Roan has spent his entire journey falling.
Even in his dreams he tumbles out of the sky.
Sleeping in Varian only gave him nightmares but being away from home has an unforeseen effect. He cannot fall asleep, no matter how hard he tries, or how many sheep he counts in his head, this bed, in this room, is not doing it for him.
Roan's eyes move towards the open doorway when he thinks he hears something walk by the room. He sits up and swings his body around before putting his pale feet on the cold floorboards. He creeps towards the door and looks out but does no see anyone in the corridor.
He turns around and takes one look at the room before walking out and closing the door behind him. His intuition guides him around the corner to the third room at the end of the hallway. The door is closed and when he presses on the wood it appears to be locked but with a little more force, the door opens for him.
The window is ajar but with no breeze coming through, the thin veil of curtain drapes onto the floor. Roan walks to the window and looks up at the half-moon in the sky. "This is your room."
Roan looks over his shoulder and sees a chest of drawers behind him. He walks around the bed to get to it and picks up a picture of Zarion.
"This is where you lived." Roan places the picture down gently before moving to the wardrobe and opening it. He slowly drags his fingers across the clothes hanging up, stopping when they feel something soft.
It is a jumper, red, crimson. Roan takes it out and puts it on. The arms are too long, and it drops halfway down his thighs, but Roan does not mind these things, they only add to the items charm.
Roan climbs on the bed, rolling over to lay on his back, the mattress around his body sinking and shifting ever so slightly with every breath. "This is where you slept." he whispers, putting his thumbnail in his mouth, nibbling on the corner of the nail.
"Actually, I didn't do much sleeping in here."
Roan rises from the bed like a vampire, springing up like a board. "What....how?"
"You." Zarion's eyes sparkle in the darkness of the doorway. "You called for me, I came, that is how this works between you and me."
"Since when?"
"Since we first locked eyes, you've just...never need me...until now." Zarion slowly walks out of the shadows and offers Roan his hand. "Come with me."
Roan hesitantly takes his hand and follows him out of the room. When they pass the threshold of the door, they suddenly find themselves in a field of wildflowers. A crown of roses appears on Roan's head and Zarion wears a matching white crown of roses.
They slow dance together, the flowers tickling their bare legs whilst Alpine Kitsune runs around the field and play together. "You can ask me, it's okay." Zarion whispers into Roan's ears, making Roan's neck tingle.
"Why do I still have this feeling? Why do I still, care?"
"You mean why do you still love me?" Roan looks up at Zarion but does not reply. "You cannot control the way you feel. I belong to you, Roan."
"We should not have to belong to anyone. A relationship should be about two strong individuals coming together and making each other stronger, not one having ownership or power over the other." Roan lowers his head. "That is not a relationship, that is co-dependency."
Zarion frowns. "You are worried what people will think if you forgive me?"
"They have no right to judge me on what I decided to do. It happened to me so only I can say whether I forgive you or not. Only I can say justice has been served."
"And has it?"
"I don't know." Roan takes a moment to answer Zarion's puzzling question. "Zar, all I wanted was for you to admit what you did and to take ownership and you did that... you did more than that... and I am not a complete moron, I know that our circumstance was incredibly different to other people's experiences, but it has to stop. The predatory behaviour of shifter must stop."
"But?"
"Like I said, our circumstances are different...I don't think we will ever know the answer to that question...but I have to forgive you."
"Roan-"
"Not for you...for me. I have to forgive you so that I can grow into who I'm suppose to be." Roan looks into Zarion's eyes and thinks he sees them glowing but it happens too quickly for him to be sure.
Zarion smiles. "You gave me a nickname."
Roan rolls his eyes. "Are you even listening to me...oh god, are we your parents?"
"You say that like it is a terrible thing."
Roan feels his face heating up. "No, I did not mean it like that."
"Roan?"
"Zar?"
"Don't wait for me. You need to be happy. I want you to have your own happy ever after and if I am not that for you...that is okay." Zarion and Roan let go of each other. "Do not wait for me."
Roan tilts his head. "What if I don't want to say goodbye?"
"Then this is only the beginning."
"Only the beginning."
"Roan?"
"Zar?"
"No sympathy."
"No sympathy."
"Now wake up, and I'll see you soon."
+/+
Roan opens his eyes to a new day, sprawled across Zarion's bed where he fell asleep as soon as his head rested on the pillow. "I knew I would find you in here!" Nery runs into the room, startling Roan.
"What time is it?"
"One." Nery jumps on the bed, forcing Roan to move over. "I have some good news."
"What?" Roan asks, rubbing his eyes.
"Shadow Weaver has ordered that for one day, all Draven from Varian are allowed to leave!"
"Shadow Weaver?" Roan asks. "You mean the Chaos Walker?"
Nery laughs. "You guys call him the Chaos Walker? That is so weird."
Roan smiles back. "Shadow Weaver is not much better."
Nery jumps up and down on the mattress. "Do you know what this means?"
Roan nods his head, looking out of the window. "My people will be set free." Roan starts uncontrollably giggling with Nery. "We will be free."