Rowan was a bit surprised when Alvor picked her up and helped her onto her bed, the small gesture warming her heart and giving her enough strength to talk to her mother. Rowan’s mother walked in the room more, glancing at Alvor but not commenting on what she just walked into. Silently judging them. Her gaze fell in Rowan, and the latter made herself make eye contact. “I missed you,” Rowan’s mother began, moving to sit on a chair next to Rowan’s bed. “It’s been too long since my last visit. I see some things changed,” Rowan’s mother looked at Alvor, and Rowan could see it in her eyes how she was disappointed, “My name it Diane, by the way.”
Alvor was surprised at her mother's appearance as well, but you couldn't tell by his facial expression if he was or wasn't. He sits on his bed, keeping s careful eye on Rowan in case she needed anything. He looks up when her mother introduced herself. "My name is Alvor, miss. It's an honor to meet you. Rowan has spoken of you fondly." The fondly was a but exaggerated of course, but he wanted to make sure to get on her mom's good side. And to protect Rowan
“Oh has he now?” Diane raised an eyebrow with a light chuckle, and Rowan looked to the window instead of at her mother. “I’m missed you a lot Rowan. I’m even more glad I could come over today.” Rowan made herself look at her mother and smile as the woman said the words. “In fact, I have some news to share.”
Alvor sighed softly and looked outside, letting Diane and Rowan have their conversation. He had no right intervening. with them. He sighed softly and shut his eyes letting himself relax and ease into the bed. He pulled the blankets back around him. He coughed into his hand.
Rowan’s mother began talking about some new medical treatment Rowan was going to go through, but Rowan didn’t pay much attention. They typically switched up her medical treatment every month or so when they finally faced the fact that she couldn’t be fixed. She kept glancing at Alvor, wishing she could go over there and hug him, kiss him, snuggle-
“-right, Rowan?” The girl snapped back to attention when her mother addressed her. She hesitated, and Diane frowned, “You weren’t listening. You’re honestly such a disgraceful son sometimes, you know that?” Rowan’s mother stood, and briskly started walking out of the room, “I’ll come back when you get some basic manners. To think I’m paying for all this research to be done to fix you and yet…” Rowan’s mother’s voice faded down the hall, and Rowan stared blankly at her feet. Her mother’s words hurt, and she tried not to show it but it was as clear as day as her face began to crumple.
"Daughter." That was the first word that Alvor said before she left. He glared at the womans back before walking to Rowans side, kissing her forehead. "And honestly, you are the best child a parent could ask for." He says softly as he kisses Rowans lips. "Maybe… So I can repay you… I could ask my dads if they could heal you." He whispers as he sits on the edge of her bed. "Don't let your mothers words get in your head love. You're the kindest person that could walk this earth." He whispers as he runs a hand through her hair.
As soon as Alvor was at hers side, she finally let the tears out. Gosh she hated crying, but she couldn’t stop the tears from flowing out of her eyes with strangled sobs. She wrapped her right arm around Alvor, her left too exhausted to move, and held onto him tightly. “It’s just- It’s just-“ She couldn’t form words easily since she was trying so hard to hold her tears back, but then she finally got it out, “It’s just sh-she’s my m-mom and-and I l-love her b-but I d-don’t know what to do.” Her voice broke off a little at the end, he arm tightening around Alvor a little more.
He settles beside her and holds onto her gently, running his hand through her hair. "It's okay, love. Let it out. Cry angel." he whispers as he holds her. "Let it all out." He whispers as he holds her. "I love you, it's okay." He whispers as he held her. "It's hard dealing with things like that, love." He mutters, holding her close to him. He scattered gentle and loving kisses along her face, neck and shoulders. Alvor was patient, letting her work out her words, letting her figure out what to say. He didn't say anything, only listened. "In what way, sunshine?" He whispers, his wings curling around them.
Rowan cried, the act not pretty or cute in any way. When she cried, she sobbed. She buried her face into his hand, trying to lift her left hand but only getting more upset when she couldn’t even lift it to wipe away the tears on her face. She honestly wished, in that moment, that she could cut off her entire arm just so she wouldn’t have to deal with all the pain centered around it. “W-We used t-to l-love each other and-and I don’t know if- if- if I’ll ever get th-that back,” She cried into Alvor shoulder. She didn’t want to spend the too-little time they had together crying on his shoulder, but she couldn’t hold it in now that she’d let it out.
Alvor listened, his lips firmly dedicated to her lips and cheeks. As she cried, he gently wiped away her tears, his eyes soft and gentle. He wanted to help her. But first, he knew he should let her cry. Let her explain things. He stayed quiet even after that, letting her cry into his shoulder. "My love. You will always have your mother's love. But I can agree that it's difficult." He whispers. He ran a hand through her hair. "But for now, I want you to cry. I want you to let those tears fall, beautiful. It's good to cry." He whispers.
Alvor’s kind words were like a rock in a rushing river—sturdy, strong, and supportive despite the raging chaos around it. So Rowan cried. And cried. And cried. She cried in Alvor’s shoulder, she cried into her hand, she cried into the open air. She cried for the loss of that bond she had with her mother, she cried for her disease that plagued her body, she cried for what little time she had with Alvor. So Rowan cried. That is, she cried until finally, the waterfalls from her eyes began to slow to a couple droplets. And the sobs turned into the occasional sniffle. Rowan cried until the tears finally dried up.
Alvor stayed quiet, only muttering words of comfort and assurance as she cried. He loved her deeply, letting her sob into the air, his shoulder, her hand. He wanted to offer her something strong and steady in her chaos. Something that she could hold onto and depend on. He hummed softly, letting her cry freely. As her tears slowly began to fade, Alvor kept quiet, letting her take her time. He knew she would be tired after all that crying, so he gently pulled her into his lap, cradling her lovingly and pulling the blankets around them.
Rowan was grateful for his gentle and comforting touch, leaning into him as he cradled her. She closed her eyes, breathing in Alvor’s scent and memorizing it’s comfort. This… it felt like peace. Calmness. Stability. That was what Alvor was to her—peace, calmness, stability, and so much more. Rowan knew that she could trust him with her life.
Alvor loved Rowan. He knew to the bottom of his heart and even further that he would do anything for his love. His beautiful, smart, kind Rowan. He loved her dearly. He kissed her forehead, rubbing her back and whispering sweet nothing's to her. He wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. She was his peace in the storm. His quiet in the chaos.
At last, Rowan’s raging storm inside her finally calmed. She took a couple deep breaths, opening her puffy red eyes again. She relaxed into Alvor, snuggling closer as she whispered, “She used to be okay with who I was. I had come out to her a couple months before this,” Rowan held up her left hand a little before letting it fall back into her lap. “She loved me. She respected me. Everything was okay. And then I got sick. It was like she changed into a different person. It was as if she blamed my-my gender for it, I-I dunno. She stopped visiting every day after the first month, then by the third she only came when they switched my treatments.”
Alvor listened, he knew the other needed to vent, needed to talk about something. He kissed her forehead, running a hand through her hair. He looked at her hand, looking at the other when she raised her hand. "I'm sure, angel, that she still loves you. She's just… processing it in her own way." He whispers as he assures her. He kissed her forehead. "And my love, your gender is what it is, whether fluid, nonexistent, or cis." He whispers as he rocks her gently. "But I will love you no matter what, and I'm sure your mother will too."
“What if…” Rowan bit her lip, brushing away the possibility before it could leave her lips. It was unlikely, anyways, there was no purpose to give it any weight despite how it constantly hovered in the back of her mind like a vulture waiting for prey. “I love you, Alvor,” She whispered and hugged him tightly, adding softly, “Thank you.” Thank you for holding me. For comforting me. For assuring me. Thank you for loving me.
Alvor pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, smiling gently. He held her tightly, knowing how thoughts liked to stay, haunting you, hating you. He kissed her sweetly, "Of course, Rowan." He whispers. "I'm always here for you." He runs a hand through her hair before turning his head away and coughing, hacking and spitting up a few petals onto the floor. He hissed and leaned back, holding onto Rowan for dear life.
Rowan’s grip tightened on him as he coughed, her hand going to brush Alvor’s cheek. It was her turn to kiss him, her lips pressing onto his forehead. She didn’t want him to die. The thought seemed more and more unbearable every second that passed by. She nestled her head in his neck, “Alvor…” She tightened her arms around him. She would give anything to stop the disease festering in his lungs. It was like they were on a small boat together in the middle of a raging storm, the only thing they had to hold onto was each other. Sometimes it felt like maybe they were waiting for the boat to capsize.
Alvor groaned softly, leaning back. He was definitely paler, weaker even. He didn't look too good. He relaxed when he felt Rowan kiss him. He sighed softly, shutting his eyes. He wanted nothing more then to spend a few more nights, waiting for his end, and spend his little time left with the love of his life. He rested his head on top of hers. When she called his name, it took all his strength to reply with a soft hum. God, he felt so weak. He felt as if the disease were spreading from his lungs to his heart and to his very soul. He kissed kissed the top of her head. "I love you…" He whispered slowly.
“I love you too,” She whispered, kissing his cheek. “I love you so, so much.” How many more chances will I have to tell him that? She knew the answer was too slim. “Alvor, I…” Rowan looked as his pale face, his weakened state, and kissed his cheek again. “You need sleep,” Rowan told him gently, showering his cheeks and forehead with gentle kisses of her own.
He leaned into her gentle touches, sighing softly. "I love you more." He chuckles softly, holding onto her for dear life. He didn't want to think of the slim chances, the hopeless situation. If his dads' didn't hurry back with the antidote then he would die. He could only pray that they got here in time. He nods slowly at the suggestion of sleep, trying to kiss back at times. "A-alright…" He whispers shakily.
“I love you most,” She countered softly, her eyes twinkling with joy despite everything. She tightened her grip around him, cuddling closer. “Do you want to rest in your bed… or with me?” Rowan asked softly, fine either way. In fact, she’d even feel better in Alvor slept with her, so she’d know that he was okay. If not, Rowan would be just as happy, their beds were only a couple feet apart if he, or Rowan herself, needed help.
Alvor was already curved around her. He felt to weak to move much. He looked exhausted. He scattered slow and gentle kisses long her face. "I'll stay here…" He whispers, his eyes shutting. He was so scared. He didn't want to leave her. And yet, he was practically o. Deaths door. His hand played with her hair, just memorizing everything he could about her. She's was his safety in the storm. He loved her. "Thank you…" He whispers. "I love you…"
Rowan breathed him in, wrapping her arms around him a little more and savoring those gentle kisses. Just as she was Alvor’s safety, he was hers. They needed each other, Rowan supposed. “You don’t have to thank me for anything,” Rowan replied softly, murmuring, “I love you too…” She closed her eyes and snuggled up against him, savoring the warmth they shared.
