"Exactly. Don't even think the word failure," he told her quiely as she set her hands on his shoulders, and it was lucky for them both that it was dark because he couldn't see her blush through the shadows and yellow-green light. Which also meant she probably couldn't see his own. All the better. Because, well, it was silly to get bashful over something like this...kind of immature to get embarrassed just because he was touching a woman. Jeez. Wasn't like they were doing anything...he was just trying to help her fly, and...where else was he supposed to hold her? That would be comfortable for her, that is, and keep her wings free.
He guessed it was just because he'd never really gotten all that close to anyone. Physically, that is. Wait, that sounded wrong! He just meant that he'd never really been one for touchy-feelie stuff like hugging and the like! His parents hadn't really been all that affectionate, so he guessed it had just kind of rubbed off on him. Which was something he really did, honestly, regret...Ishtaq had always gotten onto him about that, always bugging him about his little personal bubble and doing what she could to pop it.
For the time being, at least, it looked like it had, indeed, been popped. And truthfully? He really didn't mind it. It was sort of awkward, to be sure, but...
He was just glad...glad she could live. That, in and of itself, made him feel more comfortable around her, because, really...how could you be really comfortable around someone you were supposed to...get rid of?
Now, he could just relax. And honestly, he was too relieved and happy about that whole recent turn of events that his whole "personal bubble" deal didn't even really enter his head. That would just be petty.
Then, suddenly, Tana hugged him, throwing her arms around his neck and burying her face against him. Oookay, so it was one thing when they were a few inches apart, her holding him by the shoulders, but quite another when she was pressed up against him! To his own amazement, though, his blush didn't deepen. Even more surprising to him was that he wrapped his arms around her when he felt her shiver, rubbing her back, or at least the part where her wings weren't in the way, in soothing little circles. It just seemed the natural thing to do. "Hey...don't be afraid...it's okay..."
Though he could imagine being up there in the air would be quite intimidating...hell, the prospect was intimidating to him! He couldn't even remember how he'd learned, and to teach someone else...oh boy. He was no teacher, but that didn't mean he couldn't try.
Still, he held her until she calmed and loosened her grip, then he nodded at her words and and slid his hands back down to her waist, gripping firmly but carefully. "Alright, then, if you're ready. I'll just count to three, okay? Then we'll give this a shot. You don't have to do anything yet, just relax, alright? So...here we go...one...two...three."
His wings snapped open, electric blue dragonfly wings, and, gripping Tana, he pushed lightly off the ground as his wings began to work in a blur of motion, their buzzing unusually quiet. Perhaps magic was involved with his flight--truthfully, Raijah never had been sure, because it just came so naturally, and because magic itself was simply such a natural, vital part of his life, as natural as breathing. But, that's just how it was with his kind. Still, it probably did have something to do with magic. Those wings might have been able to carry him, but to be able to lift Tana, too...well, they hardly seemed strong enough, delicate insect wings that were quite unlike the feathered wings of other, stronger flying creatures.
Still, however it happened, he managed to lift Tana off of the ground with him, holding her closely and securely as the ground dropped out from beneath them, and the fireflies followed. Or rather, they lead.
Finally, after a moment, Raijah paused, hovering above the trees with the mountains spreading out below. "You okay?" he asked.