[ The rush of water washes away her tears and surprises her just enough to keep any more from welling up in their place. But even more of a surprise is the warm arm around her middle and the frightening realization of just how secure and settled she feels to be held like this - by him.

It's just as he'd said. Whatever kindness and understanding she's been dripfed in her time here, she was still a prisoner, still held under threat of violence and made a toy of every night. Even that inevitable escalation hadn't started because she'd asked for it... even if it was certainly how it'd continued.

And even with all that... she's felt more safe and secure here than she's felt anywhere else in a long time. It'd be a lie to say she's been happy, exactly, but...

She could be. Eventually. ]

Oberon... [ Her voice is trembling. ] Don't make me go back. Don't throw me away, even if you get tired of me. It doesn't have to be anything more than this, but...

[ What a wretched, pitiable fool she is. But she's know that for far too long. ]

I want to keep being "Ai" here for as long as I can.