When she felt like her limbs were collapsing after hours of training she decided to stop. She looked around to tell Jules that, but he wasn't there and neither were the twins. She looked at the clock on the wall and saw they'd probably eaten dinner already. Her stomach rumbled as on cue.
She found Jules on the roof, painting as usual. For a moment she stood there watching him. The watercolors he often used transformed into a beautiful picture of the ocean. The waves were only a hundred yards away from the Institute and you could see them from where they stood. The sun was only a streak of light at the horizon. A few minutes later the stars had come clear.
"Gonna stand there the rest of the night?"
He turned around.
"You heard me?" she asked.
"No, you've trained to be quiet, but you're my parabatai. We know where the other is."
"I don't always know where you are."
"You found me now."
She sighed and let out a short laugh. "That's because I know you."
He shrugged and started to pack the colors in a bag "But still."
"Have you eaten?" Emma asked.
"No, why?" he asked and furrowed his eyebrows.
"It's well past ten."
"That explains the darkness."
"It does. Wanna go get something from the kitchen?"
"Yeah, just gonna go check that the others have got something too."
She was just finished with sandwiches and tea when Jules came to the kitchen.
"Want some help with that?" He took the tea cups and headed to the stairs.
Emma followed him up.
"Where were the others?"
"Tavvy and Dru were sleeping and the twins are playing cards in their room. Cristina is doing… something", he said and shrugged.
"Where are we going?"
"To my room. We've been in yours the last few times."
"That's because mine is the best."
"It's impersonal."
"Having a messy room is not to have a 'personal touch'", she said and rolled her eyes.
"You need to have an open mind."
They got to his room and he opened the door with his elbow.
Something brushed against her leg as she entered and she looked down on a cat. A blue cat.
"Hey, Oscar. Haven't seen you for a while", she said.
"And that's because we've hung out at your place. He prefers mine."
"I won't destroy my room only to make him come to my room. Then he can stay here." The cat gave her a hurt look. "No offense." He practically snorted and went to sleep under an armchair full of clothes.
"It's so messy", she said and wrinkled her nose.
Sketches and drawings were spread out around the floor and attached to the walls. Pens and brushes covered his desk.
"Personal touch", he countered.
She sighed and sat down on his bed. "I guess there are enough crumbles in the bed for you not to be mad if I eat here?"
"You're probably right", he said and sat down next to her. She gave him a sandwich.
They snuggled like when they were kids, like they'd always done.
"Cozy", Emma said and wrinkled her nose.
"You're so cute when you do that." He mimicked the grimace.
"At least one of us is then."
He grinned and lay down. "Your humor is so mean."
"And that's why you wanted me as a parabatai. So that you'd learn what world had to come for you."
"Exactly, since the fighting part was just a plus." He raised an eyebrow.
"A big plus", she corrected.
"And why did you want me?"
He seemed serious about this question. Lower voice and avoiding eye contact.
She looked down at him where he lied beside her. "Because you're handsome and you had those puppy eyes…"
He turned around onto his belly. "You think I'm handsome?"
"You're a Blackthorn", she tried to explain herself, "you're all handsome." She took a deep breath to clear her mind. "Anyway, I also choose you because you keep your faith in me even when everybody else thinks I'm hopeless."
He shook his head so the dark strands of hair fell over his eyes. "No, that's why I chose you. I'm the hopeless cause while you're fighting for me so that the others won't see it."
She patted his cheek. "And yet, that's why I chose you."
They woke up next to each other, Jules with his sandwich lying on his cheek. It fell off as he rolled over onto his back.
"What time is it?" he asked as he stretched his arms.
She yawned and looked at the clock on his nightstand table.
"9 am."
He jumped up from bed with a smile on his lips. "Good, then we can go at once."
"What?" Emma sat up and gave him a surprised look. "Go where?"
His fingers worked with the buttons of his shirt. "We're going for a research."
She sighed and got up. "Please, give me an explanation."
"We're going to work with the odd markings today."
"Oh!" She actually got excited. He helped her with something she for so long had thought was something she'd have to deal with herself. "Where do we start?"
"At the magician's residence", he said dramatically and made a bow.
"You mean we're going to a warlock. Aren't I typically the one going out for adventures?" she asked and wiggled an eyebrow at him.
"Going to a warlock isn't the same as going on an adventure."
"So, which one?"
"Malcolm Fade, who else?"
Hello!
I know I'm not really good at this updating thing, but I do have my reasons. First, I do have homework and I've changed courses at school which means I have even more than before. Second, I've had a total writer's block.
I'm gonna try to become better.
I really like writing this story and I hope you like it too. For those of you who are writing nice comments thank you. It always makes me more inspired.
