[Thinking she had been nearly there, Hayame was sure she would manage it the next night... But she actually is exhausted after long patrols, and she barely wakes up enough to roll over when the weight on her lungs requires a change in position. She occupies herself with work, with secretly practicing with a certain new ability she has procured that leaves her more tired than usual but-
This time... Claude almost wakes when she stirs and shifts. Obligingly, muttering something half-asleep and nonsensical, he tugs a bit on the sheets and turns back towards her, arms reaching out, and... then she is trapped there against him (because she did not stop him, and did not shirk away), nestled into his shoulder and chest as he let out a long, settling exhale, fingers brushing through her hair as if to encourage her to go back to bed as well.
She could wait until she felt more confident he wouldn't hear her, or her words wouldn't rouse him, but... Her fingers brush against the blunted arrowhead hanging from his neck, that she had fastened for him on that beach in Xanadu. Her features soften with affection, running her thumb along it for a brief moment. She loves...
Ah.
Without saying anything out loud, Hayame presses a brief kiss to his shoulder before she returns to sleep.]
a few days later (again)
This time... Claude almost wakes when she stirs and shifts. Obligingly, muttering something half-asleep and nonsensical, he tugs a bit on the sheets and turns back towards her, arms reaching out, and... then she is trapped there against him (because she did not stop him, and did not shirk away), nestled into his shoulder and chest as he let out a long, settling exhale, fingers brushing through her hair as if to encourage her to go back to bed as well.
She could wait until she felt more confident he wouldn't hear her, or her words wouldn't rouse him, but... Her fingers brush against the blunted arrowhead hanging from his neck, that she had fastened for him on that beach in Xanadu. Her features soften with affection, running her thumb along it for a brief moment. She loves...
Ah.
Without saying anything out loud, Hayame presses a brief kiss to his shoulder before she returns to sleep.]