#❰ ♥ ― interactions. lisanna & sting. aitheros. ❱

[fairybond]

"You just ran into the wall. It's time to lie down." ╱ for lis 😂

lack of sleep starters // no longer accepting

Stumbling back a step, she rubbed her forehead and mumbled a denial about being tired. Her protesting pout was then interrupted by a yawn that left her rather shamefaced.

Okay, okay…maybe he was right. Yet, the idea of lying down, or being still in any way…it stirred up an anxious flutter in her chest. Lisanna sighed, a frown settling on her lips as her eyes turned downwards. This feeling, it was all too familiar, despite the years that had passed. 

Life with the Fairy Hunter on your trail meant there was no time to relax. No time to truly rest. They always had to be ready to pack up and go at a moment’s notice. It was how they survived. But not all of them were so lucky…

She bit her lip, closing her eyes and then taking in a slow breath. Now was the time to push everything aside and put on a smile, to agree with the suggestion and lie down. To pretend her body wasn’t locked in fight or flight mode, despite how tired she was. To pretend that she was fine.

Around anyone else, she might have done so. But this was Sting. He had seen her at her worst. And he understood her. He never judged, only cared. And it was okay, wasn’t it? To rely on him, to trust him.

She pulled in another breath, somewhat shakily, then looked over at him, a touch of hope in her eyes. “Will you lie down with me?”

Tempting as it was to pull her gaze down and shy away, she shored herself and allowed an admission through, barely a whisper. “I…I’m…scared.”

[fairybond]

[ LAY ] for lis ♡

Hair Prompts / Accepting

[ LAY ]:           the sender lays down in the receiver’s lap to let them play with the sender’s hair.

Seated on the sun-warmed grass with her knees up and her palms bracing her weight behind her, she tilted her head back to stare up at the clouds. They drifted lazily across the blue expanse, unbothered by the way it was slowly fading in brilliance as the sun began its descent. The afternoon was soon to be over, but still, warmth continued across Lisanna's skin like a lingering embrace, one she would always be grateful for.

A peaceful sigh slipped from her lips as the faint breeze gently tousled her hair in a soft caress. There was nothing quite like being outdoors on such a fine day, especially with friends and those she cared about. Tilting her head down again, her eyes sought her companions and the reassurance of their presence.

To her right, Lector lay on his stomach with a book open before him. She’d come to find the exceed was quite the voracious reader, and he’d been rather excited to come across that particular book when they’d passed through the town earlier (it was something about Stellean history, or maybe recipes? She wasn’t entirely sure, but Lector would no doubt give a full review or recount once he finished it anyway).

To her left, Sting sat in a similar position to her own. His legs were slightly bent to bring his knees up, only instead of leaning back against his hands, his arms rested loosely draped over his legs. His fingers idly twirled a long blade of grass he’d plucked.

She watched as a yawn slowly overtook his features, and she was reminded rather strongly of a cat with the way the motion started off rather cutely and ended with reminder of danger, the flash of sharp canines. She briefly touched the tip of her tongue to her own teeth, tracing the noticeable points that had developed from overuse of her magic. There had been times when she had been too self-conscious to smile fully around people, but that was certainly no problem around Sting.

He yawned a second time, pulling her from wandering thoughts to focus on the current moment. Perhaps he’d had a rough night? She stretched out her legs before herself and shifted one hand to lightly pat her lap.

“You’re tired,” she said, a soft smile forming, “Why don’t you lie down for a bit?”

As he moved to reposition himself and rest his head upon her lap as indicated, Lisanna fought to keep her smile from growing too wide. But oh, she loved having him close. Her stomach fluttered as he settled, and her hand instantly moved to comb lightly through his hair. The physical connection tethered her to the moment, loosening the tendrils of anxiety that always hovered in the back of her mind, ready to grab her.

She focused on the softness of his hair, the way it slid between her fingers and gleamed in the sunlight. Warmth unfurled in her chest like a blooming flower, serenity soaking into her soul. Even the animals within her seemed to relax, she imagined them all curling up for a peaceful nap together, tempting her to close her eyes too, yet she resisted.

Her attention stayed on the task at hand, her nails now lightly raking across Sting’s scalp. She eased her weight forward to allow her other hand freedom, wiping it against her side to free it from any grass clinging to it.

“The fireworks display isn’t for another hour or so at least,” she commented, beginning to use her now-spare hand to trail her fingertip down his forehead and along his nose (ending, of course, with a light boop). “So, you can sleep until then if you want.”

She followed the line of his jaw with her finger in a gentle stroke, before fitting her hand to the curve of his cheek, thumb brushing across his skin, luxuriating in the warmth of it. There was something about the sight of him relaxing that both tightened and eased her heart all at once, leaving an ache and a wish. Having gone through so much in life already, he deserved a break, she thought, a sanctuary where he could be himself and be free of worry.

“You’re safe,” she said quietly, “I’ll protect you.”

As the last words fell from her lips, she paused, heart skipping and breath catching. Her hand in his hair tightened for just a moment, as thoughts became scrambled in her mind. She’ll protect him? Why did she say that?

While she might typically say such a phrase in a lighthearted manner (for really, her being able to protect anyone was surely a joke), the way it had come out now was as an unmistakable, solemn promise. It had been all too natural to say, to reassure, the conviction and burning truth was seared into her heart, after all. She would protect Sting. From anything she could.

Including her own, foolish and embarrassing, heart.

She cracked a smile and shook her head with a laugh, as if she had indeed meant her words as a joke, in mock seriousness. Removing her hand from his face, she rubbed her cheek a little sheepishly. “I’ll wake you; I mean. So, get some rest.”

[fairybond]

❛ wait, is that mistletoe? ❜ / lis ♡♡♡

winter themed asks // accepting

     The inter-guild winter party was in full swing. Hosted by Blue Pegasus, (of course) the large hall was lavishly decorated to celebrate the holiday season, and it was clear that plenty of effort had gone into the grand affair.

     Lisanna herself had been more than happy to be on the team of decorators setting the scene, even if it had taken a couple of days to arrange everything just so. There were many things to be considered when putting together such an event, after all. Lighting, space, ornaments, chairs and tables, food and drinks, music and so on.

     Most of her time had been spent on adorning the walls and festive trees with strings of light and ribbon, adding pretty baubles and glittering stars in carefully selected places too.

     The way the crowd of guests, and members of her own guild as well, had looked around in awe as they entered the hall, proved that the energy, time, and money spent had been well worth it. Even an hour or so into the party, she could still see the appreciative gazes admiring the atmosphere that had been created.

     She was sure a large part of the wonderful ambiance came from the special enchantment one of her guildmates had set up – it provided a soft snowfall, drifting down from the high ceiling but never resulting in so much as a single flake landing anywhere. Coupled with the lighting (the main sources of which were floating, snowflake shaped lacrima), the indoor snow conjured a sense of surreal magic, one that had Lisanna (and others) sighing wistfully.

     Surveying the vast room with delighted eyes, she didn’t even glance at Sting as he voiced his question.

      “Yes, it is!” she answered, without real thought but with a proud grin, “I added it all over the place, I thought it would be fun.”

     She did enjoy (perhaps a little too much) the chance for a bit of mischief and matchmaking. Just who would end up beneath her cheeky decorations? And who would follow through with the tradition?

     It was only then that she turned her gaze to Sting. His own gaze was fixed upwards, causing a sudden spike in the rhythm of her heart.

     “Oh.” It was hardly more than a breath that escaped her, as she stared up at the cheerful colours and all too familiar shape of mistletoe above them.

     Awareness of him was never too far from her senses, always teasing her with sensitivity to his very existence. Said awareness now crackled to the forefront of her mind and body, until she could see only him. The soft lighting around them seemed to caress his face, shifting and gently warming blond hair, and highlighting the flecks of colour within hazel eyes.

     Sting. So familiar to her now, so beautiful.

     With all her hopes of setting others up for fun with the mistletoe, she had never considered herself being caught under it. Certainly, she had not thought she might end up caught under it with Sting (although there was no denying, she felt a certain thrill about it now).

     Her heart pounded loudly in her chest, a strange lightness buzzing through her body as a faint flush crept up to her cheeks.

     The point of mistletoe was to initiate a kiss between a couple. Did she want to kiss Sting? Yes. Did he want to kiss her? Probably not.

     It would be best to cut him loose from the holiday tradition, she decided. Her dismissive words came out in a rush, “It’s just silly, though, isn’t it? Absolutely not necessary to follow through on, and I mean mistletoe can also be super unlucky for some. Like getting stuck under it with a total creep!”

     She scrunched her face at the thought of some pervert puckering up to her, but quickly noticed a potential interpretation of her words and hurried to reassure him.

     “But you’re not a creep! Not at all! Anyone would be lucky to be stuck under the mistletoe with you!”

     The words prompted the scenario to appear in her mind. Sting, under the mistletoe with someone else. Kissing someone else.

     Her heart squeezed painfully at the thought, and an echo of a growl reverberated in the depths of her soul, threatening to be verbalized. She squashed the impulse by pushing the mental image away, forcing her mind back to the clear issue of the fact it was her with him currently.

     And wasn’t she just making it awkward now? They were friends, it didn’t have to be weird, and there was nothing against a mistletoe kiss being but a simple peck on the cheek. Her friendship with Sting was not an unaffectionate one, and he had kissed her forehead before, so really…it would be weirder for them to do nothing in this moment, right?

     The decision brought both relief and a spark of nervousness. She let out a breath, a slightly sheepish smile shaping her lips as she said, “I hope no one tries to kill me for being the lucky one here.”

     Before she could talk herself out of it, she lifted a hand to rest upon his shoulder, steadying herself as she stretched up, intending to place a kiss upon his cheek. Somehow, her lips touched the corner of his mouth instead (and shock had her lingering there for a moment). Butterflies swarmed in her stomach, fluttering up to her chest as she lowered herself down again.

     She turned away, letting her hand fall from his shoulder as she tried desperately to refocus on the party. She could only hope her blush wasn’t noticeable, and that her voice sounded even, “Everything looks great here, doesn’t it? So beautiful.”

[fairybond]

❛ are you warm enough? ❜ / for lisanna ♡

winter themed asks // accepting

     Over the previous night, winter had swept through and painted snow across the town in a heavy-handed brushstroke, leaving the area entirely picturesque. The buildings and streets were still thick with it now, even after the townspeople had taken to shovelling pathways clear. It would be a task frequently repeated in the coming weeks, there was no escaping the fact the cold season was upon them now.

     Spring was Lisanna’s favourite time of year, but she couldn’t deny there was a certain appeal in winter. Cozy times with friends or family, tucked inside next to a fire, huddled under warm layers of clothes and blankets, sipping hot chocolate or tea. It was wonderful. 

     A downside of winter was, of course, having to venture outside and feel the great chill itself. Beautiful views could only make up for the freezing air some of the time, she thought. Even so, she was lucky to not typically feel the cold as much as some other people tended to do.

     So, as she walked beside Sting down the street (rather slowly, mindful of the potential to slip), it was on the tip of her tongue to tell him she was perfectly fine, thank you. What held her back from her remark was a flicker of mischief, sparked by her hopeless heart and ever-present wish for closeness.

     She pulled her gaze up from the great effort of watching her steps, looking to Sting and smiling. Conveniently, a sharp breeze cut around them at that moment, harshly prickling at any hint of exposed skin. Lisanna abruptly held herself tight against the genuine shiver that came over her.

     “M-maybe not as much as I thought,” she laughed.

     Shifting nearer to him, she huddled against his side, glad for the excuse to be close (and for further security against slipping and falling onto the icy ground).

     “But what about you?” she asked, peering up at him, “I think you’d better stick close to me, so you don’t get cold.”

[fairybond]

@aitheros (i had a Need shhh)

Ordinarily, crowds were something Lisanna didn’t exactly enjoy. They were too noisy, too close, and too pushy at times, and it was too easy to get lost within them, or forgotten. But today? The energy of the crowd buoyed her own, her excitement shimmering around her and dancing in her eyes. The carnival was in full swing. Rows of food stalls created a wide street, the delicious scents of their wares mixing in the spring afternoon air. Large tents holding shows and events were dotted throughout the area, along with game stalls for people to try their luck and skill.

Lisanna, having successfully won a game, bounced back over to Sting with her prize barely contained in her arms. The large, white tiger plush was almost as big as her, and she held it close as she made her way over to him. Her bright grin displayed her fangs, any self-consciousness long forgotten, and she held the soft toy out to the dragon slayer in a proud presentation.

“Here, I won this for you!” she said, and giggled as she added, “Happy early birthday, Sting!”

[fairybond]

hearteyes ~ lisanna !

Send hearteyes for some sappy crush talk

“I don’t have a crush,” she said. It would have been convincing, if not for the slightly nervous laugh that accompanied it, and the way she had to glance away ( the tinge of pink to her cheeks didn’t help either ).

“I don’t,” she insisted, believing it to be true.

And yet, could she really deny the way a certain someone popped into mind?

Could she deny the smile that instantly jumped to her lips? Or the warmth that filled her at the very thought of him?

“I mean…I guess…there’s this friend of mine,” the admission came shyly, slowly, “He’s…like sunlight. Warm, bright, comforting…he makes me feel safe, like nothing will ever get to me again, and like I’m –“ Real, and not about to be torn away to another land. “- well…I can relax more around him, and be more myself. He’s seen me…at a bad time, he helped me out of it actually.”

She frowned at the memory of their first encounter, the struggles within it, and she sighed, finding a smile once more as she turned her thoughts back to the much more pleasant topic.

“I really like to be around him, we don’t even have to do anything, it’s just…nice to be with him, like that time under the tree. I like to hear him talk though, and I hope he can open up to me some more someday, I think…there’s still a lot I don’t know, but I want to. I want to be able to help him somehow, or…just be there for him. I think he’s…well, like me.” Hiding things behind an upbeat persona. “Sometimes I think I see it in his eyes, like…a sadness, or hurt. It makes me wanna hug him.”

While on that topic – “And he has really pretty eyes. They’re like…a really nice hazel, and sometimes, when I’m close enough, I can see little specks of blue and gold. Sometimes I just really wanna keep staring, but that’s weird right?”

An awkward laugh slipped out and she fidgeted, looking away and biting her lip. The effort to stop her ramble was futile, and she had to continue.

“I really like his hair too, it's so nice to play with, and he’s just...really cute, especially when he smiles and I know he’s actually happy, it really makes me feel so good and happy to see that, and it just makes me wanna see it again and again. I think he’s been through a lot, I mean, I don’t know the details, but I can guess…and I think he deserves some peace and happiness.”

Thoughts of their times together flickered through her mind, her hand absentmindedly rising to smooth down her bangs around her face, recalling the way he’d messed them up once before.

“He’s a lot of fun and he’s easy to be around, he’s funny and…he’s sweet too.” She sighed with a smile, hand resting against her chest, over her heart as it ached softly. “And thoughtful. Y’know, he says it wasn’t his idea to give me that key, but I think it was…or maybe I’m being too hopeful. It’d…be nice to be that special...”

After trailing off for a moment, she added, “He kinda…gives me butterflies but makes me feel steady all at once, it’s strange…but I really like it. I just hope he can feel as good around me as I feel around him.”

[fairybond]

she didn't easily depart his mind. one would suggest he thought of her everyday. upon glimpses of the white flowers that pepper edelweiss. amongst the bluest skies that spread overhead. with the faint sparkle of the silver tiger that dangles with his keys. he didn't want to impose. whatever festivities she might've planned with her guild or family — he wouldn't wish to steal away too much of her time. so he waited just outside the hall, hands in his pockets until a flash of ivory hair sparks his attention.

❛ hey lis — didn't think i'd miss your birthday, did ya ? ❜ he jests with a cheeky smile and a salute of two fingers. sting doesn't hesitate to wrap her in a warm hug. ❛ happy birthday, lisanna, ❜ he mumbles against her, arms tightening affectionately before he pulls away.

❛ i didn't want to interrupt but — this is for you. ❜ he gently takes hold of her hand, uncurling her fingers to place a light blue crystal in her palm. it gives a faint glow — a gentle energy twinkling and pulsating along its edges. ❛ it doesn't look like much. but — it's imbued with some of my holy magic. think of it as . . . a lucky charm. something to keep you safe. ❜ sting's voice softens, whilst his hands grasp her face tenderly. eyes firmly focus upon hers, as he continues. ❛ for . . . when you need a li'l light. or you know — in case you wanted to be reminded of me and my 'cute' face. ❜ of course, he's only half joking. yet, half hoping it would be the case.

With her guildmates and siblings around, a few former fairies too, it was quite the party ( they were a Blue Pegasus specialty after all ). However, as wonderful as her birthday had been so far, there was something missing, a certain absence tugging at her heart in such a way that she hadn’t been able to fully invest herself into everything that was going around her.

It was with a little guilt that she slipped out of the hall, away from the party, hand clutching her mcl in preparation for contacting the one person who lingered in her thoughts. The device then nearly slid from her fingers at the sound of that very person’s voice, her mind tumbling in the same instant – she hadn’t called him yet, had she?

She looked up, and there he was. And yet still, she couldn’t quite believe it.

“Sting?”

She blinked, heart skipping, her features set with surprise for a few seconds, before delight took over at the sight of him. There was hardly a moment to process his sudden appearance ( aside from her entire soul squealing about that smile of his ), before she found herself wrapped in his hug, and it took less than a moment for her to respond to the embrace. 

She hugged him tight, feeling relief bloom through her, expressed in the sigh that passed through her lips. As she pulled in another breath, catching the familiar scent of him, contentedness flowed through her like a warm wave. There was always something so comforting about him and…

He hadn’t forgotten her, he’d even made the effort to come all this way to see her.

“Thank you…” she said softly. Quite honestly, just his presence and the embrace were enough to make the day a very happy birthday for her indeed, but that wasn’t something she could admit just yet. Could she?

It was with great reluctance that she let her arms fall away from him as he moved back, thinking it would have been nice to hug him a while longer ( forever would be a tad too greedy, wouldn’t it ). She almost grabbed onto him, just in case he started to leave already.

“Oh, you’re not interrupting at all,” she rushed to say, an invitation for him to come inside the hall on the tip of her tongue. But his actions stole the thoughts from her mind, leaving her head blank but buzzing as she watched him put the crystal in her hand.

She raised her palm to get a closer look, and the glow and glittering of the gem was matched only by the light in her eyes as she did so. Fascinated and a little awed, she breathed a soft ‘wow’ and curled her index finger to gently prod the crystal. How pretty…

“I think it’s beautiful…” she said, only able to pull her eyes away from it as he mentioned its properties. Some of his magic?

She sucked in a breath, chest feeling a little constricted, and she closed her fingers around the crystal and held it against her heart. His magic…to keep her safe. Yes, she could feel it now, it was a soft emanation, a sense of warmth and reassurance. She knew she wasn’t about to ever let the crystal out of her possession, unless Sting himself was around.

The holy aspect of his magic had saved her from certain destruction and helped her on the path to healing. She couldn’t deny there were times she still felt as if there was a darkness lurking within her, and it was only around Sting that she felt truly safe, but when he wasn’t around... 

Did he know? Did he know she feared she was still tainted? Did he realise just how much comfort he had just given her in the form of this little rock?

Questions swirled in her mind, and she could only stare up at him, searching for answers within depths of hazel, while willing herself not to cry at the thoughtful gift he’d given. She swallowed hard and looked away, lips pulling up in a shaky smile.

“I…I don’t know what to say, Sting…but, thank you.” Sincerity rang true and steady in her words.

She tightened her grip on the crystal as his hands cupped her face, her eyes meeting his and her heart stuttering into a race. Reminded of his cute face, huh? An involuntary smile came to her lips, and she closed her eyes as if it would shut down the blush beginning to warm her cheeks ( she hoped he couldn’t feel it under his hands ).

Damn him. She gave his chest a light push with her fist and let out a soft sound, somewhere between a growl and groan, followed by his name on a half laugh, a tone that others might use to affectionately say ‘you idiot’, “Sting…”

It wasn’t the first time she wanted to ask him if he knew what he was doing, if he knew how he was breaking off bits of her heart and stealing them away. No, she reminded herself as she reopened her eyes to gaze up at him, he was just…being himself, his sweet and wonderful self. And even if it left her shattered, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

She smiled softly and sighed, “I don’t really need any reminders of you, Sting…” It took a moment for her to push herself to admit the truth, but it came in a low rush, “because I think about you all the time anyway.”

In a flush of nervousness ( and ignoring the instincts screaming at her to run away ), she hoped to distract somewhat from that revelation by unlocking her mcl with her thumb and holding the screen up for him to see. “I was about to call you, that’s why I came out here,” she told him with a slight laugh.

Indeed, the screen showed his contact ( as ♡ Honeybee♡ , with the picture being a candid shot of him smiling, adorned by a few little stars and hearts added by a filter ) - oh no. Immediately, she slammed her finger down on the button to blank the screen out, wishing it were so easy to stop her face from burning.

“I, uh, hmm, oh yeah, do you want to come into the party?” she asked, fighting to keep her tone from betraying her nerves ( maybe he hadn't noticed, after all ), but a light giggle slipped out and she bit her lip to stop it. “There’s still some cake left.”

[fairybond]

A pure white eagle soared above the large patch of forest, keen gaze searching the outlying areas of uneven terrain and fields. Patrolling and circling. Endlessly on guard at the behest of the another – another who watched through the eyes of the eagle itself at this very moment as those eyes shifted to the clearing in the forest’s center. The place where the ‘master’ was secure within the base.

Beneath mental chaos and ropes of sorcery, the soul of the mage once known as Lisanna Strauss struggled for freedom, pushing against the magic keeping her locked. Wings trembled, avian body momentarily dropping. For her efforts, the Possession spell flared its strength, causing a stab of pain against her very spirit and leashing her tighter to the will of the mage.

Protect me, the puppeteer ordered.

Yes. The great bird’s flight steadied itself and then a movement to the east caught her attention. There, along the base of the mountain, on a path that would soon head towards the forest. A person. A mage. A threat.

She began an angled descent and curved the path low and around the cliff to begin an approach to the intruder from behind.

Change.

Pain rolled through the eagle as the body was forced to shift into the form the puppeteer favoured for dealing with threats.

The white tigress landed lightly on a somewhat steep, rocky slope. She held herself low and crept up the incline, senses on alert. The intruder was on the path somewhere below and was close enough that she could easily catch his scent.

Tension tightened the feline’s powerful form, instinct raising fur on end.

A dragon.

Kill him.

          No!

Lisanna Strauss rebelled, but could only watch in horror as the tigress began it’s stealthy tracking of its prey. With soundless steps, it moved from cliff to boulder, senses stretching to pinpoint the target…There. Moving off the mountainous path and into the field.

Instincts fought against drawing any nearer, knowing what they tracked was a beast in a different league, and the soul of Lisanna resisted too, for the sake of not wanting to harm another person. But the tigress followed the path of the invading mage, carefully and patiently, now but a few metres away and crouched, primed to pounce, eyes glowing red in possession haze.

@sanctidente​ / starter call  ♥

[fairybond]

he saw an entire universe behind her eyes. sun, moon, stars, and all the planets swirl in perfect harmony within breathtaking blue irises. with no words — he just leans closer, hand lifting to tuck her hair behind her ear. a small smile plays at his lips before easing in to press a kiss to her forehead.

She glanced up at him and found his eyes already on her, and it was as wonderous as catching sight of a shooting star. A rush of excitement, a small miracle. Her heart fluttered in delight, and she could do nothing but stare back at him, an instantaneous smile giving a gentle curve to her lips. Her heart sighed adoringly at the opportunity to hold his gaze, marvelling as always at the specks of colours within it. Like little pieces of gems, or perhaps tiny fragments of the sky and sun.

What was he looking at? She wanted to ask. What did he see when he looked at her?  She wondered briefly if there was something on her face that he was amused about, but that didn’t quite fit the look in his eyes, she thought. Whatever that was.

Despite the warmth in her chest, a wisp of coldness unfurled amongst it. The way he was looking at her…it made it too easy to imagine being special to him, to hope for it. But she was imagining things in any case, wasn’t she.

Even knowing she was being foolish, there was no stopping the tinge of pink that came to her cheeks. It only grew darker as he began to lean closer. Her pulse stuttered so loudly in her ears, she worried for a moment that he would hear it. His touch to her hair was gentle, careful as always, and she wanted to lean into it, to soak up more contact.

Sometimes it felt as if she was a flower, stuck on the edge of a shadow but so close to the light, trying to grow towards it, to catch the light upon her petals…and Sting brought the light to her. Maybe he was no shooting star after all ( she hoped he wasn’t, they were pretty and awe inspiring but fleeting ), and more like the sun – so warm and steady ( she could only hope he would remain as fixed in her life ).

She closed her eyes at the touch of his lips, a hand rising to cover one of her warm cheeks as his name came out in a borderline whine. “Sting…”

What are you doing? The question danced on the tip of her tongue, held back only by the fear of getting an answer. There was no real need to ask, after all, she knew he didn’t know that with every little touch and look, he took another piece of her heart. He didn’t know what he was doing to her.

He didn’t know that he had already set off a chain reaction within her heart that she knew would result in feelings that were far too strong, a supernova of feelings for him that would one day be impossible to contain. But for now…she wondered if she would have to pull all of her feelings back in, compact them into the centre of her chest, let nothing escape.

No, turning her heart into a black hole would never be good and she would, no, could, never withdraw in any way from Sting. He needed support, someone to accept him, and she would not let him for one second feel that she had rejected him.

A sigh slipped from her lips, and she imagined the action as releasing the weight from her shoulders. She moved her arms around him and gave him a quick squeeze of a hug before peering up at him with a teasing grin. Playfulness lit her eyes as she lifted her hands up, capturing his face in a gentle hold. She tugged him down as she bounced herself up on her toes, pressing a kiss to his forehead before dropping down again.

“I can play that game too, y’know, you’re not safe from me just because you’re tall~”

[fairybond]

he had forgotten what it felt like to laugh so much. nary a worry on his mind, only the sensation of weightlessness. as the patrons steadily depart -- the hall almost vacant, he found himself completely lost in her company. he leans closer, hands playing at the straw of his near empty and shamelessly pink drink. it only took a few for him to feel the rising warmth of his cheeks. ( what the hell did mirajane put in this ? ) a soft chuckle escapes, eyes sheepishly flickering away. " you know lis . . . i'm so glad i met you. where've you been all my life ? " clearly, he'd better call it quits before more words slipped out. a smile spreads, head tilting fondly as his mouth fails to stop while he's ahead. " i mean it. i wish i met you a long time ago. "

Idly and with a smile, she traced a little heart along the outside of her now-empty glass. It had been a delicious, peachy coloured concoction that had gone down far too quickly and easily and left her feeling like she might just float away. The condensation of the glass coated her fingertip like a dewdrop, and she rubbed it across her others as she contemplated getting another drink. Probably not a good idea, she thought with amusement, almost too aware of the light buzz throughout her body.

She rested her elbow on the top of the bar and cupped the side of her face, turning her head to look at her companion once more ( she had been really trying not to stare too much at him, but it was time to give in ).

Her hand was refreshingly cool against the warmth of her skin, and she wondered where such warmth had come from. Was it from the alcohol? From the air within the hall itself? Or perhaps it was a result of being in Sting’s company, as that did have the tendency to fill her with warmth.

More importantly than the flush to her skin, she wondered if she would be stuck with a permanent grin. She had always been one who smiled easily, but there was something about Sting that brought that to a whole new level. She didn’t think she had stopped smiling since they met up earlier. The fact they were both apparently lightweights likely didn’t help the fact either.

She was about to ask him if he wanted another drink when he spoke.

There was always a certain thrill at hearing her name on his lips, but it was nothing compared to the fluttering within her that sparked at the rest of his words. And she had felt she might float away before? Ha!

Did he really mean it?

Delight swelled within her chest and made her grin brightly, though she had to turn her eyes down for the moment as shyness passed over her. She fidgeted and laughed, lifting her gaze to his and giving a shrug and casual wave of her hand.

“Where have I been? Oh, you know, an alternate world here, time bubble there…You know how it is,” she joked. Shifting her other hand, she stole one of his own and gave it a light squeeze as she added, “I’m just glad we met when we did.”

I wouldn’t be here without you. But she wouldn’t let that train of thought get rolling, there was no need to get too deep just yet.

Her eyes dropped to their hands for the moment, and the way she absently played with his fingers, but she looked up again, smile warm. “I know what you mean though, I’m really glad we met, and I wish we had met a long time ago too. You…”

She trailed off and had to suppress a giggle ( failing quite miserably before trying to pull herself together ). “You really light up my life.”

Though the pun was intended, she didn’t want him to think she was joking, because the truth of the matter was, he really did bring light to her life.

She shifted herself even closer to him, releasing his hand only to place her own on his shoulder as she leaned close. “I’m serious about that and...”

A distant part of her mind, muffled by the haze of the drinks she’d had, tried to protest the line of conversation, warning her against revealing too much. But although her heart was skipping, the liquid courage within her had already corroded most of her usual filter.

“I want you in my life for a long time, Sting,” she said, a soft smile present as she raised her hand from his shoulder to gently shift some of his hair back. Dropping the contact completely after a moment, she listened to the instinct telling her to back away from the edge of revealing too much. Time for a topic change.

She glanced around the hall for an idea, blinking once in surprise upon noticing how empty it was now. “Oh, I guess we should get going soon,” she commented with a light laugh, “I didn’t even notice everyone leaving.”

[fairybond]

‘ oh, i was hoping you wouldn’t remember ‘ / for lis !

meme / no longer accepting

“I did that…” she’d said, a sort of soft horror in her tone at seeing the old injury on him.

She was no stranger to scars, and was not the type to be put off or made uneasy by them, but the sight of this particular one upon Sting’s forearm had discomfort knotting her stomach. It was usually hidden by his gloves, she realised.

Her eyes traced the lines of it before her fingertips did, her touch light, as if scared it might still hurt him. But it was well healed, she reminded herself, though somehow that didn’t make her feel any better.

     ‘ oh, i was hoping you wouldn’t remember ‘

Her brows furrowed slightly, lower lip bitten in anguish at the thoughts springing to mind, the memories. “I remember…”

Fighting with him. Clawing at him. Lunging at him with deadly intentions.

She lifted his arm and leaned down to brush a kiss over the scar, whispering an apology against his skin. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t been in control of herself when the attack had happened, it didn’t matter that she had tried to stop it from happening, it didn’t matter that she had been horrified at the very idea of hurting him or anyone else. It had happened. And nothing would take away the darkness and pain that lurked within her chest because of it.

“I remember all of it…” The confession came as hardly more than a breath, and the urge to curl up and hide herself away came like a tsunami. The waves of disgust and guilt battered her, shaking her foundations, and leaving her trembling. She found herself leaning into Sting, hands finding purchase on his arms with a thread of desperation, as he was the ever-steady rock she could trust to keep her from being swept away.

Her eyes were shut tight, forehead resting against him as she tried to push the memories from her mind, to stop the flood of thoughts and images from pulling her under. Sting wasn’t the only one she’d hurt while captured by the dark mage’s possession spell, there had been others. Many others, and most didn’t get to walk away from the encounter.

“I wish…” her voice dried up for a moment, throat constricting as if to prevent the painful desire from escaping.

I wish I could forget everything.

No, that wasn’t true, she realised in an instant, giving a little shake of her head. To forget would be a form of selfishness, wouldn’t it?

She sighed and her hand shifted to find the faded cuts upon Sting’s arm again, lifting her head as she did so and managing a smile. “I wish I could repay you somehow, for everything you’ve done for me.”

[fairybond]

give a protective hug ~ lis 🥺

Hugs!

Sleep had carried her away in warm arms, wrapping her gently in contentedness as she rested against Sting. Her body had relaxed against his, head landing lightly on his shoulder. Impromptu naps weren’t uncommon for her and, sadly…neither were nightmares.

The dream began pleasantly, with her and her siblings helping their parents around the house, tending to the animals and garden, just as they had done before. Before they had lost everything. They smiled and laughed together, and Lisanna looked away, only for a moment. 

And in the next…they were gone. She was alone.

The landscape darkened. Twisted. Distorted.

Islands floated above and around her, and the sound of fighting rolled in from the distance, drawing nearer and nearer. Heart thumping erratically, she turned, eyes searching the disjointed surroundings desperately for safety and a familiar face.

And a familiar face she found. But not a welcome one. Not one that brought relief.

Scarlet hair and dark armour, features tainted by malice.

Fear spiked through her, starting a trembling in her hands that she couldn’t afford to have travel to her legs too. Instinct kicked in; she began to run. Reckless and heedless, she bolted forward, jumping over obstacles that sprung into her path and the sudden fissures in the earth. Hands grabbed for her, tearing at her, pulling her. Air was acid in her lungs, burning on its way in and out. Shoving at those who tried to trap her, she pushed forward.

She chanced a look back and cried out as the Fairy Hunter mercilessly struck down a familiar faced victim. The sight ripped at her heart, and yet she knew she could not stop, she could not turn back to help. She had to keep going.

The Fairy Tail guildhall stood firmly ahead, a beacon of safety. If she could just make it there-

A blast to her right tossed her hard against the ground, jolting her. She scrambled to her feet, hands clawing the dirt in the rush to push herself up. She charged ahead but stumbled as a figure emerged from the guild.

Her brother. Elfman. She could see it even at the distance, the dark magic glazing over his eyes as he held an explosive lacrima.

“N-No! Elfman, ple-“

A hand covered her mouth while another yanked her hair backwards. Her wide eyes caught the flash of red hair and the glint of a blade as her body was dragged back against the knight’s. Her heart burst into further flurry, panic giving her the strength to struggle. But the Hunter was strong, honed in battle and lethal without magic. Lisanna was trapped, helpless and frustrated without the strength of her magic.

I don’t want to die!

The thought lent her power enough to tear herself free of her captor and surge forward, but her enemy slashed the weapon forward.

A searing pain split her thigh and Lisanna screamed, falling to the ground. The wound pulsed and she covered it with one hand, using her other in the attempt to pull herself away from the approaching woman.

Knightwalker stared down at her and raised her weapon once more. With a satisfied smile, she swung it down.

And Lisanna jumped awake.

She sat up in a rush, eyes unseeing in their panic, her breath rough. Her shaking hands clutched her thigh, feeling for the gash that had brought her down. It took a moment to realise the injury had long ago healed, and it hadn’t happened like that, had it? 

A broken sob escaped her, and hot tears pooled in her eyes, her heart on fire for the memories of comrades lost. Some things would never heal.

Images flashed through her mind. Memories and possibilities both. Destruction and death.

She pressed her hands to her face, palms attempting to contain the rush of tears as she curled into herself.

A touch on her back made her flinch, head instantly lifting and hazy eyes searching in hopeless fear.

Sting.

A degree of tension slipped from her at the recognition, though shame rose to take its place.

“S-sorry,” she whispered, and she tried a reassuring smile for him. She was okay, she wanted to say. But her lip trembled and her efforts crumpled.

His arms came around her and pulled her close, the hold gentle, yet stable, grounding. She shivered against him, feeling a chill within her bones, but slowly…the warmth he provided began to seep in and her tremors subsided. She pressed even closer to him and felt his arms tighten around her in response.

Over the sound of her, still frantic, heartbeat, she thought she heard him giving quiet reassurances to her. It allowed her to imagine the warmth and brightness of his presence chasing away the nightmares like a protective charm, it allowed her to relax.

“P-please…” It was hardly more than a breath, a wish that had escaped from her heart. “Don’t let me go.”

[fairybond]

the spring air sends a brief chill up his spine. a shower of flower petals cascade above them, quite a few captured within the fur lining of his vest. the moment is quiet — peaceful. everything they needed. as the sun bathes his skin, he leans back to so kindly invite himself to lay his head upon her lap. a single finger lifting to barely touch her lips, he jests, ‘ — shh. i promise we can be productive in a few minutes. ’

Lisanna shifted herself slightly against the tree supporting her back, eyes closing and lips holding the trace of a smile. She could be doing any number of things, she knew, and yet there was nothing else she wanted to do but sit there and simply be.

There was something utterly irresistible about the sunshine, and about the light breeze of spring. Her favourite time of year. Blooming flowers and an air of freshness and new beginnings. Bright, crisp colours to delight the eyes of everyone. Spring had always seemed to be nature making a brilliant show of itself, a reminder to the world that there was beauty all around and that life would carry on. Nothing was forever, not even bad times, it seemed to say. And that was something she had always held onto.

A slow breath in brought her the light scent of the blossoms around and of the familiar comfort she would always identify as Sting. The soft sound of his movement had her peeking an eye open, amusement pulling up the corner of her mouth as he lay himself down on her. 

A tingle sparked at the brief brush of his finger against her lips, the sensation painting her cheeks with the faintest touch of pink. She laughed, one hand moving to settle lightly atop his chest, to rest and simply feel more connected.

“Somehow, I doubt it~” she said warmly, hand sliding across his chest to begin idly picking petals off him, resting over his heart once she was finished, “But it’s okay, moments like this should be enjoyed. It’s productive enough for me.”

With her other hand, she began to stroke his hair, fingers gently combing through honey blond locks. Warmth, entirely unrelated to the sun that soaked them, swelled in her chest, and something inside her relaxed. 

She looked down at Sting for a few, lingering moments as she continued to pet his hair, expression soft and heart grateful for the peaceful moment and the sight of him seeming more free. Her fingertips traced the bridge of his nose, giving a gentle and playful bop to the end, before resuming the delicate shifting through his hair as she closed her eyes again.

“We should do this more often, don’t you think?”

[fairybond]

‘ i gave up, like, everything. and for what? ‘

meme / no longer accepting

His quiet words fell between them, drawing her eyes over to where he sat. With his elbows set onto his knees and his head down, it seemed as if an invisible weight was resting on his shoulders, pushing him down...and perhaps it was, he had a lot more to deal with than he ever let on, after all. Such a tone from him was…unusual to Lisanna, and his words themselves made her frown, curious and concerned. What was he talking about exactly?

She waited a long moment for him to continue, hoping for a further glimpse into his thoughts. He didn’t have to be an unwavering light around her, didn’t have to be constantly confident and sure of himself…she just hoped he knew that.

When he didn’t go on, she wondered if he regretted letting the words slip, or if he was too deep in the maze of his mind to answer. She slowly unfolded herself from her own spot and stood up, moving over to stand before him. Gently, she began to stroke his hair, letting her fingers shift the soft, blond locks for a moment before she slid her hands to cup his face.

Her thumbs brushed unhurriedly across his cheeks, and she was tempted to guide his head back so she could meet his eyes, but she knew that sometimes it was easier to talk without that contact.

She moved her hands to his shoulders and gave a gentle push so he would straighten up and sit back, allowing her to then adjust herself to sit on his lap. Curling up against him, she slipped her arms around his torso and rested her head against his chest.

When she finally spoke, her voice as quiet as his had been, “What do you mean, Sting?”

[fairybond]

––––  Continued @sanctidente​

Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything. Maybe her voice and words, as soft as they had been, would break the growing bond between them, shatter it like glass. But she hadn’t been able to help it, the ache in her chest hadn’t let her.

For a moment, she thought he wouldn’t reply, sure that she had overstepped. She chewed her lower lip lightly, eyes unable to turn away from him despite the feeling that he would perhaps prefer her to look away. Concern pinched her features, and she found her gaze caught by the small movements of his fingers. She clenched her own hands in the attempt to resist reaching out to him, folding her arms across her chest in a sad approximation of a hug.

“You’re right, that is scarier…”

What did he know of it? Her gaze returned to his face, and she hoped he wouldn’t see pity on her own, all she had was sympathy and a wish that things had been different for him. It was hard to say what exactly could be different, there was so much she didn’t know about him…but she supposed it went both ways.

Yeah, they had their similarities, didn’t they. It was a distant, wry thought as she watched him seem to pull himself out of the dim, cold thoughts and attempt to reclaim his more typical lightness. She sighed and wondered about all the times she had done the same. Oh, she understood his need for the effort, the need to rise above the heavier and often darker thoughts, the need to push aside anything that didn’t fit into the persona everyone expected. Did people truly fall for it?

She hugged herself tighter for a moment, inwardly cursing her silly little heart for sinking at the knowledge Sting felt the need to keep up his façade. But really, what had she expected?

Taking a breath, she forced herself to drop her arms and relax her hands, offering a weak smile to him. If it was easier for him in the moment to pretend, then she would allow it this time.

But she had to say – “You’re allowed to be a downer, you know…”

Any further words became caught in her throat as he took her hand. So careful and gentle. The brush of his thumb sent a fluttering through her heart, but came with a sudden tightening in her chest and burn of her eyes. She turned her gaze down to their joined hands, soft smile forming as she gave a little nod. To hear that he wasn’t as afraid…that was something.

Her eyes found his, searching for the truth in all he said. Did he really mean it? Was it okay to open up and trust? She supposed that, for her at least and despite her usual reservations…She was part way there, to truly trusting him, ( he had saved her and seen her at a vulnerable time after all ) and…there was a unfamiliar sense of comfort and safety that accompanied him.

“Sting…” His name was a soft sigh from gently curved lips. “Thank you. I’m…not as afraid either. You…you make me feel safe.”

She raised her other hand to join his, adjusting to support his with her own, thumbs mirroring his earlier actions and stroking. Warmth filled her with a soft glow, fondness for him clear in her eyes. She lifted his hand to her lips and pressed a kiss to his knuckles, lowering only after a lingering moment. “I appreciate it.” I appreciate you.

A certain coolness seeped into her as she wondered about his earlier words and if he ever felt at ease enough to be himself, to feel accepted. The thought pained her and gave the urge to hug him. She kept her smile up and tugged lightly on his hand, moving forward as she did so, and then dropping her hold on him. She slipped her arms around him and pressed close with a mumbled apology. “Sorry, I just needed a hug...”

[fairybond]

♡ Continued — @sanctidente

She watched as he seemed to collect his thoughts, her heart a little on edge and fluttering with the hope that he would give her some insight. Her question had come from curiosity and a genuine desire to understand him, but it held no expectation ( and it might hurt a little, but she would never blame him for wanting to keep things to himself ), no pressure, and she hoped he knew that. She wanted to know more about him, to learn the way he thought and how his feelings unfolded, but to push or pry was not her goal.

As the moment went on, she thought he might not answer…but his admission came softly, and she felt her heart both ease and ache at the words. Warmth bloomed in her chest at the gentle contact he provided, and she thought of how easy it would be to completely melt for him. He was far too dangerous to her heart; it was a distant warning and yet she ignored it for the moment.

She raised her hand to cover his upon her cheek, holding it to her even as she turned her head slightly to press a light kiss to his palm and lean into it. He had spoken of protecting himself and of being afraid, and she was no stranger to either of those things. Using certain behaviours and layers to keep others from seeing the truth was common practice for herself too, after all. To know that he was shedding such layers, growing, gave her hope.

Pride and admiration warmed her eyes as she looked up at him, a smile soft upon her lips.

“I think you’re very brave for that, Sting,” she said slowly, tone tender, “Everyone has things they don’t want to say and parts of themselves they want to hide, or feel like they have to hide…and it takes a certain strength to let them be known despite that.”

He was much stronger than her in that regard, she knew.

“I admire it. I think everyone should be able to be themselves.”

She curled her hand around his to give a light squeeze as she shifted it down from her cheek. But less contact wasn’t her goal, no. She lifted her hands up to rest on his shoulders and applied a light pressure to tug him down. Her arms moved to loosely wrap around his neck as she mumbled a soft come here.

“And I do want to know the real you.” She smiled and nuzzled against him gently. “It would be an honour~”