It all began with his crying.
She’d been asleep, or thought she had been, when a soft weeping caught her attention. Immediately, she’d known it was Eran’s. His cries were so painful, so aching... her own heart broke hearing them. For the man she loved so dearly to be crying to bitterly, she couldn’t take it. She knew she was dreaming, but she had to go to him! Somehow, she just couldn’t move, and she’d cried herself because there was nothing she could do to stop his tears. It hurt so bad to have to lie there and just listen to him, feeling so utterly helpless.
“What....what can I do to make you happy?” another familiar voice asked Eran softly, although she couldn’t quite place who it was. Immediately, she felt cheated. /I/ want to make him happy! /I/ want to be the one to hold him and kiss him! If I can’t do that, I’m not worth anything!
“I....I want Fue-chan back.....”
That sentence, spoken so clearly and full of pain, snapped it. She could feel she was in a cold room, lying on her side, her hair falling over her face a little. She was on the floor, she thought, and Eran’s crying was suddenly so much closer. Still a dream, an awful awful dream. He was so close, she could feel it, and she couldn’t go to him! A soft, aching sob escaped her throat as she murmured his name, eyes shut tightly, her hand clutching her heart.
Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her, and she jerked away with a loud gasp, her amber eyes huge. She could move and... Looking to the person holding her, she felt soft locks of hair over her face, the warmth of a bare chest holding her tightly to it. Eran..... It was Eran....
“Eran?!” she exclaimed softly, instantly hurrying to wrap her arms around him, her eyes still large. His crying hadn’t stopped, but here she was, with him, “oh gods, please don’t cry...”
“Fue-chan.....” he cried her name, burying his face in her shoulder, holding her tighter.
“Eran, what is it? Honey, what’s wrong? Gods...please don’t cry....” anything. She would do anything to stop his saddness. She couldn’t stand it, knowing he was in pain. She rubbed his back a little around the soft white wings, kissing the side of his hair, his temple.
“I...I didn’t do it to hurt you....” he sobbed.
“What are you talking about...??” she cried, swallowing largely.
Suddenly, there was another movement. That other voice she’d heard....someone was there, on the other side of Eran. They stood, moving to leave, and she looked up with a furrowed brow, asked softly, “Dare....?”
“Aza,” the dark shadow replied, glancing over towards them, but she still couldn’t see his face. She didn’t reply, just gazing at him. What was Aza doing with Eran....?
Without another word, the kitsune left the room, giving them more privacy, and she turned her attention back to her love.
“Eran.....?”
“I didn’t do it to hurt you...... I’m so sorry.....” he wept more, tightening his strong arms around her.
She stroked his hair worriedly, “Eran, please, what is it? What are you talking about??”
There was a long silence filled only by his sniffling and soft sobs as they just held each other. With a soft sigh she leaned her head over on his, swallowing and waiting for him to continue. Finally, he broke the silence.
“........I slept with Zei........”
Her whole world seemed to halt. She froze where she was, her eyes blinking wide, her breathing slowing. She.....she hadn’t heard that. Not Zei....not Eran..... Those times when Grey had been inside Eran and Zei had decided he liked the gentler wingboy, how he flaunted Eran around her, draped himself all over Eran, kissed him. She’d hated it, that he knew it drove her mad, that he knew she was burning with jealousy. She was with Jerome, but you could still feel jealous of someone else. When she’d been with Eran the first time and Jerome and Bella had been flirting and such, she remembered the strong jealousy that built up inside her. But now....Eran and her were together....engaged.....and he’d slept with Zei.....?!
A warm relief suddenly fell over her as she remembered. This was only a dream. Of course. She was having insecurities, and she was dreaming all this.
“It’s....it’s just a bad dream....” she spoke softly, her voice trembling slightly. She began to pull away and heard his protest, but it was all too nice to think of it as a dream, “I’m just having a bad dream. They aways seem real when you’re in them.”
“Fue-chan, no...” Eran wept, his head lowered, his dark hair falling over his eyes.
“I...I think I’m gonna wake up now, Eran...” she smiled forcedly, leaning in to hold his face in her hands, tilting her own face a little to kiss his lips warmly. He kissed her back, tears rolling down his cheeks, his hands going to her hair. She pulled back with a soft smile, stroking his face a little, “goodnight, Eran...”
He knew he couldn’t stop her, couldn’t convince her and just cried more, letting her go, mumuring, “Goodnight, Fue-chan....”
She shakily laid back down on the ground, feeling a pillow beneth her head. It seemed odd them, to go to sleep to wake up. But, dreams are dreams. It was just a dream...Eran hasn’t really slept with Zei. I won’t be gone too much longer, and everything’ll be fine when I get back. Closing her eyes, she swallowed a little, and drifted off.
Fue-chan woke slightly suddenly, her eyes snapping open to be welcomed by darkness. She could feel her surroundings immediately, the soft bed beneth her, the presence of Xelaine asleep next to her in the bed. She was in the Inn, with Xelaine. It had all been a dream. Relief flowed through her and she smiled, turning on her side to snuggle into the warmth of Xelaine’s back. Everything was okay. Everything would stay okay.