"Beauty is always set to some standard, even if you do not realize it." She murmured, fingers playing with his hair gently, careful not to disturb his head. "But I'm…It's nice, knowing that I don't have to be anything in particular. Nice that you like whatever I am."
Nordali was considerably more relaxed as she played with his hair, his soft expression showing a warm gratitude towards her company. “You don’t have to change anything about yourself. You’re beautiful as is, Amira.” He rumbled lowly, his lips barely moving.
He wished she could see exactly how wonderful he found her. She was so pretty and everything about her screamed comfort and warmth for him. She was familiar.
Leaning against his chest while he talked was quite possibly one of her new most favorite things. She could feel the rumble of his voice, and her his heart beat. “Maybe.” She said softly, shrugging a shoulder as she closed her eyes briefly, continuing to play with his hair.
Nor took in a deep breath, an amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Maybe? You can’t just say maybe. It’s a definite yes.” There was a pause as he shifted slightly closer, seeking out her warmth. He hadn’t felt this good in a long time. He blamed Amira for it and was absolutely loving it.
“It is not a definite yes.” She refuted, blinking in surprise as he moved closer. A small smile flickered to her lips though, and she wove her fingers through his hair for a moment before pulling them away to keep playing with the strands.
“It is…” he whined, sounding more like a small child arguing rather than a grow man. It seemed he was a little moody. “You’re beautiful enough it makes me rethink my vow to never marry…” he murmured quietly, his hands gently rubbing at her back.
The red in her cheeks brightened at that, paired with the red from just how much she was enjoying him rubbing her back. A small sound slipped from her lips in content pleasure, and she turned an even deeper shade of red, trying to cover it by talking. "You would really want to marry someone as much a complete mess as me?"
The sound threw him off just a bit, the dark blush upon his cheeks hidden as he buried his face in her hair. She couldn’t mask such a reaction from him. Nevertheless he continued with his soft rubs, going as far as to massage out the knots in her muscles. “I would. I don’t think you’re a mess, Amira. But I know it’s too soon to say such things to you. You hardly know me, and I just met you. You just feel… safe.”
Slowly, his massage relaxed the muscles in her back, but she was careful to at least muffle any sounds that followed. "You feel more…exciting than safe. But a good kind. The kind I look so hard to find. And it's…hard to imagine someone not seeing a mess when they look at me, but I'm glad I at least come off put together."
He laughed gently. “Exciting? Me? No way.” He mused, lifting his head slightly and looking over her gentle expression. “Oh hush, none of us are ever all the way out together. You’re fine just as you.”
"Yes, exciting. And you do have a point about no one being put together." She admitted, shoulders tensing as his hands found a large knot of tension. "You should lay down. You look tired."
“That’s because it’s true.” As she tensed he grew more careful, removing the knot as well as he could without hurting her. “I’m alright. I slept for a little bit earlier today.”
Nordali had actually given up on trying to sleep a healthy amount. He really always had a bad sleep schedule and didn’t care enough to fix it. Besides, he could run well enough on little to no sleep.
"If I have to sleep-" Another noise she couldn't help. "-so do you, hallaski." Amira hid her face, not in his neck this time, but against his shoulder. She knew better. One noticeable issue had been enough. "Please? Lay down with me? I'll even…sing you a lullaby, if it'll convince you."
The male seemed almost relieved she hadn’t buried her face in his neck this time. There was a lot of issues around that action that he didn’t want to unpack quite yet.
Hesitation crossed his features at her words and soft sound. His grip around her tightened. “A lullaby…?” He asked gently, slowly pulling away from her and letting his hands still. “I- I’m not sure, Amira.” His whole life he had been taught it was indecent to lay next a woman who wasn’t his, even if they had no intentions of carnal things. “It’s not my place to share a bed with you, you are not mine to do so and I am not yours.”
“I have slept beside friends before, hallaski. But whatever is decided, you need sleep.” She said, sighing softly as she stood from the cot. “You…you are the kind of man I would be willing to give up my heart to. It may be far too soon, for even that admission, but it is true.”
He gently pulled her back down towards him. “As long as you’re comfortable with it, Amira.” He murmured, his eyes wide and almost fearful as he tugged her once more towards him. “Yes, it may be too soon, but I would gladly take your heart. It would be cared for, and I’d offer you mine in return.”
She let him pull her back without issue, an eyebrow raised curiously at him. His words once again brought color to her cheeks, and she snuggled close again. “It would be safe in my hands. Cherished and held in the highest regard.”
“Stay here with me.” He said suddenly, his voice slightly muffled as he buried his face in her hair. “I’ll take care of you, you won’t have to feel like you don’t belong ever again.” His words were sappy and he knew that, but he didn’t know how else to tell her that he wanted her to stay.
“I’ll stay.” She whispered, wrapping her arms around him and holding him close. “You have my word.” It was a promise. She wouldn’t leave, not unless she absolutely couldn’t stay, for some reason. Somewhere to belong…
There was a physical change in the way Nordali held himself. He relaxed completely for the first time since he had left his kingdom, long arms wrapped tightly around her.
She was safe. She just felt safe to him. There was no denying he had at least some sort of emotions or feelings for her and yet he couldn’t quite place what they felt like exactly.
Again, instead of tucking her face into his neck like her instinct wanted her to, she rested her forehead on his shoulder, smiling happily. Prophets, this man could have put the stars in the sky, what with the way her heart went wonky around him. She muttered something in her home tongue, loosely translated to something like ‘your arms feel like home.’
Nordali slowly released her, his hands lingering at her arms. "Let's lay down then… I would think we are both tired." He mused, his ears a light pink. They were quickly hidden as he ran a nervous hand through his hair. "I'll stay here for the night, your arms feel like home to me as well, Amira."
She blinked, lips forming a small ‘o’ of surprise. “You-you speak Kehlaian? And you did not say anything?” She made a face at him, slapping his chest lightly. Playfully. Shaking her head at him, she laid down, tugging him down with her. “I am going to have to use the Ancient Tongue of my people when talking to myself, aren’t I?”
He laughed softly at her playful hit, nodding gently. “I do know it. I had to learn it for my-“ he paused, shifting nervously before he laid beside her. “My bride to be was from your kingdom.” He admitted, chuckling lightly. “Seems they wanted me to have someone ‘proper’ and someone who could ‘keep me in check.’ But to answer your question, yes, you will, because I don’t understand the ancient.”
"You were betrothed to a woman from my kingdom?" She asked, furrowing her brows slightly in thought. Something about that seemed off. Like the pieces were fitting together, creating a picture she should be able to see, but could only see a tiny, blurry bit of. "Huh. Anyway, I will have to keep that in mind. Talking in the Ancient Tongue."