daysofthunder | a lot can happen in twenty seconds [ff15 au]

a lot can happen in twenty seconds [ff15 au]

At some point during the night, Rox woke up and slid out of the bedroom to grab her discarded shirt and bra. She didn't know if Rinka and Aurene were home, and she didn't check. If they had come home maybe they had noticed, maybe they hadn't. Hopefully, they hadn't noticed yet. She knew when she'd passed out in Nyx's arms they hadn't been home, but at this point it was the wee hours of the morning.

She was surprised when she returned to see a handsome, disheveled, bleary eyed Nyx sitting up in bed. Her recovered clothes were discarded and she jumped him. She got him all hot and bothered again and more intimate catching up was had, though this time, Rox made an effort to keep down her volume.

~~~

Rox heard rummaging in the kitchen. She lay draped over a hot, hard, delicious male in her bed. Muscles she'd forgotten existed were sore from the hungry, relentless activity of the evening and night before, but she savored every ache. Because it was Nyx. She opened one eye and peered at the handsome bastard who still slept soundly. She had worn him out, she thought with a pleased smile, quite proud of herself.

But as much as she wanted to snuggle, whichever of her daughters was in the kitchen making food—probably Rinka in all honesty—had awakened her empty stomach. It growled quietly in protest to all the exercise and the lack of calories. Of course, that rumble woke up her bladder, and Rox had to grudgingly and sleepily force herself away from the ridiculously tempting heat of the stupidly gorgeous man in her bed.

She wobbled a bit on her way to the bathroom and after cleaning up, grabbed the first shirt on the floor and tugged it on. Rox realized with a small smile it was Nyx's shirt as it slipped off her shoulder and hung down to her thighs. Good enough. She winced a little as she headed to the kitchen.

Rox patted Rinka's head when she passed by, yawning. She hadn't looked at herself in the mirror. So Rox was unaware that her auburn hair was an utter disaster from sleep and Nyx's hands, and bruises littered her neck and exposed shoulder. "Good mornin', baby," she said, her voice hoarse. She blearily blinked at a cupboard for a mug.

Coffee, yes. And food. She grabbed one of the mugs and put it down before leaving it behind to open the fridge. She lounged drowsily against the open door and stared blankly inside.

She didn't want to cook. Leftovers?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Aurene blinked a few times in confusion before retreating back to the bedroom to grab her phone, sending a message to the group chat they had with Noctis and Prompto.

Mr. Ulric is shirtless in our kitchen. Rinka is flipping out. We didn't even know he was here.

She then went back to the kitchen with her phone, leaning against a wall and observing quietly. She didn't really have much else to say outside of what she'd already said, so she was just observing while the louder people of the family took over.

Rox grinned at Rinka, gave her another kiss on the temple, and then turned a more softened smile to Nyx. Slept light. She wasn't surprised. She'd also slept light when she'd been part of the Kingsglaive, and for some time afterward. It had helped when tending to a toddler, though, to be fair, Rox had snuggled with Rinka more often than not. It really hadn't been until both girls were in their teens that she'd started sleeping a little harder. She'd spent many years battling nightmares.

All in all though, both girls seemed to be taking Nyx's presence mostly in stride, outside of Rinka's surprise. She still expected to be grilled by both her daughters when they got a chance though. Oh, that would be a fun conversation... But Rox found she kind of looked forward to it a little. She'd never really talked to her daughters about her life. It wasn't a life for children to hear about.

But they weren't children anymore.

Rox returned to her mug and grabbed a second, third and fourth one, so she could serve them all some coffee. She knew how her daughters liked it, and she wondered if Nyx still liked it the same way he had fifteen years ago. She hesitated, and just left the black coffee there for the moment while she went to hand over a mug to Aurene.

"Here you go, baby girl," Rox said, handing Aurene her mug. She gave her girl a kiss. She glanced back at Rinka and then back to Aurene. "You two weren't out too late, were you?"

Rinka knew she had been a particularly difficult child, with good reason. She was always going to be grateful to Rox for not giving up on her when so many others would have, especially considering her dubious origins. They all knew how others like her had been treated. How even just a few months ago they were comforting a sick, sobbing Prompto who had been called such awful things by the very people who were meant to love and protect him.

But it was why Nyx being here wasn't terribly confusing. He'd clearly taken a shine to their weird little family. Rox herself had said nothing about their, Noctis had at least a little insight to offer, as Nyx had been his warping instructor since he was twelve and discussed how he knew Rox at all after finding out about Prompto befriending them.

"Asking Prompto for a picture of your mom was weird enough, but when I asked more about her he got this look on his face like he was... I'unno, missing something? Like, I've never seen him look nostalgic but that's what it seemed like. Couldn't get anything else outta him except for her leaving when she adopted you."

Nyx seemed the sort to very much live in the moment so it struck all of them as odd that he would appear almost burdened by someone he knew fifteen years ago, before some of them could even form full sentences.

Until now, anyway. The pieces were absolutely falling into place, at least for Rinka.

"Late enough," Rinka snarked as she pushed the hashbrowns around in the pan, shaking her head. "It was a late showing but we were back by two."

Going to the movies that late worked out best for their group because it kept Noctis from getting harassed as most theaters weren't terribly full for those shows.

Aurene's phone vibrated.

photog: huh. alright then. shit finally makes sense now. get some, ms pickheart l o l

Rinka looked up at Nyx again, eyes slightly narrowed.

"So you're still here the morning after," she started with a dangerous edge to her voice, "Guess you're not the sort to hit it and quit it, yeah? 'cause if you were--"

Probably a good thing Nyx didn't get that coffee, because he would have choked on it. As it was he still sputtered.

"Blunt as ever..." he grumbled behind his fist, coughing and straightening up. "What kind of man do you take me for?"

"A cocky Glaive that everyone calls 'hero' for a reason."

Nyx frowned.

"That name can be a double edged sword, kiddo," he said, though there was no follow up as to why. He scratched at his hair above his ear. "Look, you know your mom. She woulda had my ass out on the street already if I wasn't being serious about this. I fucked up bad by letting her go for fifteen years. Hells, I regret that I didn't get to be a part of your lives, too. But she did a damn fine job raising you two and I sure as shit can't take credit for any of that.

I know this is probably... weird... for you two, and I get it. I'm not here to make some grand sweeping entrance and force you to see me as anything but..."

He trailed off briefly, glancing at Rox with his expression going sheepish.

"As anything but Rox's boyfriend. But I swear on my honor I'm not here to hurt her."

Rinka's lips worked in an uncertain twitch until she finally sighed, jabbing at the hashbrowns a little rougher than she intended to.

Damn it all, did he have to be such a good guy?

"Good. 'cause she'll get first dibs on murdering you anyway."

Nyx grinned.

"I know she will."

Edited 2024-05-15 20:56 (UTC)

aurene: I'm still confused? I'm missing something, what am I missing??

Aurene texted back as her boyfriend added to the conversation, then taking the mug that was being offered by her mother with a thankful nod as she sipped her morning drink. She was getting ... Closer, to recognizing what everyone else already had. She got a text back almost instantly, bluntly telling her exactly what had happened.

She stared at her phone for a few moments, then let out a quiet "Ooooohhh ...." She then looked up at both of the adults.

"You two boned," She said, without a thought as to whether she should be less blunt about it or not. She smiled over at Rox.

"Way to go, Mom."

Rox blushed a little when Nyx mentioned those fifteen years of loss again. At his confidence in her ability to know what she was about, his appreciation of her trust in him. When he called himself her boyfriend. Her heart twisted at his voiced regret.

She wished he had been with her. But it was too late for that, but not too late for whatever the future held now. She didn't want to lose now because of what could've been.

Rox had been about to comment herself after Aurene took the mug, her gaze warm on Nyx's beloved face, when her youngest spoke.

She stiffened, then turned to her daughter and saw her smile. Then Rox burst out laughing and promptly covered Aurene in kisses. "Why thank you, baby," she said, still chuckling as she spoke. It was a compliment as far as she was concerned. She'd boned Nyx Ulric. He was her boyfriend, at long last. Hers.

Rox shrugged and headed back toward Rinka to get her own mug of coffee. "I legitimately thought it would never happen. He hadn't spoken to me in over fifteen years until he showed up with the boys a month ago." She took a sip of her coffee. "By now I was pretty damn sure he wasn't into me."

Nyx wasn't sure if he was going to be able to breathe normally in this family because Astrals these girls. He had nothing to drink and yet he was coughing and sputtering again because of Aurene, and more so when Rox thanked her. Rinka was also laughing.

photog: your mom got laid. by nyx 'hero' ulric no less.
photog attached a picture
show your mom that i dare you lol

Well at least they were being good sports about the whole thing. Those girls had every right to be distrustful of any new person that came into their lives like that. Rinka's hazing was, at the end of it all, just a way to test him and it seemed that he'd passed as he wasn't getting slapped by a hashbrown-covered spatula or a kitchen knife at his throat.

And Aurene seemed unbothered, even if she was being incredibly blunt about the whole thing.

Rinka finished the hashbrowns and carefully scraped them onto a plate next to the food that she'd already prepared, a fairly large breakfast, though now that she knew they were feeding another mouth it was probably just the right amount for all four of them.

"I was. I was just also an idiot," Nyx shrugged with a lopsided grin.

"Yeah you were," Rinka laughed, shaking her head. "... wait, Mom. Is that why you never dated anyone? Except that one asshat from work. Gods, I still wanna break his arms."

Nyx rose an eyebrow, looking to Rox for further explanation.

Rox sipped her coffee as her cheeks brightened with color. She leaned against the counter. "Is Nyx the reason I never really dated or wanted to date...?" A breath. "Yes." Her gaze flickered to her eldest's mismatched one. Rinka could certainly understand the hurt of unrequited love. She knew her girl was sweet on the prince. Hopefully, confessing this would allow Rinka to feel safe talking to Rox about her feelings. Knowing that her mother had suffered it for so long.

"Dating that asshole was an attempt to get over," her gaze returned to Nyx, "you. I told you this last night, Nyx. The Lucian from work. He flirted with me, thought he was genuinely interested, thought for a second that he was my second chance at a real relationship after you cut me out. A few dates in we slept together, and the next day at work..." She sipped some more of her coffee. "What I should've expected. He'd told everyone in the office how easy I was to get into the sack, that I'd sleep to get to the top and with anyone, so I was basically just a whore."

Rox shrugged. "My death glare shut them up enough for the boss to call me into her office and tell me I was changing departments. And for her to warn me not to date anyone else at work. Ever." Another sip. "I stopped bothering to even attempt the dating scene. Rinka was, what? Eight I think. Almost nine." That meant it had been almost ten years ago now.

She turned her attention to both her daughters. "Truth is, girls, even if he hadn't I don't think it would've gone anywhere. There's only one person I've ever trusted completely besides you two, and he's in the kitchen with us." A small smile graced her full lips. "No one else I dated would've ever, ultimately, made it through the door. You two are my whole world, and even when I thought Nyx wanted nothing to do with me..." She sighed and cursed.

"He still probably would've been the only person I would've ever gone to for help." Her gaze lifted toward him. "Even if he turned me away."

It wasn't so much safety that made Rinka hesitate as it was knowing good and well none of them had any power over the situation.

She and Noctis had talked it to death but as it stood right then they saw no other way around it, but didn't want to end their friendship over their inability to do more, either.

"I still say hammers have no limits..." Rinka muttered. Nyx had to raise an eyebrow at her for that but he wasn't going to get any further explanation from the teen. Instead he focused his attention back to Rox and her story, and while it stung to hear of himself in the past tense in those situations he knew it was the truth.

Or, rather, mostly the truth. He'd given up, yes, but he'd never fully extinguished the torch for her, as last night had proved many times over.

"I wouldn't have," he stated firmly, "And don't ever let me know that man's name because I will do something stupid."

Back when that whole thing had happened, she had been newly adopted by Rox and had therefore just come out of a horribly abusive situation. So, when an eight year old Rinka had started yelling and getting upset about what that douchebag had done to her mother, Aurene was busy covering her ears and cowering in the corner of the room.

Looking back on it now it was funny, Rinka's reaction, and she'd love to see how the boys reacted to that story, but back then, six year old her had no understanding of what was going on and why her sister was yelling so much.

Aurene opened the picture Prom had sent and found herself smirking amusedly at it. She then tapped her mom on the shoulder, showing her the phone and the picture.

"Prom said to show you this," She explained quietly, hoping that it was funny to her as well and would ease some of the tension in the room.

But, just in case it wasn't, she was perfectly content to throw her boyfriend under the bus a little bit. Sorry babe.

Rox smirked at Nyx, knowing full well he meant it, but technically Rinka would get first dibs, since she called it first. She took another sip and was grateful that she'd swallowed before she looked over at the picture that Aurene showed her.

She abruptly burst out laughing. The lighthearted sound filled the room as Rox laughed hard enough to bring tears to her eyes, and she carefully put down the mug before she spilled it before holding onto the counter while she continued to laugh. She managed to slowly heave for breath as more laughter and giggles spilled out in between. She wiped her eyes and then pointed at Aurene's phone with a giant grin.

"May I?" When Aurene handed her the phone, Rox quickly typed

this is mom: om6 thank you my boy! i appreciate it so much!

Then she handed the phone right back to Aurene with another laugh after hitting send. "That was fantastic." She gave Aurene a quick smooch on the cheek. Then she took another deep, calming breath to stave off any more chuckles and looked over to Nyx. "The boys know."

Damn straight she does!

Nyx went into the kitchen properly to look over Rox's shoulder at the phone while Rinka did the same on her other side, and the whole of them burst into peals of laughter along with her, probably not helping her regain her composure any.

Thanks, Prompto.

"Or at least Prompto does," Rinka corrected between snickers and snorts, "Noct will find out whenever he wakes the hell up."

"I kinda want cake now," Nyx admitted once he also wasn't doubled over laughing.

"I told Aurene I wasn't gonna make her one but now y'all are tempting me to do it anyway."

It would take her mind of a certain prince, at least for a little while.

"But we have breakfast first! Now shoo, all of you, to the table!" she made the proper 'shoo'ing motion with her hands, chasing all three out of the kitchen.

"I'll help make the cake if you end up doing it," Aurene offered. It was funny and clearly the adults were amused by it, enough to nearly fall down laughing. She made her way to the table and texted the chat again.

aurene: Mom nearly fell down laughing, by the way. And now Rinka is very tempted to actually make the cake for them. I offered to help, wanna come over and help with that too?

The offer was for both boys but Prom was the only one seeing it at the moment since The Prince of Feesh was allegedly asleep.

Aurene helped Rinka cook sometimes and had learned a lot from her, but she enjoyed baking a lot more. A lot less wiggle room with baking, measurements made her feel safe in what she was doing.

And of course, being Mom, Rox had learned how to do both ages ago, and had taught both her girls. Between her and Rinka when it came to cooking, however, it generally fell on who was up and who was hungry. Rox generally cooked breakfast when the girls went to school and she went to work, but on the weekends, like today, she slept in a little and Rinka made breakfast.

She checked the clock on the wall as she headed to the table to set down her mug. Actually, slept in a LOT. She smiled to herself. Nyx's fault.

Rox glanced over at him and could still barely believe he was in her house, in her space, with her and her daughters, after spending the night in her bed.

Oh. That's right. She should give him back his shirt and put on actual clothes. "Aurene, baby, do you mind setting the table for your sister, while she finishes up breakfast? I'm going to put on some clothes and give Nyx back his shirt." And probably brush her hair.

Nyx, still chuckling, scooted out of the kitchen with the other two at Rinka's insistence. Hearing that Rox was going to change, though, he quickly got behind her and pulled her into a hug, kissing her neck lightly.

"Aw, I liked the view, but I guess I should probably be halfway decent for breakfast..."

"Yeah you should!" Rinka called out from the kitchen. Nyx buried his face in Rox's hair with a laugh.

"I think she likes me."

Aurene nodded in response and got up to start setting the table as her mother had requested. She did glance over at her sister when the two adults were out of earshot.

"So? What do you think of this all?" She asked her in her usual soft-spoken manner, gathering silverware and plates as she asked. Aurene wasn't really too bothered by it, as long as her mother was happy, but she knew Rinka had a lot more to think about the whole thing than she did.

Obviously, she wasn't thinking too far into the future. For now, this guy was making her mom happy so she was okay with it. She wasn't really thinking about her own relationship to the guy because this was literally a brand new development in her mother's life. And theirs, by extension, but ... Yeah, not thinking that far into it.

"You think?" Rox said with amusement. For a moment, she enjoyed the sensation of being wrapped in his arms. She never thought he'd ever embrace her like this, never thought he would ever want her the way she wanted him. So she savored the warmth that filled at his face in her hair, his voice near her ear, his arms enveloping her.

But she needed to put on clothes for her daughters' sakes, so she forced herself to cease her blissful lounge against his body and head back to the bedroom, tugging him along.

Once they were in privacy, she turned around, got on her tiptoes, kissed him, and then sashayed away toward her closet, pulling his shirt off her body and tossing it back to him. "I'm...glad you liked the view. Maybe eventually I'll get to keep a shirt or two," she said softly, as she grabbed a tank and a pair of leggings. She rummaged for bra and underwear, and then headed to the bathroom.

She wasn't in there two seconds before she said, "Fuck the Six! Nyx! I'm covered in hickeys!"

Rinka stopped her movements for a moment to tap on the edge of the counter with a thoughtful, contemplative expression. She recalled the night that Nyx helped them find Prompto with no hesitation, and went over the things she knew about him just from the articles and talks around the city about the Glaives and his position in particular.

For as much as she worried about her mom - yes, she knew Rox would hurl any and all would be harmers of any of them over the wall in a heartbeat, that was besides the point - she also couldn't think of anything that felt like a red flag to her about Nyx.

It wasn't even like he had an ego about the whole 'hero' thing. In fact it almost seemed like he disliked it, which was usually the sign of someone who wasn't in their job for recognition and praise alone.

"I guess he really is the one she's been waiting for..." Rinka finally answered while resuming plating up breakfast and taking it out to the table. "Plus I think he knows all three of us would absolutely murder him no question if he did anything to hurt her."

Nyx grinned at Rox as she tossed his shirt to him, admiring the view while he had it a little longer. He'd behave. For now.

And put his shirt on.

"Well if I'm gonna be taking a month off I'll probably need to bring some clothes over anyway."

Her cry left him sputtering in laughter again, poking his head around the doorframe to look at her through the mirror's reflection.

Yup.

Thoooose sure were some hickeys.

"Well then I'd say I did a good job," he grinned even wider at her, fully expecting to get something thrown at him for it.

Back in the kitchen Aurene's phone finally buzzed.

photog: i can get sleeping beauty up. cake sounds awesome.

Aurene listened to her sister, nodding in response. Well, at least Rinka seemed to trust the guy, and she had no reason not to trust him either, especially after he helped so much with Prompto all those months ago. Rinka's approval, or at least, her lack of any reason to see any red flags that she wouldn't be able to see, helped her feel better about the whole thing. As long as her sister approved, and her mom was happy, she was happy. She smiled in response, giving her a pat on the shoulder as she moved to go set the table. She then glanced at her phone and brightened up even more. Yay, she got to see Prompto, too! And Noctis. She was close with both boys by now, but by far closer with Prompto. She returned into the kitchen to get plates after setting the silverware up.

"Prompto says he's gonna get Noctis up and they'll come over so we can make cake." She anticipated today would be full of happy and hilarious vibes.

Man would be right! Rox threw a towel at him for his laughter (but only because she didn't want to lose her soap launching it at him), along with a playful glare, then chuckled with a shake of her head, and looked back at the mirror. Six. No wonder Rinka had been giving Nyx death glares. With the way her hair was, all those love marks, and wearing his shirt, she just about walked out of her bedroom silently screaming "I had sex last night and it was awesome."

Mm. It had been awesome. Definitely worth the wait, even if she would've preferred it sooner. Much, much sooner.

Rox sighed. "I'm going to have to wear a tall necked shirt when I go back to work to ask for it off..." The last thing she needed was a bunch of her coworkers sniggering at her if they saw them. The "Galahdian whore" comment never really stopped going around, but there had been no point telling her daughters about it. Almost ten years later and the occasional asshole still said it within her earshot, even though she'd changed departments. Once her boss had left, well... She'd had no more protection.

But for today, she didn't need to hide them so... After putting on her bra, she tugged on her tanktop and shimmied into her underpants. "Yeah. If you plan on staying here every night of the month you probably should." Rox paused. "I mean. If you want to. You can always go back to your place whenever you want," she said, her voice very quiet. Boyfriend, yes. But that didn't mean he wanted to spend every moment with her.

It was a little sus, Mom.

Nyx leaned against the doorframe with his shirt in his hand still, catching the towel with the other hand, continuing to grin rakishly at her. He almost couldn't stop grinning. Getting to see her like this was just as incredible as getting to see her writhing on top of him the night before.

"Weren't you planning on taking time off anyway? Not that it's gonna stop me from giving you more..."

Her hesitation did make the smile slip away some, though, and he stepped inside the bathroom proper to wrap his arms around her waist, kissing the top of her forehead.

"I'll go back to see Lib and Crowe but I would rather stay here with you... if you're okay having me around that much."

Rox sighed and relaxed against him, as if his touch was the only thing that could make the tension flow out of her body. She closed her eyes and moved close, taking a deep breath of his scent. She savored the feel of his body against hers and an arm slid around his waist.

"I want you around that much," she whispered. Hells, she didn't want him leave. Her hand on his back slid lower. "And yes, I plan on taking time off, but I won't get a whole month. It'll be a miracle if I can get a week." They'd screwed her out of time off before. She half-expected a fight to get that week. Well, even when she went back to work, she could find ways to cover up more hickeys she guessed. She wouldn't give the jerks and work anymore fodder if she could help it. But if they did find out...

Well, there was a chance she'd shoot her mouth off. Maybe they'd finally fire her if she did. Thank fuck she had saved over the years.

Her hand sank lower and pinched his ass. Half because it was irresistible and half because she wanted to make sure she wasn't dreaming and he wouldn't suddenly disappear. Rox opened her eyes and shot him a wicked little grin. "I can't believe you want cake when you already have so much." She grabbed his ass. "I swear you got a better butt than me."

Nyx gave a little jump at the sudden pinch, snorting loudly at her commentary.

"I can't say if I do or don't, just that I quite like yours as well," he grinned, reaching behind and giving hers a grope as well.

They had to be careful, though. They were going to miss breakfast entirely if this kept up.

"Well just let me know if you need me to clear out for any reason," he told her, giving her a light kiss and pulling away so he could he tug his shirt on. "I'll be around as long as you want me to be, even if you get stuck working. You can whine to me, though I can't promise I'll offer anything more than more sex to help."

Rox reached out to him, her expression concerned after that last comment. Her heart sat lodged in her throat, while her heart hammered. No. No. He wasn't allowed to think that.

"Bull shit," she rasped. "If you think I only want you for the sex..." What, Rox? He could leave? She didn't want to give him up. Her hand clenched on his arm. She grit her teeth.

"I will not whine to you," she said, her voice clipped. "Of course you offer more. You mean more to me than sex, Nyx." She dropped her hand away from his arm and shook her head. She started to put on her leggings with jerky, angry movements. "Who the fuck do you think I am? What the fuck do you think I am?" she muttered roughly under her breath. Was it her confession about work? About her past? Did he think her a whore too after all?

"I won't mention my job again to you." She wouldn't mention anything that bothered her. She never wanted him to think that all she cared about was the sex he could offer her.

Even if he already believed that.

Oh.

That sure was a foot in mouth moment.

Shit.

"No no, that's not--!"

He groaned and put a hand over his face, tilting his head back with a groan.

"I'm not good at this..." he muttered, more to himself than to her, though it was the truth. He could act the cocky hero all he wanted on the battlefield, but when it came to actually saying shit that was meaningful and not horribly misinterpreted, especially with someone he was trying to be vulnerable with and who was also trying to do the same with him, he might as well be as coordinated as a toddler.

"Rox..." he gently grabbed her lower arm, not to pull on her or yank her but to make her stop and look at him for a moment, eyes pained and regretful.

"I misspoke. I was trying to say... that if you need someone to have an open ear to your problems, I want to be that someone, even if I can't offer much in return besides comfort," he managed to say after taking a breath to calm his nerves. "I know the people you work with make shit difficult. That you've just had to grin and bare it for the sake of your girls and keeping a job. I can't make them go away even if I wanted to, but I can at least be something-- someone to come home to who won't judge you for it."

Rox forced herself to take deep breaths, to listen. It was something she'd had to learn to do in order to raise two headstrong young women. The heat in her head made it foggy at first, especially when he said he wasn't good at this, but she forced herself to close her eyes and just hear what he said.

As his words fell over her, she felt relief rush through her like a cold shower. She bit back the urge to sob with the power of her relief, but she kept her control. She noted how she'd misunderstood. Another deep breath and she managed to nod and open her eyes again. At least, she knew how to address it, she hoped.

She met his gaze head on, her piercing pale leaf-colored gaze sharp and determined. "Okay," she said softly. "Let's... get something very clear, Nyx. You are here, because I want you to be. More than anything. I have missed you, you ass. Unless you break my heart, betray my trust in you, or hurt my girls on purpose, then I don't ever want you to leave. I know you will, you have shit to do, other friends, a damn job. But this 'as long as you want me to be' doesn't exist. As long as I want is..."

She stopped. Forever. She swallowed. "Is a non-issue. It's as long as you want to be."

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