Noah clung onto the hope she wouldn’t ask him of it again, but as she went into her explanations of their past, recalling their time in the orphanage and drawing upon memories of their past together, his hope started to waver. She attempted to assure him she could see he still loved her and kept her cool throughout, for which he was thankful for. He was immensely vulnerable to her in that moment and had lost any will to engage in a debate with her. If Elann pressed with a heightened emotion bordering on growing frustration, he knew he would concede to her immediately in that instant.

Again came more reassurance on how the events that went on that night had been expressions of his love and it was followed up by what he took as another request for him to loosen his hold on their bond. It was, in the end, because it was what she wanted. It was anguishing to hear her ask again and only made him think back on their last argument where he made the point of her requests resembling a self-centered nature. He expressed his unwant to have her in pain with him, and expressed how he couldn’t bear to see her in pain, even if his quiet love was attached to it. Love didn’t shield from ache, and no amount of love she swelled their bond with made his side and back hurt any less.

Saddened, the Kelvic’s form physically drooped before her. “I don’t want you to feel it though,” he reiterated quietly. “I,” he stressed in a whisper, “don’t want to see you in a pain that is mine...” 

He stopped then, faltering as the next sentence was rearing to come out of his mouth. His lips closed though, and he conceded anyway. History told him she would only continue to press him to open his bond and his rejection could turn into something else and perhaps be seen as unwillingness to her, or resistance. She took the explanation of him not wanting to share his bond as another declaration of his love when it was also a wish of his as well. The feelings he felt for her didn’t go anywhere, they were still felt by him, but for the moment they were hidden away until he was healed, then they would course through again. Granted they would be overthrown by Elann’s own impassioned feelings, they would’ve coursed anyway.

Looking down from her, and into himself in a way, he released the hold on his bond. The trickle turned into a slow flow as his sensations came. His discomfort and physical ache were the most prevalent. Residing underneath those were his disappointment, love, and mentally and bodily fatigue accumulated over the evening and that moment.

With his head in the pillow, Noah looked back up to her and gauged her reaction from a sudden ache and then the rest of his lightly buzzing feelings.