[ D'Artagnan smiles down at her. His arm settles around her waist. It's very easy to hold Alina like this. He never thinks anything of it, and she seems as comfortable with it as he is. ]
You don't have to do that, you know. He can buy his own. Trust me, he'll have bought plenty.
We have enough to last us for a while now, anyway.
[ It's hard not to be comfortable where d'Artagnan is concerned. She pulls up her legs and curls against his side, burrowing against him. She takes a deep breath and sighs.
And thinks about how she might be moving soon. It's hard to imagine not having d'Artagnan every morning. Every evening. Not having this anymore. And a lump forms in her chest at the thought and she burrows against him further. ]
What else am I going to spend all these credits on, anyway? [ She shrugs and holds the bottle up for him in case he wants more. ]
Did I ever tell you thank you? For saving me?
[ She looks up at him, eyes meeting his. ] Because thank you, d'Artagnan.
[ She seems almost upset. It's strange, feeling her press so tightly against him like that. It's as though she's seeking comfort, but he doesn't know why. Unless what had happened to her is still pressing on her mind.
Assuming that it's that, he rubs her arm, and lets his lips flicker into a smile. ]
I could never have let them hurt you, Alina.
You all right? It's over now. You're safe here, I swear it.
[ She can hear the distance in his voice as surely as she can feel the hand on her side stop. She freezes up herself. She can't look at him right now. ]
I haven't asked the Instructors yet if I can but... if they allow me to. [ she nods her head. ]
He doesn't want her to go. Aside from Athos, Alina is, and has been, his best and most consistent friend since he's been here. She's been reliable, strong, and so brave.
He knows she's engaged. He knows that, he just thought things wouldn't change until she married.
He swallows that. He has to. ]
That...that's good. I'm happy for you. [ He smiles, and rubs her arm again. ] That's nothing to be sad about.
[ There's a lump in her chest that just won't go away. It's not that she wants to leave d'Artagnan. That's the last thing she wants. Especially right now. Especially as he talks so kindly and rubs her arm and smiles despite it all.
Why does she always do this to herself? To those she loves?
She turns her face against his shoulder. ]
I love you. You're my best friend, d'Artagnan. In any world.
[ He just hugs her now. He pulls her in against his chest and sets his chin on the top of her head.
He hates the thought of Alina moving out. Now she and Athos will live together, and neither one of them will be with him. After everything that's happened recently with Hanna, and with Jack, this is the last thing he wants.
He can't tell her that, though. ]
I'll miss you. [ He can say that much, can't he? He moves his hand to curl around her wrist, and he holds it. ] I love you too. You know I do.
[ He pulls her close, hugging her, and then makes himself smile. ]
But you'll always be my friend. That's not going to change. I promise you, I'll always be here for you.
[ He wouldn't call it selfish. He doesn't want her to leave, either. They always sit together, always talk. When she has nightmares, he holds her until she feels better.
He'll miss that, all of it. But he's not her lover, and never has been. He has to let her go. ]
I promise, too. But you're engaged to be married, Alina. You'll be happy there.
[ He smiles at her, even though he doesn't really feel it. ]
[ He wraps her up closely, drawing her against him. He doesn't want her to feel bad.
This is strange. She should be telling him this like it's a happy thing. It ought to make her happy. He squeezes her hand. ]
Alina.
This is what you want, isn't it? Marrying this man. [ He reaches down, finding her chin and lifting her head up to look at him. ] Prince or not. Whether you think it's best, or not. You need to marry for love, not out of duty. I've seen how unhappy a wife can be when it's not for love.
[ She looks up at him as he pulls her chin up. She can't help but smile a little at his words. He's concerned for her. Worried about her.
She nods her head. ]
I do want this. I love him, d'Artagnan. I don't doubt that. In fact, the reason he waited so long to ask me was because I wanted to be certain we did this for love and not duty. [ She gives a slight laugh. ] Trust me. He asked me to marry him the day I knew who he was. he wasn't shy about. I made him wait, I promise.
I just... [ She dips her head and nuzzles his shoulder a bit. ] I wish I didn't have to leave you to move in with him. I'm selfish that way.
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She leans on him easily, as though it's second nature honestly. ]
And it is. Which I think makes up for all the wine he's begged off of me.
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[ He smiles at Alina, and then as she leans on him he leans back into her. He lets her rest against his chest, and settles his arm behind her. ]
I'm sorry he's difficult. I never actually meant to do that.
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Then he wraps an arm around him and she wiggles closer to him as she sips the kvas. ]
I was only teasing. Henri's never really a problem. It's not that I actually need this much alcohol anyway...
Plus I do buy extra for Athos.
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You don't have to do that, you know. He can buy his own. Trust me, he'll have bought plenty.
We have enough to last us for a while now, anyway.
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And thinks about how she might be moving soon. It's hard to imagine not having d'Artagnan every morning. Every evening. Not having this anymore. And a lump forms in her chest at the thought and she burrows against him further. ]
What else am I going to spend all these credits on, anyway? [ She shrugs and holds the bottle up for him in case he wants more. ]
Did I ever tell you thank you? For saving me?
[ She looks up at him, eyes meeting his. ] Because thank you, d'Artagnan.
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Assuming that it's that, he rubs her arm, and lets his lips flicker into a smile. ]
I could never have let them hurt you, Alina.
You all right? It's over now. You're safe here, I swear it.
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She drops her eyes, playing with a string on her uniform. ]
That's not it... Though I know I can always trust you.
It's... [ She grips the edge of her uniform. ]
Sturmhond asked me to move into his rover with him. I told him I would....
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He blinks, and then frowns, and his head tilts. But that means - ]
You're leaving?
[ Suddenly he feels cold. She's leaving. ]
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I haven't asked the Instructors yet if I can but... if they allow me to. [ she nods her head. ]
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He doesn't want her to go. Aside from Athos, Alina is, and has been, his best and most consistent friend since he's been here. She's been reliable, strong, and so brave.
He knows she's engaged. He knows that, he just thought things wouldn't change until she married.
He swallows that. He has to. ]
That...that's good. I'm happy for you. [ He smiles, and rubs her arm again. ] That's nothing to be sad about.
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Why does she always do this to herself? To those she loves?
She turns her face against his shoulder. ]
I love you. You're my best friend, d'Artagnan. In any world.
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He hates the thought of Alina moving out. Now she and Athos will live together, and neither one of them will be with him. After everything that's happened recently with Hanna, and with Jack, this is the last thing he wants.
He can't tell her that, though. ]
I'll miss you. [ He can say that much, can't he? He moves his hand to curl around her wrist, and he holds it. ] I love you too. You know I do.
[ He pulls her close, hugging her, and then makes himself smile. ]
But you'll always be my friend. That's not going to change. I promise you, I'll always be here for you.
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She wishes she didn't have to leave d'Artagnan behind to move in with Sturmhond. But that's just the selfishness in her again. As it's always been. ]
I know. [ She says softly. ]
I'll see you every day, still. I promise.
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He'll miss that, all of it. But he's not her lover, and never has been. He has to let her go. ]
I promise, too. But you're engaged to be married, Alina. You'll be happy there.
[ He smiles at her, even though he doesn't really feel it. ]
When are you going?
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She curls in against his side. She'll miss this .So she gets as much of it as she can now. Not that they can never do it again just....
It won't quite be the same. ]
I don't know yet. I haven't even asked Ghost. He could always say no.
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This is strange. She should be telling him this like it's a happy thing. It ought to make her happy. He squeezes her hand. ]
Alina.
This is what you want, isn't it? Marrying this man. [ He reaches down, finding her chin and lifting her head up to look at him. ] Prince or not. Whether you think it's best, or not. You need to marry for love, not out of duty. I've seen how unhappy a wife can be when it's not for love.
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She nods her head. ]
I do want this. I love him, d'Artagnan. I don't doubt that. In fact, the reason he waited so long to ask me was because I wanted to be certain we did this for love and not duty. [ She gives a slight laugh. ] Trust me. He asked me to marry him the day I knew who he was. he wasn't shy about. I made him wait, I promise.
I just... [ She dips her head and nuzzles his shoulder a bit. ] I wish I didn't have to leave you to move in with him. I'm selfish that way.
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Alina.
[ He takes her hand, holding it gently. ]
I want to see you happy. That's all. I promise, I'll still be here for you.
[ He promises that, not knowing how quickly he'll have to leave her with no warning at all. ]