Story: Firestarter

Pairing(s): None

Word Count: 411

Author's Comment: My Cath is a bundle of insecurities.

Originally posted on December 19, 2018 for my 30 Days of Short Fiction. For more information on 30DoSF, please refer to the pinned entry on my WordPress, xlilim – link available in my profile.

I am taking suggestions! If you want to see any couple or character from the story in certain situations, let me know. If I feel inspired by the idea, I will write them! You can PM me, leave a review, or comment on the 30DoSF WordPress page.


We Know Fear in Love

Gracia sits down across Cecilia with an inviting smile that eases her nerves, but if this puts the married woman in any danger, she already regrets it. Nobody followed here. She minded all the rules given to her. She saw no purpose in disobeying them to jeopardize a whole group of people, but she walked out here from so far to catch even the smallest of glimpses and even hear a hint of his voice with a powerful undercurrent beneath every order issued. She picked up the phone because she had been alone in the hotel, unrecognized in her disguise, and feeling utterly alone, like the walls of the reception room were too wide, as if she had been swallowed into the belly of a giant beast.

She remembered Gracia's phone number by some twist of fate. She twisted the dial until she was prompted for connection, and the name she gave was one that she had not used in some time.

She is no longer Cecilia, but to Gracia…that is all she has ever been.

"Thank you for seeing me," says Cecilia. "I know this must have been very forward of me, and I apologize for it. I don't mean to disturb you, I just…"

Gracia shakes her head. "Don't put yourself down, Cecilia. I'm happy to see you again. Have you been well? The last I heard, well, it was quite a shock. Roy was…well, I suppose you could imagine."

Cecilia nods. "I'm sorry for worrying you."

"I'm only happy that you're doing well," says Gracia, regarding the server that appeared with a pair of menus.

Cecilia asks for a cup of earl gray and Gracia requests a sweetened chamomile blend before returning to the conversation.

"Have you seen him?" asked Gracia.

"No, I, uh"—she lowers her gaze—"I don't want to bother him."

"You won't be. He's been looking everywhere for you. He's been dying to see you, Cee. If there's anything Maes and I can do for you, you know that we would."

"No, don't worry about that, this isn't about that, I just, I guess, I wanted to see someone that knew him, you know?" Cecilia shakes her head and pushes her chair back, it scratches the ground. "No, this is ridiculous, I shouldn't have come."

Gracia reaches out and catches her hand. "We can go somewhere else if you'd like."

"I can't. "

She rushes out of the coffee shop, unable to look back.