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[tolaywaste]

[Alex is praying. He's in the chapel with his head bowed, like he's been since just after lunch, and he thinks he's gonna stay until dinner. It probably won't help in the grand scheme of things, but it's quiet here, and that's what he wants. Space to think. Or feel, maybe.]

[He woke up to a flood that drew the very worst memories of his life out of him, laid them on display for anyone at all to see, and now that the smoke is clearing he finds himself in mourning again. It's unexpected how much he misses Pietro, like a sharp pain between his ribs. He wasn't a brother, wasn't important in the same way that Ben or Sean or Armando are, but he was - is - important. He understood things implicitly, things about family that Alex doesn't like to explain.]

[So Alex isn't sure what he's praying for, exactly, other than Pietro's safety. Maybe his, maybe Anya's, maybe nothing in particular. All he knows for sure is he doesn't want to leave.]

Comments

[tolaywaste]

[There are a thousand tiny things about her that cause Alex to wonder, that paralyze him in disbelief and awe that she's real, that she's here, that someone like her can exist at all. The parts of him that don't feel good enough are swept away in her presence as he feels wisps of her hair brush his face, her breath on his skin as she speaks.]

[Seconds slide past before he realizes yes, she's spoken, and yes, it's to him; she wants to go somewhere else, but he's not sure he can move, he's too content. Tired, beaten down, but for the moment, content.]

Where-- [He swallows, tries again.] Where're you taking me, then?

[It's more or less a joke, feeble and quiet and gentle, the best he can do with his heart going a hundred miles an hour and everything moving molasses-slow at the same time.]

[breathoflight]

[There's a small puff of laughter. She places a hand to his cheek, a gentle smile at his warmth.]

Am I to steal you away then? I thought perhaps you might come with me to the gardens.

[It's difficult enough to find the will to move even for Snow. She's content here so close to him. But she realizes there are probably better places for staying this close to one another.]

[At the very least, the gardens are close.]

[tolaywaste]

I thought that was the idea. A, uh, friendly kidnapping.

[He blinks rapidly at the touch of her hand on his cheek and looks down, then at the door.]

Gardens are good.

[And then he's taking her hand and pulling her up, not trying all that hard not to grin. She's right. It's time to go.]

[breathoflight]

[Snow lets him pull her to her feet, but she takes the lead out of the chapel.]

Good though I don't think it matters. Most kidnappers don't really care for opinions about where they're headed.

[But also, Snow doesn't really mind where she goes right now. As long as it's with Alex, she's okay with it.]

[tolaywaste]

I might be a considerate kidnapper.

[He has no issue following behind her. He's sure she knows what she's doing better than he does. At this point, he doesn't bother disguising his joy, either, his awe of her, or the ridiculous smile on his face.]

[breathoflight]

[She laughs both at his words and the smile on his face. She has not seen him smile like that in quite some time and it's a refreshing familiar sight to see.]

Does such a thing even exist?