Theft of Thine Heart

Chapter Twenty Five

Sighing out of boredom, Rain glared up at the ceiling of the private hospital room in Istavan. She had been lucky to escape the notice of the Inquisition and had been lucky that she remained awake all the way to the nearest hospital. There she had been going through donated blood like no other hooked up to an IV drip and heart monitor. Her shoulder was heavily bound with stitches and she had been told not to do anything strenuous for at least two weeks. Even her Methuselah body needed time to recuperate. For her work and injury, Caterina had thankfully given her a reprieve but that meant she was bored out of her mind.

It was a relief when there was a knock at her door and in stepped Esther and Abel, the former holding a bouquet of flowers and a smile on her face.

"How are you today, Rain?"

"The same as I have been for the past three days. Bored out of my mind! Can't you tell them I'm fine to go?" she almost whined, on the verge of doing anything to save her sanity.

"No," Esther scolded her with a glare, setting the flowers in the vase by her bed, "and if I find you trying to escape like Father did, I will tie you down to the bed!"

Rain glared at Abel who chuckled nervously. After an hour of their company, Esther notified her that she was going to make a call after being asked by Caterina to notify her on how Rain was coming along. Leaving Rain alone with Abel once again. This seemed to be happening quite a lot recently. And almost immediately Abel's goofy facade melted away as he carefully sat down on the bed beside her, a hand cupping her face as he did every time they were on their own, almost like he needed to remind herself that she was there and her body was still warm with life.

"I could have lost you the other day."

"But you didn't," she reminded him with a small sigh, she took his hand and held it over her heart, "see, it's still going."

Rain blinked, her heart faltering for a moment as he was suddenly very close to her, his lips barely an inch from hers. But he didn't move any closer, his eyes closed as his forehead rested against hers. Locks of silver and blue intertwined between them.. She closed her eyes feeling like she was being tortured and she wasn't the only one. Abel was torturing himself. The silver haired priest made to move away but she stopped him, a hand gripping his shirt and pulling him back down. It was his turn to look wide eyed at her as she glared up at him.

"What are you so afraid of Abel? If..." her voice stalled for a moment as she fought off the urge to turn her eyes from his, "if you don't feel anything for me then will you tell me already?"

Rain was silenced as he leant forwards without hesitation, crushing his lips to hers almost desperately but she didn't push him off, only winding her left arm round his neck as she urged him on. She needed him, needed him to know it was killing her not knowing if he felt the same way she did. Abel slowly parted from her lips, eyes meeting hers intensely over the rims of his glasses.

"I do, Rain. Don't you ever think otherwise," he almost breathed out his words, "You've shown me so much since I met you. As a human, as a Methuselah...you've shown me the best of both worlds."

Rain could feel her eyes stinging at his words. How could he say such things when he was the reason she was like this? He had been the one that showed her the world wasn't so bad, shown her how to trust people again and had given her friends that she could never believe she would have had. He truly was her angel no matter how much he hated himself. He suddenly chuckled warmly.

"You stole my heart long before I even realised it."

Now Rain started laughing also until both of them were laughing. That's how Esther found them as she returned from calling Caterina. Both of them were laughing so hard that Rain had to hold her shoulder to stop it from shaking, Abel almost bent over from his laughter. Esther was considering calling the Cardinal back and asking for her friend and the father to be mentally examined.

Three weeks later Rain was out of hospital and back in Rome thankfully. Esther seemed constantly busy doing this and that now she had been promoted in the Vatican and Abel was kept busy on missions. So once again Rain was bored. Thankfully she had others to spend time with. Days were spent with light sparring against Hugue, sat drinking tea - and still cringing at its taste - whilst listening to William rant on about some new invention that blew up his face or even being chased by Leon who seemed determined to get her out on a date. When he finally would give up for the day he would then regale her with stories of his daughter.

Rain had been sat out in the Vatican gardens, layered in anti-UV lotion, relaxing on the soft grassy ground when a shadow cast over her. Cracking open an eye, she blinked upon seeing Abel stood over her with a smile on his face as always.

"I wondered where you were."

"How did the mission go?" she asked as he took up a seat beside her "or should I ask, how much is Caterina going to have to pay out for the damage?" she ended in a snicker as he cringed.

"It's not my fault! It's the situations I'm placed in," he moped.

They fell silent, simply enjoying the other's company when Abel noticed something seemed to be on Rain's mind. She was absently toying with something in her hand. Cocking his head curiously at her, she noticed finally and stopped.

"It's Samuel's thirteenth birthday today."

That explained everything to him. She had yet to return to the thieves den and see Marcus and Samuel again. He knew she was still scared of what they would think if she appeared before them as a Methuselah.

"I said I'd give this to him when he turned thirteen," she continued, staring sadly at the small wooden carving of an angel in her hand, "my father gave it to me when I was little but Samuel always loved it, so I promised to give it to him when he was older."

Abel stood up suddenly, startling Rain who blinked at him as he held out his hand with a charming smile.

"I'm afraid you will have to lead the way, I can't really remember the way."

"W...what?"

"I won't let you go back on your promise, Rain. Let's go wish him a happy birthday!"

Rain stared at him before she too smiled, taking his hand as he helped her up. This was the reason why she loved him.

The underground catacombs were just as dark as before but this time Rain didn't need a torch to navigate the place. Her eyes were enough to keep her on the right track, Abel's hand in hers as she led him through the darkness and around traps the thieves had lain. She was nervous and Abel could tell as he comfortingly squeezed her hand every now and then when she slowed. But still the trip seemed too short for her. What would they think? Would Marcus even allow her back? They had nothing against Methuselah but that didn't mean they would just welcome one into their home. Would Samuel fear her? No, she couldn't think like that about them but she still felt incredibly nervous as they finally reached light at the end of another tunnel.

Either side of the entrance stood two thieves on guard who frowned as the two appeared before looking surprised, clearly recognising her blue hair and grey eyes.

"Rain, is that you darling?" the older of the two grinned lopsidedly before pulling her into a one armed hug, surprising the woman, "Marcus will be ecstatic! We all thought you'd been killed when you never returned, go on, hurry up now," he almost pushed her onwards, nodding his head to Abel.

"See, they've missed you," Abel smiled as he whispered to her as they meandered between tents and carts, people shouting and waving to her as Rain passed.

Rain had been about to reply when a man strode out of the tent they had been heading for. He must have heard the shouts going around the camp and decided to check it out for himself. Marcus stood there like she remembered, he hadn't changed over the time she had been gone apart from a few white streaks now in his hair. He froze upon seeing her and for a moment Rain almost winced. She was shocked when he suddenly picked her up and swung her around with a laugh, giving her a bear hug before he set her down.

"Thank God you're alive!" he laughed, his one eye looking down at her warmly, "we thought the worst when you didn't come back."

"Sorry, I got a little tangled up," Rain chuckled lightly, unable to hold the smile off her face at the warm welcome as Abel stood back.

"Tell me all about it but first I think someone else really wants to see you," he winked before calling back into the tent, "come on out Samuel!"

Rain's blue eyes fell on the young teen as he stepped out. He looked a little older now, his dirty blonde hair falling messily round his shoulders after letting it grow, emerald eyes shining as they fell on her.

"Happy birthday, Samuel," she grinned as she knelt down just as he ran straight at her, flinging his arms round her neck.

"Rain!" he clung to her neck happily, his eyes shut tightly as if holding off tears, "I was so worried sister! This is the best birthday present ever."
Rain held him back with a content sigh, feeling home again before she chuckled and drew back, "I suppose you won't want this then," she held up the little wooden carving.

He almost gaped at her before carefully taking it, "thank you sister..." before he hugged her again, eyes bright as he grinned.

Standing back up, she ruffled his hair warmly, "I'm going to talk with Marcus for a bit, think Abel might want to play with you for a bit?"

The boy looked up at the priest with a grin, instantly recognising him, "isn't Esther with you today?"

He shook his head lightly, "she's a little busy today but I'll happily play with you."

Rain watched warmly as Samuel led Abel away, chatting furiously to the priest who listened to every word, before she turned to Marcus who was watching her warmly.

"So that's how it is, hmm?"

She lightly punched his shoulder as he chuckled, "I'll explain inside."

After an hour of recalling all that had happened the past year to Marcus, the thief seemed surprised and proud of her as she finally finished her tale with how it had gone in Istavan.

"A lot has happened," he scratched his chin idly, "and you've changed Rain," he noticed how she looked down before he chuckled and ruffled her hair like she had to Samuel, "you've become an even stronger woman."

Looking up at him surprised, she smiled warmly, "thanks Marcus..."

"So then," he smirked suddenly, placing an unlit cigarette between his lips much like Leon did, "you and this priest, hmm?"

She hit his shoulder again as he snickered, "It's complicated but I suppose, yes."

"Good, I was getting worried you wouldn't take after anyone," this earned him a glare but Marcus glanced outside the tent at the returning two, "have you heard the news lately?"