One Last Chance
Part 1 - The Letter | Part 2 - Cope | Part 3 - The Arrival | Part 4 - Necessary Risks | Part 5 - Eleven Years
Part 6 - One Step (AO3 Link)
With Athran in his arms and the entire situation suddenly feeling impossibly real, Hanin discovers there is still a lot left to address, and even more to mend.
CW: non-graphic mentions of abuse (physical and implied sexual).
The slave’s quarters remained relatively quiet as Hanin and Athran held each other, neither seeming quite willing to break the embrace, neither wanting to bring to an end something so long in the making. But, eventually, Athran’s shaking became more noticeable, so Hanin helped guide the hunter towards one of the nearby benches, setting him down, dropping into a crouch before him. Silent tears stained his flushed cheeks, and Athran swept them away hurriedly, the corner of his sleeve coming away smeared with a pale colour that left Hanin baffled for a moment before he realised what it was. Slowly, hesitantly, Hanin reached towards Athran. When the man didn’t pull away, he brushed his thumb down the side of his cheek, that strange paint coming away, revealing the faint line of his vallaslin beneath. It was also during that process that Hanin took the chance to properly inspect his clanmate’s face.
What he saw set his blood boiling in his veins.
“Who did this to you?”
Athran gave a wet, disbelieving laugh, pulling away from Hanin’s touch. “Really? After all this time, the first thing you’re going to do is interrogate me?”
It took everything Hanin had not to visibly wince. He needed to slow down. Creators, he knew that, yet there he was, acting like a complete fool. One step. One step at a time.
“Ir abelas. Are you alright?”
A feeble smile flickered across Athran’s lips. It didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m fine.”
“Will you tell me what happened?”