around and catch her in his arms. They glide back until Ardyn's back gently bumps against the border of the rink.]

But in the end, I came back to you. Just as I have today. And I always will.

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