Her fingers laced with his, and she hesitated before looking up at him, her eyes shrouded in worry. “Would you… Would you come have breakfast with my family and I?“ She asked, her voice sounding plaintive. “It’s just that it’s the first Christmas since my dad died. I don’t want them to feel alone… I won’t let them be mean to you.” *** “You did,” he said, sounding defeated. “My honor has no meaning now.”
He tilted his head slightly. "Of course, Ellie. If it's better I'm not there that's okay." *** She went over to him. "You'll be fine."
"No," she said fiercely. "I want you with me. You and my family will get along." * * * He fell into the snow, sighing.
He nodded, standing up. "Alright then. We'll go together." *** She observed before falling beside him in the snow.
“Does it bother you? I mean, you didn’t have anything to do with this... right?” *** “Are you done with the fight?”
She nodded slowly. “Okay. He’s going to want to talk about the war efforts with you around. Pay him no mind.” *** “Then why are we still outside?”
He laughed slightly. "Alright. I love you." *** She looked over him. "Because you're laying on the floor."
She sighed, her shoulders falling gracefully with the action as she looked over at him. “I love him... of course I do,” she said with a frown. That frown seemed to be replacing her smiles more often nowadays; the corners of her mouth curving down as she pressed her lips together. “He’s my brother. But God, he irritates me so often nowadays. He’s always been more militant than I am, but it seems like right now it’s at an all time high.” *** He looked over at her. Snowflakes had fallen, catching on his blonde eyelashes as he gave her a slow smile, dimples gracing his cheeks. “I didn’t choose this life; the Earth claimed me as her own.”
He shook his head with a small frowning, wrapping an arm around her waist. "It'll be alright." *** She watched him adoringly, leaning down to kiss his cheek, her lips cold. "I claimed you first."
She shook her head, mostly in thought as she glanced over at him. “He wants me to declare war on three different countries, Xav,” she said helplessly. “ And even worse, I can’t help but think that he’s doing it because he knows that I don’t know very much about it. It just feels… It feels manipulative. I don’t want my brother to be trying to take advantage of me.“ *** She would see a flush cross over the bridge of his long nose as he turned his head to look at her, one eyebrow raising playfully. “You claimed me? I don’t belong to anyone, Starlight.“
He frowned, looking a little concerned. "I hope not. I'm sorry, Ellie." *** She grinned, watching him. "Jokes on you. You gifted me your heart."
She sighed, her hand on the door to the dining hall. "You don't need to be sorry," she said quietly. "God, Xav. You're the most constant thing in my life. You don't need to be apologizing." * * * He rolled his eyes playfully. "I'm regretting it."
He sighed, tilting his head. "You're sweet. Shall we?" *** She sat back, a small frown crossing her face.
She nodded, opening the door. Ellie's siblings looked up in surprise. Ellie's sister, a larger woman by the name of Bernadette, brightened. "Ellie!"
