Thank you once again for joining me! All reviewers and non reviewers alike are greatly appreciated. I hope I didn't leave you linger too painfully long this time around.
Special thanks to Rose-chan, Nerf, Topaz, Varee and Angelic:
Varee: Yes, it's Adieu and I'm glad you liked the romantic scene. I see where you're coming from with it not being in the same mood but unfortunately it couldn't be an interlude. An interlude is something in the past, future, or a dream. This event really happened. I promise it'll never be abandoned even if it takes another 12 years to get done...I don't plan to be that negligent though.
Angelic: There's never any guarantee who she may end up with but I do like her with any of the guys.
Rose-chan: Yes. Yes it worked. I'm glad to be back and I'm glad I still have you with me.
As I mentioned before there will be a familiar scene in this chap and I hope you can pick it out! I tried to catch as many typos as I could and will go back through again at a later time but can only read through so many times in row. Feel free to point out anything major,it's always apppreciated.
Edit 1-24-14 I had to make a minor change in dialogue about mid way through to fall in line with something earlier in the story.
So with no further Adieu...
You're My Kryptonite
Chapter 28
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Warm and safe.
Strong arms.
Hesitant.
Cold and lonesome.
Faithful heart.
Treacherous heart.
Let me sleep.
Warm and safe.
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A Gentle hum vibrates in the silent open space. So subtle, it resonates deep in the ears. Mornings come on the colony, a clock on the wall registers at a quarter past six as the shields over the massive windows shift to filter the radiation of the sun that now looms on this side of the colony. Still so black in the sea of space, the lights of the room slowly brighten in stages to simulate a natural Earthen day. Comfortable by day, a chill accentuates the room by night with the lack of light and bodies to keep it warm.
Undisturbed by the slow light and mechanic sound, it's another half an hour or so when gentle music begins filtering through the speakers. Not grating but intrusive none the less, the sudden blast of rhythmic noise would be enough to break anyone from whatever trance they were in. The first day of the weekend, most workers wouldn't dream of coming to this place, but there are always a few so dedicated to work their lives away.
Eliciting a groan, the dull stiffness of ache draws his eyes open, both warm and cold. The brightness of the room is just as unwelcoming when he finally lifts his head, slow so as to not twinge the kink in his neck. Allowing his bleary eyes to idly roam the room, his memories make their way back to his mind. So many days and so many nights of exhaustion, an arrival, a confrontation, and a party. Any of which to make a normal man weary, but one thing made it better out of all.
Late into the night, they watched the world turn. The rigid soldier and the raven Miko who quietly gained his curiosity. After standing before the windows for an hour or two, he made a bench out of chairs to wait for the meteor shower that was to pass in another hour or so. The silence so lulling and peaceful, they sat side by side in a comfort neither of them would come expect. The minutes ticking by slowly into the night, Rei found the warmth of Hiiro's coat wrapped around her lulling her to doze while Hiiro found the lack of sleep he'd endured all his life, finally begin to weigh on him, mind, body, and soul.
The fight against sleep was feeble at best, finding now as Hiiro attempts to straighten his back and loosen his neck. At some point in the night, Rei had curled against his side and now lies stretched across the bench with her head in his lap and a blanket being made of his coat. With his own feet kicked up on a chair, he too had slowly sagged in his seat until his head rested against the back of the chair, succumbing to that insurmountable will.
Eyes still heavy and lips parched and dry, he studies the sleeping Priestess, intrigued by how someone could rest with such peace. Allowing his shell to drop for a but moment, he brushes his fingers through her midnight hair. Moving her bangs from her serene face, the silky strands slipping through his rough fingers like a ribbon of water. Entranced in his ministrations and easily still under the cloud of his dreams, he's startled from his revere when she snuggles in closer to him and letting loose a wakening yawn.
"What time is it?" She mumbles softly, reluctant to open her eyes and leave her own little world of dream.
Pulling his fingers back as if bit by flames, he quells his racing heart before gingerly placing his hand back down on her shoulder. "Almost seven," he finally replies, resisting the will to yawn as well.
Slowly easing open her eyes once and for all, her eyes fill with the ocean of stars around them, drawing a renewed gasp of awe from her lips. Perhaps not the most comfortable of sleeps but restful none the less without the constant tinkering of two unmentionable friends. More then capable of falling right back to sleep, she chooses instead to push herself to sit up, easing up as she goes, feeling a few joints pop from stiffness and ache.
Leaning down to grab her shoes where she absently kicked them off in her sleep, she quietly slips them on and ponders if the others noticed they never made it back. Intent on her thoughts she can't help to let a laugh escape her lips when Hiiro's stomach growls a loud and angry protest. "Hungry?" She asks teasingly, earning a smirk which he quickly hides by running his fingers through his hair.
Pushing himself to stand and stretching until he feels his back pop, he takes one last long look out the windows to see a private shuttle leaving from the space port with a distinctly familiar insignia painted across it's hull. Not interested in the least to know it's course, he turns back to Rei as she combs her fingers through her hair to free what tangles snuck in in the night. "Let's go eat," he offers, holding out his hand which she gladly accepts.
Leaving the room as is, he leads her back through the maze of a building and up the floors to the parking garage, never once meeting another soul. Even the security guards seeming to be inefficient at best. He tells her to hang onto his jacket which more then envelopes her petite frame as they make it to his bike and hop on for the short ride to a little hole in the wall he knows on this side of town.
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Water drips, splashing in the distance. Darkness so black it burns like coal. Heels click tap like a stick on a drum across the floor that isn't to be seen there.
Click...Click...Click...Drip drop.
A tempo and a beat like a song in the hearts and souls of everyone who's breathed a single day. A song so familiar, you find yourself humming it even when you don't even know you're making a sound. A melodious song, It's the song of the beat of the Earth as it spins under the tempo of the Sun while the harmony of the stars joins with the melody of the planets. Twisting and turning and existing in a rhythm so la femme and so fatale. And in that clicking, joined with dripping, the world is the blackest where the floor that should be and walls that would be, aren't there to be seen at all.
Dark upon dark, a lonely light does shine. Dark in it's own rightness, a throne carved of ice and glowing a haunting purplish hue. Tall, gallant, and broad, the the beak fans out like angel wings with a dragons talons while the arms are the angry busts of griffins, the base narrows down to a point like a thousand icy spears bound together by the lord of the under world and honed to be one sharp ad jagged dagger. On this throne she sits, suspended in the ocean of blackness, caressed by the somber, royal halo of glow.
Sitting this seat for more then all her life, she seems not to notice the frighting world in which she dwells. Hair like midnight just brushing her shoulders and booted legs crossed at the knees, she rests one elbow on the arm of her throne to prop her chin on her gloved palm. She ponders thoughtfully as her precious glaive leans idly on her opposite side.
"Saturn-sama?" She hears an innocent and loving call. Ageless in truth with the visage of a late teen, the image of her pint size self appears before her, donning the same fuku in the Messiah's realm. "Saturn-sama?" The child like voice asks again as her young eyes finally fall on herself, earning an adoring smile from the Senior Senshi of Death.
Hearing the child's question without needing her words, she answer her curiosity with her own choice of word. "Chronos," she drawls, waiving a hand to open a window to another world. Small as a looking glass and shimmering like a mirror, the two Senshi of Rebirth watch in rapt curiosity as colors begin to swirl before focusing on a fuzzy image. The blur focuses in and out until finally settling on a grainy film.
A deserted city street stretching as far as the eye can see. A surrounding sea of giants stand lifeless along the lane. So cold and sterile no real color of life and sky bleeds through. On that same street though, the image shows a single soul transgressing it's lengths at a speed that shouldn't be sane. Swaying left and right and taking turns on dime, a chase of grandiose proportions but with no pursuit in site. So onwards the ride continues with nothing to tell them no.
"Does she know?" The little Senshi asks, wishing to see everything but knowing it can't always be so.
Watching the image with dedication, the image twists, blurs, and then zooms. The street now in more detail and the ride more clear, tailed by a familiar raven mane. Certain now as they focus with all their might, the identical women of two different ages, each frown with the knowledge the wish to unknow.
Too many minutes passing, the portal follows them to a curve when the senior Senshi of Revolution waves her hand to destroy the picture in a shower colored and shinning dust. Pondering and thinking, she taps her chin, knowing she can't ignore the question nor the liquid eyes she so adores. So many words and so many ways, in the end there's always just that one thing to say.
"...No."
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"Come on...just show me!"
"Nope."
"Please?"
"Nu uh!"
Hot on her heels as they traipse through the house, begging and pleading, unabashed in his desperation to know all that there is to know. Laying down all his cards in earnest, he pleads for the sake of sanity to learn what was in the book. So mysterious and crying to be solves, it's plain and simple wrap makes the curiosity swell.
"Minako-chan, please!" Duo wails, dropping to his knees in the middle of one of the mansions many halls and wraps his arms tightly around her hips and rubbing his cheek on her stomach.
Book in hand as she's stopped in her tracks, a demure smile curls her lips, enjoying the power she now holds. Making a show of considering his request, she promptly smacks him on the head with the item in question.
Whimpering softly, but not loosening his hold, she bops him a few more times for good measure. "Mina!" Duo wails, slumping to sit on the floor, his arms still fastened around her knees.
Shaking her head, her wave hair hiding the minute blush growing on her cheeks from the way his face presses against her thighs. Though not admitting it, she's enjoyed teasing the braided Pilot with withholding the secrets of her new and unassuming black book. Tucking it securely in the the back band of her pants, she crosses her arms defiantly. So intent on defying him, she's caught off guard when the book is slid from her back and quickly held out of her reach.
"Trowa-kun!" She shouts, neither having seen nor heard him approach. Flailing her arms in a vain attempt to get it back, she's thrown off balance by Duo still gripping her tightly, and lands hard on the floor with the heavier man on top of her legs.
Both of them stumbling over one another to get to their feet, Trowa takes his time to leaf through the book before finally snapping it closed when Duo makes it to his feet first. Anticipating him to lunge for the book, the silent one holds it out of his reach once more, much to his chagrin.
"Aww come on buddy!" Duo chides, dashed to see him so easily pass it back to Minako without so much as a blink his way.
Squealing in delight Minako leaps into his arms and catching him by surprise, "My Hero!" She coos, rubbing her cheek on his shoulder. So caught up in her own ministrations and expecting Duo's attention still on her, she lets loose a yipe as she's suddenly dropped back to the floor.
As if looking out an invisible window, Trowa and Duo each stare at the wall, ears tuned to a distant sound filtering through the mansion. Very low and rumbling to start, it's slow and gradual rise in tempo. Focused deeply on the sound, they stand as if in a trance, not responding even when Minako gets back to her feet and waives her hand before their faces.
"Uh...Guys?" Confused by their silence, she pokes each of them in turn before looking them each in the eyes, and still not getting a reaction. Circling them a time or two, she tries to open her other senses but fails to catch anything amiss. "Say something..."
"They're back."
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Light filters through the two towering windows on the south side of the room, accenting the book cases lining the walls and the hefty oaken desk at the center of Quatre's office. The sliding pocket doors on the east and west walls each sit snugly closed but the north face double doors are open for someone to easily slip through. A heavy silence soaks in the room as the computer screen blinks with scrolling data at a steady pace.
"The Vice Foreign Minister's shuttle made an unexpected departure early this morning."
Sitting behind his intimidating desk and wishing he could sink deeper into his dwarfing leather chair, Quatre keeps his fingers pressed to his temple, coming to terms with the information that's poured in over night. Not uttering a response, he barely delivers a nod, not wanting his eyes to linger from the screen while Wufei stands over his shoulder in much the same pose minus the scowl across his lips.
Having slipped into the room less then ten minutes earlier and taking over the to chairs on the other side of the desk Duo and Trowa absorb the change that's doomed to take place. After taking their leave from Minako in haste, they each arrived without being summoned, knowing something serious has gone down. Each of them is unwilling to be the first to ask.
The rip and roar tracing up the drive almost twelve hours after they should have bee home didn't go unnoticed either, nor did the slam of the front door down the hall. Patience lingering in with the silence, it's not long before Hiiro walks through the waiting door. Senses instantly on alert, he surveys the room to find Quatre's eyes now trained on him while the others still focus completely on their own thoughts and concerns.
"Shut the door," Quatre commands, all trace of his gentle demeanor having melted behind the soldier the war made him be.
Taking the steps to stand between the two guest chairs, Hiiro remains rigid and firmly standing as Duo obeys without question and hops up to slide both panels closed. A slight grunt passes the perfect soldiers lips as the braided pilot slumps back into his seat waiting for the proverbial crap to the canon. Not waiting for questions, Quatre strikes a few commands on his keyboard as a crystalline panel opens on his desk top, lighting up with a warming glow and creating a holographic projection which begins panning data for each of them to see.
"At 0645 this morning, a unapproved departure passed through the shuttle port," Wufei begins, recapping what he and Quatre already know. "The alarm triggered when they forced past each of the three check points and the locks were discovered to be manually tripped on the clamps securing it in place." He presses a new command and a video of the departing shuttle heading on a course for L2 displays on the projector.
"It's confirmed there are three people on board. They passed through inspection shortly after midnight wearing disguises," Wufei continues, nodding for the security video from inside the terminal to appear on the screen. "We verified it's Relena, one of her body guards, and a third unidentified individual."
"I was at the hospital yesterday," Hiiro admits, answering the question no one would ask. "I told her she needs to find a new lap dog to follow her around. I saw her shuttle leave from LowTower."
Skipping the words they know he left out, Quatre presses one more command and video feed begins playing in place of the words they'd previously seen. "Well here's something you didn't see. This Video began streaming about ten minutes after Miss Darlian's shuttle broke free of the colony's defense grid."
"It was broadcast on all frequencies and all stations. Every manned station and craft in the sky and everyone on Earth received this feed whether they wanted to or not." Wufei says, pausing when the video begins to play.
The image of a woman fills the screen, her looks awashing everyone with a chill. Then face and obviously very tall, her allure is one of mystery as black mask and help covers her eyes from the point of her nose and over the crown of her head. The helmet gleams like onyx as hundreds of braided ribbons of hair fall down her back and over her shoulders, a cascade the color of a flourishing forest. Donning an archaic military jacket, she draws all attention the moment she starts to speak.
"Hiiro Yuy," the mystery woman calls. "We know you are there. You may escaped Mars with but a few scratches but we have you in our sites. We gave you our terms and now we will give them to the world. We of JCO renounce the ESUN and it's tyrannical rule. All threats against us will be destroyed without prejudice. The JCO will not be dismissed so idly. This morning we received information of a shuttle leaving X-18991 in the L4 colony cluster. We've already dispatched ships to take it into custody." The image pans back, showing the same shuttle they seen on surveillance just minutes before.
"Shit!" Duo curses, stomping a foot on the floor. "I thought these guys could get to us?"
"Hiiro Yuy," The woman says his name again, "We're giving you two months. Drop the shields on L4 and surrender Quatre Winner and his machine to us. As I'm sure you've already figured out, we know Miss Peacecraft is on that shuttle and now the people also have a stake. Meet our demands or she dies and we attack. All space around your La grange point is now under lock down. Any vessel, civilian or not will be detained indefinitely. You may be willing to risk your own life, Hiiro Yuy, but lets see how long the citizens of L4 will like you risking theirs. Lets see how loyal they are to Winner Corporation when supplies and loved ones stop coming in."
"They can't do that!" Duo shouts, voicing the words none of the others will as he jumps to his fee.
"They just did," Trowa says softly, still staring at the now frozen image of the woman. "They're holding us hostage."
Cursing, Wufei covers the projector screen, no longer able to stand to look at her another minute. "They're holding the whole damn colony system hostage and we're their ransom." Ready to storm from the room, he rounds the desk, pausing just short of the door when he hears the next words spoken.
"No us...Me," Quatre says softly, standing as well and looking on each of his friends. "They want me," swallowing the bitter words, he looks in desperation for an answer, for once in his life, at a loss.
"The colonies are self sustaining, we can go months without provisions," Hiiro reasons, finally speaking up. "These people will stand behind you. Be the leader you were meant to be."
"But Relena's blood will be on my hands!" Quatre argues, having vowed after the war that he never wanted to draw blood again.
"You can't surrender the engine," Wufei shouts, frustration getting the best of him. "You won't. We won't let you."
"We may not know what it is..." Trowa reasons, the last to get to his feet. "But there's a reason they want it and I have a feeling it's going to endanger a whole lot more lives then are currently on the line."
"But they said they'll attack the colonies," Quatre pleads, his head beginning to pound and spin. "They're defenseless."
"No they're not," Hiiro says quietly, remembering the words in the words the women said to him. "No they won't," each of his friends looking at him, confused. "If there's a barrier as they claim around our la grange point, how can they attack if they cant get in? And if they do manage to break the line...we have the Gundams."
Each of them shares a look, swallowing back the thought that they should possible need them again. They were divided on the thought of rebuilding and more so on making them work but they went along with under the guise that they would never actually work. That no one would never know they exist. But then they brought home guests. Though more convinced as each day passes that the women truly have no knowledge of what they are or what they could possibly do.
"Damn it!" Duo curses, kicking the desk before making steps towards the door.
Staring down at the desk top, knowing it'll have to be him who opens the first door, Quatre grimaces as the bile rises in his throat. "How long?" He asks, hating himself more and more as the days go.
"Without off colony supplies?" Hiiro says, not needing an answer to what they all already know. "Three months for Zero-one and Zero-two if we work together and rush it...longer for the rest."
Confounded into silence, they each leave the room with an overwhelming feeling of dread hanging heavy over their heads. Having not moved a muscle though and still staring at the wall behind the desk, Hiiro clenches and unclenches his fists, for once questioning what happens next. Deep in his own thoughts, he nearly jumps when the doors behind him suddenly slam closed and the lock slides into place. Raising his eyes, he turns in place to rest his gaze on the person who's cornered him inside.
"We need to talk."
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Exhaling a breath as the door finally clicks closed, a wave of relief washes over her, feeling a sense of delayed relief. After waking in the early hours to find they'd been out all night and then spending nearly two hours at the diner down the street, she found herself holding her breath the entire trip up the stairs and to the door of her room. Having eased the door open in an effort to make no sound, she closed it just the same, hoping more then anything to avoid Haruka and the big brother treatment for as long as she possibly can.
Shrugging the warm leather jacket from her shoulders, Rei gently hangs on the hook on the back of her door, wondering the meaning behind the way Auda made the effort to meet them before even making it to the front door and the tone in his voice when he delivered his message to Hiiro. That feeling wells back in her again that something's coming. Something they can't avoid. Something that has the potential to tip the balance of the world.
Hoping to delay those thoughts for as long as she can, the call of a hot shower and fresh clothes lures her to surrender to it's will. Not fighting in the least, she finally turns from the door to make her way across the room when a shriek escapes her lips and her heart nearly lodges on her throat. Back pressed against the door, she clutches her chest and breaths deep to calm her racing pulse.
"You're home late..."
Unsure how long she's been there, Rei eyes her blond friend with hesitation as she finally moves and circles the long way around the bed towards her closet, keeping a watchful eye open at all times. She thought she was prepared, thought she had more time, thought she knew what to expect.
"You can't ignore me..."
She says again, causing a slight twitch to invade Rei's brow as she fights to ignore the taunt. Selecting a change fresh pair of shorts and a long sleeve shirt, she forces a swallow, knowing she's going to need to approach the bed. Turning slowly, the room seems so much bigger, more empty as she reluctantly locks eyes with her watcher, prepared to not say a word. Every invisible sign on her face screams that she's quiet for good.
"Rei-chan!" Minako finally wails, flopping on forward on the bed, the suspense eating her to the core. "You have to tell me!" Crawling across the bed as her raven haired friend makes her way to the table beside the bed, Minako pelts her with the most pitiful look she can muster, just begging for the dirt she's certain has to be there.
Trying to hide the the scowl on her lips with the lock of hair that's slipped over her shoulder as she leans down to rifle through her drawer. "There's nothing to tell," she drawls, realizing to late that she's already said too much.
"Oh!" Minako squeaks, shuffling to the absolute edge of the bed and as near to her friend then comfort should allow. "Did he kiss you? Did you kiss him? How's he in bed?Are you pregnant? When's the wedding? Can I be best man?" Rattling off her questions at a inhuman pace, she grabs two good handfuls of Rei's hair, drawing her to look her in the face. "Please tell me he's really a beast!"
Turning red faster then her burning mandala, Rei covers her face with one palm while waving the other between her and her overly imaginative friend. "Nothing like that!" She manages stutter out, affronted by the way her mind has managed to go.
"Come on, you can tell me you did the nasty, I can keep a secret," Minako says with a grin, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Honestly, Mina-chan," Rei finally scolds, catching her barrings and removing her bubbly friends hands from her hair. "You are the worst at keeping secrets. And he just took me to see the Earth rise. We fell asleep in the chairs while we watched," she explains, leaving out the details of waking up curled against him and breakfast afterward.
"Am so," Minako whines, transfixing on only part of what she's said. "The Police in England never figure out that I was Sailor V..."
Quirking an eyebrow, Rei finds herself wondering once more about the possibilities of an insanity defense. "Right..." She final says, not sure what to expect next."On that note...I'm going to go change..." she mutters, turning on her heal and ready to make haste to the bathroom.
"Wait!" Minako screams, flinging herself at Rei, the book she received from Hiiro falling to the floor in the process as she lands on the floor with a thud. Despite the pain, she continues reaching for Rei, until she disappears across the room. "REI!"
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Two attentive bodies standing outside the massive oak doors, their ears pressed indignantly against the smoothed and polished hardwood. Brunette hair hangs in their eyes as they remain silent, listening for any sound from the other side of the door. Each squinting in overzealous concentration for what they could possibly hope to overhear. Was that a muffled voice or just another common noise of the old and aging mansion. They press their faces ever harder against the door as they strain to hear anything at all but only causing them to distort their faces more then they already were.
As keen as their senses are they curse the damn defective door for not allowing them to hear or at least for not coming with reverse-peepholes preinstalled. Though they continue to strain their hearing abilities for any clue as to what may be occurring with out them and their "Award Winning" presence. Not to infer that they aren't great beyond great. Just that one is rather illusive and mysterious and the other is somewhat boisterous and aggressively indignant. They are quite the pair, perhaps even unlikely.
Tension mounts along with frustration as they yearn for knowledge of the preceedings. At this point, they are mere inches apart with both hands pressed against the smooth surface and cheeks reddening from the force they are applying to the door. If it were any other situation, they would most likely be unnerved by the feel of the others breath on their own face, they way they are locked on to each others eyes, looking deep into them, the way their bangs brush together. But not now. They don't even notice amidst their concentration. Any other passer by would surely get the wrong idea as to what is going on.
They had only exited the office moments earlier when the doors slammed closed behind them and trapping the pilot of zero-one inside. Knowing good and well who could have maneuvered past them so easily, they rushed back to the doors, only to find them securely barred and now reasonable way of getting in. Before they have the chance though to either give up hope or consider busting down the door, loud foot steps are heard through the massive barrier of someone running at full force across the room accompanied by shouts and the distinctive sound of flesh against flesh. Perhaps punches being thrown. The two listen ever harder in hope to gain insight as to who's throttling who. The ruckus continues for several more moments to the nature of one simply pounding the other and combined with shouts and accusations. No true fighting actually takes place to the two brunettes amusement. They each right it off as the much anticipated, ritualistic ass kicking.
"You can't lie to me," they hear filter through the doors.
"You've lost your mind!" Is heard in response as one of the idle listeners is the motions of cracking a smirk when they hear another bone breaking strike followed by an exertive grunt echoing perfectly clear through the door.
The sound so distinct, they would swear it was as if someone was hauling a great weight. Perplexed even further, they each in turn knit their eyebrows I confusion but find they aren't left much more time to wonder. A mere second of silence lulling the grunt they are thrown back from their positions of spying by a body slamming unceremoniously against the door and rattling it violently on it's hinged rails, nearly seeing them ripped from the walls. They glance at one another as the body groans before landing on the floor with an unpleasant thump, each cringing at the pain that body must be feeling.
"I'm glad that wasn't me..." Duo says with an innocent whistle as he and Trowa turn on their heels and casually stroll back down the long corridor as if they'd never been listening at the door.
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Tired heart.
Battered soul.
So tired.
So worn.
Tired heart.
We're alone.
Give me time.
Give me grace.
Tired heart.
Sins atone.
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And there we have it, that will be all for now, I hope you enjoyed!
So did you pick up on the scene the should be so familiar to you now?
Well please let me know what you guys think and I'll try to have the next chap up as soon as I can.
Thanks for reading once again!
Tchus~
Tunks