>>44898142Oh god, both.
But these things don't always have to be a rush of passion, as nice as rushes of passion are. I mean, it could be a longer term thing, more slow and serious development of a relationship. Something that revels in the push and pull, and the slow inevitable course of gravity.
Like, she's growing older, and not growing out of it but growing into it. She starts to look at him not with girlish infatuation for a hero, but with desire and love for her partner, steady and sure. He's unable not to notice how her chest rises and falls to be nearer and further from him, as they breathe tandem, in battle-forged sync. He can count the millimetres (I mean, he's good at distances).
The distinction between protecting her and loving her becomes blurrier and blurrier. His protestations towards himself of "She's just like a Rowlet! She needs me to take care of her, not do - that!" become feebler.
At one point she upfront takes his wing and holds it in her lap, and tells him with an uncharacteristic (and therefore disarming) steadiness, "If you'll never see me as anything but the child who was your trainer, I respect that. But if you just need some time - then you should know I'll be waiting, too."
