Tuesday
Clare grunted when a ray of light hit her in the face.
"Murg..." She said. Johnny mewed and licked Clare's face. The ninja opened one of her eyes and looked down at the yellow and black fur ball sitting on her lap.
"Good morning Johnny." Clare said and started to pet the creature. The kit glanced from her to the other person sharing the couch with big silver eyes. Clare turned her head slightly and saw a white clad chest breathing evenly. Johnny nuzzled her mother's cheek affectionately. Clare giggled and nuzzled the kit back. The Captain inhaled sharply, signalling he was waking up. Clare touched noses with Johnny and let go of Linebeck's hand. The Captain groaned and secured an arm around Clare's waist as he sat up. Clare blushed and her hands wrapped around Johnny's small body so she didn't fall. He rubbed his neck with his free hand, eyes still screwed shut.
"Morning Angel..." He groaned, "Should've taken my own advice..." Clare giggled.
"Let me return the favour. And all you have to do is let me go..."Clare said. Linebeck released the younger woman, his mind still foggy. Clare picked up Johnny and sat her on her shoulder as she stood up on the couch so she could sit on the back.
"Okay lean back." She ordered. Linebeck did as he was told and leaned back. Clare started to rub his shoulders over the fabric of his shirt. The Captain relaxed into her touch as the miniature Keaton draped herself across her mother's shoulders. Clare continued to work on his shoulders and near his neck but she wouldn't touch the red kerchief. Linebeck was slowly waking up his mind. Clare's hands were cramping up now. Linebeck reached up and seized her hands gently, making the ninja unable to do anything.
"Are you fully awake?" Clare asked him, Johnny's little ears twitched against her cheek.
"Yes, and your hands are cramping aren't they." Linebeck said as he gently pulled the smaller woman off the back of the couch and into his lap. Clare blushed but nodded her head.
"You're shoulders were pretty tense." She explained.
"My shoulders have been like that since our run in with Belldum." He admitted applying light pressure to the ninja's wrists, causing the muscle to relax. Clare shivered.
"He was the worst of the ones we fought." Clare said.
"Yeah but we're all still in one piece, and we don't have to worry about him here." Linebeck said leaving his hands resting on Clare's wrist, his bracelet exposed because the way the fabric of his shirt had fallen. Clare tapped said bracelet.
"When did you get this?" She asked.
"Anni made it for me when she could barely walk..." Linebeck replied praying Clare missed the magical fluctuation that little tap had caused or he'd have a lot of explaining to do. Clare's entire body twitched and she looked up at him.
"Did that come from this?" She asked and pointed to the leather band.
"Did what come from where?" He asked a little too quickly. Clare glared at him and tapped the bracelet again. His hair lightened to a chocolate brown. Clare noticed that too, she looked up at him and tapped the bracelet two more times. Linebeck fidgeted under the ninja's glare and closed his eyes his hair went the same shade of blond as hers before going back to dark brown. Clare sighed and stood up.
"I'm surprised you never told me sooner Linebeck...I thought we were friends...." She said.
"It's really hard to explain Clare, and I figured if I told you, you'd put even more distance between us because of it..." The captain muttered dropping his head into his hands.
"Well you figured wrong...." Clare mumbled and put her arms around herself.
"Do you really want to know?" He asked quietly. Clare looked at him.
"Yes. Yes I do." She whispered. He sighed and untied the leather bracelet, as he slipped it off his wrist the magic dissolved and his hair turned platinum blond and fell past his shoulders, longer than the ninja's. Clare was silent for a moment. Then she hugged him.
"Thank you...for sharing your secret with me...." She whispered to him. Linebeck gently gripped her upper arm,
"Promise me you won't scream...or hate me." He whispered as he had yet to met the ninja's eyes.
"I promise." She reassured him. Linebeck finally looked up and his sea green eyes had been replaced with rich red tones that seemed to shift constantly.
"You're a shiekah...so what?" Clare asked. But inside Clare's head three of her four personalities were screaming. He's shiekah! WHAT!!! But then again that does explain some things....
"You hate Shiekah...you've said so yourself." He whispered dropping his eyes and his hands.
"I hate Sheik the Shiekah. You're not him. Because you are not a pervert." Clare said to him. The Captain rubbed the back of his next nervously.
"Your related to him aren't you?" Clare said. Linebeck swallowed thickly and nodded.
"Well, it's a good thing you're not a pervert then Hm?" Clare said as she smiled. The Captain glanced nervously at the ninja, he seemed so much more vulnerable now. Clare smiled to him.
"I'm not going to hate you, though I am hurt that you didn't tell me....You can put it back on if you want." Clare said.
"I'm sorry. I got a lot of criticism for being shiekah, made me a little wary of who I told, who knows if they beat the crap out of me or not." Linebeck apologized, the leather band dangling between his fingers. Clare couldn't stand to see him like that. She walked over and gave him a hug, a gentle one. The captain flinched at the contact.
"I could never hurt you Linebeck. Like I said last night...you're my hero, weather your shiekah or not." Clare said into his chest. Linebeck closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her, leaning into her embrace.
"Since I've spilled most of my secrets, I might as well tell you the last one, Linebeck is my last name." He whispered as he held the smaller woman close.
"Then what's your first?" Clare asked after she freed her face from the folds of his shirt.
"Don't laugh...my full name is Luke Vaan Linebeck." He confessed a light blush sweeping across his cheeks.
"Luke huh? It'll take me awhile to remember to call you that." Clare said.
"Don't...please...can we keep this between us?" He whispered, a pleading tone to it. Clare smiled up at him.
"Of course, Linebeck." She said.
"Thank you, you can call me Luke when we're alone." He said in a relieved whisper.
"Alright." Clare said as she snuggled into his chest. He sighed and placed a hand on the back of his Angel's head and remained quiet. Clare kept her face squished against his chest, knowing he needed time to get through with this.
"You really are an angel Clare..." He whispered. Clare smiled and pulled back a little to look up at him.
"You really are..." He said again tears pooling in his wine coloured eyes. Clare smiled again and stood on her tip toes to kiss his cheek.
"Only for you." She whispered after. Luke flushed but still smiled and wrapped his arms tighter around her.
"If this is a dream don't let me wake up..."
"It's not a dream Luke..." Clare whispered to him.
"It has to be, nothing ever goes right for me..." He said.
"Luke..." Clare said then put her face back against his chest. The Captain fell to his knees, his emotions overwhelming him. Clare fell with him and patted his back and stroked his hair.
"Shh..." She cooed. Luke sobbed silently in her arms, it was like someone had pulled the stopped from the bottle and knocked it over. Clare started humming (true colours) again and continued to pet his hair, her own tears coming down softly.
"...I'm so sorry Clare...I'm such a wreck..." He whispered through his tears.
"Then it's a good thing I'm here. Someone needs to pick up the pieces and put you back together." Clare whispered back. He didn't reply just held the other blond as close as he could as he poured his heart out. Clare smiled and continued to comfort him in every way she could think of. Luke's blond flanks fell against Clare's bare skin. Clare reached one hand behind her head and pulled her elastic out. She put the elastic around her wrist and continued to stroke Luke's hair. Luke's sobs died down to hiccupped breaths. Clare smiled and continued to pat his hair and hold him as close as the clothes barrier would allow. He swallowed and tried vainly to calm his erratic breathing.
"It's okay." Clare finally said as she put her head atop his. He hiccupped and buried himself in the smaller blonds' arms with his face against her neck.
"I'll be here as long as you need me to be here." Clare said. He tightened his embrace on her.
"Then you're never leaving..." He whispered against her neck.
"Then I should start calling Levious, home." Clare smiled and whipped her tears away with her free hand.
"I'm sorry for making you cry." He whispered.
"These are tears of happiness..." Clare muttered. Luke smiled for once in what seemed like hours. Clare smiled lightly and continued to stroke his hair. The poor high strung man relaxed with a sigh.
"Are you better now?" Clare asked him calmly.
"I will be..." He replied. His red wine eyes tired but held a new spark. Clare smiled.
"Good. Now come on, my legs are cramping and this is a very un comfortable way to sit." Clare said as she tried to move her legs. Luke smiled slightly and stood up on shaky legs before gently pulled Clare to her own.
"Okay, come sit on the couch before you fall down." Clare said and grabbed his hand, leading him to the couch. He nodded and let himself be led. Clare sat down on the couch and pulled him so he was sitting beside her. He leaned his head on her shoulder, looking tired.
"Go to sleep. I promise I'll still be here." Clare cooed softly. He sighed and drifted into a fitfully sleep. Clare never left his side, always there. Johnny poked her nose up over the edge of the couch and cocked her head at the person sleeping fitfully next to her mother. Clare picked her up.
"That's Linebeck Johnny." Clare said. The kit looked at her like she was insane then looked at Luke, before mewing in understanding. Clare smiled and pet the creature with one hand and grabbed Luke's in the other. The Captain's hand clenched spastically in his uneasy sleep. Clare started to hum her lullaby to get him to relax. He settled a little but his eyebrows were still knitted together in stress. Clare continued to hum and she started to massage the hand she had grabbed. He slowly relaxed, the tension slowly leaving him. Clare kissed the crown of his head.
"I won't leave you Luke. You can count on it." She whispered. Johnny settled herself between the two. Clare continued to hum and massage Luke's hand as she looked over to the window and saw the clouds move by. There was a very light knock on the door.
"Clare?" It was Anni.
"Hmm?" Clare hummed turning to the door. The tiny brunette slipped inside, the door barely opened.
"Is he okay?" The younger one asked, her knowledge of the going on's in the Inn amazing. Clare smiled lightly.
"Yes...or at least I think he is." Clare said and rubbed her head nervously.
"You're with him, he'll be fine..." The tiny brunette left her words hanging as she left, closing the door silently behind her. Clare shook her head with a smile and continued to hum and massage. It was quiet, Johnny sound asleep between the ninja and the Captain and said Captain resting peacefully now. The window swung open with the quiet click of the latch allowing a summer breeze to blow through the library. The breeze made Clare's and Luke's hair dance around their faces and Clare smiled. Johnny flicked her tail in her sleep. Clare leaned her head back and closed her eyes, listening to the sounds around her. Someone was playing Luke's lullaby downstairs. Clare couldn't help the yawn that overtook her. For once the Captain was right, there is something calming about Levious. Makes you want to drop all the walls you'd built around yourself and sink into the blissful atmosphere. Clare yawned one last time before joining her Captain in the world of dreams. The young ninja was awakened when a cool breeze whispered through the open window. She opened her eyes slowly and blinked.
"Ugh...What time is it?" She asked herself and looked at the clock. The clock on the wall read seven twenty one, and she had to squint to read it, Anni had left the lamps out.
"Goddesses I slept all day." Clare said as she yawned again and looked over at Luke who still had his head on her shoulder. Johnny awoke with a stretch, arching her back in a cat like manner.
"Guess I wasn't the only one who slept all day." Clare giggled and stretched her legs out. The Captain shifted in his sleep, silvery blond hair falling across his face. Clare smiled and swept it behind his pointed ear. He leaned into her touch, his frame visibly relaxing. Clare giggled and started to pet his hair. There was a quiet tinkle from outside, like a glass harp. Clare's ear twitched to the sound and she turned her head to look. There was a light glow coming from the direction of the ocean. Clare watched, her ears twitching every once and a while.
"What is that?" She asked the room.
"Moonlights." Luke said his eyes still closed.
"Oh so you're awake?" Clare asked as she turned her head back to him.
"Sort of, enough to recognize that sound." He replied nuzzling Clare's shoulder, much in the way a person who's awake but doesn't want to be would. Clare giggled.
"We've been sleeping all day Luke." She said softly.
"So..." He whined. Clare giggled and shook her head.
"Okay okay, we can stay here..." She said. The chime rang from outside again. Clare's ear twitched to it but she didn't turn her head away, instead she stretched her arms up and waited till her back popped quietly.
"They're not going to shut up..." Luke muttered as he curled closer to the ninja. Apparently the chime was still ringing his ears.
"Want me to go close the window?" Clare asked as she brushed his bangs away from his face.
"It won't help..." He moaned in defeat.
"I know I can't out sing a chime..." Clare said as she ran a hand threw her hair. He groaned and sat up, his silver flank falling over his shoulder.
"I guess I could show you them..." He grumbled.
"You don't have to if you don't want to." Clare said.
"Nah, you'll like it..." He replied his eyes scanning the floor. Clare smiled and looked down at her lap with a blush.
"Clare, can you help me find my spell?" He said as he checked under the couch. Clare nodded her head and stood. She walked over to the other side of the table and kneeled down. She patted along then her hand touched it.
"Found it." She said and sat up, bringing the charm with her.
"Thank you..." He whispered and reached out to her, with the lights out the only light they had came from the silvery blue light outside.
"You're welcome." Clare said and held the charm out to him. His hand found her hand before the charm, it was warm instead of the usual numbing cold. Clare blushed at the contact and thanked the goddesses that it was dark in the library.
"Ehh sorry..." He whispered finding the charm and tying it back in place.
"It's alright." Clare said as she stood slowly. Luke slowly made his way to the window.
"Coming Angel?" He asked.
"Coming." Clare said side stepping furniture.
"Do you want to go down on your own or come down with me?" He asked as a chime broke the air.
"Whatever." Clare said and smiled at him. He smiled and slipped an arm around her waist before vaulting both of them out the window and onto the dew soaked grass. Clare laughed as her toes got wet from the dew.
"Come on." Linebeck whispered taking her hand and leading her towards the lake. Clare followed, her sandals quietly slapping her heels. It was a quick trip down to the lake. When they got there though the only light was coming from the Twins. Clare looked around, her ears twitching every now and then. Luke smiled and placed a light kiss to her cheek. That instant the entire lake illuminated in a silvery blue glow as hundreds of little floating orbs appeared. Clare watched the orbs and turned her head to smile at Luke.
"Beautiful aren't they?" He whispered still holding her hand. Clare nodded.
"They are..." She turned and leaned against him. Luke smiled and freed his hand only to wrap it around her waist.
"They are not the only beautiful thing out here..." He whispered, watching the hundreds of Moonlights dance around them, glowing brighter with every second. Clare smiled and watched also. One of the moonlights floated over and hovered in front of Luke. He opened his free hand and let it settle in his palm. Clare's smile widened as she watch Luke hold the Moonlight. He lowered his hand so she could see the tiny serpent like creature that omitted the light.
"Wow." Clare said as she looked at the tiny creature.
"They feed on emotions, the sweeter it is the lighter they glow.." He said as the Moonlight hovered and brushed against Clare's cheek. Clare giggled and leaned against Luke to try to get away from the creature since it rubbed against a ticklish part of her face.
"They like you." He said as he gently brushed the little creature away. Clare giggled and looked up at him.
"I'm happy, you brought me here. Thank you Luke." Clare said as she smiled up at him.
"Anytime." He whispered as he placed another kiss to her forehead. The Moonlights glowed brighter. Clare turned and kissed him on the cheek. Luke looked like he wanted to say something but either could find the words or was afraid to. Clare looked up at him blushed, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"Luke...I love you...." Clare said under her breath and very quietly. The ninja's sharp ears caught the sound of his heart race. She looked away and blushed quickly.
"Sorry......." Clare apologized.
"No!" He said quickly, as he seized the ninja's chin and then her lips. Clare's eyes were wide then they closed as she kissed him back. Even though his heart was racing the Captain was on cloud nine. He secured both arms around Clare's waist. The ninja was also on cloud nine, her arms wrapped around his neck. Luke broke them apart.
"I didn't know how to tell you...I was so afraid I'd lose you." He whispered.
"It's alright. I'm not going anywhere." Clare whispered back. He smiled and kissed her softly. Clare blushed and kissed him back. When they final broke for air Luke placed his head to her shoulder.
"I love you so much..." He whispered. Clare blushed and patted his shoulder. The Moonlights around them shinned so brightly they could rival the sun. Clare squinted as she tried to look at Luke.
"Alright guys cool it." He said and the glow dimmed dramatically. Clare opened her eyes and glanced at the dimmed orbs.
"Better?" He asked quietly.
"Yeah, I'm not blinded anymore." She told him.
"They get worked up easy..." He whispered and rested his forehead against hers. Clare smiled.
"Guess so." She whispered back. Luke smiled, and somewhere women were swooning, before kissing the ninja gently, he was still getting used to her not running away. Clare smiled into the kiss and kissed him back while her cheeks dusted pink. He broke the kiss.
"...I hoped this lasted longer than my last relationship, and doesn't end in tragedy..." The Captain whispered as he sat down, pulling the ninja into his lap.
"What happened?" Clare asked looking at him. He shook his head.
"I want to tell you Clare, I really do but I don't know if I can keep myself together if I do..."
"Then you don't have to...I'm alright not knowing." The ninja said as she hugged him again.
"Thank you..." He whispered so quiet even Clare hardly caught it. She smiled and put her nose against his shoulder. Luke kept his arms tight around her; she wasn't slipping away from him now. Clare didn't want to go, she wasn't going to leave. Surprisingly warm hands rested gently against the small of her back as a cool breeze whispered past. Clare's arms wrapped around his next, touching the kerchief and his skin. Linebeck flinched. Clare released his neck and leaned back.
"Something wrong?" She asked a worried tone to her voice. Luke sighed.
"I will keep a long story short, losing Kira was horrible, and I lost any hope for a while...it almost ended in tragedy for my family..." He whispered fingering the bottom of the red cloth.
"Luke..." Clare said as she looked at him. He kissed her forehead as he loosened the cloth and let it fall into her lap. Clare gasped. There were scars on his neck. She teared up and gave the Captain another hug.
"Shh...I'm alright, I have you now and that's all I need." He whispered holding her tight and rubbing circles on her back. Clare sniffed and quickly dried her tears. Linebeck gently rocked the two of them as he smoothed the ninja's hair.
"I'm alright....I'm okay." Clare said after a minute.
"That's good, seeing you in tears hurts me, especially when I'm the cause of those tears..." He whispered kissing her temple. Clare turned her head and kissed his jaw bone then put her head on his shoulder.
"We should head back; I know how to get us back into the Tinknocker without anyone knowing." Luke said tracing out an odd symbol on her back.
"Yeah we should..." Clare said as she yawned covering her mouth with her free hand.
"Then to bed..." He said standing up fluidly with Clare cradled in his arms. Clare gave a light giggle.
"What no sarcastic remarks, what have you done with my Clare?" He purred, nuzzling the ninja's temple.
"Why would I make sarcastic remarks to a phrase like that other than, 'Don't you mean to couch?'" Clare said as she leaned into his chest.
"No bed." The Captain replied turning towards the Inn.
"Bed?" Clare asked and looked up at him.
"Bed." He answered adjusting his hold on her.
"Then how are going to get to 'bed' without anyone knowing?" Clare asked him. He just chuckled lightly as they walked under the window of the library. He glanced about then spotted a tree with a limb pointing at the open window. With skills surprising the ninja, he jumped onto the branch and then inside, landed noiselessly on the rug.
"Whoa...who knew you could do that? You keep amazing me." Clare said to him.
"I'm just full of surprises..." He said placing the ninja on her feet. Clare, once back on her own feet, turned around and smiled at him.
"Come on, bed." He said gently pushing the ninja towards the door. Clare rolled her eyes playfully and turned to the door. She opened it and peaked down the hall. Luke slipped into the hall and took her hand leading her the short distance down the hall to one of the unmarked rooms.
"This yours?" She asked as she looked at the door.
"Yes..." He replied and pushed the door open. The Captain's room was a deep blue with hardwood floors and a queen sized bed pushed against the wall. Clare walked over to the bed.
"I've never seen a bed this big before." She gasped looked at it. Luke rolled his eyes and walked up behind her, slipping his arms around her waist, his feet bare. He spun them around and fell onto the bed with the ninja. Clare meeped as she bounced on Luke's chest when he hit the bed.
"Relax Angel; I'm not going to hurt you..." He whispered placing a feather light kiss to her shoulder. Clare blushed and let him kiss her shoulder. Luke smiled against her bare skin and the ninja knew something was up. She turned her head ever so slowly to look at him over her shoulder. His eyes were closed but he was still smiling softly. He rolled on his side, slipping the ninja onto the navy satin sheets. Clare's bare arms felt the soft sheets and she smiled lightly. Luke snuggled into the ninja, his hands rested against her stomach. Clare smiled and closed her eyes.
"Good night Luke." She said.
"Night luv..." He whispered, pulling a blanket up over them. Clare smiled again and drifted off to sleep. Luke stayed awake a while longer, taking the events of the day, so much had happened in such a short time, but he wouldn't take a minute back.
"Sweet dreams luv..." He whispered before joining his blond angel in sleep.