Thirty-eighth Morning

                                    

                                          
Sometimes she pretends to be afraid of the thunder, so she has an excuse to burrow deeper into his warm embrace. And she supposes he pretends to believe in her childish fear because he likes it when she nuzzles against him and clings to him tightly. 
Sometimes they both forget that it was the lightning that struck first and it was the blinding flash that held more power than anything else. But she supposes it doesn't really matter in the end.
It was just them.
***
Nya awakes to warmth. It envelopes her in a manner that she can only describe as sublime. It doesn't really take long for her to realize that the source of this heat is the body she seems to have become entangled with. And she knows she should probably panic. She knows she should probably jump out of this mess of limbs that belong to the two of them. But she can only find herself shifting closer to him instead of farther away. It's comforting this way. She feels safe, protected. She feels more than whole.
So she gives up. She accepts this feeling wholly and lets it fill every inch of her being. There are no regrets here. Just serenity and peace. Nya stares up at the face of the person who has somehow managed to make her feel like this. He looks so innocent like this, so boyish. His features are smooth, free from worry and pain. The curve of his lips is relaxed, the usual mischievous look that haunts it is absent. It is replaced by a smile that she can only describe as genuine happiness. Nya smiles back.
His arms are wound tightly around her waist, and she takes the opportunity to wrap her own arms around his neck, pulling herself closer to him. Their legs are tangled together, and she can feel his breath on her skin. It sends shivers down her spine, and her heart skips a beat. Her face flushes lightly and she can feel the heat of her cheeks.
Nya closes her eyes and simply breathes him in. He smells faintly of pine trees over growing around power lines, and the crisp, clean scent of ozone before a thunderstorm, two things that remind her of home. She lets out a content sigh and snuggles further into his chest.
The sound of his heartbeat is strong and steady, and she finds herself matching its rhythm with her own. She feels complete. Like this is where she belongs, here with him.
She opens her eyes again and gazes at his peaceful expression once more.
I love you, Jay Walker.
The words float through her mind, and she smiles wider.
Maybe someday she will be able to tell him that. Maybe someday she will be brave enough to admit her feelings aloud. But for now, she will just enjoy this moment with him.
She exhales a deep breath, relaxing against him completely, letting her elemental power rush to the surface of her skin. The gentle ebb and flow of waves in the ocean, push and pull, back and forth, teasing his own elemental power to come out and play. She sees a few blue sparks pop across his skin as she feels a surge in electric power. She giggles quietly. It tickles.
She leans forward and places a soft kiss on his cheek before settling back into his arms.
His elemental power of lightning brushes up against her own, and she closes her eyes, envisioning a stormy sky. Thunder booms in the distance, followed by a flash of bright light. She feels his elemental power respond to hers, creating a beautiful symphony of sound and light.
She hums softly, enjoying the sensation of their elements mingling together. It is a beautiful display of power, one that she knows is unique to just them. No one else has ever been able to create such a spectacular sight before. Lightning lashes out, connecting with the vast open sea, creating ripples and waves in the water. Waves crash down, colliding with bolts of electricity, creating a dazzling display of color and energy.