shut the door & cut me open

RONIN if there's one thing i'm good at, it's surviving Pressing his cheek gently against the soft mess of Remi’s curls, Ronin listened through half lidded eyes, his expression quietly contemplative. Of course he wanted the feel good answer, but he knew he needed honesty. And his husband delivered; a faint smile pulled at Ronin’s lips in silent agreement to all the things he hadn’t felt he was able to say. His reluctant acceptance, the mess that had come after, Edrei’s death, the blight, the feel of bones collapsing under the strike of his fists— Perhaps he would have been capable of standing beneath the weight of a crown, if things had gone differently. But not now. ”I don’t want it,” he said softly, quietly as though he wasn’t sure he had permission. ”I don’t want to disappoint anyone, but... you most of all. And I don’t want to rule this place, Remi. Wessex was born and raised here. It’s her home - I was just dropped here.”