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[firstbump]

Ardbert here. ... Or not. Leave a message, and I'll get back to you.

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[firstbump]

He realizes immediately that his words have struck beyond their conversation and tightens arms around her as she seeks to sink into him for comfort. "Era—"

Just as his concern spikes, he feels the telltale headache that precedes the Echo, and he can only moan out an incoherent warning before it sweeps him away.

Ardbert is Era. She is small. The man holding her hair isn't. Era's past becomes Ardbert's present.

He can't even recognize the memory as the one she spoke of in his first hours of his second life until he's suddenly and entirely himself again. Ardbert takes a greedy gasp of air, eyes flashing open wide and staring at the ceiling. One arm stays tightly around Era as he brings the other up above him and watches it tremble. He can almost still feel the blade slicing into his palm and the wetness of his own blood....

[astralera]

She is too preoccupied with trying to regain control of herself, forcing herself to the present, to have noticed Ardbert's current state. By the time he lifts his hand she has curled herself up even more securely, and a throw pulled haphazardly over her shoulders in what had been a failed attempt to cover her head. Her breathing is panicked, coming in rapid little bursts where she has moved to hide her face in the crook of Ardbert's neck.

[firstbump]

Era's wormed up closer to his head, her breath against his neck forming a steady sensation that he can focus on. It shouldn't be as quick or as strong as it is, and that shouldn't help as much as it does. But Ardbert uses being needed to find the strength to focus on his wife.

He wraps her in his arms again, blanket and all, and kisses her hair. They're both trembling, her panic far worse than his. Era's had more time to wind herself up, not to mention the memory being hers.

Ardbert knew the story; experiencing it was a far more terrifying matter. It only makes him understand all the stronger why she reacted so badly to his drunken-to-appear-harmless exploits. Gods, he had been such a fool.

Neither of them know of the power that lies within Pyra, so they can only picture her helpless. In Eorzea, and even in parts of the First, to be like Pyra without any power would be to invite your own death. Ardbert feels terrified and sick to his stomach in equal measure.

[astralera]

His arms are warm and comforting. They make her feel safe and she nearly cries with relief. Her breath catches, but resumes its rapid pacing, though with Ardbert dragging her back to reality she is able to focus on his breathing and try to match it with her own.

[firstbump]

He hears and feels her breath shift, realizing her attempts to match his own. Ardbert quickens his to make it easier initially, then slows it down, breath by breath, giving her a path forward. There's no words, only the sounds of their breathing.

[astralera]

It takes a few long minutes, but eventually her breathing settles. By the time she has regained control she feels utterly exhausted, to such an extent she doesn't bother to keep her eyes open, and she just allows the entirety of her weight to settle against him like a ragdoll.

"Sorry."

[firstbump]

He's used to being a cushion, and part of him is always delighted someone so strong and deadly can use him as a bed without even making breathing difficult for him. But now isn't the time for those thoughts, and they only occur to him at the edges of his mind as a sort of soothing remembrance.

Ardbert sighs at the apology. "... You needn't apologize. I think we're even now. And even if we weren't...."

[astralera]

She rubs her face lazily into the crook of his neck. A residual shudder runs through her and her tail blindly seeks out one of Ardbert's arms, curling loosely over it.

"...'Even'?"

[firstbump]

Ardbert was fairly certain alluding to it wouldn't be enough, despite his hopes. "The medic."

He shared what happened, but she still saw it later.

[astralera]

There is a long, heavy silence as she processes what that means, piecing it all together.

Tentatively, Era asks: "...The Echo?"

[firstbump]

"Aye." Ardbert figures that making her piece things together will be a needed distraction in of itself. "Gods... we've both been through our own special kinds of hells, haven't we?"

It's said seriously, not a lick of self-deprecating humor behind it.

[astralera]

Era can't help but snort at that. "Hells so special that it makes this place a hell all its own."

[firstbump]

Now Ardbert smiles slightly. "A bearable hell... so long as you're by my side."

Or on top of him or under him.

[astralera]

"No war, no monster, no danger..." She presses a kiss to the dip of his neck. "But so long as I'm with you my life will never lack in adventure."

[firstbump]

The smile stays; he shifts slightly underneath her to settle more comfortably. "Because with you, there's always something else to explore."

[astralera]

A hum of agreement, followed by a comfortable silence as she strokes her fingertip along Ardbert's collarbone in long, smooth motions.

"...Like parenthood?"

[firstbump]

He is quiet for a moment, then squeezes his arms around her. "... Aye."

[astralera]

"...We wouldn't need to worry," she says, clearly having given it some consideration. "No nations to liberate, no family to save. No enemies to take advantage if I were in such a vulnerable state..."

[firstbump]

The world around them is silent. Which makes it easier to hear Ardbert's eventual whisper.

"We can... we can try now?"

[astralera]

Her tail tightens around his arm, giving it a quick, gentle squeeze.

"There is biology to contend with, if the primals of this world even permit it." She has no intention of starting this journey without her partner knowing of all the challenges they would face. "Pregnancy is dangerous, and even if we succeed my body may still reject it... But if by some miracle she arrives we would then need to find a way to take her with us."

Era presses a kiss to his skin, letting her lips linger. She basks in the lazy comfort of his warm presence and breathes out a soft sigh.

"If you accept all of the challenges ahead... I would go on this adventure with you."

[firstbump]

"I—" Ardbert stops, then starts again, whispering quickly. "Of course. We already discussed this... I know the challenges that lie ahead. But I wasn't thinking of now. But now works. Now is perfect."

Era wouldn't propose such a thing unless she thought it a good idea. Not when it was so life-changing. Gods, to actually be able to hold the daughter that Era says will be theirs....

[astralera]

"...So from now on there will no more practicing," she comments. "I expect you're competent enough to sow me with your seed, farmboy."

[firstbump]

There's silence. Again. Then Ardbert just starts chuckling from deep within his chest.

"By the gods, Era."

[astralera]

"What? I thought that one was good!" Then again, she always thinks her jokes are good.

[firstbump]

"It caused me amusement and misery in equal measure."