Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 720: Gratitude ()

"Here?" Xenon asked as they arrived at the doors to Jian’s quarters at the highest level.

"In Jian’s absence, the temperature here drops to an all time freeze. Do not tell me you have spent your time in the Keep here? You may be light blood, but you’re not immortal." Xenon chided in concern.

Neveah’s response was low and weary. "There are things... I have to do and can only do here. You’ll see."

Xenon nodded, pushing the door open, he stepped aside to let Neveah in before he also stepped into Jian’s quarters and shut the door behind him.

Neveah led the way deeper into Jian’s quarters, to the desk where she had left the chest containing Asrig’s writings.

Xenon’s lips curled up in disdain at the sight of the chest.

"You recognize it." Neveah murmured knowingly.

"That should not be anywhere but down in the archives." Xenon pointed out, turning to Neveah.

"Necessity." Neveah replied with a quiet sigh.

Xenon’s eyes reflected his understanding. "Jian."

Neveah nodded, she ran her fingers through her hair as frustration crept up within her.

"Tell me what’s on your mind, beloved." Xenon encouraged, closing the distance between Neveah and himself so he now gazed down at her, his hand rested on her waist.

"I...on one hand, I am so relieved that you are fine, that you are here with me at this moment that I think I might lose my mind. Something in the back of my mind still whispers to me that this is just another dream that I might wake up from at any moment now..." Neveah trailed off, her tone hoarse.

"This is no dream, love. I would know... I dreamt of you plenty." Xenon murmured, his tone tender.

"And on the other hand?" Xenon questions again.

"I... I just... I’m willing to do anything, everything to get him back here but... I don’t even know where to begin. I cannot brave through these scrolls without my stomach roiling and everything just keeps happening in rapid succession..."

"I do not even know if I can find anything useful and if I do find something useful, how can I get it to him..." Neveah admitted, the words she had kept buried forced their way out.

"Hey, hey... breathe love, I am here now. And we will get him back." Xenon drew Neveah closer to himself.

"One thing you must understand is that we will weather any storm, if it means getting back to you. At this very moment, the Jian I know will be doing all he can. So be patient with him, like you have been with me." Xenon coaxed gently.

Neveah clung to Xenon, timing her breaths to calm herself. His scent was more calming than anything else could ever hope to be and her breaths steadied in just a short moment.

"I do not know how I survived any of this without you." Neveah voiced her truth.

"You won’t ever have to know... never again." Xenon vowed, his words solemn.

"So... what does he need?" Xenon asked dutifully, scanning the chest with a hesitant frown.

"Just...get some rest tonight, Xenon. Leave this to me, please..." Neveah asked sincerely.

Xenon hesitated for a moment before he nodded his head. He placed a light kiss on Neveah’s forehead and then stepped back.

"I will warm up the room. You feel too cold to the touch." Xenon observed worriedly.

Xenon left for a moment and Neveah took a seat at the table, pulling open the chest, she hesitated before reaching for a scroll.

Her hands trailed a few of them and finally settled on one. Dread filled Neveah’s heart but she forced it away and began scanning through the contents, bracing her mind for yet another recount of Asrig’s depravity.

__________________

"Easy...we made certain he paid for it all." Xenon’s voice drew Neveah out of her reverie.

It was only then Neveah realised she gripped the edge of the table with her free hand, so hard her knuckles had turned white.

Xenon stood a short distance away, he had just stepped out of the washroom and now stood in the dim lighting, staring at Neveah like she was the center of the universe.

His gaze was calm and soothing and Neveah’s tight grip loosened, her hand dropping to her lap.

In Neveah’s own eyes, he was more the center of the universe than she could ever hope to be and Neveah wondered if the universe could have so many centers.

Neveah got up to her feet and walked over to him, her hands snuck around his waist and she leaned into him, unbothered by his damp skin.

"I’m not going anywhere, love." Xenon said again, the reassurance he must have provided a hundred times in the past couple of hours.

"He wrote about you quite often...in that scroll, in most... really." Neveah murmured. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Nothing good, I’m sure." Xenon grumbled.

Neveah laughed quietly despite the circumstances. "He was obsessed with you...with the idea of having you as his King’s guard. He always knew you only ever had eyes for Jian, long before anyone believed Jian could stand a chance, and he hated it...it made him feel threatened... insecure." Neveah continued.

"I am glad... that you two have always had each other, weathering whatever storm together. Thank you Xenon... for always taking care of him, for always choosing him, even before your own self."

"Thank you for loving him... and for loving me." Neveah said earnestly.

Xenon exhaled shakily at Neveah’s words...or it could have been her touch. His fingers tilted Neveah’s head up and he claimed her lips in an intense kiss, thick with a fiery passion and all the longing that had become overdue.

Xenon moved slowly and Neveah retreated until she was backed into the table, knocking down a scroll in the process.

Her gaze was hooded, her lips parted soundlessly as Xenon’s lips trailed down her neck, out of the corner of her eyes, Neveah caught something and she quickly exclaimed. "That’s the one!"

"What?" Xenon asked distractedly, his tone husky.

Neveah repeated the words, clearly this time. "The scroll Jian needed! That’s the one."