Hey all, Tisa here! Slightly turned away from the cutesy fluff, so a multi-chaptered fic instead. Could got some graphic violence later on, though if it gets to that I'll put a warning. Enjoy!
It meant nothing to him anymore, just walking the streets at night, lighting his smoke with one hand, and the other hand clenched in a fist. The air on the strip was a mixture of pollution, drugs and sex, the three ingredients of any red light district. All of it, the women, the men, even the buildings seemed to mock his pain. Each laughing, drunk couple a sharp reminder of better times, times when he'd had an abundance of hair and glory. Back when he wasn't alone or upset.
Those days were long past now, lost and nearly forgotten. In just a few short years, he'd given up his title, and for that, his wealth, fame and popularity. Suddenly, he wasn't great or important. Females who once had wanted him as their husband now turned tail at the sight of his face. Though, looking into one of the murky bar windows he passed, the man could see their reluctance to speak to him.
His once long bushy red hair was cut to the scalp jaggedly, rough from the blade of a knife. Rich clothing was worn from years of use and covered in grime, just like his skin. The last time he'd slept in a real bed had been months ago, when the cold weather had forced him to retreat into the warmth. Inside had a bad feeling now, especially in the homes he was forced into, where every dark haired woman reminded him of her.
Oh, how he wished she'd just leave his mind in peace. For three years he'd tried to block the thoughts of the ninja's tears or when he'd last seen her, bruised and broken. Still, it was better when he remembered the good times, her smiles as she said his name. Laughing as she screamed his name, chasing him through the gardens with her lips looking so soft and innocent.
Like any person lost in memories, he was startled to find someone beside him as he shook his head free of those thoughts. It had been just a few months after that day that everything had gone so terribly right. A day he reminded himself of over and over again, as if the memory would slip away if he didn't constantly check on it. It hadn't been an exceptionally good day, though the sun had been bright enough to request she meet him outside, at their place.
"Hey, gorgeous." He'd leaned over, kissing her firmly on the lips before she could protest. "Miss me?"
Her eyes had widened in shock as he grinned at her. Sheena'd always had a problem with public displays of affection, even if no one else was around. "What was that for?" Innocent confusion was turning to the slightest hint of anger, and he was barely resisting kissing her again, instead settling to brush a stray piece of hair from her face and keep smiling "Am I not allowed to greet you anymore?"
"Not…like…that…" Her anger was being replaced with embarrassment. When she was like this, face flushed from something he'd said, gave him more reason to love her than before. Not that he really needed any more reasons; just her existence was enough. "Why did you invite me all the way here though? Even with the new transportation it takes a few days, so you better have a good reason for this."
"I do." His grin had been infectious and she'd smiled back, hesitantly, but there. There was a hint of nervous apprehension as though she still wasn't sure what was happening. Wasn't sure what a year of semi-secret meetings, quiet dinners and invitations to things really meant. Even after all the years they'd spent together as children, or later. Only Sheena would think like that, he thought chuckling under his breath. Though, she'd find out exactly what it meant later. Later, when, half babbling he'd somehow proposed to her in a way that seemed rather alien even to him. And then…That was when he ended the thinking and kept walking. It was all in the past anyway. What he'd lost was gone forever and there was only one last thing for him to do before he was gone too, lost between the pages of history. A project that had ripped away years of his life, leaving the husk of a man behind. But no one would think removing the Tethe'allan royal figurehead was easy, without being an escapee of a twisted justice system on top of it. All that mattered was taking revenge on the ones who'd hurt her, trying not to think of how it was really his fault, all his fault…
Yes, my pathetic attempt at being creepy. Leave any comments you want, and until the next part, ciao!