Streetlights of Black and Blue
"You need to leave." Lucian's deep voice was low and quiet but unmistakably meant for the disgustingly thin, pale boy who stood alone underneath the street light. It hadn't taken Lucian long to find the boy after reading Delilah's text messages where Mikael had asked her to meet him in this spot. Although, the snarl on Mikael's flushed blotchy pink face was a surprise; no doubt expecting Delilah's frail self and not the six foot one dark silhouette in the night quickly approaching. The only response Lucian received from Mikael was a stammer of unintelligible words as Lucian came into the light, the blaring gold against his back made his front profile appear even darker and angrier than his already furious self.
"Do you want to have to explain this to your parents back at the station?" Asked Lucian, feeling old the way he bought the boy's parents into the equation, but that was necessary when dealing with children like Mikael. Lucian tried not to think about Delilah in that sense while ignoring the nagging feeling in the back of his mind on why he didn't want to place her on equal maturity level with Mikael. It was her quiet words, big brown knowing eyes and the curves her clothes tonight had emphasised so well.
Lucian cringed as he tried to erase the images of the way Delilah's turtle neck clung to her body and realised Mikael had found his tongue as his crude voice interrupted Lucian's thoughts.
"I know Delilah has a way with men sir but you are mistaken. This isn't my fault, she's the one that needs help, not me. That's why I'm here, you can't take me away in public for doing nothing. She deserved everything she got sir surely you can see that." Said Mikael, the words flowed from him now but Lucian had to compose himself and remind himself of his training at police college when he said those last words about Delilah being deserving.
"Mikael," Lucians ever deep voice had dropped an octave as he spat the name, "Not only are you loitering in the dark, disturbing the peace and harassing a young girl who you already have a separation order on, but now your threatening her life and breaking the law." Lucian tried to remain calm, tried to handle the situation professionally but when Mikael scoffed and tried to push past him towards Delilah's home Lucian's remaining composure snapped at the thought of Mikael stepping foot near Delilah again. He grabbed Mikael's skinny arm at the bicep, it feeling like a toothpick in Lucian's broad calloused hands, and put a little pressure in holding Mikael in place.
"Stop Mikael. Before you get hurt and I have to take you back to the station and call your parents." Lucian's voice was still stern and unwavering if not a little impatient. It was not a threat but a fact. Although the thought of having to go back into the station was not preferable compared to what awaited him at home or three houses down from where he stood now.
"Don't touch me! You can't touch me! You wont keep me away from her." Mikael screamed while yanking at his arm. It was a curious situation, appearing very similar to that of Lucian's daughter's tantrums. Almost as soon as the tantrum began it stopped short while Mikael's eyes bulged out of his head as his frantic gaze rested on a spot behind Lucian's head. The hairs on the back of Lucians neck rose as he realized the only person who could make Mikael's face screw up in such a disgustingly possessive glare and fall silent. Delilah beat Lucian to the punch when she spoke up first, "See this Mikael?" She asked as she held up her cell phone, "You need to leave and respect the restraining order before I call your parents and tell them all about it."
"Delilah, you should've let me handle this." Lucian commanded only just loud enough for her to hear while she stood only a few feet away from the two men. Mikael tried to make a bolt for it towards her when Lucian grabbed his arm and effortlessly threw him back and onto the ground, landing with a thud.
"You can't do that! That's police brutality!" Mikael nearly screamed in his off beat accent.
Lucian didn't reply, just rolled his eyes and gave the boy a doubtful look. He was glad Delilah had the sense to stay behind him but he felt her presence close on his back as she stepped closer to him.
"Please Mikael, this is pathetic and I never want to see you again, after this separation order is up I'll file a restraining order. You're over 18 Mikael, you'll go to jail for this." Lucian's eyebrows shot up in surprise at Mikael's age thinking surely this shrivelled up twig of a boy was not a man.
"Leave now Mikael while you still can, and if I ever see you near Delilah again, or a single mark or hair out of place on her, she and I will tell the police that you assaulted her and I was forced to break your legs to stop your persistent pursuits. Understood?"
Mikael's eyes clouded with fear as he stood and scampered away into the night. Lucian watched until Mikael faded from sight, then let himself release the breath he had been holding. A small tingle shot up his tricep as tiny fingers tips brushed his arm. He ducked his head down and met Delilah's eyes for the first time since she had come outside. The brown pools were filled with relief and a little fear. Either from Mikael or being alone in the dead of night with a man much more powerful and capable of hurting her should he wish. Delilah felt a seed of guilt for thinking of that possibility, although who could blame her after what she had been through. Still, Lucian had protected her, which was more than she could say about any other man she had been with. He deserved more faith and trust than what she was giving him.
"You shouldn't have come out Delilah I could handle it." Lucian's brow furrowed at the spark of more fear in her eyes before her gaze dropped to her hands.
"I heard him screaming Lucian. Would you have been able to stand behind a door and hear that without coming out? Knowing it was your fault. I thought he might've come prepared again." Her voice trembled but there were no tears, she was scared but not sad. Lucian noticed the 'again' she had mentioned and waited to see if she was going to explain further, "He bought a knife once. See?" She lifted her sleeve past the cuts on her arms and showed a scar sliced across her left shoulder. Fury erupted in the pit of Lucian's stomach as his hand raised and his fingers lightly traced the scar tissue that jutted from her otherwise smooth skin. Only scars were the physical blemish that blessed her body, no marks, no acne, not even goosebumbs until he touched her. Lucian was seeing red, he was livid at all the scars Delilah would have to live with, constant reminders of their toxic relationship that were either Mikael's responsibility or doing. But his vision cleared when she didn't flinch away this time, she wasn't exactly revelling in his fingertips but at least she hadn't pulled away from him which was progress from this afternoon. He understood she would never be completely desensitised from men again after what she had been through. He could be okay with that, Lucian thought before he rained in his thoughts and realised how ahead of himself he had gotten. He dropped his hand to his side and before he could reply she continued, "I thought he might've bought another knife, and you're not in uniform and I thought you might not have had your taser on you and I knew that I could distract him and-and… I'm sorry, I couldn't leave you here on your own fighting my battles." A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth at the idea of this tiny woman trying to protect him.
"It is literally my job to fight other peoples battles Delilah." Disappointment clouded her face before she nodded, quickly changing to acceptance before his eyes. Delilah hadn't realised the small seed of hope that had began growing inside her at the thought that maybe, just possibly, Lucian was doing this because he cared and wanted to protect her, not because it was his job. Lucian cringed as he heard the words leave his own lips realising the impression he was giving her by blowing off what they had done together that night.
"That's not what I meant Delilah." His voice was stern and convincing and Delilah wondered how he could read her mind after only meeting her that morning but she gave a small smile of thanks in return while appreciating the sound of her full name, compared to the disgusting nickname Mikael preferred, in his deep voice once more. His eyes were searching for something and Delilah hoped that he had found it as he rose one of his giant hands and ran it through his thick pitch black straight hair. She watched as his hand came away and not a single strand escaped from the brushed back near-shoulder length hair. The sides were slightly shorter than the top, but still long enough to tie back she suspected. He should've coughed when he noticed her staring, but he didn't mind her curious gaze. He suspected they both had a lot of questions for each other and when she snapped out of her trance and dropped her eyes to his level from his hair, he gave what he hoped was an encouraging smile. A small blush rose to her cheeks as she realised how long she had been staring. Lucian noticed the goose bumps on her arms that still hadn't faded and the slight paling of her usually ruby red lips.
"Its cold and late Delilah, lets go inside." He suggested and stepped to his side to let her lead the way. The suggestion behind his words that he would be coming inside as well didn't go over her head. Delilah wrapped her arms around her waist as she walked a few steps ahead of Lucian and feeling the heat of his massive towering body bore over her back. They walked quickly, Lucians long legs easily keeping up with Delilah's small scatter over the concrete as she hurried inside. She rushed, dreading Lucian's gaze resting on her back for any length of time and feeling insecure with a man following her in the dead of night – she couldn't help but be reminded of the times she had been sprinting through dark streets away from Mikael. Lucian wanted to reassure her but was confident that the faster they were warm and inside with someone else, such as her mother, around, Delilah would settle faster. The only sound was their footsteps on the concrete and it echoed throughout the dark and empty street. Lucian lagged behind her as he took in Delilah's profile and attempted to carefully keep away from any appropriate areas. He settled for the curve of her neck that rested between the start of her defined jaw and ended at the delicate turn of her shoulder. The yellow street lights reflected off her golden skin giving her body a glowing appearance. In the darkness, the blue hue of the full moonlight would shine down through the separations in the trees branches and leaves and cast an ethereal tone on her white turtle neck. As his gaze slowly fell down her body he noticed the pull on her pants at her thighs and calves, and the way her feet slightly turned at each step. Delilah stared ahead into the night as she made her way quickly home, she turned the idea of Lucian in her home over in her head as she wondered how to explain the situation to her mother. As they reached the door step Delilah opened the door slowly and called out, "Mum?" She turned her head and startled at the proximity of Lucian. He had assumed they were walking through the door, probably making himself too comfortable than appropriate, and followed closely behind Delilah.
"Oh!" Delilah exclaimed, her eyes flew wide as she stepped back. Lucian grinned as he realised he had overstayed his welcome.
"Sorry love, just give me the word and I'll be out of your hair. I do need to write a report about what happened tonight and get your account as the only other witness though. But that can be done whenever you're feeling up to it." Lucian realised he had just made further plans with this woman and was probably overwhelming her. But he was also trying to treat her like any other witness and victim and following standard protocol by receiving and report.
"No that's fine come in, tea? Coffee? What's your poison?" Delilah smiled at the idea of this giant being in her tiny home. It had seemed so big and spacious earlier that day but seeing Lucian having to slightly duck at the entrance shrunk the home. It had been so long since a man had been in the home she had forgotten how small herself and mother really were. Lucian watched Delilah's eyes glint with humour as he bent a little to avoid hitting the doorframe, "Tea will do, thank you. Is you mother in?" He asked softly with a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
"I'll just go have a look, come in, come in, I'll just turn the kettle on if you want to wait in the kitchen while its getting ready." She spoke as she acted and Lucian followed her through the house, thankfully the roof was taller than the doorframe and he could stand upright. He felt like a giant despite Delilah being tall for her age as a woman. He stepped into the brightly lit kitchen that still smelled of fresh cooking and his stomach rumbled reminding him of his lack of dinner. Delilah flicked the kettle on and disappeared out another door across from where Lucian rested against a bench and crossed his ankles and arms, accompanied only with the sound of the rumbling water. He heard Delilah yell out to her mother again but was quickly greeted with Delilah herself, "She's asleep." Her voice had a hint of disbelief and rightfully so after the night she had just had herself while her mother was comfortable and fast asleep the whole time. Lucian had to hold back a scoff.
"She works in horticulture, its hard work and wears her out. I do it during the summer as well and can barely keep up with her and I'm only 19!" Delilah rambled, much to the amusement of Lucian. Her age came as a small surprise to Lucian, he knew she was young obviously from her appearance but the way she handled herself and the depth of knowledge and awareness that glowed in her deep brown eyes told another story. Perhaps she had just seen too much of the world then, Lucian thought to himself. Delilah's speech of excuses came to a halt as she realised she was talking too much and Lucian hadn't said a word, just stood looking relaxed and gigantic in her tiny kitchen with a knowing smile playing on his perfect lips. His head made a familiar tip to the side as he nodded at the jug, "Tea's going to get cold Delilah."
"Right, sorry." Her eyebrows furrowed as she turned to her bench and make their drinks. Lucian noticed her hands shaking, "Am I making you nervous? I can leave, send Trevally over tomorrow morning."
She released a deep sigh and rested both her hands on the bench while leaning forward. "Not in that way," she claimed, "Its been a hard day is all." Her hand raised to her forehead as she rubbed at her temple while squeezing her eyes shut.
"Here." Lucian stepped forward, and took the drinks away from her, finishing the concoction and directing her to a seat at the dining table.
"Drink this, it'll make you feel better." He smiled as he sipped at the luke warm tea and tried not to spit it back into his cup, thankfully Lucian had had many a luke warm tea in his life. People he usually spends time with generally don't have the capacity to remember to keep the water hot.
Suddenly, Delilah gagged and spat her tea gruesomely back into her cup. "Ugh! That's disgusting! How are you drinking that?!" She shook her head with a look of utter disgust before getting up and discarding her tea down the sink. Lucian stared in surprise before breaking out in laughter, "Its not that bad." He said when he had finally settled down. His laugh was throaty and from the belly as Delilah watched his body shake in delight.
"Speak for yourself, my day has been bad enough without terrible tea to top it all off." She opened the fridge and pulled out a can of coke before cracking it and taking a large gulp.
"I suppose," Lucian said with a smile before placing his tea as far away from him as possible on the dining table.
"Would you like some?" Delilah asked, offering the same coke can to Lucian.
Curious as to if she would expect him to drink from the same can he nodded and she walked towards him, standing over his torso so he had to lean back and look up to meet her eyes, then took the can from her and a swig of the drink.
"Better?" Delilah's voice was breathy and worried Lucian to the impression he was giving her as if she were some child he was peer pressuring.
Lucians eyes darkened before he gave a small nod and pulled the chair next to him out for her to sit in, "Should we write that report now? Its getting late."
Delilah made a small sound of confirmation before sitting and continuing to drink from their shared coke. She recalled the events of the night to Lucian as he scribbled bullet points on his leather bound notepad, both of them taking turns of drinking from the same can and replacing it to its position between them. Something unspoken had occurred between them as they shared the beverage and reflected on the night. The stone cold tea was long forgotten by the two figures that whispered in the corner until midnight.