Ky was bent over the forge, his tall frame illuminated by the molten metal. He frowned, bringing his hammer down on the sword hilt and cursing to himself, throwing the white-hot blade into the corner with countless other ruined parts. His normally tidy work table was a complete mess, with a blade shining in the moonlight. He fell silent, his lips in a tight, disappointed line as he leaned up against the furnace, staring down at the smoldering coals.
Aspen entered, stretching her arms over her tilted head. She approached, resting a hand on his arm curiously. "Is everything okay?"
He looked up at her and although he was tired and angry and weary, he felt something in his chest lift at the sight of her. He placed his large hand over hers, kissing the back of it quickly. "Yes, everything's fine," he said with a small laugh. "Just this sword for Eli. It might kill me, Aspen, truly."
She gave him a small smile, reaching up as she cupped his jaw and kissed his cheek. "I think you take a break and get some sleep... Having fresh eyes in the morning would help."
He shook his head slowly, looking back down at the blade. "I'm so close," he said with a frown. "But the hilt is going to completely mess up the balance if I can't fix it. I don't think I should sleep right now." He draped one arm over her shoulder, kissing her temple almost playfully. "You can, though. Snorer."
She wrapped her arms around his waist, rolling her eyes. "C'mon, Ky. It's late.. If not sleep then at least take a break," she asked, looking up at him hopefully.
He shook his head again, looking down at her affectionately and giving her a quick peck on the nose. "You're giving me a break right now. Don't worry, love, it'll be over by the end of the week. Eli expects it in two days. After that, I'll be all yours."
She stood in front of him stubbornly, resting her hands on his shoulders. "I need you now, though. Right now. I'm so lonely without you."
He huffed amusedly, wrapping his arms around her waist and looking down at her thoughtfully. "Well, you're welcome to take the cot," he said, gesturing to the hammock in the corner of the workshop for the later nights. "I won't be sleeping for a while, but if you'd like to stay, you can."
