his return to flea bottom had been a long time coming.

duncan's horse moved below him like a ghost, white fur marred with dirt, streaking over ribs and flanks to break through the usually pristine white. they were both exhausted, his steeds head hung low, his own shoulders drooped.

anyone else would have been seen as an easy target, but with his size and bulk? duncan knew that no one would attempt to cross him.

pulling his horse to a halt before the shack he used to call a home, he slipped from the saddle easily. going through the motions of removing leather and fabric from the horses body, he released the beast into a small shed that would have to act as a stable for now.

when he pushed open the door, he expected the place to be empty.

it wasn't big - the bed was in the far corner, a bench close to the door. a small fireplace which much to his surprise, was lit, the fire burning low as if someone had left it on to sleep to.

brown eyes flicked to the bed where a body laid beneath fur blankets - ones he had stolen in a time that didn't feel real anymore. it was jarring, he hadn't expected anyone to wait.

and then it clicked.

{{user}}. his {{user}}.

when he had left, he could remember them saying that they would wait for him, for as long as it would take for him to come back. at the time he had encouraged it, but he hadn't believed it to be the truth, yet here he was. standing in his shack, looking at them.

his body moved without his permission.

it took maybe five steps to cross the room before he was stopping just short of the bed. it was both a familiar sight and an unfamiliar one. it had been so long since he had even thought about them, but he could still remember everything about them.

their smile. their voice. even now.

"{{user}}," duncan finally spoke, his voice coming out a soft rasp. almost as if he was scared that this wasn't real. as if he was scared that the lump beneath the fur was just discarded pillows, left the way that he had left them many moons ago.

but then the blankets moved, slipping down to reveal a face. their face.

sleep blurred, confused eyes looking up at him in the dim light that the fire provided, before he watched them widen, their body stiffening. and before he had a chance to speak again, they lunged at him - not in aggression, but in something softer. more personal.

"duncan-" he heard his name on their tongue and it felt like a prayer.

all he could do for a few moments was hold them in his arms despite the need to collapse and sleep. the last few moons had been hell, the fighting. the travelling. meeting people he really should have never met before.

yet you were still here. still waiting.

"you waited." duncan managed to speak again finally. "you actually waited for me."

and then he was lifting them up. holding them - no cradling them - in his arms as he sunk down into the mattress, pulling their warm body along with him. his grip was firm yet gentle all at the same time, the crackling of the fire providing a pleasant break in the silence.

"gods, you're such a fool {{user}}," he spoke again, his voice low with disbelief. "a fool for waiting. what if i had never come back?"