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quentin toma NOTES: sailor, navigator, loverboy, war-bringer. THREAT LEVEL LIKABILITY LEVEL SCANDAL LEVEL FASHION LEVEL WEALTH LEVEL

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[kobes]

[Even without his haki, Koby catches the hesitation in Quentin's words, remembers his life, his world, the place he came from. Remembers that others pursuing his gift, trying to control it, possess it, had caused the worst possible things to happen to him and those he loved. And if there was more, if the way Quentin can find a steady path through even the most fraught storms, the way he moves through the world like he's following an invisible thread is just the beginning of what he's capable of...it's understandable that he's anxious, nervous, maybe even afraid.

Leaning down, hands lit with brilliant blue, Koby cradles Quentin's face gently between his palms.] It's beautiful. It's -- so beautiful, whatever it means, however it works. You're amazing, Quentin, and I -- knew it, I've been seeing it this whole time, but I didn't realize what it was until now. I thought your aura was just beautiful because it was yours.

[The magic dims, but Koby catches the corner of Quentin's mouth with his own, kisses him there, kisses him properly, kisses him once more for luck.] And it is. But it's more. It's -- you're so much more. It's the most wonderful thing I've ever seen.

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[ koby looks at him with loving wonder and his magic doesn't feel like a dangerous thing. his head aches dully from the use of it, but at every little kiss the warmth of it flares up between them, like waves on a sea, adrift and gentle. he reaches hands to slide along koby's thighs, rub up and down every inch of him to sooth him where his magic can't. ]

Alia. I don't know what she did, or how she did it - I could feel her. She could feel me.

[ quiet, because alia has been sentenced, has been sent down to a dungeon she does not belong in, regardless of what the house may or may not do. but he sighs, wrapping his arms tight around koby and gently nudging him to lay out on his chest, across his body. ]

She could see it - like you could. I didn't know. [ a little huff. ] I don't know what I can do or how to control it. I just - I was just thinking about protecting you. Defending you from all of this, and frankly I don't know how to.

[ i can't lose you is what it whispers, and quentin leans back up to kiss him again. ]

I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.

[kobes]

Alia? Did she? [Koby's been cautious about the (odd, intense) girl since the wolf accusations, though he knows she's been kind to Tim and Hawk, kinder still to Quentin. His loyalty to her during the vote spoke volumes, and despite his own misgivings, Koby counts her as someone to watch out for.] She has -- powers too, doesn't she? Maybe she recognized something?

[Even in awe and wonder as he is, Koby's body is still exhausted, drained from the hectic, nightmarish month, so he's easily eased back down to lie on Quentin's chest, cheek pressed to where his heart beats, imagining the brilliant cerulean sparks of magic with each steady pulse.] It might be something new. But we'll figure it out. [When they're safe, left unspoken.

Koby leans up into that kiss, both his shaky hands coming to cradle Quentin's face, stroke through his hair, tug him closer.] Nothing bad's going to happen to me. [Softly, promised against his mouth.] Or you. Or anyone we love. We're all going to watch out for each other, yeah?

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It's like I've known her for a long time. Like she saw it when I couldn't.

[ he sighs, letting koby rest against his chest, wrapping strong arms around him, fingers slipping up into the hair at his nape. never before would he think he'd belong in a place like this. that he would feel the pull of a north star and the night sky all in one. but here he is, starlight wrapped in his arms. ]

But it doesn't matter. Not when you're here. Safe.

[ he kisses him again, little soft things drifting like butterflies across his lips. ]

I love you. [ quiet, like a promise that he will watch out for him. a brand that he will stay at his side no matter the horrors this place or any other tries to press upon them. ] I love you, Koby, and I - [ a sigh - his head hurts, the rush of magic enough to make his skull throb. ]

I won't let anyone harm you or anyone we love.

[kobes]

Mmm, that's good, then. That she helped you see. [Koby snuggles closer, softly humming, thinking about the echo of his own gifts in someone who knows better, who understands how to navigate something he can barely understand. He knows what Quentin means, that soaring relief of being seen, understood. After shifting so he can feel each steady thrum of that resonant, steady heartbeat in his own ribs, Koby frowns in the darkness, frowns against the next kiss pressed to his lips.]

Yes it does. It matters. It's part of you. [One dark curl is tugged, reproachful and affectionate all at once.] Nothing could matter more. If -- if you want to find out more, of course. [Koby rests his chin over Quentin's heartbeat, hand moving to stroke gentle fingertips over the place where his own perpetual migraine lives -- just in front of his temples, where his brow furrows.] There has to be something after this. We have to be able to build something, here. Right?

[One fingertip runs down the length of Quentin's nose, then taps at his lips lightly.] I love you too. I love you and I love being here, with you. Despite everything. [Koby leans up once more, presses his mouth to Quentin's, kisses him slow and lingering, like that first day, like dust and blood and sunlight.] You need to rest too, though. You've been very brave and fought very hard for me, all month, and it's been very attractive and handsome and appealing, but you need to take care of yourself. Okay?

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[ koby settles down on him and quentin's eyes drift shut, letting those fingers trace over the tired lines of his face, mapping out his features. he likes the way it feels - how soft and loving those touches are. he feels more human, more whole and real, in bed with koby than he does anywhere else.

he presses a kiss to the finger at his lips, smiling and opening his eyes slowly, looking down at him beneath heavy lids. ]

You need to rest, too. [ he shifts a little, lets one broad palm sweep up the line of koby's back, rubbing softly before he pulls the blankets up around them both, leaning down to receive the kiss, lingering and slow and full of love and light. he sighs against it, the worry in his brow melting away. ]

Stay with me - wake me up before you run off in the morning. Want to keep you close during all this.