Hazy Vision

By: Komo Pineconeseed

Disclaimer: Haunting Ground belongs to CAPCOM.

Warnings: young!Lorenzo/Fiona. WIP. Sporadic chapter lengths, genres, and updating.


Chapter Four


Fiona didn't see him again for three days, and that was peculiar mostly because she had been looking for him the entire time. She wasn't sure why. She hadn't decided one way or another on his new offer, despite her vehement rejects last she saw him. She wasn't sure why that was either. She should have been recoiling in disgust, believing she would never stoop that low.

It was just… she was so lonely here, in this giant, still, and oppressive castle. Her only companion, if you could call him that, was Debilitas, and all he seemed interested in was playing with dolls, doing yard work, and bowing at her. She tried to open the front gate multiple times, but it was still locked, and Debilitas did not have a key. She had asked, multiple times, but the newly gentle giant just mumbled and continued bowing at her.

Knowing her luck, Aureolus Lorenzo likely held it.

Fiona was looping through the castle for what must have been the hundredth time. By now, it felt less like she was searching for him and more like a motion she simply went through.

So naturally, it was when she wasn't looking for him when she found him.

It was curious since she had passed through the golem room on the second floor multiple times, but this was the first she had seen of him. He was sleeping. His arms were crossed on the table, and he was resting his head and shoulders on them. While his body was turned away from her, his face wasn't.

She leaned against the door frame for some time, studying his face and figure. His eyebrows were arguably his most striking feature, and they were thick and dark, giving his expression a harshness that can only be mellowed out in the solemnity of sleep. His normally intense eyes were closed, and his expression was peaceful. His auburn short-spiky hair suited his explosive personality well. His chest, while blocked from her view currently, was well defined, and she remembered how firm his pectorals were when he held her days ago. His forearms were bare due to his half sleeves, and she was impressed with how toned they were. His whole skin bore a healthy bronze glow, perhaps enhanced by his supernatural state.

If Fiona was remotely truthful, she'd say he was the most masculine and handsome man she had ever seen. If she was honest with herself, she'd say she was physically attracted to him.

However, these were incredibly terrifying thoughts to be having about a man she had mistaken for her father once. Hell, he was wrinkled and almost edentulous upon their first meeting!

Deciding to focus on the present, Fiona shook such terrifying truths from her mind. From where she was standing, Fiona could see the Sol key sticking out partially from his sleeve. She walked forward to retrieve it.

Before she did however, her hand stopped. At first, she thought the alchemist had done something to make her stop moving, but then Fiona realized she had stopped on her own. There was something not right about the situation. He appeared too calm when he was normally passionate in her presence. Furthermore, it seemed too easy. In her experience here, lying figures do not stay lying when someone tries to take a key.

(And truthfully, he just looked so peaceful that she didn't want to bother him, but she would not allow this thought to fully form.)

Retracting her arm, Fiona turned around and left. She softly closed the door behind her and sighed.

The damn key was right there, but she just couldn't seem to take it. What the hell was wrong with her? She hoped Hewie was doing well. Was Aureolus Lorenzo feeding and taking her beloved dog as promised? Fiona was sick of worry. She had long since accepted that she would be stuck here in the castle for the next undeterminable length of time. But Hewie… Hewie didn't need to be treated poorly. He should be able to run, to eat, to not stress, to not cry…

Fiona returned to her suite and sat on her bed. She seriously decided to think about his second offer.


Lorenzo opened his eyes and sat up the moment Fiona shut the door. Smirking, he slid the key back into his sleeve. How bizarre. He fully expected his little Azoth to take advantage of the situation and take the bait, but she didn't. Perhaps, his dear was giving up?

He could feel his body respond to such a luscious thought.