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Simon's breath caught in his throat as Roan brushed back the strands of hair that covered his eyes. It was an action he hadn't been expecting, but still very much appreciated.
What followed was perhaps the most sincere reassurance Simon had heard in years; not even his daughter had taken so much care to ensure that he felt better about himself and his ability to lead the Rebellion. He watched the soldier with a look of absolute admiration, a knot in his stomach. Of course he'd always known Roan cared deeply for him, but hearing it aloud was another thing entirely, and the way the soldier reached for his hand made his heart pound against his chest.
Roan made many good points, and the calm and considerate way in which he explained them somehow drained Simon of his anger and resentment towards himself. They were closer than ever to finding Erieda, but he'd been too wrapped up in his negative emotions to see it; to feel the fraction of the weight that was lifted from his shoulders, or to realise that - as Ambers said - he wasn't alone in his struggles.
"You're right," he conceded, nodding slowly while lifting a hand to cup his friend's cheek. "Words alone could not describe how much I appreciate you, Roan."
Simon stepped forward to press a soft and ever-so-brief kiss to Roan's lips - which was unusual for the two considering the nature of their relationship thus far - then met his gaze with a smile. "Go on then, eat your fruit before the others get here," he prompted in a much lighter tone, one not fitting for the intimate moment they just shared - he was trying to change the subject. "This meeting might last a while with all that's happened."
What followed was perhaps the most sincere reassurance Simon had heard in years; not even his daughter had taken so much care to ensure that he felt better about himself and his ability to lead the Rebellion. He watched the soldier with a look of absolute admiration, a knot in his stomach. Of course he'd always known Roan cared deeply for him, but hearing it aloud was another thing entirely, and the way the soldier reached for his hand made his heart pound against his chest.
Roan made many good points, and the calm and considerate way in which he explained them somehow drained Simon of his anger and resentment towards himself. They were closer than ever to finding Erieda, but he'd been too wrapped up in his negative emotions to see it; to feel the fraction of the weight that was lifted from his shoulders, or to realise that - as Ambers said - he wasn't alone in his struggles.
"You're right," he conceded, nodding slowly while lifting a hand to cup his friend's cheek. "Words alone could not describe how much I appreciate you, Roan."
Simon stepped forward to press a soft and ever-so-brief kiss to Roan's lips - which was unusual for the two considering the nature of their relationship thus far - then met his gaze with a smile. "Go on then, eat your fruit before the others get here," he prompted in a much lighter tone, one not fitting for the intimate moment they just shared - he was trying to change the subject. "This meeting might last a while with all that's happened."