RP:There's No Place Like Home

Part of the The Day I Tried To Live Arc

Summary: It'd been nine long agonizing days after Khitti fled from Kelay. Her disappearance was felt strongly by both Dominic and Brand, but they both waited for her to return. When she didn't, Dominic went about his business, wandering through the Frostmawian wilderness. Traveling close enough to the ruined city and the spirits within, Dominic finds himself in an unfortunate position with the undead. Khitti rescues him, and heated, yet saddened words are exchange before the two return home together.

Strange Snow-Covered Ground

Brand had been silent these past several days. More than usual, even. Dominic went through the routines of daily life with hardly a reminder Brand existed -- except that he could feel that wall pressing up against where his thoughts ended and Brand’s began. By the ninth day it loomed, almost palpable, growing whenever Dominic attempted to scale it. Between that and Khitti’s continued absence, Dominic felt more isolated than he had in years. He’d even tried to call to the vampiress over their link, but either it had faded too much to be of use or she had refused to answer. Or she was dead. Or kidnapped by another dragon. Or Amarrah had taken over her for good. Or --

Such thoughts were useless. Khitti could handle herself, now more than ever. Of this, Dominic was certain. If she was gone, it was because she didn’t want to be near him. And could he really blame her, after what they’d seen? She hadn’t said it, but she didn’t have to: the vision brought on by that lapis necklace had hurt her. It had found something she’d tried to bury deep in her gut and wrested it out of her, out into the light. Once there, it had pulsed and writhed and begged for sweet oblivion, or at least to be returned to the miserable hole from which it had been taken. But no one -- not Khitti, not Dominic, and definitely not Brand -- could grant that wish. Maybe Dominic wasn’t as world-wise as Brand, but even he understood that much. Khitti had spoken of family before. She’d spoken of her parents that had died in Dhavislaav. She’d spoken of her twin sister, who still lurked from time to time in spirit form. She’d spoken wistfully of wanting a family one day, and time and again told Dominic and Brand that they should find someone who’d be able to give them one. Someone… but not her. Someone who -wasn’t- a vampire. And then, to dream she had everything she wanted, to share that dream with the people she loved, to believe it was real only to have it crumble away again… he understood.

He might have a thing or two to say about being Brand and Khitti’s -child- in that vision, but he understood.

So he filled his time -- whatever time was his and not Brand’s -- with other things. He read for knowledge and for pleasure. He took walks alone like he used to so often before Khitti had come along. Sometimes, he did both at once. And every walk took him somewhere new, whether that was to a shop he’d not yet patronized or a road he’d not yet seen the end of. He’d gone further and further out as the days passed by, sometimes even beginning at daybreak and not returning until the day after. Today, he meant to clear the woods near Lionel’s keep and find the lake that was supposed to lay just beyond. But he must have turned too soon, or not soon enough, because he found himself instead on a snowy road with nary another soul to be found.

He should have turned back the moment he’d realized he’d lost his way, but stubbornness and curiosity had led him onward. He had plenty of food in his pack. Brand would defend him if there was any danger. He’d grown used to Frostmaw’s chill -- at least as much as any human possibly could. He’d been confident enough to continue this far. But the wind that bit at him now was something far more severe than what he was accustomed to, and his feet had begun to drag, and his wearied senses had begun to trick him into seeing and hearing and feeling things that weren’t there. He should turn back. No, he should have turned back a long time ago. He should never have come so far, so vulnerable, with such delicious, tempting magic just waiting to be --

He hadn’t immediately realized those thoughts were not his own, and by now he was fully ensnared. A ghost stood mere paces ahead, leering. Two more, one on either side. Dominic wheeled around, meaning to flee, but there were two behind, as well.

He called to Brand. No response. That wall was so impenetrable today, maybe his surly older counterpart didn’t even realize what was happening. Maybe the spirits were blocking his thoughts, somehow. In desperation, he called to Khitti, and still heard nothing.

The spirits lunged for him in unison. Dominic squeezed his eyes shut and prayed the end would be swift, painless, and truly final. He didn’t want to live on as some ghastly, malevolent soul like them.

Silence greeted him. Was he dead yet? Slowly, Dominic gathered the courage to pry one eye open and found himself in a bubble. A... bubble? A giant, frosted blue bubble encircled him, extending above his head and below his feet and just beyond the span of his arms. Outside of it, he could see the spirits howling, shrieking, attempting time and time again to penetrate this mysterious watery shield, but it would not let them pass and he could not hear their cries. That was… odd. Brand didn’t have anything like this. But he wasn’t inclined to complain about the one thing keeping him from certain (un)death.

Hesitantly, he took a step forward. The icy sphere moved to match his gait. The spirits looked all the more fierce, but equally as impotent. They couldn’t kill him, but he had no way to kill them, either. He took another step. The bubble followed, but so did the spirits. There was no getting rid of them, and there was no telling how long the bubble would protect him.

“Frak,” Dominic breathed, borrowing Brand’s word.

He was back again, huh? Why? What was the point of all of this wandering of his? He should be at home, where it's warm and safe. Not out here. Not with the dead that roam about. Not where she belongs. Khitti had watched him from the treetops, carefully watching as Dominic managed to lose his way, a heavy sigh slipping past her now cold lips. Lucky for him, she'd been passing through--not to go home, however. She'd wait to see if Brand would help him when those ghosts came along, and when the blonde didn't, she frowned deeply. What the hell was his problem? He'd never not help Dominic when there was a threat. It didn't make any sense to her, but even after Dominic's curious frosted bubble popped up out of nowhere, she knew that she'd have to help him. Even if it could be used offensively, he'd never do it.

Down on Dominic's level, music could be heard suddenly. This wasn't just any old song, though. Well, it was definitely an old song, but perhaps not to him. If he'd been listening during that time in Raiez's cave when she was rescued, he'd recognize it and would soon realize that his beloved redhead was around. Lydia's song played just as mournfully as ever...and the spirits listened. They listened and were calmed and soon left Dominic's side. Like an odd sort of pied piper, Khitti performed the song she'd written for her sister over a decade ago; bow touched to strings, draining from them that melody that was so dear to the vampiress, even now after so long. Once the spirits lost their malevolence, and also their interest in Dominic, the song slowed and finally came to a halt. The vampiress had, by this time, made her presence known and had stopped a few feet behind Dominic, staring at him in that suspicious manner of hers. The scene now was almost parallel to when they first met--except this time around that shadow of his was well-known and Khitti held an entirely different sort of bow. "Go home, Dominic." Her tone was unfeeling and just as cold as the snow they stood in. Whether or not she meant it, though, was an different story. "Go home and don't come back here again."

Through the silence of the bubble pierced the cry of a violin, faint and muffled at first and then with increasing clarity. Dominic swiveled around to seek its source, but… he already knew. A lump rose from his chest and made a home in his throat. Khitti was here. Her song soared high overhead and rumbled deep in the earth beneath his feet, and one by one the spirits turned away. And then there was Khitti, only Khitti. Her voice did not penetrate the barrier around him, but he could read the words on her lips and written across her face. Dominic shook his head with an apologetic frown and gestured at the frosted sphere between them. He didn’t know where it had come from -- he suspected, but could not know for certain. He didn’t know how to make it go away. How could he go home not knowing what else it might do? Would he even be able to get between the trees of the forest or fit through the tavern doorway? Or, what if it faded before he reached home, and Brand still did not intercept in any further trouble? Why did Brand not make himself known, even now with the spirits gone? Dominic took a few steps back the way he’d come, to demonstrate that the bubble stayed with him through any movement. He turned, hesitantly, back to Khitti. She didn’t have to stay. She wasn't -obligated- to do anything. But he was at a loss for how to proceed if she left him here.

Khitti kept that detached, distant expression on her face throughout the entire time that they stood there together, watching as he made his demonstration. She removed that dark blue dragonscale cloak of hers, set it on the ground, then laid the violin and its bow atop it to keep from getting wet. The redhead stared at him for a few minutes longer, studying him, and then the bubble itself, the gears turning in her head. She chose the easiest route first, a thin layer of purple flame summoned up along two fingertips. Perhaps if she tried to melt it, the entire thing would fade away. There's a hint of caution, and maybe a pinch of fear, now in those dark eyes of hers as she goes to press her fingers against the bubble, a frown lining her lips as she braces herself for whatever reaction might happen. This -could- end badly for one or both of them.

Dominic chewed on his lip, watching as Khitti deliberated over her options. Realizing she wasn’t going to abandon him here brought him slight relief, but not nearly enough. The lump in his throat had not abated, and worry tensed his back and shoulders. Khitti lit her flame, and a tingling shot up Dominic’s spine from tailbone up to his neck, where every hair stood at attention. The inch of slush-like wall between them liquified and became clearer as the fire drew close, but the water won out when the two met. Smoke joined with the vapor and then was gone. But under the pressure of Khitti’s fingertips, the sphere gave way ever so slightly. It sank and matched her shape as if she were pressing her hand into a mattress or the softer, fleshier parts of a person’s body.

Khitti was immediately displeased with this. The frown gave way to a snarl, the unfed Khat easily angered as she often was in her bloodless predicament. She punched at it, but of course, she was met with the same result. Why did his magic have to be so aggravating? If this was how all water magic functioned, she wanted no part of it. She was perfectly content with her fire. Irritated now, she ran her tongue across her teeth in thought, narrowing her eyes at the bubble and it's creator. "Get. Down." was mouthed to Dominic as she retrieved the iron and silver swords that laid against her hips. Was she really going to try to cut the bubble in half? Why, yes. Yes she was. She'd do just that as soon as the top half of his body was out of range of where here swords would attempt to slice through.

Dominic dropped to the snowy ground immediately when instructed. The bubble sank as he did; its center, it seemed, was tied to his own center of gravity. It was more of a dome than a sphere now, but Dominic had no doubt it would rise with him again if he were to get back on his feet. Wide, green eyes peered upward as Khitti struck -- but this tactic, too, was to no avail. Where sword met water, the barrier solidified, freezing into a sheet of ice thick enough to repel Khitti’s blades. They ricocheted off its surface and the dome returned to its slush-like equilibrium. Dominic heaved a sigh, echoing Khitti’s frustration; the breath lingered as a cloud above his head and, in the instant before it faded away, he could have sworn it had taken on the shape of a ship’s sails. Wait… sails? A flash of recognition passed over his face -- the runestone. Of course. Not that that knowledge was remotely helpful to him now.

Khitti let out an angry cry of annoyance as the bubble blocked the attack. Could she do nothing right? The swords were resheathed with obvious anger, but once they're put away, she joins in Dominic's sighing. The anger melted away somewhat, the depression that had overtaken her the past nine days resurfacing. She was at a loss as to what she should do now, so she did nothing, instead choosing to sit on ground in front of him. A hand was pressed to the outside of the bubble, resting her hand against it as if it were glass, those big sad eyes focused on Dominic with furrowed brows to accompany them. It's as if she actually missed him--no, she definitely did.

Dominic rolled off of his stomach and sat up, facing Khitti with his legs crossed underneath him. Sure, this slush-like orb had saved him from those spirits, but he was still as good as dead if he couldn’t get out of it and nothing could get in. There was only so much food in his pack. And even if he’d had unlimited supplies he’d likely freeze to death, first -- another shiver up his spine reminded him of that much. Surely, Brand would have some idea for how to dispel the bubble, or else he could use his own magic against it, but that grumpy blonde was still every bit as unresponsive as before. Still… if he was doomed, at least Khitti was here for him at the end. She looked about as miserable as he felt, but she was here. He couldn’t even touch her, but she was here. Even knowing it was futile, Dominic leaned forward and stretched out his arm, trying to reach the edge of that watery sphere. If he could at least hold her hand one more time… but no. It was too far. Irritated and increasingly hopeless, Dominic threw himself onto his back and stared through his cage to the winter clouds still doggedly dumping snow upon them. And, in doing so, he missed the sight of Khitti’s hand slowly permeating into the frost between them...

Khitti had certainly noticed her hand going through the bubble even though Dominic didn't. She's left to blink quite a few times, those gears in her head turning again. Why now? Why did it let her go through now? What was the difference? And then, it hit her: she wasn't hitting -it-. Or, at least, that's the theory she had. She did seem to have good ideas now and again and not all of them required violence--just most of them. With a 'hm', she leans over towards her duster and the violin, carefully pulling it to her side. The instrument would be left to sit in the snow while Khitti put on her coat, the scaled hood pulled up over her head. Khitti sighs, then reaches towards the bubble again. Just like before, her hand slips through the frosty shell, and she's soon crawling into it. She stops before she gets to close to him, though, lingering at his feet. "Hi Dominic..." There had been a brief moment of triumph after her theory was confirmed, but once she was inside, she was almost entirely silent again. Just waiting and wondering what he might say seeing as how she'd been gone so long.

Dominic jerked himself upright at the sound of her voice. “Khitti?! How...?” The remainder of that question died on his lips as he surged forward -- only to stop just short of touching her. The joy on his face faltered, replaced by concern. “I don’t know what’s happened to Brand. I don’t know how to get rid of this blasted thing. What if you can’t get back out of here?” Gloved fingers twitched at his sides until he hid them away in his pockets. He wanted to hold her, to smother her with kisses, but… so much time had passed after that vision, and she’d never come back. How could he know if that was even what she wanted anymore? Dominic cast his eyes to his feet. “I missed you…” he settled for, instead.

Khitti had tried so hard not to let any of those emotions of hers show now, but the moment he said 'I missed you' all of that trying had suddenly become a vain attempt. First her bottom lip started to quiver, and then her eyes got all watery. He missed her? Why would he miss her? She felt worthless and empty, and had decided that neither of them should be with her. It was for the best, right? How many times had she told them both to just go? To find someone else that would better suit them? "Vhy...? Vhy vould you miss me...after zhat?" And Brand was gone? Had he actually missed her too? No, likely not. The situation was much too awkward, and he clearly hadn't wanted to talk about it. It's not like she would've known what to say, anyway. "You should not have come here. You should've stayed at home. It's varm and safe and..." She paused, her hands clenching into fists in irritation at herself, "And I vasn't zhere."

Another shudder slithered up Dominic’s backside. He masked it with a shake of his head. “Why would you think that would change anything for me? I mean -- alright, forget Brand a moment. How many times have I told you I don’t -care- what happens, as long as I’ve got you?” With a few steps forward, his icy cage moved enough to bring the violin into its sphere. Dominic plucked it out of the snow and held it out to Khitti. “It’s just some irritating, painful necklace that does irritating, painful things because maybe that’s all it knows how to do. I’ve still got it if you want it back, but you shouldn’t place any stock in what it does. It stabbed you. It woke Amarrah up and almost got us all killed. It’s obviously no good -- and it probably -wants- to hurt you.”

Khitti didn't move from her spot as he got up and went for her violin. "Vell, it did." Reddish brows knit together as she looked down at her stomach, both of her cold hands pressing at the belly, or lack thereof, beneath her dragonscale corset. "Vhy zhat...? Of all zhe zhings it could've been... It felt so real. It -vas- real." She didn't take the instrument from Dominic, she didn't care about it at all. It had been a distraction for her out there in the ruined city and nothing more. There had been no happy music pouring from it those nine days, and there wouldn't be now if she took it from him. "Vhy, Dominic...?" She finally peered up at him, completely distraught, her tear-filled line of sight begging and pleading with him for answers. It had certainly done more to her mentally and emotionally than she was leading on, perhaps more than Dominic or Brand really realized.

The violin hung between them. Eventually, Dominic realized she wasn’t going to take it, and instead held it loosely at his side. “I’m… not so sure about that.” His brows furrowed at the space between them. “It felt real enough. Maybe, somehow, it was? But it’s not here… and so many things from here bled through that I can’t help but feel it was something the necklace created.” He sighed again. Maybe he didn’t understand as much as he’d thought he did -- she sounded convinced. “I don’t know, Khitti. I don’t know.”

Khitti suddenly felt quite alone, despite the fact that he was standing right here with her. She seemed to be the only one that thought it was real. Or, perhaps, she was the only one that wanted it to be real. That realization sobered her up real quick, and she rose to stand too, finally snatching the violin from his grasp. With the distance closed between them again for those brief moments to take her instrument, she looked so tired, so frail, like she might break at any moment. The lack of feeding again, as she often did when she was in a mood, was not doing her any favors right now, only making her mental state worse. "Go home." Her mouth remains somewhat agape for a moment, but ultimately she says nothing more and shakes her head, then turns away to pass through his bubble again and go back to the ancient city to the west.

Dominic threw an arm out towards the bubble. “How am I supposed to do that?!” He stepped forward as she did, and that watery wall remained out of reach of them both. If he followed her closely enough, she’d stay stuck in here with him, right? They could still talk this out… But no, she’d stepped away, and anger and fear erupted in his gut. Was she so hypnotized by that vision that she’d leave him -- the real him -- stuck in here? What if he couldn’t get out? What if he -died- out here, even though she’d found him, because she did nothing to help him? Because she was stuck in her head, ruminating on some other reality that wasn’t meant for them? The entire thought process passed in the gap between the first footfall and the second. His heel planted into the snow and another jolt trembled upon his spine, crackling on his skin. Some infernal thread was being stitched into his backbone. But as soon as he’d gathered enough breath in his lungs to cry out -- it was gone. It was all gone. The pain. The shivering. The frost-laced cage. And suddenly… he -knew-. He understood how to make the barrier. He knew how to make it vanish again. It had been somehow been seared into his being, between the second step and the third. The wall flickered into place again; it had only been gone for the space of a blink. Dominic took no fourth step but instead remained, chest heaving.

Khitti didn't walk very far ahead of him once she realized he was following. She was still lost in her own thoughts, until she sensed the change in his heart, heard it beat faster and faster for some unknown reason. She wondered if he was getting angry with her again. Would that fire be there, like it had been that day in Xalious with Amarrah? Maybe he'd turn her to ash right now, even if it was accidentally, and he could move on. Brand could move on. They could go somewhere else. Maybe, truly, find a home worth living in and not this frozen wasteland she'd dragged them to. There's a half-second of hesitation before she finally pivots around to face him, those sad eyes of hers fixated on Dominic again. "I don't know. I can't help you. I can't even help myself. I keep running, keep fighting like Brand told me to, but I keep hitting valls, and I keep falling down, and I can't pick myself up anymore." She reaches for his hand, on the arm that had motioned towards the bubble, then presses it to her stomach. "It. Vas. Zhere. I felt it. It may have been a vision. It vas very clearly not any of us at all, not who ve really are...but, I felt it. And, now it's just gone. I feel hollow and pointless. I'm broken, again, and I don't know how to pick up zhe pieces and put zhem back together." Khitti squeezed his hand a little, wanting so much to do more than that, to hug him, but didn't know if she should. "I don't know how many more times I can break until zhere is nothing left."

Brand was back. Dominic could feel him now, too. His counterpart had somehow been blocked from thought or action by the magic of that runestone. It was more powerful than either of them, and now it had gifted Dominic that icy barrier -- whether he wanted it or not. The stone didn’t care. It had its own reasons, but it wasn’t for either of them to know. The black-haired boy understood all this as if through instinct, now that he had control of that frosty wall. Khitti spoke, and a breath shook him, rising like acid through his throat. He barely heard her words, so stunned was he. She’d walked away; she’d claimed she couldn’t help him. She would have left him here. She would have -left- him, not knowing if he’d ever gain control over his cage, or if he could get home without Brand’s protection. Dominic could not recall ever having possessed such fury. For once his mindset echoed Brand’s, and the one’s anger compounded the other’s. “I get it. I understand why you needed time. I understood, right up until you wanted to leave me here to keep chasing it.” The barrier vanished once more. Dominic indicated it with a jerk of his head. “It’s that bloody stone again. Because -of course- it is. I felt it write something into my skin, something that told me how to work that stupid bubble... with incredibly lucky timing, apparently. -You- wanted to run away again without even knowing if it would. So… go.” Dominic’s other hand joined the first, pressing a pouch of dark silken cloth into her grip, squeezing it there before removing himself from her. “Take the damn necklace. Take your time to mourn. You don’t have to come home if you don’t feel ready to.” A pause. Dominic might grind his teeth down to nubs if he clenched his jaw any harder. “I -do- understand. You can have your space for as long as you need it, and I’ll be fine. But don’t spend so much time mourning one reality that you forget what you have in this one.” More heat rose from his gut, threatening to boil over and flow past his lips. Dominic swallowed hard, curling his hands into fists, suppressing the urge to follow up with anything harsher than what he’d already said.

Khitti just stared at Dominic as his words cut into her like tiny knives. Brand’s anger was easy to deal with--she either mocked it or got angry in return--but Dominic’s was an entirely different beast. To hear someone so kind, so gentle in nature, to speak with such fury shook her to her very core. The hand with the necklace dropped limply to her side, her own shock wearing off and shifting into sadness again. She gnawed awkwardly on the inside of her lip ‘til it bled, trying to figure out the right thing to say. Finally, she does, her tone soft, and pained, and racked with guilt as she did her best not to make him angrier--if that was even possible. “Do you really zhink I’d go so far from you? To just leave you entirely? Just because you haven’t seen me zhis entire time doesn’t mean I’ve not been zhere. After all zhe times I’ve sacrified myself for both of you…” Khitti averts her gaze away from him, to the left, then down at the ground and the snow beneath their feet. “...I kept an eye on both of you, just to keep you safe. I didn’t know vhat you’d zhink of me, after all of zhat. It vas so awkward, so…” She shook her head, not knowing the right word for how she felt, then sighed. “I have not forgotten about you zhis entire time. How could I? You have not left my zhoughts once since I met you.” The vampiress clenched her hand around that damned necklace, “I meant vhat I had said, I don’t know how to help you vith your magic, but I did not mean it so harshly as it sounded. I just…” Another sigh was breathed, Khitti out of things to say. She didn’t feel like she’d made anything better. She wasn’t trying to guilt him either, but she was afraid he’d take it that way.

It was Dominic’s turn to ask ‘why’ now -- but he only squeezed his nails into his palms and shook his head. “That makes even less sense than you being gone this whole time. You mean to tell me you’ve been following me around for a week and a half and you couldn’t even say anything to me? Not one thing? Through all those walks and everything? If you were anyone else, that’d be really creepy.” Dominic considered. “Honestly, Khitti, it’s -still- a little bit creepy. Assuming I even believe you.” He released a long, slow breath, and with it some of the fire searing at his insides. “But thanks, I guess, for showing up when you did.” His weight shifted from one foot to the next. Now -he- was the one that wanted to leave.

This entire time there’d been no embrace between the two of them, and now she craved it more than that need for blood that ached in the back of her head. She’d did it, hadn’t she? She’d really screwed up now, just like she said she would. He told her she could come home whenever she felt ready, but would he even want her there? This isn’t what she wanted at all. Now that he was here, and he seen her and talked to her (and yelled at her), she didn’t want him to leave, regardless of what had been said between them. Was this truly ‘it’? She didn’t know what to say, what to do. He likely didn’t want to be anywhere near her. She had no right to stop him, not after being gone for so long. A glance down at her violin was given, as if the object held answers for her, but of course it didn’t. That hole in her heart from that stupid vision opened wider and wider still as she stood there in silence, letting him leave if that was what he wanted now. Khitti’d been defeated and torn apart by one of the two people she loved most and no longer knew how to function for the moment.

Dominic hated seeing her like that, but so help him, for once he was going to hold his ground about something. That bile still simmered within. He still had a right to anger. “You come back when you’re ready to,” he repeated. A moment’s hesitation, and then he was wrapping her into a hug. “I mean it. I want you to come back. I love you -- the -real- you.” He released her, and the gulf between them extended twice as far as it had. “But you have to accept that that vision… that vision is never going to happen. It’s not you. It’s not us. It’s not Lithrydel -- or anywhere else I’ve ever seen, at that.” His gaze drifted to the treeline, back the way he’d come. Forget finding the lake -- his mood had soured too much, and though Khitti could likely help him find his way, he wasn’t about to ask for her help now. “For everything that’s gotten you so hung up on it… just remember there’s good things about here, too.” One last glance at Khitti, lingering with the fear it might be his last, and then… onward. She’d come around. She had to. He needed her.

Khitti had suddenly felt like a block of ice, forever frozen in that spot as his words still echoed in her mind. And then, despite all of his anger, he still hugged her, still told her he loved her. The hold that the vision had had on her lessened somewhat--it wasn’t entirely gone, but that embrace helped a little. If only Brand had done that in the first place, all of this might’ve been avoided, some sort of comfort to say ‘hey, it may not have been real, but there’s still good things here too’. But, sadly for Khitti, Brand was not that sort. He was not like Dominic at all in the touchy-feely department, he didn’t have the skills to make things better unless it involved lots of alcohol. That hug didn’t last nearly as long as she wanted it, though, and his irritation was still there, lingering in the background. “D-Dominic…” Just when he’s almost out of reach, she takes the step or two forward to allow her to grab his hand, her mouth still hanging open as if she’d more to say. But, how could she tell him that it wasn’t the place they were living in? That it wasn’t all of those strange, exciting things they had that mattered? It didn’t even matter if they had kids now or in ten years, but that she just wanted them--with him or even maybe with Brand. She wanted some sort of normal life, just like Dominic did, but she’d never be able to have it...not when she was like this. Would he even understand or would he just get angry with her again? It seemed like all the things she said never came out right, this conversation was proof enough of that. Nothing came out though, and she let his hand drop back to his side with a sigh. If and when he did continue on towards the forest, however, she’d quietly follow a few steps behind him; it was close enough to protect him if need be, but also gave him the space from her that he obviously needed.

She was following him. If she had indeed been tracking him before, she was no longer making any secret of it. Why now? Didn’t she want her space? Only a moment ago she’d wanted to leave him and go back to wallowing in what couldn’t be. Only a moment ago, and now she followed… why? Had he actually gotten through to her? Dominic would be silent for quite some time. Back through the forest they trudged, almost all the way to the side nearest town. “How long… how long would you have stayed out here if I hadn’t gotten into trouble?” When at last he spoke, he didn’t stop and didn’t turn around. He was holding onto that anger, dammit. Looking at her now, as she shambled on behind him like some wounded yet still terribly loyal pet, would surely dissipate it before he was ready to let it go. She’d wanted to -leave- him there. He couldn’t forget that so quickly.

Khitti didn’t look at Dominic either as she followed along behind him. The necklace had long since been pocketed, and the violin and bow held in separate hands, and that hood of hers pulled up to hide her features from him in case he did look back. She was silent for a bit after he posed his question, thinking on it, dwelling on it, finding the right words to say. “...I had vent back, at some point, a few days after zhat vision happened. Or, vas on my vay back, rather. You were on a valk again, reading a book, and you seemed entirely fine on your own. From a distance anyway.” There was a pause as she considered what else she might say. “You never called out to me once...or at least, zhat’s vhat I zhought. Didn’t occur to me ‘til later on zhat zhe link vas dead and gone and by zhat time, it felt like it vas too late…” Khitti wondered if she should apologize for all of this, but realized an ‘I’m sorry’ might not be good enough. “Brand clearly didn’t vant to talk about it after it had happened, and I figured you didn’t either. I don’t zhink I could’ve fully explained to you vhat I vas feeling anyway… I still can’t…” The redhead continues, realizing she hadn’t actually answered his question. “I don’t know how long I vould’ve stayed out here. I contemplated it so many times, but I vasn’t sure how either of you vould react to any of it: zhe vision, my leaving and staying gone for so long. It vas all so uncertain and I just couldn’t bear it. In hindsight, I zhink vhatever vould’ve happened zhen vould be better zhan zhis…”

Frostmaw Tavern

There was a hitch in Dominic’s step at her last words, a mumble of affirmation that would barely make it to her ears. The following silence carried them all the way to the door of the tavern. Dominic lifted a hand to the door but froze there before he could push it open. “Don’t come in if I’m just going to wake to you gone again tomorrow.” Over a shoulder he peered at her, green eyes shimmering. “Because I wasn’t fine. Of course I wasn’t. But what else was I supposed to do? I knew I wouldn’t find you, not if you -wanted- to be gone.” Dominic turned back to the door, took one shuddering breath, and entered.

Khitti could only frown more at his agreement to her statement, though one wouldn’t think it possible with as distraught as she was now. The awkward silence that lingered only made her more uncomfortable and she desperately wished Brand would interfere in some way, but that was not to be. She’d probably end up dealing with his side of things at some point, yet somehow, it seemed like it’d be far less painful. As if things couldn’t possibly get any worse, there was that ultimatum of his. What was she supposed to do, just ignore that vision? Yeah, it hadn’t been real, but the idea of it still hurt her. Khitti sighed heavily as he entered the tavern and left her behind, her line of sight falling from where he had been to the snow beneath her feet. “I’m sorry…” was muttered quietly, sadly, to the snow before she finally headed inside after him. Once inside their room, she’d make him some tea without a word said; it wasn’t really to pacify him, because she knew that’d take some time, but rather because he’d need it after being out in the cold for so long. When that was settled, she find somewhere to sit, away from him, giving him space still. If he sat in the armchair or at the table, she’d take the bed or vice versa.

Since Khitti had last been here, the contents of the room had been organized and rearranged. A little bit of clutter was usual for them, but now every item was in its proper home. Even Dominic’s ever-present pile of books was orderly; they were stacked by subject in a line along the top of the dresser, spines out. Dominic himself looked out of place by comparison, all bundled winter clothes and disheveled bangs and mottled, frost-nipped cheeks. When Khitti entered he was seated at the edge of the bed, leaning away from the door. He didn’t acknowledge her except in the nod of thanks following the gifted tea. It sat on its coaster untouched as he fumbled at the buttons of his coat.

Khitti definitely noted the differences, silently wondering how many times he organized things while she was gone. She paused in her movement to turn away from him, before she went to go take off her own coat and change out of the dragonscale entirely, before she’d take her seat at the armchair as she had decided upon before. His fumbling hadn’t gone unnoticed, and without a word she assists him, ice cold fingers pushing each button through the holes on his coat until it was entirely undone. Now that she was home, weariness had overtaken her, but she did her best to ignore it. She didn’t want to think about her problems now, that’s what had gotten her into this mess in the first place. Before she parted from him altogether, there was a brief hesitation, but she was soon headed to the other side of the room in silence. There’d be no eye contact, guilt written all over the vampiress as she tended to her things, changed into her beloved black dress, made herself a cup of tea, and finally took as seat in front of the hearth. She’d sink into that chair, absently swirling about the tea leaves at the bottom of her cup with her index finger, pondering on what should be said, if there was anything to say at all.

Dominic disrobed for more comfortable, indoor fare before ever reaching for his tea. The scent of wild oranges and soothing lavender greeted his nostrils -- one of his favorite blends, and the first thing he reached for when particularly upset. Dominic peered at Khitti sidelong as the minutes passed by, the better to avert his gaze if she should turn around. She hadn’t had to ask. For everything she was wallowing in, she hadn’t -entirely- forgotten about him. Maybe anxiety had gotten the better of him, back there in the cold. One too many reminders of things he couldn’t control. Khitti, and her tendency to push away when she was hurting. Brand, who it seemed would never tell him anything. The runestone that lingered on inside of him. Dominic finally broke the silence with a sigh and footsteps plodding on carpet. He stood at Khitti’s back, a hand massaging into her shoulder. “I missed you,” he repeated.

Khitti was much too distracted by the tea and her thoughts to realize he’d started staring at her. Then he spoke, and it was enough to rattle her from her own mind. Crimson brows knit together as she tilts her head back and to the side to catch him out of the corner of her eye, studying him carefully. He didn’t seem to be as mad as he was now, and for that she was thankful. With that in mind, she musters a smile for him and nods, “I missed you too, Dominic.” She pauses, realizing he might not believe her because of how long she’d been gone. “I really did. I’m sorry…” There it was finally, that apology she’d been meaning to say this entire time. It was easier now that he wasn’t so angry, he might actually listen to her. The redhead leans her head against his hand, but not for too long. She’d soon pry herself from the chair, casting a side glance at the floor to her left, choosing to not make eye contact with him again. “Do you...need anything?” was asked quietly, her hands wringing themselves carefully as they always had when she was anxious.

Dominic didn’t let that wringing last long before he’d tugged at her, laced his fingers between hers, and pried one hand apart from the other. Every movement held a deliberation to it; Dominic was drinking in her details, from the dirt lining her nails to her dried out, frigid skin to emerald eyes that wouldn’t meet his. “You need to feed,” he stated, ignoring her question -- and her apology. “And a bath. And some decent food, and a long massage.” Faintly, he smiled. “Not necessarily in that order.”

Khitti would’ve pulled away almost immediately if he hadn’t entwined their hands together. They did twitch as if she’d thought about it, but decided against it, a sigh soon passing those lips that were equally as cold as her fingers. “Yeah. A bath vould be nice.” She doesn’t comment on the mention of food, of any sort. For that matter, she hadn’t even touched her tea--well, besides stirring it with her finger. Khitti finally did look up at him, after a time, and she almost looked like she might cry. She steels herself against it, only allowing the briefest sniffle before pulling her hands from his and throwing her arms around his neck. If he hadn’t believed her before when she said she missed him, it was certainly obvious now.

Dominic nestled his nose into Khitti’s neck as they embraced. Grimy though she may be, she smelled of the woods more than anything. Pine and oak and, faintly, fire. And magic. And home. She smelled like home, a scent no candle or incense could replicate. Dominic had cobbled himself back together in the journey through the tavern and up the stairs to their room, but it all fell apart again at that. He was sobbing into her shoulder now, unreservedly. Nails traced slow rivers up and down her back. He’d understood her absence, but that didn’t mean it hadn’t hurt.