Chapter Text
Ash didn’t know how long it had been since that faithful morning she’d woken up in the strange nest belonging to her former fellow guardian. It had certainly been a while, that was easy to conclude.
But even with a clear view of the sun and moon cycle, she hadn’t truly been able to keep track of how many days or even months had passed.
What truly didn’t help was the practically permanent haze feeling she felt… everywhere really. Her head felt stuffed with cotton, her limbs heavy and unresponsive most of the time, pure exhaustion soaked into every inch of her body… it was no wonder she spent most of her days just sleeping when left alone.
And being left alone happened daily often. Wind Archer, now a full fledged guardian of life, would leave for hours to maybe days on end. With barely any energy to even move to try eating the food left by her bedside, Ash simply slept the days away. The most surprising thing was the lack of dreams of indigo eyes and darkness infused arrows chasing her down. Until they were gone she hadn't realised how prominent they were.
Never was the time the archer returned consistent, sometimes evening, sometimes the early morning, sometimes the afternoon. She'd always be awakened from her slumber by her hair gently being combed out of her face with soft coos of affection and soft words encouraging her to wake up.
The routine following the guardian’s return was always simple and easy to follow.
First Ash would be sat in Wind Archer’s lap and fed until she physically couldn’t anymore. Then, depending on the other woman’s judgement, she'd be brought to a reasonably sized bathtub in order to be cleaned.
Often she’d fall back asleep during the process due to the pure bliss from her head being massaged and the gentle comforting warmth of the water. Presumably after being cleaned, Wind Archer dried her off and carried her back to bed where she’d hold her close while reading until Ash woke again, bleary eyed and feeling like there was somehow more cotton in her head.
Wind Archer greeted her awakening with a gentle kiss to the forehead every time before helping coax her into drinking some kind of tea that tasted way too sweet to not be hiding something. Ash drank without complaint, merely making a small face to show her dislike of the sweetness.
That would earn her a small fond laugh before she was fed a small assortment of fruits. After Wind Archer would return to her book and Ash would let her head rest on her chest, occasionally tapping along to the heartbeat in her ear.
When the evening rolled around, Wind Archer would hoist her up once again and sit her up in order to feed her a warm meal, usually soup as it was ‘easier on her stomach’. Ash didn’t question it. She didn’t question most things that happened anymore.
After they’d eaten, they’d return to the bed and Wind Archer would change both their clothes, starting with Ash’s. She moved the smaller woman carefully and slowly, stopping often when removing the soft material to press kisses to the cracks and scars decorating her body.
The softness in those forest green eyes put the spirit at ease, her own eyes starting to droop once again as the new soft material made her relax. The additional floral smell attached to the clothes added to the sudden drowsiness.
A kiss to her forehead would indicate the archer was done before she was picked up and placed her in the center of the nest. Carefully, strong arms would wrap around Ash’s small frame, surrounding her with warmth. Trapping her. A large, powerful wing acted as their blanket, shielding them from the world. Hiding her away from every one, keeping her as just Wind Archer’s.
Sleep came to her easily every time, her eyes drooping as she fell to the darkness that no longer tormented her with nightmares. One day… she’d question the guardian of life. One day… one day when the arms that held her didn’t hold her like they were scared she’d disappear she’d ask… one day.
When the warmth stopped being so comforting she’d ask…definitely.