His eyes flutter open, eyelids purple blue, dried blood cracking and flaking away. Immediately his eyes begin drifting, searching, until they find her face. Layers of confusion and worry falling away like pages turning, finally settling on that blind shining love from the day they were engaged.

"Tayu." He whispers, awestruck.

Discomfort rises. sticking in her chest and the men have gone quiet but she can still feel their presence. Awareness like needles in her back.

"You're late." Is all she can think to say. Her voice strained from the lingering tightness in her throat. She's glad for it. It masks the uncertainty.

He doesn't answer, just reaches to cup her face, fingers trembling minutely on her cheek before he kisses her. Tears spill over, dampening the kiss until it tastes of salt and the copper of blood. Coating their lips after they've separated.

"I missed you." He whispers, lips turning up at their corners, eyes bright and blue and loving, and she sobs, shoulders shaking as she folds. He finds her wrist, doesn't let go. "Shh, shh. It's okay." he soothes. "It's going to be alright."

It's not, she thinks. Because I didn't miss you. But she doesn't say it. She nods her head and covers her mouth and caresses his cheek and she doesn't say it. And she never will.