So I was saving this poem for no. 10 with the intention of writing some amazingly epic ode to Romitri's love, but just as I sat down to write it my brain decided otherwise. I've had this scene in my head for months but never got around to writing it, so hopefully you get the image that's been stuck in my mind :)
Today is the last day of my Frostbite 2015 1,5 Million Words Challenge. Winners will be announced tomorrow.
Disclaimer: Still not mine!
No speed of wind or water rushing by
But you have speed far greater. You can climb
Back up a stream of radiance to the sky,
And back through history up the stream of time.
And you were given this swiftness, not for haste
Nor chiefly that you may go where you will,
But in the rush of everything to waste,
That you may have the power of standing still-
Off any still or moving thing you say.
Two such as you with such a master speed
Cannot be parted nor be swept away
From one another once you are agreed
That life is only life forevermore
Together wing to wing and oar to oar.
~ Robert Frost
Being with him after so long... it was like coming home.
~ Last Sacrifice, pg 474
Delayed. The information board seemed almost smug as it flashed up that word for the 42nd time since I'd been sitting here on this uncomfortable metal railing. There was nothing I hated more than waiting, waiting for something that was out of my control. I didn't like to admit that I was powerless, but there was nothing I could do to reduce strong headwind slowing up a commuter flight. If I was an air user, then maybe I'd be able to help a little. But alas, my skills prevented me from doing anything other than kicking the stupid plane when it finally did land.
Still, it could be worse. The old lady beside me had been standing up for the last hour and was leaning ever more heavily on her walking stick. I could stand for hours without much discomfort, but was thankfully agile enough to perch on the narrow railing whilst I waited for Dimitri's plane to come in.
I'd found about half an hour ago that thinking of him and our imminent reunion actually made time pass even slower. The last four months apart had been agony, but it was like the pain had tripled since last night. Once he was back from Palm Springs, I wasn't letting him out of sight until after Christmas.
"Excuse me?" A voice asked to my left. I was immediately on my guard, but it was just the old lady. "Are you waiting for flight CAL19021?"
I nodded. Talking to strangers at an airport was never the best idea, but I was pretty sure I could take this granny if I needed to. "Yeah. Are you?"
"Yes. Could you tell me if it's got an expected time of arrival? My eyesight's not quite what it used to be."
Definitely harmless. "Sorry, it still just says delayed." In fact, it had stopped flashing now, the red letters fixed on the screen, mocking me. "Are you waiting for someone?"
She smiled, seeming pleased at the conversation. Anything to distract from this strange combination of boredom and anticipation. "My grandson. I've never met him before as my daughter moved to the West Coast when she got married. He's just turned one."
"Oh, sweet. I have a niece a little older than that." Thinking about Zoya inevitably brought Dimitri back to the forefront of my mind.
"You're waiting for someone too?"
I nodded. "My boyfriend. He's been away with work for the last four months, and now the stupid plane is delayed." I checked the board again. After hearing about the Strigoi and Warrior attacks in Palm Springs, the last thing I needed was this.
"Oh, look!" The old lady suddenly pointed to the large archway. "Is that person carrying a suitcase? Could they be from the flight?"
Judging by the shorts and Hawaiian shirt worn by the man, I'd say he'd come from somewhere a lot warmer than Montana. He'd be cold when he got outside.
The man behind him, however... well, the long leather coat he was wearing would have been sweltering in Palm Springs, but since when had he ever cared about that.
"Dimitri!" I shouted, leaping off the railing and dashing towards the increasing stream of arrivals. "Dimitri!"
His head had turned the first time I shouted his name, and by the second he had already picked up the pace and was drawing closer to me. Not fast enough.
He barely had time to drop the duffel bag he was carrying before I hurtled into his arms, my feet hanging well above the floor as I clung to his neck and shoulders. I wrapped my legs around his waist to anchor me even more closely to him.
Dimitri chuckled quietly, warm breath stirring my hair before he pressed a kiss to my head. "Well this is a warm welcome."
My own joy bubbled over, spilling into a laugh. "You probably think it's warm because you're wearing your ridiculous duster." I dropped back to the floor, letting my hands slide down to grip his lapels. "Are you deliberately trying to overheat?"
He looked sheepish. "I couldn't fit it in my case. Clarence was having a clear out and gave me some books..."
I rolled my eyes, but used by grip on his jacket to pull his head down to my level. Our lips met in a scorching kiss that seared away the pain of separation, but also left me burning for a whole lot more.
"I missed you," Dimitri murmured against my mouth. "I missed you so much."
"I know. I missed you too. I love you."
He would no doubt have returned the sentiment had someone not obnoxiously cleared their throat right next to us at that moment. I turned my head to bitch them out for ruining the moment before realising that almost everyone in the arrivals area was staring at us, either openly or covertly. The elderly lady I had been speaking too was watching us with a knowing smirk, but her gaze returned to the toddler in her arms a moment later.
"I'm sorry sir, madam, but you're interrupting the flow of foot traffic," stuttered the guard, who looked to be about twelve years old. I thought about pointing out that he was the one interrupting, but thought better of it. He'd probably see it as a security threat. "Please relocate to a less central area."
I slid down Dimitri's body as he apologised, reaching down to pick up his bag. I was surprised the guard wasn't giving him a bollocking about leaving baggage unattended.
Dimitri wrapped an arm around my shoulders as I slung mine around his waist, leaning close as we headed towards the double doors and freedom. I shot one last smile back at the elderly lady before we stepped out into the sunlight.
"I can't believe we held everyone up like that," Dimitri said, amusement in his voice.
" I think that guy was just jealous. I quipped with a wink. "We can't help being hot enough to stop traffic."
Dimitri stopped walking and turned to face me again, smile shining brighter and making me feel warmer than the California sunshine.
"I love you, Roza."
Summer might be well and truly over, winter might be on its way, but it didn't matter. Right here I had my own personal sun, and together we would fight the cold and the frost. Whatever the geographical distance between us, nothing could ever tear us apart.
"I love you too, Dimitri." I took his hand in mine, lacing our fingers together. "Let's go home."
This is the last oneshot in this series for now, as my challenge ends tonight. However, since I still have some Robert Frost quotes left, so I'll return to this series when I've caught up on my other stories. Hopefully an ALS3 update should be up before too long!
As always, thanks for reading and reviewing, and most importantly, supporting Frostbite.
One last time: Support Frostbite on Indiegogo! ;D
~ Dimitri's. Smexi. Shewolf x