"Hmm, your trying will be honored but all fall victim to the good nature of Zar." He teased as he held her close. Nordali wanted to cherish and care for her, it was just in his nature. "And you're going to be receiving a lot of my care and teasings. Now, Amira, are you sure you aren't hungry or anything? We could stop by the tent we store things in and find us our team."
“Prophets, how am I supposed to survive this then.” She joked, pressing a kiss to his chest. “And I am sure. Though, we should get you something to eat, definitely. Let us go assemble our team, after you eat. I have found a place that will make a fine target.”
Nordali released her, but didn’t quite let her get away yet, brushing her hair out of her face. “I am not hungry, but I am worried for you. Please excuse my language but you are rather skinny, my lady.” He poked her side teasingly.
She let out a small noise, squirming away from his finger. “I am not!” She huffed, feigning offense as she crossed her arms under her chest. “I am just…a surviving weight.”
He hugged her from behind and set his chin on her shoulder. “This isn’t surviving weight, love.” He murmured softly, his expression serious and rather concerned. “You need muscle and vitamins and nutrients to live, that’s surviving weight.”
“And I have plenty of those things, when I get the chance to eat.” She said, placing her hands on his arms after a moment. “I am fine, dear. You should not bother yourself worrying about me.”
“I want to worry.” He closed his eyes, leaning his head against hers. “I want to care for you. And one things for sure, if you stay with us here, we’ll make sure you’re well fed and hydrated.”
“You should not feel like you have to worry.” She reiterated, sighing softly. “You should not go out of your way to feed me, and neither should your people. I am capable of fending for myself, you know.”
(Sorry, finals were rough)
“I know, Amira. You are a very strong woman, you are capable of all things in your own, but sometimes it’s alright to let others care for you.” He gently kissed her head and slowly released her from his hug.
((dw!))
"People do not usually want to care for me." She said, moving her hands. One fell to dangle at her side, the other taking his hand before he could fully move away, lifting it and pressing it to her chest, just up where he could feel her pulse, but not low enough for him to essentially be groping her. "I am finding it hard to believe that anyone would, even if you defy that thought every turn."
He splayed his fingers, softening when her heart beat reached his palm and fingertips. He could feel her life force pulsing with the beat of her heart. “I want to. I know you’ll doubt that too, but I wholeheartedly want to care for you.”
She kept her hand there, on top of his, eyes slipping shut as she breathed. This was something big, for her. In her country, things like this were a sign of vulnerability, a showing of trust reserved for the closest friends, family, and lovers. “I….I want to know why. Why me, of all people.”
He was unfamiliar with the full meaning of the expression and action, but he did know it was reserved for those close to Amira’s heart and that touched him. He was close to her.
“Why you? You’ve ignited a spark in me I didn’t know existed. Your beauty is certainly a sight to behold but that beautiful brain of yours far outshines your physical beauty. You’re the most noble and caring of my guild, and much friendlier than any I’ve met. And, you let me vulnerable without taking advantage of it.”
“You say that last thing like that is something astounding.” Amira commented, stepping back to lean against him. “And everything else you say seems so…far fetched. Beautiful is so far off from anything I’ve heard before, and yet you speak the word so surely. And my brain has been the source of many an insult. Someone finding me smart….seems near impossible. And I know I am far from the noblest. You have not seen the things I’ve done for the thrill of it. Yet…here you are.”
“It is astounding.” He remarked. “In my past days I was only befriended because my parents were well known. People only grew close to me for the riches and popularity I could bestow upon them.” He replied, rubbing her back softly as she leaned against him.
“Your beauty is stunning. In my kingdom you’d be very very beautiful, and very popular with the suitors and men of my people. You are brilliant in your own way. I know of no other who uses music to memorize maps, nor any who hold such a tight and close bond with a tiger and be able to understand the creature. And your noble nature comes from your good manners and fine way of speech. It’s quite captivating.”
“When you put it that way, I sound fairly incredible.” She said, lips lifting up into a small smile. Maybe once upon a time, learning that she’d be considered beautiful to his people would have made her endlessly happy. But the only man who’s opinion she could really seem to care about was his. “Though, I do believe Malakai is much more entrancing than I am or could ever be. Would you like to know a secret?”
“Fairly incredible is an understatement, my lady.” He grinned proudly and stole away another quick kiss. “Malakai is a beautiful big cat. I quite like the look of your tiger, Amira. But yes, I do want to know a secret.” His eyes gleamed in delight at the very thought of sharing a secret.
Lowering her voice to a sort of whisper, she tilted her head back to look up at him. “Malakai does not take kindly to most new people, unless they are children. He very much likes you. Though….not as much as I do, for sure.” She added, lips turning up in a small smile. It wasn’t much of a secret, but she was calling it one.
That brought a smile to his face. “Really? Malakai likes me then?” He laughed softly and swooped Amira up into his arms. “That’s wonderful to hear. I’m glad you like me better than Malakai does.”
She let out a small noise of surprise, the noise mixed with a laugh. "He does like you, and so do I. Very much so." She said, laughter intermingling with her words as she looped her arms around his shoulders. "More than all the stars in the night sky, or the feeling of wind on my face when I am up somewhere high."
“Well, my very charming lady, I am pleased to say that your feelings are reciprocated. By none other than me.” He winked and pressed their foreheads together. “I like you a lot, Amira.”
She bumped his nose with her, eyes squeezed shut in a happy expression as she did so. "I am glad. t would be fairly awkward if you didn't, would it not?" Her fingers traced patterns on the skin just under the back of his neck, runes she'd managed to learn when she was younger. Each was a protection rune, letters that spelled out the word and stood for it themselves.
A low, fluttering laugh rose up from his chest. “It would be very very awkward. But we’re lucky and it’s not like that. You and I both accept the other.” It was getting harder for him to focus on his words, her tracing leaving him relaxed and a little sleepy.
"How could I not accept someone as like as I am? I see a mirror of myself in you that I cannot find anywhere else. And I can tell the same is true for you." She murmured with a smile, fingers continuing their tracing for a little bit, before lifting to play with his hair. "I see myself, and I see you, and the two seem so interchangeable it is quite strange."
“It is quite strange. I really enjoy it, however. I like this feeling.” Nordali pecked her cheek, leaning back to see her face better. “I like being so close to you, Amira.” And then he paused, something turning in that pretty head of his.
“Zar isn’t my name, as you’ve probably known from the start. Call me Nor.” He stated firmly, nodding softly. He wasn’t quite ready to tell her his full name, nor tell her who he was. He didn’t want to ruin anything they had between them.