A/N: Ooooh, I think this might be my best chapter yet! I'm sorry if my characters are a bit OOC or whatever, I just adjust them to fit the needs of each chapter. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: hmmm lemme check… nope, still don't own the Thief Lord.Hornet felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. Scipio was back? He was here? Her thoughts scattered. She had been looking forward to his return so much, but she had never thought of what she would do about it. Or what she would say! Poor Hornet wasn't even sure what she had done wrong.
Thinking about this, Hornet calmed. What she needed was an explanation. Till she got it she could act normal. Unexcited to see the boy who'd kissed her and then disappeared for three days. Oh dear.
Still sitting on her mattress, Hornet cast her eyes back down at the ratty medical leaflet she had snagged outside a drug store. It was hopelessly dirty, but the pictures were clear enough to give her some guidance on how to set a broken arm. Footsteps- light skipping ones for Riccio and loud, steady ones for Scipio- came down the dim hallway behind Hornet.
She couldn't help herself, Hornet turned to look as Mosca called out a greeting. He and Riccio must have gone off to get their latest riches for they were nowhere to be seen. Instead the tall form of Scipio, the thief lord, stood in the doorway. And the thief lord he played. The black birdlike mask was in place; he wore a long dark coat, and stood tall. His chin was in the air a bit as he inspected his lair, looking haughty and controlled.
Scipio's eyes barely flickered when they passed over Hornet.
Feeling slightly like she had been slapped, Hornet sniffed, unimpressed, and went back to her leaflet.
"You've been gone a while, Skip," Hornet commented, pulling a perfect act of nonchalance. She could practically feel him stiffen behind her.
(A/N: yes, yes I know I used the incorrect nickname, but I need it right now! Besides, I'm almost positive that some kind of nickname was used by Hornet to bug Scipio in the book…)
"Don't call me that," he growled. Hornet raised her eyebrow at a particularly gruesome picture and shrugged. A sack hit the mattress beside her with a heavy thud.
"For me?" she asked, less than respectfully. Opening it, Hornet let out a real gasp. Inside it were books. Lots of them. Science texts, literature, sci-fi, Shakespeare; more than any Hornet had ever had before.
Stunned she looked back at Scipio. He still observed her with the same reserved gaze. Frustration welled up beneath Hornet's awe. Finally she couldn't take the silence.
"What is the matter with you?" she shouted, jumping to her feet. Whatever reaction Scipio was expecting, that certainly wasn't it.
"What do you mean what's the matter with me?" Scipio yelled back, his cool, unconcerned façade forgotten. Hornet threw her hands up in frustration.
"You KISS me, you run away, you HATE me, and NOW you're giving me BOOKS?" A little softer, she added, "Please just make up your mind." Scipio was staring at Hornet, mouth slightly open. He tried to talk once, twice, three times and failed. Hornet sighed and turned to go.
"Wait!" Hornet stopped, and held her breath. "I-I don't hate you," Scipio mumbled. When Hornet turned to face him, he slid off the mask and fiddled with it. "I shouldn't have done any of that. I'm sorry I kissed you. I'm really sorry I ran away." The poor boy was beet red, but an apology was an apology, Hornet decided. But one thing had to be said.
"You're sorry that you kissed me?" Hornet asked. Scipio nodded sullenly, staring at his feet. "Well," Hornet said softly as she picked her way towards the door, "I'm not." She glimpsed Scipio's head jerk up, eyes wide, and then Hornet left the theater.
A/N: on to the next chapter! Remember, reviews inspire and guilt me into updating!
