( true to her blood-bound promise, there isn't a drop left in her body that isn't spent on paul. in an instant, she's flushed with what remains of her water, soaked warmly to her cheeks, with the pink ripeness of steaming baths. alina dips her head, reverently stroking her fingers along the name he's claimed her under, knowing he's seen her little girl daydreams for what they are. a much bigger hand cradling her own. braided hair and bruised knees kissed better. soft blankets and lullabies and his thumb suckled in her mouth, wrapped up in her safe, protected cocoon. but, more than that:
shared blood in their veins, born of the same cosmic particles of light and stardust. maybe she'll never be what alia is to him — it was predetermined, at her birth, that paul would love alia, the same way mal was predestined to love alina. there's no sense competing with the designs of fate, but — she thinks she could be happy, like this. being his choice. being the daughter he didn't make, the sister he didn't expect, even if alia had been there to claim those titles first.
anything, if it means he can't bleed her out of him, any more than he could take alia out of him.
pearly teeth nibble at her lip, embarrassed by how not opaque she's been, but not so embarrassed that she can't tease: ) Paul Atreides sees all.
( she inches forward, in line with the baby steps of her power, tugging on the thread that binds him to it, like a shy child pulling at her mother's skirts. crimson smears into his cheek as she cups his jaw, gentle and steady, using it as a bridle. not for control, really, just — a need for paul's stillness, like a wild animal spooked by sudden movements. curious, but only comfortable exploring if she can take it on her own time. she hovers, eyes darting between his, searching for an answer to an unspoken question — before she tilts her head to feather to his cheek, peppering foot trails of kisses toward his mouth.
it's brief, a quick brush. and then another, and another, stealing sipping kisses from his mouth. each lingers longer than the last, but never quite long enough for him to snare her to him and keep her there in her nervy flightiness, all hummingbird fidgety. )
Tell me, ( she whispers, a quiet puff of desert heat against his lips, more plea than demand. ) When you dream, what does that future look like for us?
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shared blood in their veins, born of the same cosmic particles of light and stardust. maybe she'll never be what alia is to him — it was predetermined, at her birth, that paul would love alia, the same way mal was predestined to love alina. there's no sense competing with the designs of fate, but — she thinks she could be happy, like this. being his choice. being the daughter he didn't make, the sister he didn't expect, even if alia had been there to claim those titles first.
anything, if it means he can't bleed her out of him, any more than he could take alia out of him.
pearly teeth nibble at her lip, embarrassed by how not opaque she's been, but not so embarrassed that she can't tease: ) Paul Atreides sees all.
( she inches forward, in line with the baby steps of her power, tugging on the thread that binds him to it, like a shy child pulling at her mother's skirts. crimson smears into his cheek as she cups his jaw, gentle and steady, using it as a bridle. not for control, really, just — a need for paul's stillness, like a wild animal spooked by sudden movements. curious, but only comfortable exploring if she can take it on her own time. she hovers, eyes darting between his, searching for an answer to an unspoken question — before she tilts her head to feather to his cheek, peppering foot trails of kisses toward his mouth.
it's brief, a quick brush. and then another, and another, stealing sipping kisses from his mouth. each lingers longer than the last, but never quite long enough for him to snare her to him and keep her there in her nervy flightiness, all hummingbird fidgety. )
Tell me, ( she whispers, a quiet puff of desert heat against his lips, more plea than demand. ) When you dream, what does that future look like for us?