IoQ: I think I love you~

Thumbelina sighed, slowing down to offer her bangled hand to Waldor. "She makes you uncomfortable doesn't she?"

He shifted his wings to take her hand as they walked back. "Yes...I do not trust her motives and find her behavior reprehensible." He quieted for a moment then continued, "I also find her at fault for what will come. I can see only so much into the future and am piecing together what I can as quickly as I can but...were the woman to simply tell us of what we were facing it would make seeking a positive solution easier. Instead...she leaves us all to suffer."

"Perhaps.. but give her time. Maybe she will open up.. it seems to be tied to very painful memories of hers... I understand not wishing to think on painful memories." Thumbelina gave his hand a light squeeze and leaned up to kiss his cheek. ".. Thank you though.. for pushing through what I am sure are not pleasant visions to try and help us. I appreciate it.."

"Time is something I fear we have little of." He grumbled but nuzzled her then grumbled more and picked her up so he could cuddle her better as he walked. "I have no choice in the matter but...thank you for understanding."

"Ah!" She was being carried, that caused a blush to creep into her cheeks but still she cuddled him back. "I try to understand you.."

"For which I am grateful." He tucked his wings around them some and continued on to the house. "Young Reynalt is very quick at learning Strix, he asked me to teach him."

"Did he now?" Thumbelina watched Waldor's expression, curious if that was something that made him smile. "He's a very bright little boy."

His face softened some and he nodded as they headed into the house. "Yes...he also said he is very fond of me. Your children are precious, Belina." Except Jamal.

She laughed lightly. "Even with their misbehaving earlier?"

He shrugged. "Squabbling amongst children is something I expect. They were not so bad."

"I'm glad you care for them.. I like to have peace in my family." Thumbelina relaxed against him. She actually greatly enjoyed being carried... though she would not ask to be carried herself.

"I consider them my own kin." When they were in and halfway up the stairs he paused then 'looked' to her. "I was heading up without thinking. Is there somewhere else I should take you?" Putting her down didn't even register as an option.

"I'm glad." Thumbelina softly caressed his cheek. "No it's alright. You are probably tired."

"I am though I don't want to impose upon you." Yes. Actually he did but still, courtesy dictated he offer otherwise.

"I don't mind.. lying in the bed-nest with you is one of my favorite things to do." It was too hard to wiggle in his arms to kiss him or she would have, instead she just allowed her hand to rest on his cheek.

That pleased him and he chirped happily then continued up the stairs to her room. When they were inside he set her down gently so she could change out of her things and he started pulling his various items off and piling them up.

Thumbelina thought for a moment as she started taking off her armor. "Waldor.. would you want sleeping clothes?" She wasn't sure how he preferred to sleep, as he always seemed to sleep in his day clothes without all the extra stuff.. but that was likely because he didn't arrive with the intention to sleep? She wasn't sure.

He paused then scratched softly along his cheek. "Hmmm...they would be pleasant but it is unnecessary to go through the trouble of making them. My current clothing suffices. "

"I just.. wondered." Thumbelina shrugged. "I didn't know if you had a change of clothes.. though I suppose you could always sleep nude if you so wished." She wouldn't mind either way. After all, she trusted him not to do anything when she was undressed, so he shouldn't expect any less from her.

"Not currently...with the exception of the festival clothing you had made for me I have only one pair of trousers and three rotations of shirts....I focused most on my books and equipment when I was packing." Waldor fluffed some at the concept of curling up in her bed without clothing. "I...would not want to bother you were I to sleep without clothing. I do not mind my clothes overmuch."

"I don't see how it would matter either way. I trust you." She shrugged and finished folding up her armor and sliding off her bangles. "But I could talk to Dorothea and perhaps something simple and soft could be made for you to sleep in?"

"That...would be pleasant. I would not want to overstep my bounds." Once he was free of things the owl climbed into the bed-nest and wiggled to settle into it

Thumbelina followed closely after him, wiggling close to him after he had settled in. "What bounds would you be overstepping?

Waldor shrugged and pulled his wings about her, settling them like a feather blanket over the two. "I'm sure there is some sort of mores I'd be breaking though if you are comfortable with it I find I do not care what rules of others I break."

Now that she was close enough and not being held, she quietly repeated the clicking that got her kisses the day before.

Waldor stiffened and fluffed all over and hesitated a long moment before leaning to nuzzle her cheek then press a soft kiss to her lips, praying to every being on high that she understood what she'd said and that he wasn't about to get smacked.

She was indeed asking for that. Thumbelina quickly accepted his kiss with her own as she wrapped her arms around him. Kissing with him was nice. She was glad that the sounds had indeed meant what she had intended for them to mean.

He felt his heart skip when she got closer and he pulled her closer. He didn't want to break the kiss but he was desperately close to starting to laugh.

She could feel his body shaking from subdued laughter and stopped enough to whisper. "...What's so funny?" Then one more quick kiss for good measure.

Waldor finally let a chuckle escape him then hid his face in her hair as he started to laugh more. "You are the first person I have ever willingly kissed. Or courted or...touched in any manner that was meant gently. How quickly you have bored into a heart I thought long ago had become encased in granite."

"....." Thumbelina smiled softly and nuzzled him. ".. I think that perhaps you didn't really wish to keep your heart so hard... I'm glad that you think me worthy of your love.. and are happy as part of my family."

He took to petting her hair again as he held her. "I...begin to think that you are right."

"....." Thumbelina wasn't sure how to respond. Very very quietly she whispered. "... I think.. I'm falling in love with you... That's.. alright.. right?"

Waldor closed his eyes and took a deep breath then kissed her hair. "For me it is wonderful, for you already have my heart." He tickled her the briefest bit, "Be gentle with it, it's not used to being held by another."

Thumbelina turned to face him, a faint smile on as she said simply. "I.. will treasure it always.. please continue to stay with me.. I always.. lose the people I love.. I don't want to have to lose you too."

"Belina...I cannot promise you always. As we both know there are forces at work that pull and push us at their whim but...we are blessed in that I often have some insight into what will come." He shifted around to take one of her hands and hold it. "I will always tell you of what is to come when I have learned enough to know...or even think we may be separated." Waldor sighed softly and hugged her close. "I will never willingly leave you, nor will I go without a goodbye."

That was enough, not enough to stop her eyes from starting to water but enough to ease some of the fear that lingered in her heart. "... T-thank you.." Thumbelina moved up and once again kissed him.

He started to tell her she was welcome but then there was kissing and he was really alright with that which likely showed in his sheer level of fluffiness and the soft coo he didn't manage to stop. Waldor was truly content like this, being with her in this home, and though he knew there was darkness coming he couldn't help but be happy with what he'd been given in the now. The future always brought strife, at least his present was peaceful.