Disclaimer: I do not own Balem or the Jupiter Ascending universe (though I wouldn't mind owning Balem =D) but I do own Amoya.

Song inspiration:

Télépopmusik- Breathe


Chapter 7: Breathe

Amoya tapped her fingers impatiently on the armrest of the armchair she was sitting in. She had been summon to a sitting room, a room she had never been, because Balem Abrasax had need of her.

That was twenty minutes ago and on her list of pet peeves, tardiness was one of them. Five or even ten minutes she could understand but to push twenty without narry a word irked her. And right now, she was beginning to fume.

In addition, the last week alone was working on her nerves. She thought she had been this close, this close, to talking some sense into Balem and getting him to allow her to go home.

At present moment, she was ignoring what new little information that she had gathered from Balem. Whether he had meant to or not, he in affect admitted that the problem was that he had a crush on her.

And Amoya just could not deal with that thought right now.

She just couldn't.

She thought that she had won him over with her logic but so far there was no result from it. So she steamed for the last week, in a foul mood. She barely saw Balem over the last week, which was just as well because she didn't know what she would do if she saw him. She wasn't prone to violence but, she thought if she saw him longer than a minute she was going to just give him a beat-down and be done with it. Apparently, he was busy with some pressing matter or another, Amoya didn't even care enough to remember if there was even a reason.

She didn't know the reason for Balem summoning her there, but she was more concerned with getting a straight answer out of him.

But right now, she was so mad she couldn't even talk.

Amoya hopped up out of her seat and began pacing. She took a couple of deep breaths trying to calm herself. She felt stressed in these last weeks, nearing her breaking point.

Amoya settled on the floor, crossing her legs. She flexed her arms and rested them on her knees. Her eyes fluttered as she tried to take deep breaths. She gently tilted her neck to the left before straightening and then tilting to the right before straightening. She repeated the move, taking in breaths. She rolled her shoulders back slowly and then forward slowly, still breathing.

And she kept going, trying to calm herself.

The door opened and Balem stepped into the room. His eyes quickly found Amoya. He blinked and cocked his head. She was currently in an upside V position, and he could hear her breathing in and out.

"What are you doing?" he finally asked a shade above a whisper.

It was still enough to startle Amoya as she lowered her body into a push-up position before lifting front half up on her hands. She looked up at him, "Oh, you're finally here. I didn't hear you come in.

"Obviously", Balem moved forward, raising an eyebrow.

"I want you to know that had you come ten minutes earlier I would not be this calm", Amoya spoke as she eased out of the pose.

Gracefully, she came to her feet and stared at him.

Balem blinked slowly, once, "I had other matters to attend to."

"And you couldn't send one of your billzillon servants to alert me that you were going to be late? It's called common curtsey", Amoya snapped.

Amoya took a breath closing her eyes, "Wait, I'm trying to be calm", she inhaled and exhaled, moving her hands.

Balem found himself watching her moving hands as they flowed with her breath. He didn't snap out of it until Amoya stopped and opened her eyes, "What did you want to see me for? Wait you know what, forget that, what I want to know mostly is when are you going to let me go home?"

"You will return home when I say so", Balem scowled.

"When?" Amoya enunciated.

Balem said nothing.

Amoya growled slightly, "Can't you give me a straight answer? I told you what to do. It's the perfect solution! Why won't you?"

Balem lifted his nose, glaring down at her as he answered softly, "I don't have to explain myself to you."

Amoya balled up her fist and raised them slightly, shaking. Balem's eyes narrowed. It took a moment for Amoya to unclench her fist as she tried to breath.

In and Out.

In and Out.

Slowly, she managed to calm herself at Balem watched, eyes narrowed. When he saw that she was calming, he cocked her head.

"I'm good", Amoya whispered more to herself, "I'm good. Floating on waves. Blood pressure is dropping. I'm good."

Only problem was every time her sight caught Balem's, she felt a spike in her pressure. Finally though she was able to look at Balem without wanting to attack him. But still he observed her.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer", she snapped.

Still Balem stared.

"You know, you could benefit from some relaxation techniques", Amoya spoke after a moment.

Balem blinked.

"Might help your temper tantrums."

"I don't have such childish fancies."

Amoya busted out laughing. Balem growled and glowered.

The Caribbean girl wiped her eyes, "Oh, that's good. Thank you. Whoo!" She started for the door, "If there is nothing else, I'll take me leave."

When Balem said nothing, Amoya exited with a hardy chuckle.

It was just as well, because as much as Balem loathed to admit it, he forgot why he summoned her in the first place.

Was there a reason to begin with?

That escaped him as well.

TBC...