Back home (1)

Getting up early isn't too hard. For some reason, I don't hate leaving the bed and dressing for the day.

My whole body is so... Contented? I don't even know what's going on. But every single cell is satisfied and exuding energy.

Is this an effect of love?

Judging by Ignis's smile when he kisses my forehead, he must feel the same. Nothing is too hard to do this morning.

«How are you feeling?» he inquires. As if it was not evident.

«Wonderful,» I reply. «And you?»

«I'm happy.»

A dark shadow passes in his eyes, but it's just a moment. I might have imagined it. Oh, no need to overthink.

If Ignis wasn't content with me, he would rather tell me. We agreed on communicating, so we'd sit down and talk. Or walk and talk.

I don't need to worry just because of a feeling. I must be wrong.

«Veronica, I love you!» he says. «Will you remember it?»

«Uh? Sure...» I murmur.

I need a little more to realise it's the first time he tells me that in broad daylight. While not doing anything lewd.

I can take it as a genuine confession, then? I can reply without fear, right?

«Me too,» I say before he can walk out. I grab his hand and pull him in for a hug. «I love you too!»

Oh, goodness. I'm so clumsy. Like a child.

I should have tried sounding more adult.

Why can I say something naughty with more ease than when expressing my innocent feelings? I'm a weird person, but I hope Ignis doesn't realise it too soon.

«Do you want to rest more, perhaps?» he asks.

«No, I'm looking forward to being at home.»

He sighs, maybe a little desperate.

«This journey is like our honeymoon,» I point out. «I'm a little sad it's over. But we can continue our honeymoon in a more comfortable place.»

«Yes.» He nods, smiling tenderly.

Oh, my sweet Ignis is back.

His worries disappear, and his arms release me to allow his hands on my cheeks. He kisses my lips, pressing longer than usual before teasing me with his tongue.

I reciprocate with all I've got. We didn't kiss yesterday, after all. I need to make up for that.

«Do you think the others will mind if we're a little late?» I inquire, pulling him towards the bed.

«They will do,» he says while nodding fiercely. «Don't tempt me, Veronica. We'll have time in the future, right?»

I scoff, annoyed. Yet, we can't spend all our time making love. I'm acting lewd again. I hope this doesn't last forever.

I'd prefer to be proper and innocent at this very moment. I wouldn't know what exactly I'm missing while giving up and following Ignis outside.

The last few hours of this journey are the longest. It's as if we'll never arrive! I spend the whole time looking out, finally recognising a familiar landscape.

I bite my nails at some point, for waiting is really so difficult.

«We'll be there soon,» Ignis says. He leans over and lands a peck on my cheek.

We're alone in the comfortable carriage, the one designed for nobles. Aida is in the one behind ours.

As alone as we are, I don't find anything wrong when he moves down and kisses my neck.

«I can help you bear the wait,» Ignis comments. «What do you think?»

«Oh, please,» I chuckle. «I'll eat my fingers like this.»

«Give them to me, rather,» he says, clasping my hand and pecking every single digit. «I won't eat your delicious fingers. I'll just kiss until you forget whatever you're worried about.»

«Oh, you,» I moan, slipping on the seat to be closer. I look up and offer my lips.

I don't actually do anything much. I just lift my head and wait. Yet, Ignis understands the meaning of my silence.

He reaches down to me and accepts to kiss me, pressing his lips on mine. The shaking carriage doesn't let us proceed further, for we risk biting each other. Or ourselves.

But the situation is so intimate that we don't need a deeper kiss to feel closer.

When his arm surrounds my shoulders, my head naturally lands on his chest. We're both relaxed and have forgotten the wait.

We talk some more about unrelated things. About what we like to do in our free time. About our childhood memories...

Oh, reliving those times is the best. It's as if we never split.

«You were the cutest thing I've ever seen,» Ignis says.

His hand caresses my forearm, moving up to the shoulder and again down.

«I couldn't believe that such cuteness hid so much energy. You were like a hurricane as a little girl,» he continues. «Yet, I loved it. Even if it meant getting in trouble every other day.»

«Oh, come on! You didn't get in trouble that often.»

«But you did. I was afraid your father would blame me for dragging you into adventures.»

«Father knew it was my fault,» I point out.

«It seems you used to get in trouble even before meeting me.»

«Definitely.»

He was the one I dragged with me and convinced to do any kind of thing. Not the other way around.

He was so calm and polite that I couldn't help but wonder why his family didn't like him. Even with his red, fire-like hair, he was cute and sensible.

Why they called him cursed, I couldn't understand. I can't, even now.

Yet, it's no surprise. I'm familiar with how people treat anything related to magic. Red hair is just another matter they can't explain without talking about evil and demons.

The carriage stops, and I move the curtain to check what's going on. The familiar shape of our gate welcomes my gaze, and I smile out of instinct.

Meanwhile, Ignis looks out as well and sighs. He's not as happy as I am, for some reason. Yet, his voice is not less nostalgic than my thoughts when he talks.

«We've arrived,» he says.