RP:Love At First Bite

Summary: After the events of Things Falling Apart, Khitti and Brand cross paths. After a heated exchange between the two, and a strange turn of events, it's all aboard the Feels Train! Choo Choo!

Blocked City Exit

Khitti wasn't a happy person right now. I mean, would you be if you told someone how you felt for them, only to get cast away? She had been sad for a short time, but it only switched to anger, as her emotions often did. Currently, she was tending to an unfortunate criminal, one of many that lurked about the central waypoint known as Kelay. Oh she showed no mercy to that poor man as he stood somewhat slumped over in her arms, ribs broken, jaw shattered after he had screamed only a few minutes ago. No one would show, though. At least Khitti didn't think so. What was the point? Crime ran rampant through most of the land. There was no need to get involved and likely killed. Should someone manage to come across her at this moment, she'd be seen baring her fangs and sinking them deep into the crook of the unnamed victim's neck, no amount of restraint held, the flesh tearing easily under her bite. Nearby, three more bodies lay on the ground, pallid and completely drained of their life force, evident of Khitti's unsatiable hunger.

Brand stalked through the city, looking for trouble. Looking for a fight. The next person who so much as looked at him funny might well face a blaze of fury, just because. He wanted to hurt, to lash out, to turn all those emotions that damned kid kept pelting his way into fury and burn the world to ash with it. Brand was good at that, and little else. So when a scream reached his ears, he of course headed in its direction. Some poor soul beleaguered by bandits or something, no doubt. And no one would miss a few roasted criminals, so he could have his fun -and- play hero -- perfect. Instead, he found… -her-. Of course. Just his luck. Well, no matter, this could be fun in its own way. Brand leaned against a wall, arms folded casually across his chest, watching her engrossed in her work. That trademark smirk was more of a sneer when he finally chose to call out to her. “S’quite the feast you have there, lass.”

Khitti ripped her fangs from the dead man's neck, blood dripping down her chin. Dark eyes lock onto Brand, instant rage flaring in them. They even looked different, those pretty green irises; they were much more feral, much more malicious. "You." is growled out viciously, the body dropped immediately as booted feet swiftly carry her in his direction. Like a blur, she was, her abilities heightened even more with the fresh blood that coursed through her veins. Her hands move to grip him around his throat, to hold him fast against the wall, the shorter vampiress a bit imposing despite her height. "You did zhis...", her words hissed out between fang and tooth, "I vould kill you now if you did not share a body vith him."

Brand never lost his cool, despite his predicament. In fact, he almost acted as if he’d -allowed- her to pin him to the wall, though one hand reached up now to grip her wrist. “I’m sure you would,” he responded, as if she were a mere child suggesting she could topple an empire. “But tough luck, peach. It is what it is.” His other hand reached up now, prying each of her fingers off of him individually before pushing her hand back against her chest. He returned now to an approximation of his earlier stance. “Besides, I did nothin’ but what was necessary. You’d only be trouble.”

That name 'peach' only made things worse for Khitti. Another hiss passes her lips as she's pushed back, one foot moving behind her, planting the toes of her boot into the ground to keep her from being pushed too much. A hand flies up, aiming to smack Brand across the mouth, the other moving to finally wipe the drying blood from her chin soon after. "Trouble? Who saved your idiotic self from zhat spider bite? You'd be dead if I hadn't bled for you. But you...you're not even real, are you? -He- suspects as much. Just a figment of zhe mind is all. If he vas actually allowed to be happy, zhere'd be no purpose for you. You'd just..." She waves a hand in the air, making a 'poof' sound. "-You're- zhe one zhat's nothing but trouble. -You're- holding him back. -You're- upset zhat it vould no longer be zhe two of you." The vampiress sneers at him, a step forward taken towards him, threateningly, "You need him as much as he needs you."

Brand simultaneously shrugged and rubbed where she’d hit him, a soft cracking noise punctuating the movement of his jaw back and forth and then closed again. “ ‘Real’? Heh. A question for the philosophers, of which I’m not.” He stepped around her and towards the lives she’d taken, kicking over one body with a boot. A mixture of disgust and pity lined his face before peering over his shoulder at her. “But it’s not about happiness, it’s about survival. Love gets people killed. Even moreso when it withers or isn’t returned in like kind. Makes people stupid. Makes them weak.” He kicked the corpse again, just for the sake of it. “And you’ve clearly demonstrated you dunno what in seven hells you want, so… tell me.” He turned back to her fully. “Why -shouldn’t- I get in the way?”

Khitti knew full well about survival. She had and still did live that life too, just like Brand and Dominic, but that really wasn't the point. "Neither of us seem to know vhat ve vant, but you're not even letting us try to figure it out." She didn't turn around to face him, instead staring at the wall as the fingers on both hands curled against her palms, nails digging into her flesh as fists formed. "It's not up to you. You may be apart of him, but you're not apart of -zhis-. Zhere's no point in survival if you don't actually have anything to live for. You don't get to make zhe choices for us. You don't get to decide our fate." Her anger waned a little, meloncholy flowing in to fill the gaps. "Zhis isn't -your- fight for once. It's ours...and vhether it ends joyously or in heartbreak, it's not your right to interfere."

Brand rolled his eyes, the movement exaggerated to make a point, but otherwise took a moment to compose his thoughts, lips twisted to the side. “ ‘Kay, I’m gonna preface with one thing, just so we’re clear: he’s blocked out at the moment. Doesn’t know I’m here. Won’t know I’m here or what I’ve said.” A beat. “It’s not difficult if I choose to, and it’s not gonna hurt him. So don’t worry about the details or how much is who saying what. ‘Sides, I’m direct like he can’t be -- you’re right that I’ve got no real stake in the matter beyond keepin’ him from doin’ anything stupid.” He shifted his weight from one leg and then to the other before stepping forward coming to a stop in front of her, his gaze demanding to be met. “Kid knows exactly what he wants, and he knows exactly why I think it’s a bad idea. Cuz you’re not ready, still caught up on this Daermon fellow. Cuz you kiss him and then call him a friend. You want to destroy someone like him, that’s how you do it. Give and then take away. Confuse him.” That gaze became a glare. “Easiest way to make someone vulnerable, if that’s your aim. I’ve played those strings a thousand times.”

Khitti didn't like being judged. She didn't like being accused of things that had never happened, things that wouldn't come to pass, not if she could help it. Much like the shift from Brand to Dominic and vice versa, Khitti's own sort washes over her. The need to feed and even moreso the need to prove her innocence rises, his close proximity urging it on even more. Her left hand snaps out to grab him by the hair, dragging him down to her level, to really meet her eye to eye, "No, Brand. You're vrong. I'm not like you." Before he can react, her right hand is pulling his shirt collar aside and gripping it tight as he's pulled forward with fangs bared. In the moments it took for Brand to defile the feelings she had for Dominic, she realized there really only was one thing she could do: feed from him and force her memories and emotions onto him. The vast ocean that was the psychic link between them as she ever so slowly consumed his blood was not far off from what Khitti had actually described. The two of them swirled about within it, but she tried her damnedest to push past Brand and seek out the mental wall that he hid Dominic behind. A rush of recent memories flood the bond, all of which solely dwelled on Dominic. Their first few meetings and the guilt that followed for the way she treated him and how she showed him her abilities so early on. But soon, that guilt started to change into something more each time they met. The joy she felt when he saved her, even if Brand -had- been the one to carry her there. The panic when he nearly died thanks to those awful arachnids. The butterflies in her stomach when they met again after that kiss. She wanted to do it again, but now whatever chance she had was ruined thanks to Brand. There was nothing but love for Dominic, and he -was- her friend, for friendship would still be there even if a relationship had developed and she wanted nothing more than to keep it that way if it didn't. But now, hopelessness and doubt swirled around in there, and even loneliness despite the fact that she had Amarrah. Whatever happened in Brand and Dominic's mind was completely up to both of them, and whether or not the mental blocks in their mind would hold.

Something in Brand’s resolve broke, taken aback by Khitti’s actions, but moreso by the torrent she unleashed upon him. It was hard enough just dealing with Dominic’s memories, Dominic’s feelings, hiding those away as needed or struggling to interpret their cause. This new flood was more than he could handle even in all his detachment and compartmentalization. Brand pushed back, physically and mentally struggled, his resistance not nearly enough to do anything of consequence. And eventually she pierced through, pulling Dominic to the forefront. That usual physical shift accompanied the mental one, though Dominic was even more disoriented than Brand had been, eyes darting about for context and finding none. If it weren’t for Khitti’s love washing over him, he would be entirely panicked instead of just confused and overwhelmed, tears coming to his eyes and a cry in his throat as the stream of thoughts continued. The vampiress might find equal parts love and fear, a passion for everything about her and a yearning to stay by her side, and a simultaneous terror that he or Brand would hurt her, or she’d hurt him… but mostly that he wouldn’t be able to help but hurt her, that he didn’t know how to do anything else, that staying alone would spare her from worse pain in the long run than he and Brand had already caused her. Thousands of deaths flashed across the surface of that mental ocean, each as faceless as the next and regarded with a mix of regret and sadistic enjoyment, hundreds of lashes for jobs failed, thousands more words reinforcing that his worth was as a tool to be used, for killing or maiming or... whatever other ways he could be of service, thoughts beyond that still firmly blocked. Even love could be a tool for destruction and to push Khitti away was ultimately to protect her as much as him.

With Dominic pulled forward into his mind, Khitti takes that small victory as a cue to remove her fangs. A small bite to her tongue is given, letting a few droplets hit his skin to heal the wounds she regretably caused him. Their bond still held strong though, as she worked that bit of vampiric 'magic' to fix the physical issue. Her own fear poured into his mind, slowly now that he there instead of Brand, there was no reason to force everything into his thoughts at once. She -was- afraid. Afraid for him. She was a monster, at least in her mind. Even now regret plagued her heart for having to bite him; she never wanted to taste his blood. Worry entered after the fear had passed, sadness accompanying it. What would happen if they did get together? How long would it last? His imminent death haunted her. She'd lose herself and worse yet, she'd be alone again. Perhaps that was the reason why she still clung to Daermon even after all their fighting. At least he'd be there with her for eternity, but even then she knew that was a farce. At this point, that's all it felt like anymore: one huge lie. Tears welled up in her eyes as she released his shirt enough to pull him into a hug, intent on not letting him go for the moment. Bit of other memories flicker in as her mind wavers with her changing emotions: Khitti on the experiment table, fresh wounds open all over her body. The subsequent genocide of the necromancers that did this to her, and then her family and townsfolk of her village after their change into the shambling undead. She found more and more necromancers over the years and her bloodthirst increased, Amarrah's as well. She enjoyed the killing just as much as he did, and even more so now as she sought out the evil-doers that rampaged throughout Xalious and Kelay. The unfortunate memories continue to flood in, the very thing she feared most when it came to feeding, and seemed unable to stop for the moment as she clung to him and cried.

Dominic’s own memories were conquered by compassion as her thoughts continued to float his way. It was one thing to hear her tell the stories, and entirely another to -see- it, to feel it in his soul as keenly as if it had been him in her stead. Even with all Brand’s skepticism, neither of them could deny the authenticity of these feelings when faced with them like this. Whatever their fears, whatever their reservations -- was it really worth throwing this connection away? Was it worth denying everything they shared because it might mean they hurt more sometime down the line? And still, those walls continued to fall away, each one causing more to topple like a series of dominoes. Not only was he starting to melt into her as he returned her hug and shared in her tears, but he was starting to melt into himself, the barriers cut into his schismed mind breaking and blurring, the marks for what separated the two entities stirring together, though their physical form remained the same. It was Khitti’s turn to be fixed against the wall now, Dominic’s hands grasping hers tightly, lips stringing a series of kisses from her mouth and up her jawline to nibble at her earlobe -- borrowing from Brand’s boldness, no doubt. The thought was at once both in her ear and through her mind: “I’m sorry, so sorry. And I love you, too.”

It took a few seconds for first the display of affection and then his words to register in her own broken mind. "Vh-vhat...?" is mumbled softly, verdant eyes search his own for the truth even though she knew in her mind it was true, her thoughts shifting again back to him, the distant past walled off again. Crimson brows furrow and a frown marrs her features with concern, though she ultimately squeezes his own hands in return, a few kisses placed against his cheek. "You'll leave me...You'll...find someone else...You'll...You'll..." She can't manage to say the word, though it clearly rings through both of their minds: die.

Dominic shook his head, a finger rising to her lips. His eyes still glistened as they locked gazes. “Listen, enough fear for a moment. Just… a moment, if nothing else.” Their new bond had him reeling, overcome for the time being by a euphoric high. It cascaded out of him with force enough to drown her doubts, he hoped, and he pressed his body still closer to hers, kissing at her neck and breathing her in. If she could only see herself the way he saw her, she’d never worry about him leaving. If she could only see... he swaddled her in the thought, the emotions attached to his perception of her. She was perfection in his eyes, the things she saw as flaws or weaknesses only drawing them closer to one another, only even more reason to love her. <And who else could possibly understand us like we understand each other, especially now?>

Khitti looked like she might say more, but she ultimately allowed herself to be silenced by him. She withdraws one of her hands from his own, the appendage moving to snake around his neck and hold him close. She did her best to hide her worries from him, wall it off completely in the back of her mind. She was overwhelmed by the feelings he had for her as he let them filter through their link, tears forming in her eyes again. She remained quiet, besides a faint sigh, as she presses her cheek against his. It was quite the contrast to the last time they met, her skin warm from the recent feeding, the small amount of blood she took from him mixed in with the rest.

It was the kind of moment one wishes would extend into eternity, just holding her, those feelings of isolation and worry abated. But it couldn’t last forever, and soon enough Dominic pulled away from her again, the intensity of his emotions across their link fading, his mind slowly drifting back to its usual baseline. And the two entities within the man would surely be reforming their walls again eventually; the blending was not so complete as to be permanent. “As for death,” Dominic sighed at length, moving to lean against the wall at her side, “It’s not an immediate concern any more than it is for you. War could kill you about as easily as it could me, I suspect. Which is to say, not very. Not with Brand.” A sigh, a melancholy smile. “But, eventually... if it comes to it…” he shook his head, dismissing the thought that had just come to mind, but even as he did so it floated to her anyway -- a hypothetical of being turned, of becoming like her. It clearly wasn’t a possibility he was ready to face, though.

The red-haired woman turns on her side, listening to and staring up at him. She felt the walls in his mind start to go up, a sigh passing her lips as she too did the same. She regretted that he even saw the tiny bit of her past that had slipped through. That hypothetical thought crossed her mind, but she only frowned at it, "I vouldn't be able to anyway...zhat is reserved for elders and zhose higher zhen zhem..." This realization causes her to become even more somber, the vampiress pushing off the wall and taking a few steps towards the victims she left, finding something else to change the subject to, but failing utterly. "You shouldn't be here..." is said faintly, almost apologetically.

Dominic canted his head at the corpses as if seeing them for the first time -- and he was, essentially, given how thoroughly Brand had had a hold on their form before. He crossed the distance and knelt down at the side of the nearest one, surveying the damage thoughtfully. None of the contempt Brand had shown rose to the surface now; Dominic’s investigation was almost childlike in its innocent curiosity. When he turned back to peer up at her, it was only to murmur, “Who were they?” No fear, no judgment; he trusted that she wouldn't have chosen her victims haphazardly.

Khitti didn't meet his gaze as he inspected the bodies and the ragged bite marks she had left of them. "Criminals." is the only thing she says in response, her arms folding over each other in a fashion much like Brand's. The frown doesn't fade as she stares off down the road, "If Brand vants to fight vith me...or vhatever, he can. I'm sure he's angry. If he feels like getting physical, I promise I von't hurt you."

Dominic nodded, lips in a lopsided smile. Criminals. Of course. “I can handle him.” For now. “Although I’m not sure how you’d hurt him -without- hurting me... unless you just intend to insult or annoy him.” The thought caused a brief chuckle before his expression turned serious again. “Physically, though, we’d feel the same things. As far as I’ve been able to figure out, anyway.” A pause, as he consulted with his memories. “Brand might have a higher pain tolerance, but other than that…”

Khitti shook her head, casting a side glance over her shoulder at him, "I vouldn't be hitting the two of you back, Dominic.", her words stern. Clearly, she intended on just taking a beating if it was needed to pacify his other half. Now that she actually fed, she wouldn't end up too much in the same predicament as she was when he found her in Xalious. It's not like she didn't get the hell beat out of her by a frost giant anyway. Brand would prove to be far less difficult. Hopefully. As long as he didn't use his fire. "I'm sorry zhat I bit you." is offered to him softly, in hopes that at least he would forget her. "Trying to get zhrough to Brand is like bashing my head into a brick vall, but I'm sure you know all about zhat, don't you?"

Dominic laughed again, an embarrassed grin spreading across his features. “Yeah. No, of course I do.” He rose up again, went to her, took a hold of her hands again. One was brought to his cheek and he pressed against it affectionately. “He’s not going to hurt you. I won’t let him.” A kiss was planted on each finger in turn before he released his grasp. “And don’t apologize. It... helped.” Eyebrows furrowed. “I think. It’s a bit hard to tell for sure right now.”

Khitti eyed him carefully as he kissed her fingers, the faintest of smiles appearing for the moment before fading again, "And you and I both know zhat's he's strong. He'll come back eventually. If he does, I'll be fine...he's going to have to get his aggression out somehow and it might as vell be me so he doesn't hurt anyone else around here." She lifts the hand he let go of, letting it rest against his forehead, then lets it drop along his cheek until it comes to a stop at his jawline, "Zhe link vill only last a couple days...and zhe distance isn't too great...so vhen ve go about our missions for Hildegarde, ve may lose zhe connection." She stares at him longingly, with a bit of regret in her eyes, "You're alright besides, yeah? I don't zhink I took too much..."

Dominic leaned into her hand while taking stock of his own body. “Now that you mention it, I’m maybe a bit woozy.” Hurriedly, before she could beat herself up for it, he added, “But it’s not much, and I’ll be fine. And, well, now that it’s happened once... we know we can handle it if you need to feed again, right?” It was strange, actually... none of his fears about her feeding from him had actually come to pass, at least not with the severity he’d expected. “As for Brand... please, let me worry about him. He’s my problem, not yours.”

Khitti drew his head close to hers for a brief kiss, a sigh of relied passing her lips when she pulled away again, "If you're sure...and yes, if you're alright vith it. I'd rather not do it in an emergency zhough. I might not be able to stop zhen." She tilted her head, strands of red hair shifting into her line of sight, "I'll try not to vorry, but I'll be here if you need me." Pausing for a moment, she hms, "Are you hungry? Ve could go to zhat restaurant. It's not far from here. It might help vith your dizziness...to sit down at least."

Dominic shrugged, the matters of Brand and feeding dropped for the moment. “Not terribly, but I suppose something small wouldn’t hurt.” Stepping forward with her, he wrapped his arm around her, cradling her at the hips, equal parts tender and protective.

Khiit stared up at him, that feeling of love drifting across their link, if ever so faintly, "Ve don't have to...it's up to you. I just vorry, you know." Her free hand moves to his face now, both of them cupping the sides of his face. She drifts into silence as she observes him, both thumbs lightly stroking jaw.

“I know.” The words came with a smile, though his vision wandered away from her, their surroundings given one last glance. “Though actually, that’s given me a different thought. Come with me?” If she let him, he’d lead her away from here, moving eastward through the streets of Kelay at an unhurried pace, his focus more on her than on their destination -- wherever it was he was taking her.

A tilt of her head and a raise of an eyebrow was gifted to Dominic at his question of going elsewhere that wasn't the restaurant. "Alright.", her hands dropping from from his face, her left taking up his right. "Vhere are ve going?" is said finally as he leads her eastward, obviously not prying into his mind to find the answer. While they walk, she occasionally took a look around, keeping an eye out for any sort of ill-doings that might head their way. Thankfully, there was nothing. Kelay was quiet as usual.

A Petty Shack

Dominic just smirked brightly at her in response, the expression absent of any of the smugness or derision that would usually accompany such a look from Brand. “It’s a surprise,” was all he said, still weaving through streets. Their path turned northward now as shops became homes and the broad,frequently trodden cobblestones became narrow dirt paths. At length they reached what appeared to be an abandoned shack; Dominic released her now, one finger held up to wordlessly ask her to wait while he waltzed straight on in. He returned mere seconds later, armed with an apple in each hand. One was casually tossed to her before he moved back to her side. He crunched into the second, speaking through bits of apple, “Not so very long ago, I used to hide out here more or less every day. It's less often lately, with Frostmaw and all, but…” Another crunch, after which he examined the fruit thoughtfully. “...It's still fresh.”

As they stop at the same shack she had taken shelter at for such a short time before being brought into House Dragana, she blinks a few times, "I guess zhis place gets around zhen...cause I used it for a few days before moving to Vailkrin." Khitti catches the apple, eyeing it curiously before taking a chomp out of it herself, "Mmm. Definitely still good." She continues to nom her way around the core, an idea coming to mind, "Have you had carrot cake? After zhis is all over, I should bake one for you...if you like it zhat is." A hand raises to tap her chin idly, "Gods, I haven't baked in so long. Kind of hard to do I guess vhen you leave your vampire house."

“I’ve never had it,” Dominic shrugged, “but I’m sure anything you made would be great.” Crunch. “As for the shack…” he peered up at it now, “...you know, that doesn’t actually surprise me. We’re so alike in every other way, why not this, too?” Another shrug, another bite into the apple. He finished it before speaking again, the core deposited at the base of a nearby tree to decompose there, and hands deposited into his pockets. “So I suppose you’ve been to that fountain not far from here, too? It’s a wonder we never ran into each other earlier.”

It was Khitti's turn to shrug now as she finished her own apple, tossed it's carcass near the same tree, then moved to sit down in front of the shack, her back up against the outer wall. "Once or twice. I didn't stay here for long before I met Larewen and vent to live in her house in Vailkrin. I didn't even leave Vailkrin after zhat for quite a long time. My magic vas...and still is very iffy at times and I didn't vant to hurt anyone. So vhat better place to exile myself to zhan zhe city of dark magic." She eyed the ground carefully, thinking about the different things that had happened in that house, Pilar, Larewen, and even Daermon as a slight frown lines her lips.

“Yeah, I can understand that.” After a look back towards the way they’d come, Dominic shuffled over to Khitti and slid his back down the wall to come to a seat next to her. “That’s kind of why I came here. It was away from people and I was trying to learn how Brand did things, to fight. If anything happened… I didn’t trust yet that he wouldn’t just attack anyone he saw.” His gaze turned upward now, fixed on the eaves overhead. “That, and I didn’t want anyone to know about him and I, well… stuck together and all.” A sigh. “I get the impression it’s not exactly the most normal thing in the world, even as strange as Lithrydel is.”

Khitti leans her head over, resting it on his shoulder as he stared elsewhere, "It's not. For zhe longest time, I zhought I vas zhe only one like zhat; two beings in one body. From vhat you say zhough, zhat you zhink Brand might just be apart of your mind, I likely am zhe only one." This thought's dwelled on for a bit, but not long as she shifts the conversation, "I vill try to be zhere...to stop him, if I can. If he does get crazy, zhat is. I'll figure out a vay so zhat no one gets hurt."

Dominic relaxed his pose, resting his head atop hers and squeezing the nearer of her hands. “Believe it or not, as many issues as I have with him, it’s better than it used to be. In some ways we have an... understanding, where there wasn’t one before. Plus, regardless of however I thought things were before, I don’t think he’d hurt someone without a reason.” He sighed, blowing his bangs out of his face. “It might not be a reason that -I’d- completely agree with, but it wouldn’t be -no- reason. And sometimes I can weigh in, reel him back a bit from how he’d be otherwise. And that’s some small consolation.”

"Yes, it's definitely better zhan nothing." She looks down at his hand as he squeezed hers, wondering if she was already starting to feel cold again; she wouldn't notice it as much as he would. The vampiress did her best to hide it in her mind as she wondered just how someone like him, someone that was so very much alive, was not repelled by someone like her. "Like I said, zhough, I still try to do vhat I can..."

If Dominic even noticed a change in her temperature, it wasn’t something he was going to say anything about. Those times back in Catal had taught him rather quickly to pay attention to people for -who- they were, not -what- they were. Sure, every race and every faction had their stereotypes, and sometimes an individual fit that mold, but Khitti was... the things he loved about her first, a vampire or anything else second. It wasn’t like it was -her- fault, anyway. But he had no response to her, and the silence extended. He nuzzled himself further into her side eventually, curling up into her, eyelids drooping closed. “I’d take this over being indoors and around other people any day,” he murmured, face half-pressed into her chest.

Khitti's brows furrow somewhat as she hears him, vague disbelief in her stare as she peered down at him. Why would anyone want to be around her at all? How could anyone relax like this? Her free hand rises up, stopping first to lightly stroke his cheek and temple, and then moving up into hair. She remains silent for now, slender fingers shifting through is dark locks with ease as her other hand releases his own, and that arm snakes around him, hugging him close.

Dominic nestled himself further into her hold, a soft smile landing on his lips. Maybe it was just how comforting being near her was, her soothing touch on his skin and through his hair, or maybe he was just too… drained, literally and figuratively. Regardless, it wasn't long at all before he'd fallen asleep in her arms, breathing slowed, that smile still holding even in unconsciousness.

Blinking a few times as she realizes he fell asleep. Chalking it up to the blood loss, she hugs him a bit tighter, leaning over just enough to press a kiss to the top of his head. She'd have to leave him soon...of course, now, after all this time. Just when things finally seemed like they'd work out. But there was always something else and that worry of one or the other or even both dying in battle crept closer and closer to her forethoughts. What if she never saw him again? And he was right...she could die just as easily. Tears well up in her eyes and a heavy sigh passes her lips, keeping quiet otherwise to let him rest as she continued to run her fingers through his hair soothingly. ~Don't think about it, Khitti. If it happens, it happens. That is life. You should know that better than anyone else.~, Amarrah says silently along their own link, trying to help somewhat. -But...-, is all Khitti can say, hugging Dominic again. She'd stay there for as long as he slept, trying her best to keep the thoughts of Frostmaw and the war at the back of her mind.