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He hadn't seen █████ for what must have been a few days. If he didn't know any better, he would be worried. Worried they weren't coming back.
That had been what he thought the first time this happened. And the second. But he knew better now. Knew to wait patiently for their return. Sometimes he would be able to anticipate these… blips. Sometimes not. But they always returned, so he knew he had nothing to fear.
~
Sure enough, his beloved returned to him soon, still drowsy and weak. As soon as they entered his in-between, he rushed to them.
"█████. HOW WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU."
They smiled at him softly. "Hey, you."
They spoke quietly, but being how they are, it carried and reverberated through every atom of the space and his being. He felt overwhelmed with joy. They would likely call him "clingy," but it didn't bother him even in the slightest. He lifted his hand to their cheek, softly, as if they were the most precious thing in the world, and watched their face.
They had deep bags under their eyes, and worry lines etched into their forehead. They were beautiful.
As soon as they felt his hand on their face, they leaned into it, one hand coming to press his more to them. He took this as an invitation to initiate more contact, wrapping himself around them in a all-consuming embrace. They relaxed against him, sighing deeply and holding both their hands in theirs, leaning back against where his chest would be.
"HOW ARE YOU FEELING?"
"Oh, y'know, the usual. Not too hot."
He frowned slightly, bringing his face close to theirs. "I WISH YOU WOULD LET ME BE WITH YOU. WHEN YOU ARE UNWELL."
They sighed. "I know."
He pressed his face to theirs, reminding them somewhat of a cat. "YOU ARE PRECIOUS TO ME."
They smiled softly, leaning into him and grasping his hands. "You're clingy, you know." a teasing lilt in their voice, eyes glinting in the darkness. Aha.
"SO YOU'VE SAID."
"It's cute."
"…"
~
They were never well. He knew they left him when they became too ill to stay, but it worried him that when he saw them, it was "good." They were always very tired, and often struggled with walking. For a being with such unimaginable power, they were often quite… weak. He did wonder if all of their kind struggled as his had to, but was informed no, and that only troubled him more.
He knew it was silly to fret, but that didn't stop him.
~
Even while exhausted, they shone so brightly, and brought previously unprecedented brightness to his dimension. They made things he had thought entirely impossible, possible. They were fascinating, and so entirely themselves, so whole and unique, that he almost envied them. It was a privilege, he knew, to be so close to them, and for them to return even a fraction of affection and awe he felt for them.
~
He knew that if it came to it, they could overpower him in a moment, and perhaps even banish him from existence, if they had to, but the being laying on his lap in that moment felt small. It wasn't a wonderful day for them, eyes closed and skin dewy as their chest rose and fell with some labour. He brought his hands to their hair and slowly began to stroke it, tugging out knots and watching their face intently, memorising every eyelash, mole, and line. He was only grateful they laid themselves so bare to him. It was astonishing. If he was slightly less occupied, he would write down every detail.
*****
He was doting. You never would have thought, upon first meeting him, that you would grow so close, or that the doctor would be so…loving. Being with him was always strange, existing in his space seemed to strip you down to your core essence, but you've come to find it comforting, knowing it's his. Knowing he'll be there, waiting for you.
~
His face and hands were smooth and cold, almost like porcelain, but his body, or what could hypothetically be called his body, exuded a comfortable warmth, a nice reprieve from the endless darkness surrounding you. You never seemed to notice the cold of his hands as they reached out to touch you, or the chill of his face against yours, but you always noticed it again when you came back after being away. It reminded you he was other, that he was what, and where… he was. You cling to him, and him to you.
~
On bad days, he's always worrying, flitting to and fro until you ask him to calm down. He doesn't say it, but you know he's astounded by how fragile you can be.
You can see his face, unreadable, as his hands wander, mapping out the areas of your skin, and it feels like he is everywhere all at once. His presence completely surrounded you here, every touch felt amplified, and every word felt almost like it was spoken inside your own mind. He is rarely hesitant, but sometimes when he catches you observing him, he seems surprised. You'd never say it to his face, but he's a real sweetheart.
~
"Hey, hon."
"█████. HELLO. DO YOU NEED ANYTHING?"
He's busy writing, on a surface you can't quite discern, and with writing materials you have no idea where he got them from.
You shake your head. Today was manageable. You're able to walk around easily enough, and eating wasn't such a chore. You stroll over and drape yourself over his back anyway, peering over his shoulder. You weren't fully fluent in wing dings yet, so most of what he had written was gibberish.
"SOME FINDINGS. MOST INCONSEQUENTIAL."
"Uh-huh." You were sleepy, and he was warm. You linked his arm around his midsection. You were reminded of married couples in movies, and giggle quietly at the comparison.
"ANYTHING HUMOROUS?" you shake your head again, chin digging into what may be a shoulder. "No, I was just thinking, we're like a married couple."
His shoulders raise slightly in surprise, his writing pausing for a moment before starting again.
"REALLY."
You nod softly. "Yeah. You know what they say, sickness and health, and all that."