erebonia | 🗱 Sara/Barnham

[...Sara....]

I am not so arrogant as to assume I shall immediately be able to completely and totally please you in every form.

[Sara pls!!]

That, I assume, is something that shall take time. However... I am certainly willing to learn.

[ Barnham... BARNHAM... ]

Let's just... get something straight right now. [ even though it looks like she's trying valiantly not to laugh because he sure did just say "please you in every form" with such solemnity. ]

As much as I hate to say this because it sounds ridiculously cheesy-- you don't need to learn that much. The Zacharias Barnham who fusses and takes almost everything seriously but still has some sass to him and who kept insisting on being the one to keep me supported-- that pleases me very much.

And the rest'll come to you without my help, probably.

[He is a solemn guy!! Especially lately. And Sara's the one good bright point in his life right now so he doesn't really want to mess that up.

Still...

That gets his lips to quirk upwards in a smile. Sara... is pretty cute, isn't she?]

... Very well then. I shall have faith in that.

[In the meantime, if she's going to be so close, he sees no reason not to cup her cheek and press his lips to hers.]

[ In (semi) public, Barnham?? He's definitely grown in one regard, and it makes Sara smile into the kiss, briefly slipping her fingers into his hair and letting the sensation linger.

She's not used to relationships. She's not used to someone caring about her this much with a certain level of sincere intensity, and if Barnham's willing to learn as much as he can-- Sara can put forth some effort into actually making sure this is a relationship for the both of them. ]

See? [ It's a soft whisper when she speaks again, and something in her gaze has likewise softened. ] You're already doing just fine.

[He is learning and improving every single moment!!

But.

This is definitely fine, and he just shifts to press his forehead to hers instead, sighing softly.]

I must admit--you do make this sort of thing rather easy.

I've been told I've made other people's lives hard, so maybe I've improved a little.

[ No, she's still going to drive people like the Vice-Principal and Neithardt crazy. ]

Or maybe you're just a natural? [ She likes it when he's this close, when she can soak in the warmth of another person. ] You just never had the chance to learn that fact for yourself.

... I unfortunately am far from the sort.

[A natural, that is. Trust him. He knows. He Knows.]

However, things that were once difficult are far simpler, I'm finding, around you.

That's because you always think too hard, and you're finally learning to relax.

[ Sara almost sounds proud. ]

Which means getting you to melt completely is going to be fun.

I would have preferred another way to learn to--

[....

.....???????]

Sara?

[AHH??]

[ IT NEVER GETS OLD and she's so happy to see him blush-- even if she snorts slightly under her breath, but keeps their foreheads pressed together. ]

It's okay. I'll behave until you don't want me to.

[ At his own pace, this time. ]

... It is not a matter of want, but...

[He's red even just admitting that, but...hey, he's a healthy adult male who is healthily attracted to Sara and everything she chooses to be but...

He's also still responsible, and he's aware too that they might not be ready for that when he's still piecing himself back together.

He sighs.]

I shall endeavor to recover. [Emotionally--so they can enjoy themselves without concerns.]

We're partners, remember?

[ Sara draws back, not by much-- and gives his hair a teasing ruffle. It's gratifying to know that he's not just worried about chastity, but... ]

From now on, whatever we deal with, we'll do it as a team. You won't be facing things alone.

[... That seems like her. With his hair ruffled, it's not quite so spiky and ridiculous, which means it hangs in his face a bit more.

It's probably fine though, he just snorts.

He's been through 7 weeks of murder, being worried about chastity is long out the window.]

... Indeed. I believe in--both that, and in you.

[Partners... it has a nice ring to it.]

And I shall be counting on your assistance in this as well. [his emotional hardships are things he fully intends to fix as soon as possible, it's just...going to take some time.]

Definitely! I did say you were stuck with my support, Zach.

[ A brief pause to nudge his hair away from his face, and then she smiles crookedly. ]

So for now, just focus on resting. If you need to talk, I'll be here.

[It's ridiculous just how fond of her he feels in this moment--but all he can do is loosely wrap an arm around her waist and make an acknowledging noise.

It's fine.

Everything is fine.]

... I know. I am growing less and less concerned with that.

[Sara is too vibrant and warm to be anything but alive.]

[ In response, Sara releases a soft noise of her own-- one of relief and contentment, and squirms a bit to get comfortable against his side as she closes her eyes. There's something to be said about being this close to someone you trust-- and she can't remember the last time that had happened, that she hadn't drifted off alone, thoughts kept carefully tucked to herself. ]

One day, you won't be concerned at all.

... One day.

[He won't deny that. He knows that if he keeps waking up next to Sara, keeps being able to hold her just like this... he won't have any reason to worry about her.

It'll be just fine.

He rests his chin on the top of her head gently, and is perfectly content to hold her just like this.

Really... in moments like this, that's when he knows it will all be just fine.

🗱 Sara/Barnham

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