(no subject)

[correctiveshoes621]

She woke suddenly; her body, knifing rigidly in his embrace.



She was dreaming of falling, again..Off the roof..off the edge of the world..off the edge of it all; into nothingness and alone.

He blinked to instant attention and grabbed hold of her as she pushed against his chest in a panic; her breathing, shallow and rapid. From neutral to fourth, in seconds; as always, with her..

'Wake up, hey; wake up..I've got you..I GOT you..STOP it..shhh..', he spoke against her hair, 'I'm here; you're okay..'

Clearly...Calmly..knowing his voice to be always an anchor for her when she drifted. Soon, her struggles faltered and ceased, and she lay pressed tight - still breathing raggedly - within the safe bounds of his body. She fairly hummed, trembling and tight, and the small sounds that escaped her tore the darkness between them. After a moment, she pulled away from him and he let her go.

She sat up and turned away from him, with her hands to her face. Cross-legged and curled-up and hair, everywhere; she looked like a child in her lacey, old-fashioned nightshirt. She used the frilly cuffs to swipe at her eyes, and he smiled, 'Come on, darling..back to bed, now', but she did not come to him.

After a time, he pushed the blankets back and sat up, himself. He crawled across the bed until he was facing her, and sat 'indian-style', as well; his knees, touching hers. Slowly, he raised his hands to her arms, her shoulders, gentling her..squeezing tenderly..caressing life back into her senseless, empty limbs.

'Sweetheart? Look at me.', he said, quietly, 'I mean it, come on.'

She raised her head, chin up and almost defiant; and he looked into her eyes.

Serious, now. Deeply, now.

'Liebe schoen, that's it..look at me,', softly..earnestly. He held her gaze as he brought one hand to the nape of her neck, and bent her forehead to his.

So close, now. No turning away; no hiding.

'Breathe with me, now...Follow my breaths..Come on..', he whispered, 'Do it with me.'

Together they sat there, breathing deeply and rhythmically in tandem, with their arms loosely 'round each other; knees, still touching..eyes, still holding...holding..Together, they formed some painstaking cathedral of flesh and spirit, there amongst the ruins of the bed, in all its shadows; and let the air flow in and out...in and out...and through them..

In..Out....In..Out..They shared breath and light and energy..and grew stronger, for it. He felt the tension leave her, little by little, as she opened to him...In..Out....In..Out...They held together; steady and unblinking.

After a long moment, he pulled her into his arms, tightly again. This time, she did not fight.

'Have I taken you to the very edge, my dear?', he whispered, cloying, 'Have I, now?'

He smoothed her hair almost maternally, 'Have I broken your defenses yet? I'd say I came close, this time..', and she could feel the smile in his voice against her ear, '..and you know you loved it..you KNOW you needed it.'

'There, there..you know I'll never ever let you really fall. You have my word..but, I tell you, Woman, THIS - I will always go you one better.'

And she knew it to be true, as she followed him back under the covers.