The Beach, Tuesday Morning

[future_sandworm]

Leto had woken early and headed towards the beach to watch the early morning sun above the sea, and to wait for Fiona. He had suggested this place to her; despite the strangeness of the ocean he found it a comforting location. Perhaps it was just the contrast - sand and water - or perhaps his Caladan heritage was slowly affecting him. Whatever the reason, he leaned back, propped up on his elbow, running smooth grains of sand through his fingers and watching the water.

[Leto is here for Fiona, but the beach is open]

Comments

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She didn't take too long to get there, especially since it felt like she'd hardly slept. She had the morning with Leto, work, an afternoon with Griff, and a ride with Peyton to look forward today, not to mention the thermos. It was in her bag, carefully snuggled between two books so that it couldn't possibly fall over and spill.

Seeing Leto, she walked out onto the sand with her shoes in her hand.

"Hey."

[future_sandworm]

Leto looked up and smiled at her, then pushed himself up to sitting. "Fiona." He held out a hand to her.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She sat down next to him and took the hand happily, moving a little closer.

"Leto. You look comfy."

[future_sandworm]

He laughed a little, slipping an arm around her. "I suppose I am," he said.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She settled against him happily, eyes slipping closed.

"On the sand, hmm?"

[future_sandworm]

"Do you mind?"

He pushed her hair from her face and kissed her cheek.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She shook her head and tilted her head to his kiss, pleased at the touch, at his affection.

"It's fine. I just would have wanted a blanket if I was going in the water. It makes you sticky for sand."

[future_sandworm]

"It does," Leto agreed, then added teasingly: "Another reason not to swim." He pulled Fiona closer, enjoying her presence.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She leaned against him, eyes still closed.

"I like swimming. But this is good."

She felt safe with Leto, accepted and appreciated. It wasn't, in any way shape or form, work. She didn't have to pretend to be something else or worry about what she said every other word.

[future_sandworm]

"It is."

He fell silent for a while, not feeling the need to speak. His fingertips caressed her arms, her hand, without purpose.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"You missed the singing," she told him with a little smile.

[future_sandworm]

"I did," he said, looking up at Fiona. "What happened?"

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She opened her eyes, a little surprised though even she didn't quite know what for.

"I sang. I was out here on the beach" though she didn't state where "and working on the katas I'd been shown and it just sort of... happened."

[future_sandworm]

"What did you sing?" Leto asked, gently kissing her hand.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She leaned closer, hiding against his shoulder.

"This song. I don't know it. I don't know a lot of music."

[future_sandworm]

"Did it bother you?" He stroked her hair, letting his fingers run through it?

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She nodded, relaxing at the touch to her hair.

"The whole idea of feeling that strongly for someone. I think it's terrifying."

[future_sandworm]

Well, that wasn't unusual, and he had no real advice or comfort to offer. Leto placed a kiss on her forehead. "The Bene Gesserit have a litany against fear."

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"Oh?" she asked, smiling at the kiss.

"Could you tell it to me, or is that not allowed?"

[future_sandworm]

"It's not a secret," he said, then recited:

"I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain."

"Whether it's useful is another matter."

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She went over the words a few times in her own mind, wondering if she agreed, wondering how much Leto agreed with the words. It wasn't entirely dissimilar from how she tended to do things when she was scared; usually, she just sucked it up and did it as loudly and as straight-forward as possible. That was how she'd gotten through all the people here.

But love was different. Love... she could see the cost of it, had seen it, knew it herself. What had she done for her brother? What had her brother done for her? How many lives would still be going on if Eliot hadn't loved her enough to kill to get them to that Apple?

"It might be," she said.

"I don't know. I'll have to think about it."

[future_sandworm]

"It directs the mind where its needs to go, when used correctly," Leto replied. He met her eyes, wondering how much the vocalising of her feelings for Griff would change what was between them. As if testing, he leaned in to kiss her lips.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She kissed him back, on the lips, before pressing her forehead to his.

"How do you use it correctly?"

[future_sandworm]

"I didn't mean there was a strict method, but the words shouldn't remain just words." He kissed her again.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She smiled into the kiss.

"They don't sound like just words."

[future_sandworm]

"So you find meaning in them?" he asked, running his hand along her arm.

[bedtime!]

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She nodded.

"That's usually what I do. I just... bully my way through it. The fear. And then I figure out that I didn't really have to be afraid."

[future_sandworm]

"Does fear of those strong feelings make us being close more important?" He tilted his head smiling at her.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She shook her head.

"No, I just like being with you," she said with a little shrug.

"Two separate things."

[future_sandworm]

Leto couldn't argue with that. He just smiled, slipped an arm around her and turned to watch the sea.