Elle's touch sent a jolt of electricity through him, more real than anything he'd felt for a long time. His thoughts were running a mile a minute but all he could see was her face. The sunlight on her back made her glow, painting her in shades of gold. If this was madness, he wished his mind had gone years ago. He reached a hand to cradle her head gently, his fingers twining through her silken hair. In so many ways she looked exactly the same except, like him, harder lines that traced her face marking the passage of time. Maybe this was his mind's way of finally letting him grow old with her.
"I've missed you, too." Leo didn't realize he was crying until he spoke, the words gurgling up and his vision blurred. He brought his forehead to hers, blinking rapidly in an attempt to dry his eyes.
He'd always thought the way they did these things in movies was overdone. The too-real hallucinations, the sudden dive into absolute insanity. Yet here he was, holding a dead girl who was as real as him. Even her hair smelled like cinnamon, though maybe that was just the smell of the Festival on him. Either way, Leo wasn't going to waste a single gifted moment with Elle - even if it was just in his head.
"You were gone...for a while," He wished he could pretend like nothing happened, like they were kids again. Leo wasn't sure if confronting reality would make her disappear, but he knew neither of them where what they were and couldn't pretend to do so. He reached for her hands, holding them between them.
"I've been waiting for you though, Elle." His forehead still rested against hers, afraid if he leaned back and beheld her again that he would start crying.
Her hands felt so real, he could feel their heat between his. Even her breath was hot on his skin. He closed his eyes for a moment and just let himself soak in her presence.
"I'm sorry you haven't been feeling like yourself, but you're here now." He whispered, his hands sliding to cradle her face between them. Tilting her chin up to guide her lips towards his, Leo leaned in to brush his lips against hers. "I'm going to take care of you, always."
A hand fell along her side, sliding beneath the fabric of her coat to wrap around her, tugging her closer. Her body pressed against his, she still fit perfectly. He reached further into her hair, desperate to hold on tight in case she disappeared in his own arms.
"I love you so much, Elle." Leo's words fell on her lips, melding his mouth against hers. At first he was slow, deliberate; years of yearning pouring into one moment. He gripped at the hair at the base of her neck, deeping the kiss.