Went to sea in a sieve

THE VALKYRIE

You bring clarity when I can't see past
All the places where I made my mistakes

If Hotaru could love him any more, the fact that the Refuge exists because of him would be the only reason she could envision it. Anyone could have gone through the effort of establishing it, but nobody else had tried except him. Perhaps it's just her animal hindbrain purring with pleasure over her mate having proven himself to be a provider. It makes her cheeks darken, but luckily Sunjata is only privy to the feelings instead of the thoughts themselves with the half-open bond between them.

That pleasure burns brighter as the quiet rumble of his voice meets the gentle, familiar way his fingers card through her hair, making her hum and smile as her eyes fall closed. "We do. We have time." More of it than she ever thought she'd have with him again.

"That would be a good way to repurpose them, if it could be done," she agrees warmly, not at all opposed to at least asking. Even if the glow of her happiness dwindles slightly to be reminded of their letters, which in her mind would always be poor, insufficient replacements for his company. "For now," she murmurs, and doesn't let herself linger on alternatives, or how appealing they may seem.

Your love has turned me into something better
Elevate me with your love forever