AE One: Lover
Gaignun sighed, throwing his Connection Gear on the desk in front of him and crossing his arms.
She hasn't said a single word… It had been a week since Shion's subsequent kidnapping and rescue. KOS-MOS had brought her straight back to the Foundation, where it was determined that she hadn't suffered any severe mental trauma…the mysterious barrier had protected her mind from the worst of Albedo's assaults. However Shion had totally withdrawn into herself, retreating to her bedroom in the suite on the Kukai Foundation he and Jr. had set aside for the group, only coming out to eat. Jr. and the others had recognized that the brunette needed some time to herself, but Gaignun was starting to grow impatient.
But she can't be pushed. Inhaling sharply, the black-haired man forced himself to lean forward, picking up the Gear and activating its screen. He needed to work; to get his mind off of this....the sound of the door chime had him lifting his head.
"Come in." Then his breath caught in his throat as Shion silently stepped in. "Shion!"
"May I have a word with you, Director?"
"O…Of course!" Hurriedly, Gaignun got up from his seat to show Shion to hers. "Do you want something to drink? Some tea or…"
"You mind-probed me, didn't you?" The gentle statement had him jerking violently, whirling around to stare at the brunette.
"H…huh?!"
"Back when I came in your office to use your computer…and ended up being carried out by KOS-MOS. You told me that I had collapsed, but that was a lie, wasn't it?"
"S…Shion…"
"Yes or no?" Gaignun sighed, squaring his shoulders; dread an ice cube in his stomach.
"Yes. How did you find out?" Shion shrugged.
"The headache." She replied. "Thinking about what happened afterwards; I realized that I had felt that way before." Gaignun nodded.
"I see." Searching desperately for some measure of control he moved back behind his desk, fear sinking its claws deep into his soul. "Shion, I…I can explain."
"Please."
How can I? Gaignun thought wildly. "Shion…there's something…odd about you. The fact that you were able to pick up on the connection between Rubedo and me almost right away, however unintentionally, that you were able to hear the Song of Nephilim without any harm being done to you…" He dragged in a breath, terror constricting his lungs. "Rubedo and I couldn't figure out if you were just simply clueless or if you knew…I decided to take matters into my own hands. But I couldn't find out anything." Shion tilted her head at this.
"What do you mean?"
"I…I actually didn't go into your mind…rather, I used my voice to hypnotize you so you'd be able to answer my questions truthfully. When I did try to enter your thoughts though…the same barrier that protected you from Albedo came flying up." As if it were programmed. He thought, but didn't voice that out loud. "It seems whatever latent abilities you have only come forth when something dangerous happens to you mentally." "I see." Silence reigned supreme, Gaignun's heart thudding almost painfully in his chest. His mouth was dry as he looked at Shion, who was looking down at the ground in front of her.
"Why…?" Gaignun pushed his seat back as Shion suddenly got up, turning her back to him. "Why is that everybody knows more about me than I do?!" Her hands were fisted, and the black-haired U.R.T.V. saw the taunt tension in them before she whirled back around to face him, tears glittering in her eyes.
"You stopped because whatever's locked inside me has something to do with Miltia, doesn't it?!" Gaignun remembered Jr. telling him of Shion's reaction to Nephilim's demands inside the Encephalon, not that he couldn't blame her.
"That…and because you were crying. I didn't want to put you through any pain…" At this, Shion released a small sob, and she whipped back around, starting to run for the door.
No! Before he even knew he was doing it, the raven-haired U.RT.V. had bolted to his feet, using his powers to jam the door mechanisms, darting around his desk towards the brunette.
"Shion!" With a stifled scream the younger woman turned on him, hot tears racing down her cheeks, her hands lashing out.
"You bastard! You bastard, you bastard, you bastard…" Gaignun pinned her against the door, wrapping his arms around her in an embrace, not bothering to resist the girly pounding against his chest, his heart feeling as if it would break in two at the sight of seeing her cry. All the strain, the stress of the past several weeks had built up to be too much for her to deal with on her own, and so she wept, not knowing any other way to release the tension. Her knees wobbled, and so Gaignun let himself slowly drop to the ground, landing on his knees, his arms tightening around the slender frame he held in his arms…Shion returned the hug, burying her face into his shoulder. For how long they were like that, he didn't know. Gradually Shion's sobs quieted, the shudders racking her body stilled, and they simply stayed like that. Her head moved, her green eyes lifting to meet his. A silent look passed between them, and something flared within Gaignun.
"Shion…" He murmured, one hand sliding up to the back of her neck. He shouldn't…but loneliness was a beast inside of him, he just wanted to hold her in his arms just like this. "I…" One small hand rose to his jaw as he leaned forward, fingers tightening, pulling closer, his lips pressing against hers. The kiss was sweet, but weren't all first kisses sweet? He wanted to linger, but forced himself to stop, pushing Shion back against the locked door.
"No." Desperate for control, he put his hands on either side of the brunette, looking down. "Don't." Don't get involved with me. No matter how much I beg, no matter how my heart screams for you… Two hands framed his face, forcing him to look up.
"Gaignun…"
"Leave. Now."
"I don't want to." Shion whispered, her hands moving to lock themselves behind his neck. "I…I don't know how to explain it but just…don't push me away. Please." The raven-haired man found he could no longer control himself, his hands were moving, pulling her closer to him, his fingers running through the brown silk that was her hair…her hands were moving just as eagerly as his…
"Shion…please…" One final plea. "Don't...I'm not the man you think I am…"
"I don't care." With those words, the last of Gaignun's self-imposed restrictions broke, and he suddenly stood, lifting Shion in his arms, unable to tear his lips away from hers, carrying her over to the bed…
----
Green eyes opened slowly, and a body shifted position underneath the covers.
"Mmph…"
"Morning." Shion turned her head, seeing Gaignun sit on the edge of the bed clad only in boxers, holding a cup of coffee. "How are you feeling?"
"Mmm…good. You?"
"Good." Gaignun reached out, his fingers tracing the contours of Shion's face.
"…Are you upset about last night?" The younger woman smiled, turning her cheek into Gaignun's palm.
"Why should I?" Her hand rose to cover his. "I just wish you had told me you had feelings for me earlier."
"You should have done the same." The black-haired man gently scolded. "But I didn't want to bring you any pain…I knew you were in a relationship once before, and I wasn't too sure…" Shion sat up, making sure to tuck the covers around her.
"That was two years ago. I'm sure Kevin would have wanted me to be happy...and I am." Gaignun closed his eyes, joy lacing through him. Surely he had to be dreaming…
Do I deserve this?
"Hey." He opened his eyes to see Shion put a hand to his cheek. "What's going on up here?"
"Nothing." He wouldn't let his doubts and fears tamper with this moment. "The Elsa won't be coming back until tomorrow; Mary and Shelley have the day off…" He mused, putting the coffee cup on the nightstand. Shion laughed.
"No. Don't you…"
"Come here." Gaignun invited, his eyes gleaming as he wrapped his arms around Shion. "My memory of last night is rather hazy…I think I need a refresher."
"You don't need anything, you hentai."
"Mm…that reminds me. I should thank Rubedo sometime…" Two pairs of green eyes looked at each other.
"…Nah." Shion burst out giggling as Gaignun tightened his arms around her, pressing a kiss against the side of her neck, the sound lifting the raven-haired U.R.T.V.'s spirits. For now, there was only the sunlight glinting through the drapes, and the peace of his lover in his arms…it was enough for the time being.