/ a lifetime
424 words
Kwet touched the glass. It was warm.
"It's quite the view isn't it?"
Kwet nodded, even though he was looking at the shallow reflections in the glass and not the world outside. Now would be a good time.
But even in the the reversed image Aveth looked relaxed in a way Kwet couldn't remember seeing since before the wars. His wings were unfolded comfortably and his shoulders were slack.
"I mean the sun comes out about once a year, but honestly those clouds really are something," Aveth climbed up next to him and sat cross-legged, leaning forwards "Is it safe to fly through them?"
"They're dust clouds, so you'd need a wash after, but otherwise, they're fine," Kwet pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his chin on them. Maybe later. Maybe... when they were settled in. (Maybe never)
"You alright?"
For a bare second Kwet tensed. But there was no way Aveth could know. He was just asking, just concerned in the usual way. "Tired."
"It was a long flight," Aveth agreed, then stretched out on his back, wings flat out and limbs splayed. The tip of his foot barely touched Kwet's leg and he started laughing "This place is ridiculously big for just us two."
"It looks like it was made for an entire Vauhai flight," Kwet agreed, turning away from the window. The 'bed' that they sat on was more a wide, long ledge that hugged the window. The ceiling seemed to retreat into the atmosphere and the room was lit mainly by the rows of computers along the wall, white screens scrolling with information Kwet wanted to read, but was too tired to actually move to and actually commit to such a project.
"Someone mentioned canyons," Aveth said distractedly. He sounded like he was drifting off.
"This planet has lots of them," Kwet leaned against the window, pressing his wings against the warm glass "They make for interesting flying."
"We'll have to explore them. We have the time."
Kwet tensed again, the knot of tight sadness in his core making itself known again.
"I'll be busy with work."
"The work can wait, there's no emergency," Aveth replied softly "We're here as long as we want."
Kwet did not answer.
After several quiet moments Aveth sat up, pulling closer to Kwet. He draped his arm over Kwet's shoulder and slipped his wing between Kwet's back and the window.
Kwet pressed his face against Aveth's shoulder. Now would be a good time.
If he wasn't so close to crying already.
424 words
Kwet touched the glass. It was warm.
"It's quite the view isn't it?"
Kwet nodded, even though he was looking at the shallow reflections in the glass and not the world outside. Now would be a good time.
But even in the the reversed image Aveth looked relaxed in a way Kwet couldn't remember seeing since before the wars. His wings were unfolded comfortably and his shoulders were slack.
"I mean the sun comes out about once a year, but honestly those clouds really are something," Aveth climbed up next to him and sat cross-legged, leaning forwards "Is it safe to fly through them?"
"They're dust clouds, so you'd need a wash after, but otherwise, they're fine," Kwet pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his chin on them. Maybe later. Maybe... when they were settled in. (Maybe never)
"You alright?"
For a bare second Kwet tensed. But there was no way Aveth could know. He was just asking, just concerned in the usual way. "Tired."
"It was a long flight," Aveth agreed, then stretched out on his back, wings flat out and limbs splayed. The tip of his foot barely touched Kwet's leg and he started laughing "This place is ridiculously big for just us two."
"It looks like it was made for an entire Vauhai flight," Kwet agreed, turning away from the window. The 'bed' that they sat on was more a wide, long ledge that hugged the window. The ceiling seemed to retreat into the atmosphere and the room was lit mainly by the rows of computers along the wall, white screens scrolling with information Kwet wanted to read, but was too tired to actually move to and actually commit to such a project.
"Someone mentioned canyons," Aveth said distractedly. He sounded like he was drifting off.
"This planet has lots of them," Kwet leaned against the window, pressing his wings against the warm glass "They make for interesting flying."
"We'll have to explore them. We have the time."
Kwet tensed again, the knot of tight sadness in his core making itself known again.
"I'll be busy with work."
"The work can wait, there's no emergency," Aveth replied softly "We're here as long as we want."
Kwet did not answer.
After several quiet moments Aveth sat up, pulling closer to Kwet. He draped his arm over Kwet's shoulder and slipped his wing between Kwet's back and the window.
Kwet pressed his face against Aveth's shoulder. Now would be a good time.
If he wasn't so close to crying already.
