I sprinted down the deserted street on the way to my home. My muscles ached. It had been a tough watch. My dogs and I had broken up a bar fight and some rotten cove had broken my collar bone and knocked me unconscious. I had to stay at the healer's down at the kennel longer than I had expected and it was now almost 4 in the morning. I neared my lodgings and saw that all the windows were dark except for one, mine. Rosto! I thought angrily. I was not in the mood for that thief to be lurking around in my rooms. I quickly ran up to the building and up the stairs. My door was closed and I stood outside letting the water drip off me as I shivered. I placed my hand on the door and mentally prepared my tirade for Rosto. I opened the door "Rosto the Piper! If you do not leave my rooms right this moment I swear I will…" my scolding was cut off when Rosto wrapped his arms around my wet body and pulled me close to him.

"Beka! Gods, I'm so glad you're okay. We all heard about the bar fight and when you didn't come home, I was so worried. Don't ever do that to me again."

I pushed him away, "I'm fine! I can take care of myself just fine. I don't need you worrying about me like a mother hen. I especially don't like that you think you can just come into my rooms acos I'm not there. Just what were you doin in here anyway?"

"I was waitin for you. Anyway, I left you something."

I glanced over his shoulder to see a folded piece of paper with a rose on top of it. I sighed exasperatedly. "I told you a million times over. Never a rusher. Especially not the ROGUES mot. Please Rosto. It will never change."

His hand drifted to my dripping hair and brushed it off my cheek, "Just read it Beka. I'm glad you're back." He left closing the door softly behind him.

I walked over to the table and sat down in a chair. I gingerly picked up the note and unfolded it.

Beka

I'm leaving. I don't know when I'll be back. I'm going to Tusaine. The Rogue there wants to got to war with us. You've spent your life here in the Lower City. You know how devastating a rogue war would be. I have to stop it. For you, for everyone. Before I go, I want you to know that you were the one. I've never cared about anyone as I care about you. I would give my life for you and that is why I must go to Tusaine. You say you would never love a rusher and every time you say it, it leaves a hole in my own crooked heart. One day, if I come back, I'll make you mine. Because I love you.

Rosto

A drop fell onto the paper. I was crying. This was unlike me, I had never cried for a man before. How could he say these things to me? He was the Rogue. He was supposed to have as many mots as there were in the city. He wasn't supposed to love. But he loved me. He wasn't supposed to but he did. I stood up from my seat clutching the rose to my chest. I walked down the hall to his room. I knocked softly on his door. He opened it. He wasn't wearing a shirt and I blushed as my eyes roamed over his pale muscled chest and up to his coal black eyes. They bore into me; I still dripped with rain water.

"You read it didn't you." He whispered finally.

"Yes." I whispered back. His strong arms wrapped around me. I hugged him back. This was a bit too much for me to handle in one day. "Rosto, you can't."

"Can't what?"

"Love me. You're not supposed too. Please, I just can't."

He cupped my chin, forcing me to look him in the eyes. "I know. I also know that you're not supposed to love me back." With that he lowered his head to mine a captured my lips in a tender kiss. I kissed him back. He pulled me into his room and shut the door.