~*~
Ian wasn't sure how long he had been standing there. When he had arrived he searched what meager shelter he could find against the chilly rain and watched. Sometime during the night the storm must have knocked out the power, surrounding the area in darkness. Making it easier for Ian to blend into the shadows. From his position he was able to see Sara's apartment and the soft orange glow coming from the candles she must have lit. Among the bleak mass of darkness Sara was the only point of light. Ian thought of the ironic turn of events. Shrouded in nothing but shadows and above him was the 'light at the end of the tunnel'. Unfortunately he had ventured out to the light once only to find an invisible glass shield framed in iron. Separating him from the other end, from her.
So Ian could do nothing but return to the shadows and hope for another chance. He closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. Letting the fresh sent of cold rain fill his lungs. He tilted his head back and opened his eyes. His breath rushed out in a ragged sigh. He gasped at the sight before him. He blinked several time making sure it wasn't his eyes playing tricks on him. Ian's eyes widen when he finally realized this was no trick. Ian stared at Sara, his eyes never wavering away from the image. Even through the rain he could see the enchanting beauty. Sara stood there near the window looking out, sweeping the surrounding area searching for what? He didn't know and he didn't care at the moment. He just stood there basking in her beauty.
Ian had always been attracted to Sara since their first encounter at the Midtown museum. 'Magnificent' was the word he had used. In all aspect it was fitting. Here was a fiery, courageous woman facing death. She was everything he thought a true wielder should be. Now as she stood there in all her beauty there were no words that would describe what he felt. No words that would do her any justice. 'God, did the woman not know how truly beautiful she was just standing there?' He reflected as he stared at her.
He let his eyes roam over her features, memorizing the image and burying it deep into the depths of his mind. How she stood there near the window, the candlelight dancing around her. Outlining her body in a radiating afterglow. He drank in the vision of her. The mass of chocolate locks cascading down to her bare, creamy shoulders. How the soft light reflected off her face. From this distance along with accompany of rain made it difficult to see the details of her facial features. But it didn't matter to Ian. The picture of her beautiful face was already imbedded in his mind. All he needed to do was close his eyes and there she was.
The painful scream from his lungs reminded him he needed to breath. He tore his eyes away from Sara, taking several deep breaths. He looked up at her again when a sudden uneasiness overcame Ian. Sara still stood near the window staring at the Witchblade. She glanced out once again before disappearing back into her apartment.
Ian wasn't sure if the feeling had been coming from Sara, the Witchblade, or maybe from his own anxiousness. Because for the past hour Ian had been contemplating if he should confront Sara. But it meant disobeying Irons strict orders. Irons warning ran through his mind.
'.Do not make any contact with the wielder. If I find out you have disobeyed me Ian the consequence shall be severe. Do you understand?'
Irons never indulged in idle threats. Ian knew the consequences would be severe if he disobeyed an order. He understood perfectly still feeling the pain from his last encounter with Irons. But he wanted no needed his ring back. He felt incomplete without it. Before he had arrived he had made a stop over at Vorshlag. Hoping to find the ring he had carelessly left behind in his haste. Unfortunately it was not in the elevator car as he originally thought. After questioning the two security guards Ian realized that Sara must have found it and took it with her. Did she know that it belonged to him and how important it was to him to get it back?
It was still raining but it had lightened up considerably. Before he could change his mind Ian ran across and quickly climbed up the fire escape up to her apartment. Unaware of the vigilant sentinel watching from the rooftop across the street. Ian peered through the window and found Sara sitting on her couch. She hadn't noticed him on the fire escape. Her attention was somewhere else as she stared distantly into her coffee mug. The blade glowed lightly on her wrist aware of his presence. But it wasn't enough to catch Sara's attention. She brought the cup to her lips, drank the remaining contents, got up and headed for the kitchen. Ian took the opportunity to unlatch the lock and quietly creep in, closing the window behind him. He didn't make an attempt to move, standing in his customary stance he simply watched her.
After placing her coffee mug in the kitchen sink Sara stood there holding on to the edges. The tolls of what had transpired today finally weighing in on her. She looked out the tiny window above the cabinets. It was still raining and he wasn't coming. A pang of disappointment had set in. 'Come on Pezzini you're only disappointed because you didn't get the chance to speak to him like you had planned to.' She half heartily convinced herself. She didn't want to believe it was for something else. She didn't want to convince herself that she actually missed him.
Sara turned around and made her way back to her bedroom. Hoping that with a few hours of sleep things would turn out better in the morning. Sara snorted at the thought. In her world things never did. Sara still hadn't noticed Ian standing silently near her window. She brought up her fingers and began rubbing the side of her temple. It was then Sara caught sight swirling blade. She was already half way through her living room when she stopped. She glanced at the blade then towards the window. Sara was startled to see him there. He actually showed up.
Ian looked up from his bowed head. Only to be transfixed by what stood before him. The vision he had seen earlier while he was outside didn't compare to this. There was no rain, no glass, to distort her beauty. And being this close to her only enhanced what he thought he had seen. Ian didn't dare blink, to afraid that if he closed his eyes for a mere fraction of a second she would disappear. His heart was pounding against his chest; beating so loudly he wasn't sure if she could hear it. For a brief moment his inhibitions were gone. His mouth parted open, his hands that were clasped behind his back now against his sides. His eyes widen in awe as he let his vision travel over her body and all too soon drowning in those fiery emerald green eyes of hers. For once he held his gaze with hers.
Sara gasped aloud as their eyes locked. The myriad of emotions ran through those hazel orbs. As she stared deeply into them she could see the combinations of pure unadulterated lust, passion, loyalty, devotion, and something else she couldn't describe. Sara had to remember to breath as she gazed into them. Eyes so intense and powerful. Had it been this way the first time she had laid eyes on John? Now that she had thought back on it, no. Of course there was the obvious attraction. But with Ian there was something more, something she couldn't describe or control. And it was scaring her. It was then she finally tore her eyes away from his; it was then she spoke up.
"Ah.Just what the hell are you doing her Nottingham?" Her attempt at being callous was weak. Her voice broke through and Ian returned to his habitual posture, head bowed and arms behind his back.
"Forgive me Lady Sara. I didn't mean to scare you."
'You have no idea, pal.' She thought to herself. Sara then realized that he was shivering. He was soaked and dripping on her floor. Without a word she made her way to the bathroom, returning with two large bath towels.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you enough common sense to get out of the rain?"
"My mother strangely silent on matters of import."
"Yeah whatever." Sara stuck out an empty hand. Ian started at her from his bowed head. He looked at her hand then to her face. Confused on what she wanted from him.
"The coat and watch cap. Give it up." She made a motion with her hand but Ian didn't make a move.
"You don't have to tend to my needs, Lady Sara."
"What did I tell you about that 'lady' crap. Besides I'm not tending to 'your' needs. Your coat is soaked and your dripping water all over my floor. So." Before she could finish her sentence Ian grabbed one of the towels out of her hand. He placed it on the spot he had been standing on and stood over it. No longer dripping on her floor.
"Damn it Nottingham!" She made an exasperated sigh. "Coat and watch cap, now!"
From the look on her face Ian knew there was no use in arguing with her. Ian finally shrugged off the coat and watch cap and gave them to Sara. She tossed the other towel at him and told him to dry off. She walked over to the stairs and laid out the articles of clothes over the banister. Then she made her way back to him.
Arms crossed, Sara half sat on the armrest of the couch. She waited till he was done drying himself off. Which triggered her memory, remembering the last time she had seen him doing this. She lowered her head to hide the blush on her face. 'Get a hold of yourself, Pez!'
"Thank you, la..Sara" He handed the towel back to her. Sara started her interrogation as she spread the towel on the back of the couch.
"Alright Nottingham why are you here and what the hell do you want? I mean isn't it bad enough I had to be stuck with you in that damn elevator for hours." Her words were harsh and Ian winced at everyone. He lowered his head. Had he been foolish to go against Irons' orders and come here tonight? He could have waited till she fell asleep to search for his ring. Instead he came here to her. Hoping for what? He wasn't too sure. Then again it had been worth it. The picture of her beauty was another memory he would store deep into his mind. Unfortunately the price for it would be great.
"I believe you have something of mine, Sara."
Ian wasn't sure how long he had been standing there. When he had arrived he searched what meager shelter he could find against the chilly rain and watched. Sometime during the night the storm must have knocked out the power, surrounding the area in darkness. Making it easier for Ian to blend into the shadows. From his position he was able to see Sara's apartment and the soft orange glow coming from the candles she must have lit. Among the bleak mass of darkness Sara was the only point of light. Ian thought of the ironic turn of events. Shrouded in nothing but shadows and above him was the 'light at the end of the tunnel'. Unfortunately he had ventured out to the light once only to find an invisible glass shield framed in iron. Separating him from the other end, from her.
So Ian could do nothing but return to the shadows and hope for another chance. He closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. Letting the fresh sent of cold rain fill his lungs. He tilted his head back and opened his eyes. His breath rushed out in a ragged sigh. He gasped at the sight before him. He blinked several time making sure it wasn't his eyes playing tricks on him. Ian's eyes widen when he finally realized this was no trick. Ian stared at Sara, his eyes never wavering away from the image. Even through the rain he could see the enchanting beauty. Sara stood there near the window looking out, sweeping the surrounding area searching for what? He didn't know and he didn't care at the moment. He just stood there basking in her beauty.
Ian had always been attracted to Sara since their first encounter at the Midtown museum. 'Magnificent' was the word he had used. In all aspect it was fitting. Here was a fiery, courageous woman facing death. She was everything he thought a true wielder should be. Now as she stood there in all her beauty there were no words that would describe what he felt. No words that would do her any justice. 'God, did the woman not know how truly beautiful she was just standing there?' He reflected as he stared at her.
He let his eyes roam over her features, memorizing the image and burying it deep into the depths of his mind. How she stood there near the window, the candlelight dancing around her. Outlining her body in a radiating afterglow. He drank in the vision of her. The mass of chocolate locks cascading down to her bare, creamy shoulders. How the soft light reflected off her face. From this distance along with accompany of rain made it difficult to see the details of her facial features. But it didn't matter to Ian. The picture of her beautiful face was already imbedded in his mind. All he needed to do was close his eyes and there she was.
The painful scream from his lungs reminded him he needed to breath. He tore his eyes away from Sara, taking several deep breaths. He looked up at her again when a sudden uneasiness overcame Ian. Sara still stood near the window staring at the Witchblade. She glanced out once again before disappearing back into her apartment.
Ian wasn't sure if the feeling had been coming from Sara, the Witchblade, or maybe from his own anxiousness. Because for the past hour Ian had been contemplating if he should confront Sara. But it meant disobeying Irons strict orders. Irons warning ran through his mind.
'.Do not make any contact with the wielder. If I find out you have disobeyed me Ian the consequence shall be severe. Do you understand?'
Irons never indulged in idle threats. Ian knew the consequences would be severe if he disobeyed an order. He understood perfectly still feeling the pain from his last encounter with Irons. But he wanted no needed his ring back. He felt incomplete without it. Before he had arrived he had made a stop over at Vorshlag. Hoping to find the ring he had carelessly left behind in his haste. Unfortunately it was not in the elevator car as he originally thought. After questioning the two security guards Ian realized that Sara must have found it and took it with her. Did she know that it belonged to him and how important it was to him to get it back?
It was still raining but it had lightened up considerably. Before he could change his mind Ian ran across and quickly climbed up the fire escape up to her apartment. Unaware of the vigilant sentinel watching from the rooftop across the street. Ian peered through the window and found Sara sitting on her couch. She hadn't noticed him on the fire escape. Her attention was somewhere else as she stared distantly into her coffee mug. The blade glowed lightly on her wrist aware of his presence. But it wasn't enough to catch Sara's attention. She brought the cup to her lips, drank the remaining contents, got up and headed for the kitchen. Ian took the opportunity to unlatch the lock and quietly creep in, closing the window behind him. He didn't make an attempt to move, standing in his customary stance he simply watched her.
After placing her coffee mug in the kitchen sink Sara stood there holding on to the edges. The tolls of what had transpired today finally weighing in on her. She looked out the tiny window above the cabinets. It was still raining and he wasn't coming. A pang of disappointment had set in. 'Come on Pezzini you're only disappointed because you didn't get the chance to speak to him like you had planned to.' She half heartily convinced herself. She didn't want to believe it was for something else. She didn't want to convince herself that she actually missed him.
Sara turned around and made her way back to her bedroom. Hoping that with a few hours of sleep things would turn out better in the morning. Sara snorted at the thought. In her world things never did. Sara still hadn't noticed Ian standing silently near her window. She brought up her fingers and began rubbing the side of her temple. It was then Sara caught sight swirling blade. She was already half way through her living room when she stopped. She glanced at the blade then towards the window. Sara was startled to see him there. He actually showed up.
Ian looked up from his bowed head. Only to be transfixed by what stood before him. The vision he had seen earlier while he was outside didn't compare to this. There was no rain, no glass, to distort her beauty. And being this close to her only enhanced what he thought he had seen. Ian didn't dare blink, to afraid that if he closed his eyes for a mere fraction of a second she would disappear. His heart was pounding against his chest; beating so loudly he wasn't sure if she could hear it. For a brief moment his inhibitions were gone. His mouth parted open, his hands that were clasped behind his back now against his sides. His eyes widen in awe as he let his vision travel over her body and all too soon drowning in those fiery emerald green eyes of hers. For once he held his gaze with hers.
Sara gasped aloud as their eyes locked. The myriad of emotions ran through those hazel orbs. As she stared deeply into them she could see the combinations of pure unadulterated lust, passion, loyalty, devotion, and something else she couldn't describe. Sara had to remember to breath as she gazed into them. Eyes so intense and powerful. Had it been this way the first time she had laid eyes on John? Now that she had thought back on it, no. Of course there was the obvious attraction. But with Ian there was something more, something she couldn't describe or control. And it was scaring her. It was then she finally tore her eyes away from his; it was then she spoke up.
"Ah.Just what the hell are you doing her Nottingham?" Her attempt at being callous was weak. Her voice broke through and Ian returned to his habitual posture, head bowed and arms behind his back.
"Forgive me Lady Sara. I didn't mean to scare you."
'You have no idea, pal.' She thought to herself. Sara then realized that he was shivering. He was soaked and dripping on her floor. Without a word she made her way to the bathroom, returning with two large bath towels.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you enough common sense to get out of the rain?"
"My mother strangely silent on matters of import."
"Yeah whatever." Sara stuck out an empty hand. Ian started at her from his bowed head. He looked at her hand then to her face. Confused on what she wanted from him.
"The coat and watch cap. Give it up." She made a motion with her hand but Ian didn't make a move.
"You don't have to tend to my needs, Lady Sara."
"What did I tell you about that 'lady' crap. Besides I'm not tending to 'your' needs. Your coat is soaked and your dripping water all over my floor. So." Before she could finish her sentence Ian grabbed one of the towels out of her hand. He placed it on the spot he had been standing on and stood over it. No longer dripping on her floor.
"Damn it Nottingham!" She made an exasperated sigh. "Coat and watch cap, now!"
From the look on her face Ian knew there was no use in arguing with her. Ian finally shrugged off the coat and watch cap and gave them to Sara. She tossed the other towel at him and told him to dry off. She walked over to the stairs and laid out the articles of clothes over the banister. Then she made her way back to him.
Arms crossed, Sara half sat on the armrest of the couch. She waited till he was done drying himself off. Which triggered her memory, remembering the last time she had seen him doing this. She lowered her head to hide the blush on her face. 'Get a hold of yourself, Pez!'
"Thank you, la..Sara" He handed the towel back to her. Sara started her interrogation as she spread the towel on the back of the couch.
"Alright Nottingham why are you here and what the hell do you want? I mean isn't it bad enough I had to be stuck with you in that damn elevator for hours." Her words were harsh and Ian winced at everyone. He lowered his head. Had he been foolish to go against Irons' orders and come here tonight? He could have waited till she fell asleep to search for his ring. Instead he came here to her. Hoping for what? He wasn't too sure. Then again it had been worth it. The picture of her beauty was another memory he would store deep into his mind. Unfortunately the price for it would be great.
"I believe you have something of mine, Sara."