Listening to the rain, you lay on the edge of a house that had been in ruins for years.

A large part of the roof had collapsed in the other rooms, only the main room could still be used without danger. The door was also completely damaged. At least four walls were still standing and would hold back the nightly wind.

As if petrified, you lay on the floor in front of the open door and looked out as the rain turned the former main street into a small river. Pieces of wood and other things from a past civilisation floated by.

A small campfire crackled at your feet. Tyr had gathered wood and used a spell to make it dry quickly. Now he sat in front of it, his upper body exposed, warming himself.

You were cold too, your soaked clothes clinging to every cell of your skin, and yet you didn't want to join him by the fire.

You wanted to be alone. Even if it wasn't wise to cut yourself off while in a state of distraught, you couldn't help but wish to find a place high up in a tree to just hide away for a while.

Every now and then you were able to feel his eyes roam over your body. You could tell that there were so many words on his lips yet he left them unspoken.

Tyr knew that this wasn't easy. And he would by no means try and pretend that he knew how you felt like because he didn't.

Nobody ever felt the exact same things while they had been in similar situations. He knew how it was to loose, his mother had been a giant too after all and just like very other she was gone.

But despite that he did not try and tell you that it would be okay. Because in the end he wouldn't know if you'd one day find your peace.

He had found his, under his own conditions. He wouldn't push you to do the same.

And yet.

He couldn't help but feel the need to at least be there for you. It wasn't like he was asking for little. He needed you to help him find knowledge that was said to be cursed since Odin had slaughtered an entire realm for it.

You didn't even know what Tyr intended on doing with it once he held it in his hands. The only thing you did know was that you trusted him.

All you needed was a moment of silence, just you, alone with your thoughts and feelings. You just didn't want to be lonely.

Perhaps it was because the two of you often shared similar views or because he knew you better than you wanted to admit, but after a moment of staring, the god of war decided to let himself fall on his back.

Now he lay next to you, one arm tugged under his head to keep it off the hard ground, and turned to look at your back.

His lips parted and you could hear how he attempted to say a word. But he decided against it, breathed out deeply and let his free hand lay on your side for a moment.

The warmth of his body collided with the feeling of the wet fabric that stuck to you. A shivering breath escaped you as his fingers tightened to give you a gentle squeeze.

It was a silent request for permission.

You did not answer to it. Nor did you deny him.

In his own judgment, Tyr decided not to pull you close but instead to snuggle up against your back. His heart was at the height of your head as his arm wrapped around you to provide cover from the stormy winds.

Unsure, you grabbed his hand with both of yours to guide it to your lips. Although you felt the strong urge to place a kiss on it, you didn't.

A kiss to the back of one's hand was a gesture of trust or romantic interest. And if you were completely honest to yourself, you did not clearly know which meaning it would have to you.

The lines between grateful companionship and a deep rooted trust that only existed between lovers started to blur.

It wasn't that you would have minded. It just confused you.

This was neither the time nor place. But you couldn't deny that the desire existed.

"You're getting all wet again.", you finally whispered as the realisation stuck you that he had shed his shirt to let it dry.

Gently, you tried to slip from his grip. Surprisingly, though, he kept you close to himself.

"Don't worry, Helchild.", he whispered into your ear, a smile audible in his words as he rested his chin on top of your head. "I don't mind."

"My clothes must feel uncomfortable to you."

He chuckled, so soft and caring.

"Not as much as they must feel to you, I imagine.", he replied. "You should undress to let them dry."

Immediately, heat shot to your head. All of a sudden the grim memories faded from your mind and instead were replaced by the image of you and Tyr, naked, embracing each other.

It was a silly little thought, you weren't a child anymore and knew very well that intimacy wasn't something to be ashamed of. You weren't even inexperienced in that matter.

But despite the fact that you and Tyr were close, it made you feel heated to think that you could be even closer. Skin to skin close even.

Or more.

All of a sudden a warm feeling started to spread between your legs. It was like a bolt of lightning, followed by a throb that wanted to grow bigger.

You refused to acknowledge it.

But you had to admit that you couldn't ignore the clothes that stuck to your body any longer.

A deep sigh escaped your lips. You squeezed your eyes shut to take a moment.

"You're right...", you finally said and glanced up to meet his gaze. "Would you be so kind..?"

He started at you for a moment.

"Help you undress?", he suddenly asked, visibly baffled.

"To turn away!"