"Home?" Nolan leaned back, resting his weight on his palms. "Well, it's good, honestly. My mom and dad are still married. My sister and brother both have good jobs. I'm in college right now studying to become a civil engineer." He shrugged. "I used to play sports growing up but I was never good enough for the college level, so I kind of just chose a degree path that I'd like and that paid well."
He stared into the fire for a moment, watching the embers pop.
"I don't know. My home is cool. Nothing sad or upsetting, really." He paused. "Well, except for the rest of the world. It sucks. Everyone's at each other's throats over resources. Politically, everything happening is awful. But now that I'm here?" He waved a hand dismissively. "It just doesn't matter. So who cares."
Lyris was quiet for a moment. Her gaze stayed on the fire, but something in her expression shifted. A softness that she didn't usually let show.
"Sounds nice," she said. "To have a good home."
Lyris being just a little jealous comments on his home.
"Yeah. I'm lucky." Nolan nodded slowly. "A lot of people don't have the luxury that I have. And instead of trying to bring myself down because others have it worse, I see the beauty in being true to myself and enjoying the freedom my family gives me. Making the most out of it."
He picked up a new stick and turned it between his fingers, not poking the fire this time, just holding it.
"Whether that's helping people or giving a shoulder for someone to lean on. I want to be the kind of person others can depend on." He glanced at her. "Because when the world gets tough, someone has to be strong."
Lyris didn't say anything right away. She looked at him, taking a long look.
'Was that too cheez for her god I hope I didn't ruin the mood aggh your so dumb Nolan.' Panicking in his mind Nolan then watches as Lyirs turns her head.
And then, slowly, she lowered her head onto his shoulder.
Nolan went very still.
'Don't move Nolan, you are the king of the world right now just relax and enjoy the moment, no need to act strange.'
"I didn't take you for being soft," Lyris said quietly. "A sweetheart. I thought the only thing going on up in that head of yours was my boobs and making jokes."
"Hey." Nolan placed a hand over his chest in mock offense. "There is more to a person than making jokes and occasionally looking at the boobs of a beautiful princess."
Lyris laughed. A real, genuine laugh that came straight from the soul. It was short and bright and it cracked the heaviness of the night wide open for just a second.
"You are unbelievable," she said, still smiling.
"Thank you. I try."
They stayed like that for a while with Lyris's head resting against his shoulder, the fire crackling low between them and the dark. Neither of them spoke as the silence between them wasn't awkward or tense. It was the kind of silence that only existed between two people who could just enjoy the presence of each other.
Nolan stared at the fire, turning the stick in his hands.
"Say," he started, his voice quieter now. "You aren't actually a princess, are you?"
Lyris didn't lift her head.
"No," she said. "I'm not."
"Really?" Nolan turned to look at Lyris who was busy watching the fire. "So what are you then? Duchess? Countess? Lady of something-or-other?"
"I'm a noble of House Orin," Lyris said. "One of the old Celestial houses, one that's been around before the empire was an empire."
"That sounds important."
"It is. Politically, militarily, socially. House Orin is one of the pillars of Celestial society. We're not royalty, but the distinction barely matters in practice. My family has more influence than most crowns."
'So not a princess but something worse.'
"So you're not a princess," Nolan said slowly. "You're worse. You're a politician's daughter."
Lyris snorted. She lifted her head off his shoulder just enough to shoot him a look.
"My father is not a politician. He is the head of one of the most respected noble houses in —"
"A politician," Nolan repeated, nodding sagely. "With extra steps."
"I will end you."
"See, that's exactly what a politician's daughter would say."
Lyris looked like she was debating whether to laugh or strangle him. She settled on exhaling sharply through her nose and lowering her head back onto his shoulder.
"You know," Lyris said, her voice quieter now, "part of the reason I never corrected you was because 'princess' felt simpler."
Nolan turned his head slightly, listening.
"When you called me princess, there was nothing attached to it. No House. No expectations. No marriage alliances or political appearances or twelve siblings all competing for the same approval." She paused. "It was just a girl being rescued by an idiot with a short sword."
'An idiot with a short sword, who is good looking.'
"Being called princess by someone who didn't know what House Orin meant and who didn't care about my status…" She trailed off, her voice thinning. "It was freeing in a way."
Nolan didn't say anything.
For once he didn't have anything to say cause what could he say. He could never related to such issues that Lyris faced so all he could do is be there to help.
He shifted slightly, adjusting so her head sat more comfortably against him. His arm came up around her shoulder pulling her slightly in.
"Then I'll keep calling you princess," he said quietly. "When it's just us."
Lyris didn't respond. But she didn't pull away either. Her breathing slowed, evening out against the rhythm of the fire, letting the quiet of the night rest between them.
The fire burned lower, its amber light retreating inch by inch until it barely reached their feet. Above them the stars shone brightly, unfamiliar and indifferent, watching over two people who were millions of light years if not whole dimensions away from home.
And yet, here in this ruined village, the two of them had carved out something small. A place to feel safe. A place to feel wanted and needed.
Even if they had only known each other for a day, what sat between them had grown more than most people manage in years.
Only time would show how their relationship would develop. Whether it would be as beautiful as the moment before them or whether it would burn at the stake from the nightmare the Veil brings.
Lyris's head slipped from his shoulder down to his chest as sleep pulled her under. Nolan's arm tightened around her, just enough to keep her from falling over. His chin came to rest on the top of her head, his eyes heavy, the fire's warmth and the weight of the day finally dragging him down.
'Hehe. A pretty lady is leaning on me and I can feel her boobs.'
Or perhaps a pervert of a man was going to get lucky, even with his terrible jokes.
His eyes closed. And for the first time since the sky exploded and the world he knew disappeared, Nolan slept the night away.