Everyone had good days and bad days, everyone had them in different ways and Striga knew this for a fact. Most nights were good nights, where she felt on top of the world and knew if she wasn’t born the way she was then she wouldn’t be the woman she is now, but tonight? Tonight, was a bad night, a night where she couldn’t look at herself without asking herself why was she born this way? Why was she born so wrong? On those nights she just wanted to hide and not deal with the world, just to shut it all out but luckily her sisters let her be and did what work they could without her and Morana. While they didn’t completely understand her pain, they still respected it.
Morana woke up to her wife silently and pulled her close, tucking Striga’s head under her chin and holding her close as she sobbed. She would sing sometimes, and other times just talked quietly, Morana's voice always helped drag Striga out of herself. Never leaving her alone in moments like these or Striga would spiral.
She had gotten her to drink some blood and now laid with Striga’s head under her chin, curled protectively around the warrior as she ran her fingers through her dark mane. “Did a dream bring this on love or did you just wake like this?” Morana never pushed the subject too far; she knew that would often make Striga feel worse, but she did want to know the cause for such a feeling and how she could help.
“It was a dream, I don’t remember it much.” Striga mumbled into her throat, not wanting to talk about it anyway. She was tired and shaken and just wanted to spend the night cuddled up to Morana.
The smaller woman nodded and hummed as she got an idea. “Would a bath help you feel better if you didn’t have to see yourself?” Morana knew Striga would only feel worse if Striga looked at herself so when she got a nod from the warrior, her warrior, she grabbed a blindfold and tied it around Striga’s head before guiding her out of bed and into the bathroom. She didn’t let them break contact even as she leant over to fill the tub with warm water, letting the sound of running water fill the room and help calm the other woman. Striga let out a content sigh as she was slowly stripped and guided into the tub, sitting with a happy groan at the feeling of the water and pulled Morana close to cuddle. She relaxed under the hands roaming over her skin lovingly until they came to her hips, and she tensed. “It’s okay love, I have you.” Morana hushed soothingly as she took Striga into her hands, gently washing her and praising her.
It would have been too much for Striga if she saw herself, but the blindfold was helping a surprising amount. “I still question how you could love someone like me... Someone who struggles to love themself.” Striga had a bad habit of beating herself up on bad days and it never failed to break her wife’s heart.
Frowning, Morana gripped Striga’s hand and held it to her chest. “Love, listen to me. You have no idea how you make me feel, body and soul; I look at you and am in constant awe of you. Every scar and habit has me swooning endlessly. You are the only one I want and always will be. I married you because I love every bit of you. Striga you are the only one I want to love with, to dance with, to hold close and never let go of. You, Striga and no one else. You’re the one I dream of having a family with.” She could feel tears of frustration. Not because Morana was upset with her wife but because she was upset Striga was hurting so much, upset that people had told her what she feels is wrong.
Striga lifted her blindfold, pleasantly surprised to see Morana had lit candles instead of turning the lighting glass on. It was gentler on her eyes and stopped headaches. “You want a family with me? As in children?” She found it hard to believe her ears and had to ask again to be sure.
“Yes love.” Morana smiled with a faint blush and nodded. “I want a family with you, Though I think one child will be more than enough, if how much trouble you claimed you be as a child is true.” She leant into the kiss Striga pulled her into, purring lowly at the affection and closeness. “But that’s for another night, tonight is about you and making you feel better.” Morana went back to washing Striga, glad to have started a low rumble in her wife's chest, that only got louder when Morana pulled away to wash herself. She was never shy about Striga watching her so openly and instead preened under the attention. “Such a typical heathen.” She teased, laughing as Striga pulled her onto her lap.
“A family sounds amazing.” Striga sighed happily, nuzzling Morana's head. “But you’re right, not tonight. I just want to spend tonight holding each other close and resting, we both need it.” She stood to get their towels to dry themselves, still not looking in the mirror but Striga walked with more confidence, so it meant she was feeling better.
Morana took the towel offered to her and led Striga back to bed once they were dry and curled back with her, preening at the skin-on-skin contact. This was always what Morana loved the most, just honest naked cuddles with her wife. They were always there for one another, making each other stronger so that when it came to the bad moments, whether it be an argument or a night like this, they always came back stronger and better for each other than before.
“Morana, thank you love. For all of this.” Striga nuzzled her wife’s head, closing her eyes as she relaxed and started to drift off.
“You’re welcome love, it’s what a family does; we are there for one another.” She kissed her gently. “Now sleep, I will be here when you wake.”
Striga didn’t protest, just nodding before letting sleep take her into a peaceful rest with her wife in her arms.