A/n: just a short really fluffy piece, enjoy!
Returning Home, a short interlude
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Malik woke at dusk the next evening to find Anzu still sleeping.
He expected that she would sleep for several days while her body adjusted to her new life.
He sighed contentedly to himself as he stared into her face and stroked her hair.
' I'm so glad I found you. It's been a hard year and this was the perfect reward for it.'
He was happy to just lie there next to her, even if she couldn't sense his presence.
Had he not been so restless he'd have gone back to sleep.
Nearly draining her had given him too much energy though.
Far more than he was used to having so he decided to leave the apartment for a while.
He knew she would be safe.
Throwing on a jacket he headed out the door.
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He sat against a dark alley wall and began to think back over the last year.
'Why was it so difficult to find her? She only moved once. Although I guess it was sheer luck that she stayed late enough at school that I could sense her.'
He was startled by an oddly familiar voice.
"You look high my good friend."
He glanced up at the shadow approaching and sighed before continuing to stair at the ground.
"And depressed."
The taller, older man sat beside him and mimicked him.
"Not a good combination my friend. What's got you so down?"
Malik glanced over at him.
"I found her."
Demetrius nodded.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
Malik nodded with a sigh and closed his eyes, dropping his head onto his knees.
"And I turned her but…why was it so hard to find her! I'm a vampire for Ra's sake, tracking her should have been easy!"
Demetrius chuckled and patted his back.
"Now, now. You've only been this way for fourteen months, and you're still a baby."
Malik glared at him.
"I'm eighteen."
Demetrius again chuckled and closed his eyes, an amused smirk gracing his lips and revealing just the tips of his fangs.
"In today's world, you won't truly be a man for another fifteen years or so."
Malik shook his head and stared back at the ground.
"Things are different in the desert. Especially for me and you of all people should know that."
Demetrius nodded.
"So what else is bothering you?"
Malik leaned back and stared up at the stars.
"Too much energy, nothing to use it on. I'm not hungry so hunting would be pointless and she'll be out for another few days."
Demetrius grinned.
"Oh, when I said high I didn't know how high."
Malik nodded.
"You've never drained anyone before have you?"
He shook his head.
" No but I've seen it enough times to know when another vampire is high as a kite on blood."
Malik closed his eyes with a chuckle.
"We sound like drug addicts."
Demetrius looked down at him, a serious expression on his face.
"But it is a drug, especially to one like you who lives off a pint a week and rare steaks. But if you want to use that energy for something, I know exactly how to do it quickly."
Malik looked into his eyes and nodded with a smirk.
"Telepathy is a wonderful thing Demetrius."
And with that he was gone.
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Malik materialized from the shadows next to Anzu and kissed her softly.
He lay down beside her and wrapped his arms around her tightly.
He closed his eyes and slowly his mind began to intertwine with hers.
Soon all reality was lost and he found himself standing on a glass floor in front of a pedestal on which lay Anzu in a flowing white dress.
Looking down he smiled as a dozen or more silvery fish swam under his feet.
Everything else was dark so he closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them again they were in a garden.
Flowers of all colors graced more than a hundred types of trees from around the world.
An old wooden swing hung from an oak tree, vines of purple jasmine wrapped tightly around the ropes.
Blue-sky overheadheld billowing white clouds and he smiled warmly as a gentle breeze blew coolly into his face.
Blue jays and white doves cooed to their young in the tall fruit trees.
Crystals sprung from the ground at the base of the tree and around the glass he still stood on.
Satisfied with his imagination he knelt down before her and took her hand, kissing it softly and she slowly awakened.
He stood and helped her down, never releasing her hand.
A garland of white and lavender flowers graced her hair like a crown and he was brought to tears by her sheer beauty.
Everything about her was perfect and his heart began to beat faster as she gently wiped away his tears.
Nary a word was spoken between the two and the glass under them suddenly shattered.
They sank into the cool crystalline water that sparkled with the sunlight and her layered skirt flared out like the petals of a white rose.
Malik stared into her eyes in wonderment at the innocence she radiated.
Truly she was a pure creature of beauty and love.
She glided into his arms and he kissed her softly.
Her eyes glittered with mischief and she suddenly dove down into the water.
Turning her face up to him she smiled and waved for him to follow.
The water felt good around him and he closed his eyes, sinking to the bottom.
He sank into her arms and rested his head in her lap as she sat on the soft sand.
He didn't know how much time had passed as they stared contentedly into each other's eyes but he was shocked when a school of fish swam by and he suddenly realized they were still under water.
He glanced up and saw the shimmering surface of the pond and the glittering crystals at the edge of it, perhaps twenty feet above them.
He pulled her close and kissed her as they began to ascend slowly.
As their heads broke the surface he picked her up and ascended completely out of the water.
He gently glided over to the swing and sheclosed her eyes, resting her head on his shoulder and wrapping her arms tightly around him as he began to swing gently.
He wrapped one arm around her waist and kissed her head.
They stayed there, gently swaying in the wind holding each other until the sun began to sink into the distance, turning the sky a brilliant orange and the clouds royal purple.
Everything began to fade away and eventually Malik stood and even the swing disappeared.
Anzu looked into his eyes and smiled softly.
He placed her back on the pedestal and kneeled beside her again.
He spoke softly as he caressed her cheek.
"Sleep calmly my goddess of light."
She fought to keep her eyes open and before finally submitting to the need of sleep she whispered.
"I love you."
He smiled warmly and kissed her hand before replacing it at her side.
"I will always love you Anzu."
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He woke slowly and lay there smiling as he stared at the setting sun out the window.
'Just one more day my love, you'll wake tomorrow night and it will be the first of the rest of our lives.'
When the moon began to rise he stood and picked her up.
Carrying her back up to the roof, the candles were still placed in a circle and he stepped in it, immerging in the desert.
He kicked sand onto the dim lights and as they were put out they disappeared and he flew off into the distance.
He glanced into her face and touched his forehead to hers.
"We're home now."
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