Storm the Castle

[Ebonywood Hellscythe]

First part is between Summer and Morene's posts. Second part is after Morene's post.

Having her hair brushed wasn't unusual. It was uncommon, but she'd always liked it. Even the rare little twinges of pain when the brush eased out a particularly nasty knot. Maybe something about it made her feel safe, she thought, pondering the situation. Or maybe she simply enjoyed the feeling of someone playing with her hair. Deep down, she knew that wasn't it. That wasn't why she was smiling happily, head lolling back and faint hums escaping her lips. It was because only a close friend - someone like family - had ever done that before. Not back at the old castle tower, but the boat. It resembled trust, a true friendship, someone who really cared about her, much unlike the castle mages who'd seen to it that she had what she needed and left her to her own devices.

It was heavy. She felt like all the strength in the world couldn't lift the weight on her shoulders. It was suffocating, and her breaths felt thick and hot as if her throat was swollen. She couldn't return this. She could give anything back on the ship, and she couldn't do that now. Even without the fighting, she was a burden - still a scared little girl pretending to be something she wasn't.

But, selfishly, she lapped it all up. Never feeling like she'd done anything to deserve it. Yet, even then, both right now - and on the boat - people continued to care for her. She squirmed a little bit, mind aimlessly wandering as she settled down once again. Just thinking. Mostly about home, and general recent events.

Captain.

She'd last seen him a few days ago when-

Ebony swallowed, closed her eyes, and sighed.

It felt like weeks had passed. 

But she couldn't do anything about it. Not right now.

A short wave of reluctance ran through her bones. Could she really sit here relaxing and enjoying herself at a time like this? After everything that had happened, with much more on the horizon? The answer was yes, she could. Drama and inner conflict aside, she needed this. Besides the neatening of her hair, she'd go crazy if she didn't let herself rest. Yawning, all the tension slowly drifted out of her body. Even the cursed mark didn't feel painful anymore. It was just there. A faint tingle around a patch of desensitised skin.

Gentle fingers deftly guided the top of her head, prompting her to twist her neck a little to give Summer a better angle. She blushed, unsure what to do with her hands. Settling for looping her fingers under the leg holes of her shorts, she awkwardly ruffled the smooth fabric, sitting up straight. Within moments, she relaxed once again, cherishing the moment and avoiding thinking of anything. Mind almost completely blank, it was then where Morene entered with her, admittedly subdued, interruption.

---

"I-"

I don't want to.

I'm scared.

I don't want to fight anymore.

I can't.

I don't want you to get hurt again.

"Okay. L-let's go tomorrow." Ebony bit her lip, shuddering. Pictures of the last battle were still fresh in her mind. Feelings of sharp metal piercing her chest. The black blood, the gore, how the limp bodies squelched beneath her feet. Eyes drooping down, she hugged her chest breaths quickening as the scenes replayed in her memories. Too real.

A firm hand clasped her shoulder, massaging the joint and jolting her out of her stupor. "We can always wait-"

"N-no." Ebony shook her head, hair shifting from side to side and messing up most of Summer's work. Although it settled neatly, with any kinky smoothed out. If anything, he'd probably finished some time ago, but neither of them had made any attempt to bring the brushing to an end. "We're going tomorrow." She twisted, half turning around on the mattress to face him while grabbing his hand in the process. She wrapped one set of fingers around his thumb while bringing her other hand over to brush her other fingers over his palm. A moment later, she closed it into a fist, swivelling her hand beneath his and rolling in his fingers, then pressing his thumb over the top. Giving his enclosed hand a squeeze with both of her own, she idly ran her thumbs over his knuckles, looked up, and met his gaze square on. Face stark white and serious, she spoke, not stuttering. Not even once. "No. We have to."

Summer paused, somewhat taken aback by her sudden resolve. Ebony broke the silence first, quickly retreating with her grip and snapping her head away, a faint tinge of red blooming on her cheeks. Accidentally, she scooted forward a little bit, almost falling off the bed. As fast as lightning, Summer's arms shot out, one wrapped around her waist and the other held her shoulder, pulling her back up and into his arms for a moment.

Ebony steadied quickly, almost falling back onto him but managing to stay upright. Within a few seconds, Summer pulled away, turning his own face to look away from her at the same moment she shifted to study him. Biting her lip, Ebony puffed her cheeks out, shuffling a little bit. Had Summer not whipped his head to the side, she would have seen a similar red on his own now-flustered skin. "Thanks," she mumbled, inelegantly puffing out a small gust of air. After some more fidgeting, she pushed herself a bit further back on the soft bedding and lifted a hand to rub the shoulder her touched through her shirt. Her cloak had been folded up and placed to the side.

"You're w-welcome." Just when she was about to pick up the bundle of fabric, Summer did so for her, and the faint sound of him taking a deep breath met her ears. With both hands, he toyed with her hair, bundling it up and running his fingers through it for a moment. Tentatively. Making an effort to touch her, yet doing so barely, as little as he could while still pursuing the action. Her cloak was soon wrapped around her, hood pulled up, and hair neatly contained inside it. "Alright." With fumbling hands, Summer did up the clasp, then placed a hand on top of her hooded head, ruffling the fake ears, patting her a little, and smoothing it out. "Let's leave tomorrow."

Glancing to the side, Ebony spotted Sonny, now slouched down in a chair next to many magical looking runes and words. Idly, she wondered what he had been doing, but didn't ask. Nonetheless, he was asleep, having passed out during the conversation - or maybe even a bit before. Meanwhile, Morene merely looked at them both with her usual motherly amusement at their awkward shenanigans, remaining silent and letting it take its course.

Some more time passed, with Ebony meshing her fingers together and occasionally stealing a glance at Summer before hiding under her hood. Huffing a little bit, she crossed her arms, then slid back far enough for her back to lean against the wall. Flaring her magic, she undid her boots, kicking them off the bed. Yet, despite the display of energy, she slouched. A loud yawn escaped her lips a moment later, prompting her to immediately straighten her back, then hide her rosy cheeks under the shadow of her hood, beginning to nod off again. Maybe it was time for them to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.