narnia au;

[illuminescent]

how did you get here? through a wardrobe, or through death, or maybe a portal gone terribly astray. a ring. the roar of a lion. in the bottom of a cup. because you were looking for something, or missing something. no matter how you got there, this is where you belong.

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[illuminescent]

[Oh.

Oh no.

Lucy rocks her hands through his hair, then, and presses a kiss against his cheek.]

My love, what is it?

[He was happy a moment ago.]

[curlytop]

[He closes his eyes so the tears gathering won't actually fall.]

It's nothing-- [he starts, but he frowns and shakes his head] I always thought, when I got married, I'd have my family there, my friends.

[He's quiet a moment, not trusting his voice. Then he clears his throat.]

I miss them. Sometimes.

[illuminescent]

You are allowed to miss them.

[She reaches up to kiss him on the cheeks.]

If my family were not with me, I think I would be not half as brave as you.

[curlytop]

[He closes his eyes and exhales as she kisses him.]

It's not bravery.

[He's not sure what it is, really. Just survival, he supposes. What choice did he have but to keep going?]

[illuminescent]

To fall in love? To be kind, and loyal, and good, instead of give into a baser desire?

To allow yourself to be happy?

That is the highest order of bravery.

[curlytop]

I don't know that I did any of those things until I met you, mo chridhe.

[He touches her cheek and smiles.]

Anyhow, which of us is the Valiant, eh?

[illuminescent]

You make me braver.

[She beams at him.]

You would make me a lioness.

[curlytop]

[He laughs and kisses her.]

You are already a lioness, Lucy, my love.

[illuminescent]

Well.

Perhaps.

[She kisses him again, and gets up. The water is starting to chill, and she reaches for a cloth to dry off, to dry her hair.]

But you make me braver, just the same.

[curlytop]

[George stays in the water just a moment longer to watch her.]

Then we make a good pair.

[Getting up slowly, he steps out of the tub and stretches luxuriously. He reaches for her as she starts to dry her hair, curling an arm around her waist and pulling her to him.]

We make each other better.

[illuminescent]

[She gets close to him, and looks up at him, and beams. And she reaches for him to help him try his own hair, his curls tangling a little as she dries.]

We do.

That is why I will never give you away.

[curlytop]

[He bends to help her reach and laughs.]

Nor I you.

[He pulls back so he can work his fingers through his curls to separate them.]

Do you remember what I told you before about parabatai? They say it's like that for parabatai as well. They make each other better, draw on each other's strength.

[illuminescent]

Are you asking me to be your parabatai?

[She doesn't even know if it's possible. She doesn't fully understand the word, either.]

[curlytop]

No.

[He laughs and moves to sit on the bed.]

No, then we couldn't get married. I was just thinking about that. A lot of what we have is like parabatai.

[illuminescent]

I do not understand. Is it not already a marriage of a sort?

[She move to straddle him, and it's still not sexual, even though they're both naked and she's still drying off. There is something that is so perfect about being like this. Together, and intimate, without any rush for sex.]

[curlytop]

Ehm...sort of?

[Parabatai are difficult to understand, and George has never been one.]

It's not meant to be romantic. If you're too close to your parabatai that way, you'll go mad.

But the rest of it is like a marriage.

[illuminescent]

That seems rather nonsensical.

I would rather be married.

[curlytop]

So would I.

[He curls his arms around her, fingers tracing circles over her back.]

I think it's more like family. Like a brother, sort of.

[He kisses her shoulder, ducking his head with a smile.]

And I definitely don't want to be your brother.

[illuminescent]

Certainly not! I have more than enough in the way of brothers.

[She presses her cheek against his shoulder, too. Hello.]

[curlytop]

[He kisses his way across her shoulder and up her neck.]

And I think I can live without a sister.

[illuminescent]

Could you live without a wife?

[An important question, as she raises her chin so he can kiss her throat.]

[curlytop]

[His lips trail lazily over her skin.]

Yes.

[He lifts his head to look at her.]

But I couldn't live without you.

[illuminescent]

[She rests her head against his shoulder.]

You could.

But please-

You can hold me, we can sleep.

[curlytop]

[He kisses her forehead.]

Aye, if you'd like.

[He slides back on the bed with her still in his lap, one arm around her to keep her steady.]

[illuminescent]

[She moves with ease, he's on the mattress and she's on top of him, and she feels whole. Complete.]

When we return home, I will make a fuss. I promise. I wish for you to be able to sleep in my bed always.

[They still do, now, but sometimes they can't. George has to be somewhere else, for one reason, or another.]