"Let me see," he said, his voice gentle but firm, as he crouched down beside her. His hands moved with practiced ease, gently pulling back the edge of her pant leg to inspect her ankle.
“I... I can keep going,” she tried to insist, though even she could hear the weakness in her own voice. Her ankle was screaming at her to stop, but her pride wouldn’t let her admit it. “We... we need to get back to Anya.”
Yor’s heart raced as she sat there in the snow, feeling the cold seep into her bones. But the warmth from Loid’s presence beside her, his calm voice, his steady gaze, created a strange, confusing comfort she hadn’t expected. The tension in her body, the embarrassment, it all started to loosen under his gaze.
Content Set to Go Live: Oct 9th, 2024 on Ao3
As Loid and Yor struggle through the treacherous snow to return to Anya, Yor’s growing feelings and a painful fall leave her vulnerable in more ways than one. With Loid’s steady presence guiding her, she’s torn between her pride and her desire to lean on him. As the tension between them rises, a moment of closeness threatens to break down the walls they’ve built.
Chapter Preview:
Yor!” Loid skidded to a stop, quickly turning around and gliding over to her. Yor winced, trying to sit up despite the sharp, stabbing pain in her ankle. The snow beneath her felt like ice pressing against her skin, and her body felt stiff from the cold. Her ankle throbbed with every movement, but the pain was nothing compared to the sinking feeling of embarrassment that swept over her. “I’m... I’m fine,” she muttered, her voice tight as she tried to shake it off. But she knew she wasn’t fooling anyone—especially not Loid. The pain in her voice betrayed her, and she hated how weak she sounded. This was supposed to be simple. They were just trying to make it back to the inn, back to Anya, and now she was the one slowing them down. It was bad enough that her mind had been racing with thoughts of that kiss, her heart fluttering with every glance from Loid, every brush of his hand as they skied through the snow. But now, she couldn’t even keep her balance properly.
Ready to Dive In?
Will Yor allow herself to lean on Loid, or will the weight of their secrets keep them from crossing the line between partners and something more?
$0.99