Shift stalked into the safehouse, locked up behind her, then melded the dataprint key into her wrist. She was blurring about the edges, less a sign of weariness than she could let on, and went into the hall bathroom where she suddenly solidified and washed the blood from her hands. She shook them and reached for a towel. Her gaze caught Meld's in the mirror.
He was leaning inside the door frame, quietly, with absolutely no judgment on his face. "You can go get her now."
Her breath faltered. It took a lot to catch Shift flat-footed, but this one hit her harder than she expected. Molecules trembling, she could feel the edges of the weapons she'd buried inside herself. But she shook her head, once, hard. "Not yet." Not until the treaty was implemented and enforced. Anything could happen between the signature and that. She refused to risk her daughter again.
Meld watched her.
She turned around and watched back.
He stepped forward and hugged her, gently, that hesitant offer, and even though she knew it would hurt him, she took it, hugging him fiercely in return with a single promise pounding in her heart. She wouldn't let them down. She would see this through.
Healing poured into her body, renewing all the jagged edges she'd acquired since he healed her last, and that reassurance that came straight from Meld, You'll see her again. She'll be yours. He released her just as gently, pausing briefly to ensure that his work was really done.
Shift had never been able to keep her daughter a secret from him. It would have required a distrust for him she didn't have and the ability to forget her daughter.
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timeasmymeasure
Kingdoms and Thorn Ficlet: Soon
Date: 2013-10-15 09:13 pm (UTC)He was leaning inside the door frame, quietly, with absolutely no judgment on his face. "You can go get her now."
Her breath faltered. It took a lot to catch Shift flat-footed, but this one hit her harder than she expected. Molecules trembling, she could feel the edges of the weapons she'd buried inside herself. But she shook her head, once, hard. "Not yet." Not until the treaty was implemented and enforced. Anything could happen between the signature and that. She refused to risk her daughter again.
Meld watched her.
She turned around and watched back.
He stepped forward and hugged her, gently, that hesitant offer, and even though she knew it would hurt him, she took it, hugging him fiercely in return with a single promise pounding in her heart. She wouldn't let them down. She would see this through.
Healing poured into her body, renewing all the jagged edges she'd acquired since he healed her last, and that reassurance that came straight from Meld, You'll see her again. She'll be yours. He released her just as gently, pausing briefly to ensure that his work was really done.
Shift had never been able to keep her daughter a secret from him. It would have required a distrust for him she didn't have and the ability to forget her daughter.
"Soon," he said softly.
She nodded back. "Soon."