A/N: My first romance fanfic and first posted fanfic ever. Didn't expect my first work to be a romance story tho.
Disclaimer: I do not own. If I did, I'd be swimming in the moolah right now.
001: Fallen
He idly watched the frozen body of water in front of him, sighing upon realizing that he'd been watching the same thing for the umpteenth time. His breath came in wisps of vapor as his eyes trailed the dissipating air with a bored countenance.
Impulsively, he sat heavily on the snow covered ground, uncaring whether or not it dampened his pants. He wasn't sulking, no he was far above that. But the little voice in his mind had insisted that he was, undeniably sulking, which irked him more.
He felt like a fool, waiting out in the cold. But he couldn't leave yet, he reasoned, at least not until his fears were confirmed and that she wouldn't come. Until then, he'd stay like the stubborn person he was and hope against hope that it wasn't too late for him to make amends.
He had on several occasions pondered over his mistakes yet refused to delve too much into the task because of fear. Fear of what might manifest, that if all he ever worked hard for might suddenly crumble because he'd neglected her far too long.
And in a moment of nostalgia, the memories assaulted him ruthlessly, mercilessly until all that remained was the numb, hollow feeling that he himself couldn't comprehend. They were two different people hailing from two different worlds.
Even Julian was reluctant about his and Cornelia's relationship, and he understood why. Because it was based on personal experience, based on Julian's poignant relationship with Nerissa and the remorse that came with it.
He didn't want that; he didn't want to fall for someone so near yet unreachable all the same. But he'd undeniably fallen nonetheless, without his knowledge, slowly succumbing to the affliction called love.
He had dismissed it at first as a sort of infatuation. To say that she was beautiful felt wrong, he'd seen women more beautiful than her, yet there was something about her than seemed magnificent in his eyes. That made her more endearing to him than other women could ever be.
It was her independence (a trait that the majority of Meridian women lacked), her boldness, her stubbornness that rivaled his own, her fierce sense of loyalty. And he loved her bluntness as much as everyone else hated it. Because he knew, that around her, he could be 'Caleb', the mere boy who became rebel leader at an age too young.
He'd trusted her with his vulnerabilities and she trusted him with hers. And whenever her cold countenance (her shield to stave off heartbreak) slipped, as she took melancholic stifled sobs, he was there, whether she liked it or not.
But their happiness was short-lived. They'd been too busy with their lives. Meridian had undergone a revolution and was in the middle of reforming itself after thirteen years of repression under Phobos.
With his home world in such a delicate state, he couldn't leave to visit her. She'd been busy too, incessantly leaving for her Guardian duties. And he had noted, without meaning to, that their visits grew shorter and shorter.
The weeks turned to months and the months turned to years. Their relationship had lingered, collecting dust over the years. But memories of her remained, catching him in random intervals, sometimes fleetingly while the other times it left him wondering, with a dull ache, why they had separated. But he knew one truth; he was the one who abandoned her.
He couldn't take it anymore, the longing that gradually grew within his subconscious, he had to know whether or not their relationship could be salvaged, which was why he had sent her a note of invitation to rendezvous with him. If by any chance she didn't come, then he'd leave Earth forever; he didn't want any more heartbreaks.
He was brought out of his reverie when the lingering winds quickened, ghosting down the collar of his coat and causing a shiver to run down his spine. Standing from his sitting position, he happily dusted the snow off his pants, unable to hide his sheepish countenance upon seeing that the snow indeed dampened his pants and that he couldn't hide the large darker spot, contrasting against the blue of his jeans.
Inwardly vexed, he was too caught in his thoughts to realize that a presence was approaching. It was only when he heard the snapping sound of a twig did he realize that someone was behind him.
He muttered a Meridian oath upon being caught off guard and stiffened, schooling his scowling expression to the neutral facade he was accustomed to. The footfalls were hesitant and slow. He had a suspicion that this was an enemy.
His hand slowly reached the sheathed dagger on the front left side of his belt and thumbed the blade an inch out of its sheath, preparing to throw it at the perpetrator if he/she dared to come any closer.
He heard his name being called and he sharply turned around, disbelief marring his face. In front of him, separated by a few meters was her . Her golden hair was askew, her scarves hastily done, one of her shoe laces were untied and her hands sans gloves were an unhealthy pale pallor.
She'd come in haste, he thought somewhat selfishly satisfied that he was part of her top priority. Their eyes met and a there was a pregnant pause as they inspected each other as if waiting for one of them to be a mere illusion and disappear. Neither of them did.
He watched her, unable to comprehend as she suddenly ran forward, her hair floating around her as she approached. Arms akimbo, her limpid blue eyes were mirroring the mirth he knew were reflected in his own.
He felt a surge of elation overwhelming him, threatening to burst forth and he too reciprocated by running towards her, towards his happiness and sadness, towards a life of hardship and strife, towards the imminent beginning. Her gaze momentarily faltered upon seeing his wet pants but she continued running anyway.
separated by a few feet, she tripped on her untied shoe laces and in a minuscule second, momentarily suspended, he watched the transition of her expression from dazed to serenity. Because they both knew, that no matter how fleeting and evanescent their emotions were, he'd catch her when she fell, whether she liked it or not...
Finished! So tell me, is it good or horrible? R&R please. I might do a lighter continuation of this one. Flames will be accepted too, if they bear merit.