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Sera's hand lingered for a moment before pulling back gently, folding it into her lap. Her gaze stayed on him, soft and searching, though she noticed the subtle tension in his shoulders when her fingers brushed the scarred skin. “I know,” she said quietly, not with judgment, but with a deep ache in her voice. “I know you were hurting.” She paused for a breath, then looked down for a second before lifting her eyes to meet his again. “Can I ask you something?” Her voice stayed gentle, cautious. “If… if you had the chance—somehow, magically—to erase the scars… would you?” Her heart beat a little faster as she asked. Not because she feared the answer, but because she knew how much pain he carried in them, and part of her wondered if he could ever see them the way she did. |
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Finn nodded, "Of course, you can ask me anything, sunshine," he said gently. He looked down at him own hands at her words. He nodded immediately. "Yes, if I could I would," he replied no hesitation. |
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Sera nodded slowly, her chest tightening at his response—not out of disappointment, but out of understanding. She reached for his hand again, more gently this time, her fingers brushing over his knuckles with care. “I get that,” she whispered, her voice barely above the sound of the waves in the distance. “I really do.” She paused, thumb grazing the back of his hand. “And I hate that you had to go through anything that left you with scars at all. I just… I want you to know that, even with them, you’re still the most beautiful person I’ve ever known.” Her voice shook slightly, but she kept going. “Not because of what you look like, but because you’re still here. You survived all of it. And you let me love you through it.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “I wish I could take the pain from you… but I’ll be here through all of it. Scars and all.” |
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Finn smiled softly and nodded, resting his forehead against hers. He always loved her words, and they meant so much, but he never knew how to respond to it. "I love you. Forever and always," |
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Sera closed her eyes as their foreheads touched, breathing in the closeness of him, the quiet steadiness in his words. Her heart ached in the best and worst ways—because she loved him so much it hurt, and because she could feel how hard he was trying. “I love you too,” she whispered back, her voice barely audible, like the words were meant only for him. “Forever and always.” She let her fingers trail up to gently rest against his jaw, careful with his skin, with the places that were sensitive. “You don’t have to know how to respond,” she murmured. “Just being here with me… that’s enough.” Her smile was small but full of love, unwavering as she looked into his eyes. “You’re enough.” |
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Finn gazed back at her softly. "I love you so much," he whispered, kissing her. |
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Sera kissed him back gently, her hand still cradling his jaw as if he were something fragile and precious all at once. When they parted, she didn’t move away—just stayed close, forehead resting lightly against his, her thumb brushing tenderly across his cheek. “I know,” she whispered, her voice soft and steady. “And I love you just as much, maybe even more.” She smiled faintly, her eyes glassy with emotion but calm now. “Whatever comes next, we face it together. Okay?” Her fingers laced with his. “No more hiding. Not from me.” |
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Finn smiled softly and nodded. "Together. No hiding," he agreed. |
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Sera’s chest ached with how much she loved him in that moment. She nodded gently, her fingers still curled around his, grounding both of them. “Good,” she whispered, her voice warm but a little shaky with feeling. “Because I don’t ever want you to feel like you have to go through any of this alone again.” She leaned forward, pressing another soft kiss to his scarred cheek, lingering there for a moment. “I’ll keep reminding you, every day, if I have to.” Her thumb brushed along the edge of his jaw again, and she gave him a small, sincere smile. “You’re safe here. Always.” |
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Finn smiled softly. "Always," he repeated, kissing her cheek. |
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Morning Rain, with Cooling Temps Later
