[attr="class","stone"]

[attr="class","stone b"]

[attr="class","stone i"]whatever ails him is lost under the calmness of the mask he wears. he has no use for them at the moment — all he needs to be is strong, unmoving, and ever-present.

but just this once, just for her, he'll allow himself to be distracted.

the door opens, and their final dinner starts now.

"illie."

illeana reyes

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]genuine smiles, happiness, their bubble of bliss. things taken for granted in the moment and missed as memories later...

"hi," she breathes, stepping through the threshold and into his space. a moment of hesitation follows, a moment of insecurity. she tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"how're you doing?" she shifts, then, to fit herself against his chest with an affectionate squeeze and a soft peck to his cheek.

ALEXANDER STONE

[attr="class","stone"]

[attr="class","stone b"]

[attr="class","stone i"]a step into their bubble is all it takes. his mask fades, and in its place is genuineness in the form of a smile.

"could be better, but i'm surviving."

the irony will never occur to him.

he holds her close, relishing the warmth of her presence.

"i missed you."

illeana reyes

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]her grip is, admittedly, too tight for the occasion. and yet, it's fitting all the same.

surviving... fate laughs at them.

"stressed?" aren't they all? he carries it with a grace most don't. and like atlas, the weight proves damning.

her face seeks comfort in the crook of his neck.

"i missed you too," and maybe she'll always miss him. his presence is enough to calm it but when he's gone? what happens then?

ALEXANDER STONE

[attr="class","stone"]

[attr="class","stone b"]

[attr="class","stone i"]"...yeah."

what he'd never share with others escapes so easily when with her. his head dips a little, leaning against hers as he exhales tension. he tilts his head, kissing her cheek before pulling away a little.

"hungry? i can make us dinner."

illeana reyes

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i”]he confirms her suspicions with a single word. and instead of prying, she presses light butterfly kisses to his neck. it’s not much, really, to ease the tension he carries but it’s something.

and when she pulls her face back just enough, the warmth of his cheek connects with her own. a bright smile rises a moment later, cheeks warm beneath his affection.

”yes,” the smile widens. ”would you like help cooking?” he knows by now that she’s a terrible cook but it’s the thought that counts. besides, she has a habit of sticking too close to him anyway… might as well put her to work.

ALEXANDER STONE

[attr="class","stone"]

[attr="class","stone b"]

[attr="class","stone i"]she wouldn't be prying because there's very little he wouldn't share with her.

"yes, please."

with a smile, he tugs her towards the kitchen. his hand slips out of hers if only to start preparing their dinner: a simple pasta dish he's likely made for her a few times by now.

it's simple, but cozy and convenient.

he hands her a cutting board along with some vegetables before starting prepping his own.

"everything okay at work?"

illeana reyes

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i”]the kitchen makes way for both of them. hands connected and loosely intertwined until it’s time to begin. and then, she’s hovering by his side while he presents her with veggie duty.

a soft smile lingers while she begins to carefully cut veggies into pieces. faint puffs of pink mist escape from her nostrils as she goes.

”it’s… work,” a sigh escapes, then, and she’s flashing him a small smile. ”it feels like there’s always something new that demands our attention. does it ever end?”

or does it merely end when they cease to exist? somehow, she doesn’t want to know anymore…

ALEXANDER STONE

[attr="class","stone"]

[attr="class","stone b"]

[attr="class","stone i"]"for some of us, it does. or at least i hope it does."

a gentle sigh carries with it so much weight.

his hands move almost rhythmically as he starts cutting up various ingredients. each slice precise, each movement calculated.

"i don't think it'll ever end for me, though."

illeana reyes

[attr="class","stone"]

[attr="class","stone b"]

[attr="class","stone i"]somehow, she's always been able to reassure him. this time's no different.

he leans into her kiss, lips parting into a warm smile even after she pulls away.

"you better."

and as he continues to cook, his mind can't help but drift to familiar territories. it's comfort, in a way, to stress over work and the war to come.

"i hear you're being pulled to meteor falls."

illeana reyes

[attr="class","stone"]

[attr="class","stone b"]

[attr="class","stone i"]"lilycove."

his expression flattens. it's for the best, he tells himself. she'd be safer at meteor falls surrounded by hoenn's finest.

and what of lilycove, then?

"you'll be joined by some of our best."

you'll be safe.

illeana reyes