The short trip to Patrick's Aunts place was an unwelcome break for Abel. Now that Petros was safely away at a hospital, he was left to his thoughts. Looking out the window, unseeing as he reflected upon the last few hours...first day out in the field and the beast, filthy damnedable monster takes over. All Abel could see in his mind was how he manhandled her, holding her in that punishing grip and the lascivious licking of her skin with 02 finding perverse pleasure in the act. He clenched his hands so tightly the knuckles turned white, anger boiling in his gut at himself, at 02 and Dietrich.
Astha covertly looked over at him, things he had feared had come to pass... Would he let her stay with him? Or would he disappear as a half starved crusnik to fight Cain and possibly losing himself to his twin because of... her. She noticed his hands in tight fists, the strain he was exerting starkly evident. Her gaze went down to her own hands having nothing to say and feeling more offblance seeing his fists. It wasn't long before they were stopping in front of a larger property on a quiet street.
"Here you two go, I gave Aunt Marie a heads up to prepare a room for you and see about some food, I hope you don't mind." Patrick smiled warmly at the bedraggled pair. "Again, thank you for your help today. I'll check in on your friend and send an update to my aunt in the morning.
"Thank you for your generosity, Patrick. It's most unexpected and very appreciated." Astha said as she got out of the truck and reached out to shake his hand. Abel was a little slower coming around the truck and then he too shook hands in thanks and farewell to the young paramedic.
"Sweet Dreams Inn." Was painted on a sign set on the archway garden entrance that when they stepped through exposed a one story building with what looked like four or five rooms along its length. White painted wood with blue trim and little flower beds holding out their last blooms of the year sat beside the doors to each room making them look so quaint and inviting.
They walked up to the first door that had "welcome" painted across it, and knocked.
A stout older woman opened the door, dressed in a simple cotton green dress and a pink knitted shawl around her shoulders. Her hair was light brown mixed with grey and bright green eyes twinkled from her tanned, aged face.
"Hello! You must be the two Patrick was dropping off!"
"Ah.. yes Patrick brought us here, Ma'am." Abel stepped forward, easily cloaking himself in the fool persona that always worked so well with people. He smiled shyly and held out his hand.
"I am Abel, and this is my friend Astha.. I do hope we are not imposing, Patrick quite insisted you could help us."
She smiled warmly and grabbed his hand with both of hers to shake. "Oh no, Patty always brings me people he knows need help and who've helped him out somehow. He's such a good kid, sees right to the root of the problem… that most people don't get enough kindness. By the way I'm Marie." She shuffled back and allowed them into the room, reaching out to hold Astha's hand in the same manner as she did Abel's before closing the door behind them
"Set your bags near the door put your boots on the tray and coats on the hanger in the corner. A small sink is there to wash up with. Then go ahead and take a seat at the table… I've got some nice cabbage rolls on the stove and I always make too many for myself." She wandered off to presumably the kitchen.
They did as they were told and settled in at the table.
"Maybe we should put our boots outside… they've seen a lot of um.. substances today." Astha commented, crinkling her nose at the aroma that seemed to fill the room.
Abel couldn't help but chuckle at her expression. "I'm afraid that won't help. I'm guessing the menu tonight is cabbage rolls… have you ever had them?"
"Hrm no, I don't even know what a cabbage is."
"You'll either like them or hate them… there's no middle ground."
She arched an eyebrow at him when their host returned with plates.
"Another moment please, while I get the table set then we can eat. It's my great grandma's recipe for cabbage rolls you know."
"That sounds amazing already, and again thank you for your hospitality Ma'am." Abel kept shifting in his chair, trying to find room for his long legs to rest without bumping his knees on the table or having his feet in the walkway.
She clicked her tongue, "Mr. Abel you are a lot taller than my normal crowd, so you'll have to mind your feet or I may trip. Oh… and there's no garlic in this for those of the… bitey persuasion. It's beef, tomato, rice, cabbage and a few spices but no garlic… I'm actually allergic to it too so it all works out." She commented before disappearing back into the kitchen.
"Garlic? What's wrong with garlic?" Astha looked at Abel, confused.
He smirked, "old vampire lore believed that garlic, holy water and sunlight harmed vampires. People would wear or hang garlands of garlic to repel vampires."
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard." She looked at him incredulously.
"It's true, in pre Armageddon time the humans believed it."
"Well it doesn't work on Methuselah."
"Of course not, you are far more sophisticated to be burned by a stinky plant." He grinned again.
"It seems there was a lot of odd things pre Armageddon."
"You have no idea."
Marie barged in just then, large crock pot in her hands.
She scurried over and set it carefully on the table.
"I'll bring in some lemon water and then we can eat."
The meal was a simple affair, Marie chattered on about the bombings and what the news anchors were speculating happened. Then she went into detail about the small Inn, how had she ran it for thirty years and loved the people she could help.
Astha had initially balked at the rolls but slowly got over the strong flavours. Glancing at Abel showed that he had no problem eating them, which didn't surprise her at all, the glut. Knowing him better, she could look past the fool facade and see the strain as he pushed the days trials behind him, playing the happy guest to perfection.
"I have no dessert tonight… but if you stay a second night I'll whip up something yummy."
"That sounds fantastic, though I don't know yet what our plans are." Astha commented, rising out of her chair. "And on that note we really should get our rest… it has been an eventful day."
Their host looked a bit embarrassed. "Oh my land! I have been the worst, you poor souls have indeed had a day and here I am keeping you from your beds." She got up and rushed over to a small cabinet, grabbing a set of keys. "Suite 104 has two beds as I wasn't sure of your… uh… arrangements per say."
Abel got up as she pressed the keys into his hand.
"Thank you Ma'am. It's been a treat to sit with you, refreshing really." He smiled warmly and patted her hand, easing her anxiety.
She smiled as she took her hand back and then looked at them both.
"Ok, out with you two. Water tanks are full so wash up and sleep well. I'll have tea and coffee on at eight."
"I can't wait for that shower… I don't remember being this grimy in a long time." Astha commented once they were in their quaint little room. Inside, the walls were a soft sage green with the baby blue carpet and the furnishings in soft butter yellow. A small couch, side tables and a TV were in the main room. A washroom and one bedroom with two double beds completed the suite.
"I can wait, go ahead and enjoy the water." He said as set his bag down in the bedroom.
"Once we are both a bit more uh... settled we need to talk." Astha popped her head around the bathroom door, worry in her golden eyes as he had his back to her.
"I know." he said barely loud enough for her to hear.
He waited till he heard the door close before he stripped down to his underwear, and grabbed the housecoat that was draped over the bed. It was a little short, coming to his knees.
"So much for nice clothes… yet again." He mused aloud as he stuffed his destroyed pants in his laundry bag and set his glasses on the nightstand.
He stretched out on the coverlet, crossing his ankles and leaning back over the pillows. In his hands he fiddled with the textures of Lilith's cross as his mind raced.
They had talked about it the evening Seth had brought him the extra blood, to try to manage without daily dosing… He should never have let her talk him into not bringing the extra vials… she was so sure things would be ok, that if he needed more it would be a simple thing to solve... The stubborn woman didn't really understand what she was getting into, thinking that they would have time to see the signs before he would take from her.. though to be fair… there were no warnings of how today could have gone. Astha had to take several pills to keep herself in strength after the sunlight, poison gas and injuries she took, and he had been ok until church, the amount of lead he ate today was rather high… He shook his head sadly.
What had changed for 02 to take over? It wasn't a verbal entity at the best of times and all this "mine" business, he didn't understand this possessiveness. Normally at high activation against methuselah 02 was savage at getting the chance to rip and tear, absorbing the blood as fast as possible. Here he had paused, spoken to her and somehow caused a reaction with his saliva to get her blood without biting. He wished he could remember more of what was said but all he had were blips of awareness, sensations and the word Mine... What did it mean? And why? Lilith said she had worked it out with 02, and until now had been the dominant presence… Lilith was the lesser percentage of nanomachines, did 02 push her back? God he hoped not... Perhaps when he slept she would contact him... if she could?
Abel sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose for a moment and then rubbed his eyes. His head hurt and while the food had helped, just thinking about her brought back the underlying thirst to have more of her blood… maybe it was because it was so fresh, and she had taken supplements to aid her system that hers had seemed better, the small amounts he took in were more satisfying than any of the blood he had taken in since Londinium… because having more reasons to want her was something he needed.
They had to get her back to the Empire before anything worse happened to her… He'd live on old donated blood or whatever else he could get on the search for Cain, anything to not harm her again like that… Abel sighed once more, looking about the room, listening to the sound of the shower running. Soon she would be out, and perhaps she would look at him with guarded eyes, having had time to really process the whole thing. While he didn't expect the levels of shock Esther had suffered from, being that Astha had some idea of what the Crusnik was capable of... he still expected at least some leeriness from her. She had put on a brave face, played along with the paramedics and the innkeeper as he strove to ignore the elephant in the room between them...
The sound of running water had always been soothing to him and after a few minutes Abel's eyes slid closed from exhaustion, his head tipping forward and tilted to the side as he drifted off to sleep.
Astha stood under the spray, enjoying the deliciously hot water on her battered body. Her arm and leg wounds were but puffy buttons on her skin now. As she went through the motions of washing her hair, the soap suds burned where 02 had licked her. Closing her eyes she could see him move towards her neck, almost hear the snap of his teeth as Abel fought for control… Shaking the images away she took a steadying breath and resumed her shower.
His fear of what 02 could do…he apparently had good reasons for all of his warnings and his wariness when she had insisted she could handle it. Thinking she knew what she was dealing with and then experiencing it was so vastly different... When he had activated before, she was prepared for it as he had made the situation optimal… more like a preview, a best case scenario but what she witnessed at the church was messy and brutal. What should have only been a way to get Petros down became the start of the increasing demands on his body. Had they known what was to happen at the church, would they have waited a day? She mulled that over as she worked conditioner into her hair.
No, Petros would have died, resulting in a fallout between the Empire and the Vatican…Abel wouldn't let that happen. Their efforts today had stopped the ambush at the consulate and while they did walk into the trap at the church, Petros still lived and Dietrich was gone for now. All it had cost them was Abel's clothes and his shaky confidence in his control of the crusnik. And her? Some blood and being face to face with 02, having Abel at both low and full activation take the blood from her wounds. She paused...did she fear him now, having truly seen the monster within? She had been in the proverbial jaws of his beast and walked away… this time.
Finishing up her shower and turning off the water, she rolled the question around her mind. What did she feel for him? Where did she stand with him? A soft sigh puffed out while she dressed in her button up shirt and shorts sleepwear.
"So many questions… so few answers." She muttered to herself as she tidied up, coming across the medical supplies Seth had given her to help Abel. "10cc should be enough." Seth had advised. Would he feel better if she gave him some willingly? Or would he be angry that she offered? She hummed quietly looking at the syringe.
What was she doing? Was she really ready to bleed for him, risk 02 taking over again to drink her dry? This was more dangerous than her tigers… a being made to feed off her kind specifically. Her golden eyes flickered up to her reflection in the mirror and she could see the pink welt left by his tongue, from collarbone to just under her earlobe. Touching it gingerly her thoughts plunged on. That was but a taste of what could happen… though 02 had said several times that he wouldn't kill her because they wouldn't allow it, cognizant enough to tell her he would only take some blood… That alone made it seem that 02 understood the concept of her being available to supply him, and he was possessive of that. She wondered if Abel had noticed the difference? Perhaps things would actually go better now knowing a bit more about 02's reaction to her… nodding to her reflection, Astha felt a bit more confident again and knowing what she had to do.
She reached in the bag and took out what was needed to fill two of the vials for him. Carefully resting them beside the taps so he couldn't miss it, she left the bathroom.
When she walked into the bedroom she saw him stretched out on his bed, long legs crossed at the ankles, white housecoat barely covering to mid thigh, hands were relaxed around his cross on his lap and his face was in soft repose as he dozed. An almost painful ache in her chest was bloomed as she looked over his features, the question of fearing him feeling so wrong now… she cared for him as her Tovarish, and today of showing her more of what he struggled with, and why his ultimate goal to stop Cain and the Orden was so necessary... He carried such heavy burdens without complaint, only shadows of sadness and guilt in his gaze were evident when he was unguarded. She only hoped she could ease his load, to give the man underneath it all some relief, a compassionate ear and a comforting embrace.
In his slumber the strain of the day melted away, relaxing the crease between his eyebrows, the tightness at the corners of his eyes and the twitch of his jaw muscles. His chest was partially exposed with his long hair draped over his right shoulder and tucked slightly under his chin. The angles of his face were hollow compared to normal, the muscles she could see were sinewy and flat as if he was dehydrated. She blinked as she figured out that it was the toll his body took to power the crusink. It triggered the memory of when she had watched him sleep before the ship was shot down and how even then she had noticed he was underweight. It made sense now as he was still recovering and lacked enough bacillus virus, which he had since learned that he needed a steady supply to power himself at the full fusion level. Her decision to do the vials felt more like the right choice for them both as she studied him. She shook her head to clear the wet bangs out of her eyes and loosely crossed her arms under her breasts as she stood against the doorframe.
He seemed so peaceful that a few more minutes wouldn't hurt. The man had been through so much and always chose to protect when destruction was easier. The carnage at the church had been a glimpse of what he could do… and had done in the wars if what her history books described was even half true. He had pulled that cross off the wall, using his body to take the impact so that Petros didn't get hurt further… taking the bullets because no other option was viable when surrounded by the Autojägers... He gave so much of himself, literally, to others when he was transformed. A monster wouldn't do that, being self sacrificing was because Abel was in there, it was Abel's influence showing. How could she run away or fear a man like that? No, she felt deep down that her choice to help him was the path she needed to walk and that he was worth the trouble… now to convince him of that, to show him in the only method he seemed to be unable to dodge her.
He must have felt her gaze subconsciously, as his eyes cracked open, looking about the room before settling on her as she leaned against the doorframe.
"Astha? Everything ok?" He asked, his voice thick as he roused himself to sit up, causing the robe to slide off his shoulder.
"Yes, Tovarish it is."
Abel blinked a few more times, picking up on the warmth in her tone. She was leaning on the doorframe wearing a simple white button up shirt and shorts. Her arms were crossed in front of her, causing some stress to the top buttons… he looked higher and saw the pink welt at her neck.
"It's still there.." His voice was just above a whisper, disbelief in his tone.
"It is, but it's fading. The rest of my wounds are nearly gone and by morning none will remain, I was lucky that the worst I had were flesh wounds." She pushed off the frame and went to the vacant bed beside his, dropping her bag on the floor near the headboard and sitting cross legged on the bed. "How are you doing?" Her voice was soft, filled with concern.
"I'm… here. Physically exhausted for sure and I'll be for a little while I guess." He shrugged the robe back up a little, and turned to rest on his hip and elbow, facing her, "I am lost on how to explain today but we should return to the Empire right away… before I harm you further. I… I can't have that happening again to you." He looked down at the floor, knowing she wouldn't like the suggestion.
"I'm stronger than you think… and I don't believe you're truly a danger to me, Abel. 02 was mindful… could have easily done me in but stated clearly he wouldn't. I think that we've discovered something about 02 that will make things easier for you going forward."
"You have more faith in me than you should… I just don't understand you." His wintery blue eyes looked up to hers, searchingly. "Why? Why don't you run the other way? I am unable to control that beast.. you're filled with something it wants, craves… How can you sit there like nothing bad happened today?"
She pushed off her bed and sat on the edge of his. His expression becoming more wary the closer she got. He shifted to move away and she reached out and put her hand on his shoulder, the other on his cheek.
"Wha-what are you doing?! Astha! Please don't touch me… if-" she placed a finger in a shushing motion on his lips. Her eyes traveled over his handsome face, seeing the panic in his eyes.
"I'm ok, see? Relax, I have put my life in your hands and you haven't let me down. In the midst of the worst you stood over me to take the wounds for me… you bled For me. You've done it for others and you'll do it again. I can sit here, within your reach knowing that you are you." She removed her hand from his lips, reaching up and caressing his cheek with her thumb, her long fingers cradling his jaw. Her other hand slid off his shoulder and matched the other on his face.
"Tovarish, we can do this. The first steps are always the hardest, I have been told many a time, and this is no different. I don't know how else to show you that it will work out. 02 is aware of your wish to not consume me, this will work as he now has a ready source... I can get you to Cain, we can do this."
Abel listened to her words, the soothing scent of lavender and mint wafting over him as she caressed and cradled his face. Her golden eyes were so close showing him her honesty with no fear or hesitation to be seen. Slowly his panic faded as he felt no stirring from 02. He was surprised when she leaned forward and rested her forehead on his.
"If you go after Cain alone and become half starved I fear you will fail… and I don't want to lose you. What are a few pints of my blood to losing your life and giving him the last piece he needs to wreck our world?" Her voice was a soft whisper, her breath mixing with his.
"I.. I..how can you be so sure?"
Astha shifted back a little to let her eyes search his. She reached out a little more with her hands, letting her thumbs slide along his jaw and her fingers on his neck. The warmth of her hands was soaking into him, languid heat that soothed him more than he ever imagined.
"You wanted a confession earlier today… here is one of them." A soft smile crossed her face briefly, "I have come to care for you, Abel Nightroad. That is why I have so much faith in you. You are worthy, monsters and all of my trust."
His jaw slackened in surprise, then she leaned in, pressing her plush warm lips against his in a gentle kiss.
He closed his eyes as the pleasurable warmth of her swept over him. Her hands moved to cradle the back of his head, lightly tangling in his silver locks but she didn't increase the kiss, waiting for him. A heartbeat more and he pressed back, indulging in the want to feel her lips on him… tasting the skin of the forbidden apple of Eden. He leaned back to end the kiss even as he wanted more… craved to feel more with her… but under it all he was still the vampire to her race and he couldn't trust himself with her so close, so trusting and so vulnerable. He almost reached out to her as she pulled back at his cue, feeling the cool air where her hands had heated his skin moments before.
"Astha…" he whispered softly, as he looked into her eyes of molten gold. Her tender acceptance of his left him reeling. She wasn't trying to entice him, only show him her trust with that kiss… the stubborn woman had figured out that touch was a way to communicate with him that he couldn't ignore. Abel coughed slightly and adjusted his bathrobe that had fallen more open.
Her damp ivory hair with the auburn red streak angling over her left eyebrow was tousled from towelling, giving an alluring backdrop to her beautiful face. He looked down at her mouth, his lips tingling and sensitive from hers.
An uncharacteristically shy smile spread across her lips as she noticed his gaze. "I wasn't sure how else to show you… that I'm not afraid of you and the crusnik." She went back to sitting on her bed again. "Now it's your turn to wash up. I'll contact Seth to brief her on our day."
"Right… good plan, I'll be back in a bit." Truthfully he was glad to take the escape from her, unsure of how to proceed.
As he stepped into the shower, her confession burned in his mind, he wasn't sure he wanted her to care for him… that she trusted him monsters and all, as Abel didn't even trust the crusnik and they had been cohabitating for over nine hundred years. He hadn't let himself develop feelings for another past platonic camaraderie since Caterina found him more than a decade ago. With Astha, he noticed her in ways he didn't want to, shouldn't want to really. He enjoyed watching her, learning her movements and quirks. But what would it matter if he was to press this… this attraction when he feared for her life. This was such a dangerous line they walked already and his heart twisted at the possibility of her dying by his own stained hands.
Full fusion had obviously altered the division between crusnik and host and with two entities it was even more complicated... 02 being possessive of a supply as Astha kept pointing out and Abel's own desires for her seemed mixed.
He finished his shower and was drying his hair when he noticed the vials sitting innocently by the sink. He froze as it registered what it was, he closed his eyes waiting for the surge of the crusnik to come, and come it did. One of the lights shorted out, the rest flickering momentarily. A few slow breaths and things settled down so that he could set his brush down and grab the vials.
Why? Was all he could think of as he turned it over in his hands, watching her blood slide and slosh within the glass. The more he looked at it the stronger the craving to drink became until finally he unstoppered it. His nostrils flared at the smell, 02 clamored to activate, pushing the nanomachines hotly in his veins. Abel shook his head a moment before tipping it back, letting the heady substance coat his tongue and slide down his throat. Fresh and taken orally was always the quickest way to feed the Crusnik. Abel's veins were hot and tingly for a moment as absorption occurred, 02 wasn't waiting for the blood to be digested normally, barely down his throat and a burning sensation much like severe heartburn happened. A moment later Lilith's cool touch trickled along his veins, giving him relief.
"Oh thank god you're in there." He mumbled aloud.
He closed the vial and set it back down. Looking in the mirror, his eyes flickered red a few times before staying the familiar blue. He opened the second one, now that the initial feeding was absorbed this one would go down easier.
Already he could see the improvement to his body, improved muscle fullness making the hollows of his face fade. The nanomachines had been heavily taxed rebuilding his entire chest cavity and wings when he took that barrage of bullets. A steadying breath and he set the second one down.
She truly was trying to help him, at every turn she met his issues and pushed past them. If only he could trust like that… but he knew his fears for her safety were valid no matter what she thought. One as damned as he didn't deserve her. He needed to push her away… before it got worse, before feelings stronger than desire and friendship develop between them both..
He quickly finished up his nightly routine, pulling on his light blue cotton pajamas as sadness settled in his chest. He sighed and grabbed his things, not wanting to say what needed to be said.
She was just closing the communicator when Abel walked in. He looked a lot better, but his eyes were guarded and he looked tense.
"Seth wants us back tomorrow unless we can find clues to where Dietrich is at… which I don't have any clue how we could find him."
"Tomorrow is fine, we need to get back as I'm sure he's gone back underground until he can cause trouble somewhere else."
"Ok, I'll arrange that in the morning with transport. So… do you feel better?" She put the communicator away and went back to sitting cross legged on her bed.
Abel walked over and sat on his bed, facing her but looking down at his hands.
"Your trust in me… I am humbled by it, but… it scares me, Astha. I have killed your kind, I rely on your kind to power the nanomachines in my veins... You are like a lamb in front of the wolf with its neck stretched out… how long till my teeth rip your flesh, and there is nothing you or I can do to stop it?"
"Abel, that's a-"
"No! It's exactly what is going on here… the vials you left me are potent and filling." Anger was in his voice now, "I'm more satisfied by it than any I've gotten from professor or Seth…now that I've tasted it, the crusnik craves it… if we get in a fight where I'm decimated like earlier, what will stop 02? I barely stopped him, that rash could have been a bite so deep your bones would have shown" he shuddered at the image.
"The crusnik recognized me as the supply, and any creature will protect its food source. 02 was aware of your want to keep me alive… It's what I meant earlier about how things will go easier."
"Easier because you're within hands reach for a snack? How can you be ok with this? Why let me use you like this?" He looked up to meet her eyes, his angry ones clashing with hers. Neither of them noticed the flicker of the lights as Abel got more infuriated.
"Because I'm capable of more than just that! And again, what are a few pints of my blood compared to the good you can do when you stop Cain? The Orden is itching to start a war, the Vatican is a pile of self righteous gunpowder waiting for any spark… and it's the Empire is who will pay for it in the end… we will be pushed back further."
"What if I don't go after him? I've hidden for centuries before, I could do it again."
"You wouldn't do that and we both know it Abel." She snapped.
"But it would keep me from killing you!" He yelled, slamming his fist down on his leg. "I have killed so many, done so much wrong, and I don't want to add you to the count!
The silence between them crackled with tension.
"And don't say it won't happen, Astha, I've known this monster a long time!"
"That was almost a millennium ago Abel! We don't live on maybes and what if's, that's not a life either of us want."
"Then why are you so willing to do this? Here you are with vials of your blood and arguing with me about how I maybe won't end up doing what I do best… killing vampires. I lived amongst humans, had an android as my main partner in combat because they never had to worry about me eating them!"
"This was our first trial by fire, something went wrong sure, but what real damage did we take? None, except that there was a change in your activation and I lost a few ounces. I'm arguing because it's not enough to make me leave, no one else can help you like I can. The Vatican has left you, and while you are enhanced, you are still a human, filled with flaws and problems. Stop running away from everyone. You shouldn't go against one of the biggest threats to our world since the wars, alone… that is why I am here and I'll stay here as it's the right thing to do…" she huffed a little to catch her breath. "Perhaps you can relate to that feeling more than what my trust means."
She saw him flinch, knowing the last few words cut.
He was quiet for a few moments, his eyes focused on his hands, as he flexed his fists, calming down or getting more angry she wasn't sure.
"You wouldn't stay behind even if I left, would you? Even with orders from Seth… you're that committed to this?" His voice was low, and had the steely edge of his anger still strong in it.
"You already know the answer."
"God dammit… I don't know how this will play out but I'd rather know where you are then have him get a hold of you… I may just be a man full of more flaws than most… but you are safer with me then being taken by Cain." He took a few deep resigned breaths. "Astha, you terrify me like no one else ever has… I don't know if I should keep you close or push you away. And you sure as hell don't listen to me, stubborn to a fault and foolhardy. But, " he looked into her eyes, his gaze softening, "I can only hope your trust isn't misguided as I can only aspire to be who you think I am."
A soft smile came to her lips, tentative of his words.
"Thank you… my Tovarish."
"Thank me when it's over, since we are barely started on this journey."
A grin tweaked her smile and she nodded. "Fair enough."