The Return

'.'

I breathe you in again just to feel you underneath my skin

— Familiar Taste of Poison by Halestorm

.'.

Klavier Gavin had come back early — after all, his brother had been convicted of murder. A million screaming fans or not, anybody would fly halfway across the world to see the last remaining member of his family, even if it was behind the unforgiving steel bars of prison.

He'd planned to leave straight after — there was nothing to be gained by staying for a brother who refused to see him unless he was bored. Besides, the rest of the tour was left and his band members were counting on him despite understanding his circumstances.

So what was he still doing here, in his office? Why was he staring at the screens, his thoughtful eyes scanning them searchingly?

To the rest of the world, his decision to stay would be his desire to face the attorney who'd found his brother guilty. It made sense to everyone except his band mates and closest friends and they were too respectful of his privacy to ask.

If they'd walked in on him at that moment, they would instantly know his excuse for cancelling the tour. He was staring at the face of his reason, his mouth set grimly and his gaze calculating.

She was just as he remembered her — the same set of green eyes, those perfectly bow-shaped lips and skin that looked like it had stolen the light of the moon. She was more womanly, of course. It had been 7 years after all.

And as the thought crossed his mind, though he'd counted every year as it passed, the lump sum of his separation staggered him. Had it really been that long? It seemed like it was only yesterday that she had ripped his heart out and taken it with her...

He marvelled at the contrast between the clarity of that painful memory and the calm interest that ran through him as he perused the details of her application to Forensics.

She had done exceedingly well in her academics. He wasn't surprised by this fact — though clumsy at first, he had seen her improve with every year and her intelligence had astounded him on more than one occasion. When she had arrived to Germany and begun her first year at his school, he'd been mildly interested in her. After all, she was the sister of a famous prosecutor, about whom Klavier had heard from Kristoph. His interest in the legal field had naturally drawn him to befriend her.

It hadn't taken him long to figure out that she was more different than he had anticipated. Though friendly, she refused to fall at his feet like the rest of the girls at school. She focused on her studies, asked him about his life, talked about prominent legal figures and joked with him about their careers. Knowing his plans to step into the daunting field of Law and her own interest in Forensics, they had often spoken about working together.

Somewhere along the way, that twinkle in her eye stayed with him long after they'd gone home. At night, he would think of her as he lay in bed and smile at their conversations. It hadn't taken long for the confident Gavin to ask her out, delighted when she accepted with a dazzling smile.

A smile that had deceived him into believing she loved him. It was only when she stopped blinding him with the light of its beauty that he understood at last.

And that had been the last time he'd seen her.

Though it was not so by his design — he'd eventually moved to LA to confront her but she was nowhere to be found. Knowing she would return to her roots and her passion, Klavier had waited. Almost two years passed before he gave up at last. He focused on his work, his music and he pushed her out of his mind...

Still, every so often he found himself drawn to Gatewater Land where he would relive the moment of her betrayal. Sometimes, he daydreamed that one day he would find her wandering it, stopping short when she saw him and then jump into his arms, crying and telling him she regretted her decision all those years ago.

As time wore on and each visit was more disappointing and hollowed than the last, Klavier decided he wouldn't wait anymore — he began to date other women. She was gone, disappeared as if she had never been, and probably only remembered him because his face was plastered on billboards everywhere. That thought used to give him satisfaction. At least she wouldn't be able to forget him and he hoped she lived with the regret of what she had done, if only because he was successful and she couldn't reap from it.

But now, when he had least expected it, she had turned up. She wanted to join the CSI and she most certainly could have, should have...

If it wasn't for the fact that he'd spotted her file first.

He'd made sure there was no mistake — she would not be successful and if he knew her, if she was the same girl he'd met all those years ago, she would allow herself to be reassigned to the Criminal Affairs department. It was the closest tie to her ambition.

So he simply stared at her unsmiling picture as he slowly sank into the trap of waiting once more. This time, however, he knew he did so with a purpose: Ema Skye would come to him.

And when she did, he would be ready for her.