+ “You are…” he trails off, trying to find the right words. As if a single phrase could ever fully express how he feels. “You are *everything* to me. I hope you know that.”

+ Elion’s hand tightens on his shirt making him feel wanted, needed… and more than a little possessive. Rhys closes his eyes and takes a deep, steadying breath. When he opens them again he is wearing an expression of complete adoration. +

“Really?” He chuckles, slightly surprised. Wrapping one arm around Elion’s shoulders, Rhys moves in as if to kiss him, but then he pauses, mischievous smile still in place. “Thinking you might see something you like, hm?” He teases, voice low. +

+ Anything to help ease the pain, at least for a little while.

“Rivain, then. We can sail across the bay and walk along the beach.” Then he pauses, a small, mischievous smile playing on his lips as he leans closer.

“We could go skinny dipping,” Rhys whispers playfully, a single brow raised.

Rhys chuckles and looks down, meeting Elion’s gaze. “You just don’t want to hear me complain about the cold again.”

He releases Elion’s hand and brings it to his face, fingertips trailing gently along his jaw. Rhys wants to make him laugh, blush, roll his eyes… +

+ “Let me take you somewhere, my love. Wherever you want.”

+ “Unless you’d rather head to the mountains. Or a vineyard?”

Leaving the city for something other than a contract was a rare occurrence. But they could both use a break, and Rhys thought that with a little convincing Viago might be inclined to give them one. +

Setting the bottle aside, Rhys resumes stroking Elion’s hair, fingers occasionally brushing against the edge of his ear. He takes one of Elion’s hands into his and squeezes it gently.

“You know, I still owe you another night or two out on the bay,” Rhys murmurs. +

+ With his free hand, he lifts the bottle to his lips and takes an experimental sip. The wine, although warm, is lovely. He hums his approval, takes another sip, and hands it to Elion.

“It’s safe. Promise.”

+ He waits a few minutes for Elion to speak, glancing down at him with a soft, concerned smile. When he doesn’t, Rhys shifts slightly so that he can slowly run his fingers through the hair above Elion’s ear. +

There was only so much Rhys could say. He would continue, gladly, if he thought more words of reassurance would do anything to temper Elion’s pain. But now, he thinks, a distraction might be more helpful. +

+ “I’m not sure if a grilled cheese is a good idea… but I can’t say I am not curious,” he says to Cole with a grin. “Please report back if you end up trying it.”

+ “I’d love to see some unusual houses, Bellara. I’m afraid I wouldn’t mind seeing the cheese as well. My brother would kill me if I didn’t.” He laughs, glancing over at Elion with a knowing look. +

The thought of thousand-year-old cheese wheels is horrifying and intriguing in equal measure. Rhys can’t help but grin; his brother would find ancient cheese wheels absolutely fascinating. +

+ Rhys pauses to look out over the field of sunflowers. “Is there wildlife here? Besides the ducks, I mean.”

+ “I should like to see Elion’s room,” he says in reply to Bel’s question, while squeezing Elion’s hand. “And perhaps the stable? Or anywhere, really.” Even the mundane things here were fascinating, if still unnerving. +

“You know, the way you both speak of this place makes it sound like it’s alive,” Rhys smiles, somewhat nervously. “If it is, please don’t tell me.” The thought of a treasure chest being alive was mind-numbing enough. +

+ Rhys grabs the wine bottle from the ground and shifts back to rest against the cushions.

“Come here, my love.”

+ “Everything will be okay. I promise.” He turns his head, roughly kissing Elion’s hair and nuzzling into him with a shaky sigh.

They stay like that for a few minutes, until the hard stone beneath Rhys’s knees forces him to move back to the daybed. +

*Oh, Elion.*

Rhys holds him close, one hand slowly rubbing calming circles between his shoulder blades. “I know you are. And you are doing so well,” Rhys murmurs, his voice still not quite as steady as he would like. +

+ Given all they’ve seen so far, Rhys has no idea what to expect. But he hopes that both the room and Elion’s belongings are still there.

+ Looking around the courtyard, his attention is caught by the stable. If ducks could be in the Fade, would there be horses? Or something else? He resists asking, for the moment anyway.

He follows Elion’s gaze back up at the main building and tilts his head curiously. +

Rhys breathes a small sigh of relief when Bellara opens the doors. Curiosity is starting to overtake his anxiety, especially since Elion now seemed to be relaxing a bit, too.

“Yes, this is… Unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It is amazing,” Rhys flashes both Bellara and Cole a genuine smile. +

+ “So if I have to spend a lifetime reassuring you that this is real, that I am not going anywhere, and that you deserve to be happy, I will.”

Rhys brings a gentle hand to Elion’s face. He searches his eyes for a moment, runs his thumb along the scar on his cheek, and leans in to kiss him.

+ Rhys slides off the daybed and kneels in front of him, taking both of his hands.

“If I weren’t here with you, I’d be on a bender in Minrathous. Or sleeping it off on a gondola, alone. There is nowhere else I’d rather be, okay?” +

Rhys winces, his hand tightening on Elion’s shoulder before he can stop it. “Elion...,” his voice comes out shaky, and he stops to take a deep, steadying breath.

“Elion. When I look at you, I don’t see a mess. And being with you certainly doesn’t make me feel stuck.” +

+ He wraps his arm around Elion’s shoulders, hand gently stroking his upper arm. “Tell me, love. What were you thinking?” Rhys asks, his voice soft. “Maybe if I know, I can help.”

*Please. Let me help.*

“Don’t apologize, it’s okay,” Rhys murmurs and carefully sets the open bottle on the ground.

It was always painful seeing Elion like this, and the thought of him struggling alone for so long was almost too much to bear. But Rhys is here now, and he’s not going anywhere. +

+ He leans over to brush it off before tossing the blanket down and looking back at Elion with a smile.

“Let’s see if this wine is any good, hm?”

Rhys smiles softly as Elion gently takes hold of his sleeve. The small, simple gesture makes his heart skip a beat, even after everything.

“Well, you do know how I love to spoil you.” Rhys chuckles and nods to the comfortable looking, if leaf covered, daybed. +