chapter 4 is here
*death and suicide mention*
here's where we left off, our dark prince kissed the princesses hand. but how will that make her feel?
The ambience of the orange dusk of the dancing light flickered as the wick withered away. Shapes drawn out in a large shadow, only to find the dim contrast of an obscure brilliant golden. The feeling of his hot breath on Klukes cold hand sent a shiver down her spine, she could only hold a breath in an airy hitch. His eyes were shut, and his hair ever so slightly damp, glistening in yellows and oranges from the candles light. She could see a faint smile of on his face behind her hand. Time felt to almost hold still as he slowly opened his eyes, they looked to be an almost dark grey, as the golden of the candle, met with the deep contrast of the shadows. They poured into hers, her chest felt tight, to tight to breathe. In a moment she was only captivated. A mixture of fear, but not the fear for her life. But yet the fear of something unfamiliar, and a deep experience. This man's actions always seem to be bewildering to Kluke, a women of logic and medicine. He would go from seemingly hostile, as he very much toyed with her. To this strange man, as if tender, a kind of fading warmth. Like the lit wax beside her, just a small flame, warm as it burned. Melting what it could touch.
No! She thought as she snatcher her hand out of his, with so much force in her swing it snuffed out the already flicking incandescents of candle. The sudden black void of the room, his silhouette before darkness took his form, still so slightly burned into her vision. Anxiety fell over her in a quick hush. Shapes in monochrome moved as the ever so slight as faint moonlight dropped in from the window. With her vision now gone her ears burned from every noise, feeling more hyper aware than she could tolerate.
Andropov let out a chaste sigh, jolting Kluke in a small yip. Andropov was feeling too tired for this. He rubbed his eyes as he felt the exhaustion behind them. The silver of the moonlight spilled into the room, not enough for him to see clearly, but as his vision adjusted he saw her diffuse into his sight. Her features appeared a grey, and the pale of her skin cut out much more. He felt his towel slip off his strong shoulders and fall to the floor, causing a sight rustle as it made contact with the cold ground below.
"If I fall asleep you're not gonna try and kill me are you?" Andropov spoke, his tone was different from the others before. Almost short with patience, but not anger.
"I, I don't want to kill anyone again." Kluke said, as the large craft dipped up into the sky, standing above all the clouds of the world, the moon light broke free as well. Like a searchlight it shown over him, he began to glow, as the soft shimmer of silver seemed to cast an everlasting aura of allure. Kluke didn't want to ever admit her enemy. Yes despite the odd fading tenderness he showed her, he was her captor. But glowing like some sort of god, his strong jaw, damp locks of moonlit blue. His hairless well defined pecs, slipping through was seemed almost black in the lack of light, loosely strung robe.
Andropov choked back his teasing grin, he watched her eyes look him up. Those pure eyes of shimmering viridian. Her skin a milky white, glowed from the lit silver in the sky. She had still been wearing that old nurse uniform he gave to her. The belt around her waist that was so tight, had come loose, almost as loose and wild as the locks of her bedhead.
He took as small step towards her, testing the atmosphere. But like a predator towards its prey she took a step back, her hand clutched in her chest. Worry flushed over her fair face. He let out a huff ever just. She fears me still. Logically yes, he knew that. He wasn't truly trying to aim to have her fear him. But if you told him that yesterday he'd call you delusional. But he couldn't help but fall for her grace. The moment he saw that smile, he felt like he was brought to a time long ago. A deep memory of a time long forgotten past. If he closed his eyes he could imagine it. The soften eyes and tender smile of a pure and simple spring. A time forgotten to him. He could see it, the rolling hills of light green, the budding of white bell shaped flowers, swaying ever so in a breeze. And her, but not as she was now, no. What is this vision? He opened his eyes back to her. Her face had this odd expression, like she was expecting bad news. And it was him who would give it to her. He thought back to his question. Would she allow him to rest. Maybe not, he could lock her in his room and find a bed elsewhere perhaps? But he was worried she could do something rash when alone.
"May I." he breathed, his expression settled as he lifted a brow. "Get some rest?" he asked her. Again, she could never keep their eyes met. Looking down at the ground, her other free hand came up to to cradle herself.
"D-didn't you say, you planned to work all night?" she said, trying not to stutter the best she could.
True, he did say that, and he intended too. But with the candle gone, and her before him. He could no longer bring himself to read the papers beside him. He swallowed discreetly as he thought of a response. Her eyes had the smallest luminosity from the moon. They almost seemed to twinkle. He scratched behind his head as he thought.
"Ah whatever I'll just stay up." He crumpled slightly, not like being caught in a lie. It was easier to work than to try and find an alternate solution. Kluke let out a small huff at his composure. He flung back the chair and landed hard in it, as if in a tantrum for not getting what he wanted.
She watched him rummage on his desk as he looked for something.
He was looking for his lighter, Andropov did not smoke or anything of the sorts. But he kept his torch on his desk for his candles. He was rather fond of them, they brought a relaxation while he worked. As his hand moved over the thin paper he felt the bulged of something under it. Freeing his lighter he flicked the case back, the gas burned as a small blue flame shot up. He grabbed the over burned candle from his desk, it made an almost clicked suction noise as he lifted it. The wax had pooled down and left small teardrops on the base. The wick hissed and crackled as he lit it, when the flame had caught on he withdrew his lighter flicking it shut, and tilting the candle upwards to prevent the wax that threatened to fall. He placed it back where it was and let out a rather long drawn out yawn, bringing his and over his mouth as his eyes shut tight, with the smallest tear forming. This whole time Kluke had not moved. Still standing close to him she watched as she tried to figure out what to do next.
He turned to her with sleepy eyes.
"What would you like?" he tiredly asked her.
"Did you wanna, s-sleep?" She asked him, her words sounding odd to even herself as he cocked an eyebrow. This girl.
"You're impossible. He sighed as the wick snapped and crackled. Somewhere in Kluke's heart she felt bad she had been taking his bed for herself. It felt odd and awkward, part of her felt like she went from being locked in her cell, to being locked in his.
"What are you going to do when I'm sleeping?" He said crossing his arms as he leaned back in his chair.
She had not thought of that to be honest.
"Or would you like to join me?" he purred. Klukes eyes shot open as her mouth hung for a moment.
"Who? Who would!" she snapped back.
"well you fell asleep on me earlier." He chuckled as he thought of his little kitten sleeping soundly on his chest.
Kluke's face was a bright red at his unwanted reminder. She felt sick at her earlier vulnerability. Turning her back to him she clenched her fists. Andropov looked at her as he felt the desire to tease her. She acted so bashful it was almost too cute. Kluke heard him chuckle making her turn back to him ever so.
"What's so funny?" She bit at him.
"No." he almost giggled. "its nothing, just go back to bed, i'll wake you in the morning. Or think of things you need for whatever." he said leaning back forward and reviewing a paper.
Kluke didn't want to argue with this guy, he didn't seem to take her very seriously, and she was half right. It's not that he took her to be a joke, but he didn't feel threatened enough by her to be fearful. Her shoulders came to rest, as she wandered back to his bed. She sat on the farest side away from him, her back to him once more. The bed sunk beneath her as silken sheets sucked under her. They felt cold on her exposed thighs making her shift around.. Kluke still felt tired, but she did not know if it was from the exhaustion of her past torture, of that of her current.
Andropov had stopped reading and only watched her, she had been sitting a while, he could see her shoulders tremble, but she did not make a sound. Was she cold? He thought to himself, he personally did feel cool, but not that much. Maybe it is because she is so thin? Then why does she not just drape that quilt over herself?
Although a kind notion Kluke wasn't feeling the cold of the air, but of her emotions. She cried, her hand over her mouth as she stifled herself. The ice cold feeling of isolation, the grief of murder. Blood of so many on her so very warn hands. She felt so powerless to escape fate. Angry, lost, and alone.
She stayed like this for almost an hour before Andropov could take no more, 2 am had rolled around and he decided to see what was wrong. He got up, slowly. As he wished to not startle her. He made his way to her. As he turned the arched sides of the regal bed, she turned from him, her shoulders to hide and her face away. He came to stand in front of her, looking down, she trembled, but her bangs obscured her face from him, but close to her he could hear the strangled whimpered come from her small lips as her breathing hitched.
He came down, squatting in front of her, he tilted his head to the side a little bit.
"Kluke." He spoke, making her swallow at the sound of her name leaving his lips.
"Look at me." he asked, but she didn't move. He lifted a hand and brought it to her.
"Don't touch me!" she yelled.
Like a lighting bolt she stood up slapping his hand away in a thunderclap crash.
Her eyes were wide and puffy, her cheeks stained from red tears as she breathed heavily. He has a slightly shocked expression, but it quickly settled into a frown. Kluke was standing above him, his face dark as her body hid the candle light.
"Why?" she heaved out, for the first time in a while. She didn't look away from him. Her eyes dug into his, like how her hand had gripped his shoulders so desperately before.
"Why what?" he hiss back, feeling the pain of aggravation, and tingling guilt.
Her exhales were ragged and heavy, he watched as her chest would fill and fall with each rough breath she forced in and out.
"Why," She began taking a bite of her bottom lip. "Why are you trying to be kind to me?" she broke in her words. Tears began to fall again, as she crumbled. Unable to bare her own words anymore. She covered her face with her weary hands. No longer choked cries turned to loud sobs.
Andropov silently rose to stand tall.
It's the right thing to do? No that's not true. Was he even being exceptionally kind to her? Perhaps. But even he didn't know how to answer. His heart lodged itself into his chest as he felt unable to relieve her desperate plea.
God dammit. He cursed to himself as she cried. He had no idea how to deal with this situation, he thought to literature he had read. But nothing came to mind on how to hand such a situation as this.
"I just." he breathed. His hands itched to pull her close, but his heart stung with her violent reaction to his touch.
Her sobbed calmed a bit as he tried to finish his sentence.
Klukes mind was at a bend, this man before her. Her captor, detainer and imprisoner. He held her hostage, her heart had been through so much tragedy the passed month that she felt like she could take no more. She wanted to plunge into his kindness, but she new it was fake, a facade he created so she would drop her guard.
"Just kill me already." she whispered in a strangled cry. She wanted to be free, to join her parents side once again.
He could take no more, he grabbed her arm away from her face and whipped her into his tight embrace, her face flung into the soft cloth of his blue robe. The heat of his body flooded hers in a wave of warmth, his arms held her tight as he pushed his head down onto the top of her shoulder. He pressed his eyes shut and his lips tight. She didn't struggle against him, her body cried to be held. She gave a shaken breath out as she nuzzled into him. Making him hold her all the more.
And like this they stayed, not like the lamb in the wolf's jaw, no this was more, so much more. It is true, Andropov is a man who clawed his way up, through battle and blood. His skills catching the eyes of his superiors, at such a young age. He was the youngest in his elite squad, but one of the most powerful. But now he was not a death hound. And she wasn't his fresh kill. No this was something deeper, he couldn't describe it to himself. But at the words, the very notion of her wishing to be dead. It filled him with a panic. It pained him greatly, he didn't know what it was she had done to him. Had she poisoned his tea, and this was the agony it brought him?
He felt her push from him without wanting to frighten her, he loosened his strong grasp of her delicate frame. Her hands gently held the fabric over his chest as she tilted her head up to look into his calm blue eyes. He stared down at her with worry, her nose and cheeks where ever so red, and her eyes glossy. Her eyebrows pressed ever just, she looked ever just so pretty to him, as he tried to find something to say. Her lips a pale pink, even in the dying light, parted as she tried to speak. But they only pressed closed as sadness threaten to take her.
He breathed out and pressed his forehead to hers. A slight hitch in her breath as his skin met hers.
"I know. But you must stay here. If you were to leave Lord Nene he, he would just hunt you for the fun of it." He breathed down at her. Maybe not the best time but he refused to lie to her. Her small hands clenched his robe tightly.
"But here you can be safe." he told her.
"I was safe back home." She sofly cried, conviction in her voice faded out from her long sobs.
She was right.
"There's nothing i can do about it now." He admitted.
"Cruel." her words above a gravely whisper, if he had not been so close he would not have been able to hear it.
Cruel, something he'd been called many times. By his men and those around him. Cold and cunning, all things he had tried to make himself. Like the war in winter. But this small girl, was like a brilliant spring crashing into him. He hated that he felt such a way. Why is he doing this? He wanted to break out, but was unable to even move back slightly. She was still in his arms, even if they were loose, here eyes looked for something in his. She wanted him to bite her back. To get mad at her. She wanted to feel pain like she felt in her heart. She didn't want to live, she already had accepted to die. Her only goal was to save those children, and it was met.
His lips parted at her breathless expression.
"I can't let you die." she didn't like his words as she sneered. "That guy, who cut his arm, is going to come back looking for you in a few days." He said not breaking eye contact.
"And you said you'd remove his stitches."
What a foolish notion. Her face fell into distress as she processed his words. He said such little, but they flooded her heart with a much larger impact. Upset she frowned as tears fell once more. Large they made a pat sound as they fell onto the fabric over her chest. Their foreheads still touching she closed her eyes. She let out a shaky breath, the warmth tickling his lips.
"Cruel." she said once again. It was a cruel thing to tell her, because he was right in a way. The idea that she needed to tend to a patient, even if that patient was her enemy. Could just the notion of her medical duties and her word, really give her the will to keep on living? And that's what made it cruel, she didn't want to live. And he was trying to her give the will too. She melted as his arms began to press into her again, they were warm, like summer. And her body felt so cold.
A sigh in almost pleasure as her fingers played with the terrycloth of his bathrobe. The warmth he was giving her was more soothing than she could imagine. It was hard to stay angry within this moment, as moments passed if he would let her. May she stay like this, without words, not thinking of identities. Just to be held tightly.
Andropov still gazed at her, her lips parted and kissable. With her eyes shut and as tiny tears fell. His head tilted a bit and his eyes were half shut as a desire filled him.
Slowly he brought a hand to her face, it was cold and wet, he brushed her tiny tears with his thumb. His hand was hot, like a cinder, on her aching skin, His calloused thumb felt so foreign on her cheeks she opened an eye to see what it could be. He rested it on her face, holding her gently as he looked into her shimmery orbs. Kluke hadn't really taken in just how close she was with him. As she started to feel hot and tight. He was practically a stranger, she couldn't name 5 things she knew about him. Yet she was so close to him, never so close to any man like this before. His face looked so worried, she hadn't seen him make such an expression, it left her almost breathless in a way. He looked almost new, who was this man looking down at her? Not her imprisoner, but her keeper? Was she just falling for his trap?
"Andropov." She breathed, hearing his name leave her pretty pink lips stirred a desires deeper. Too easily to be tempted but the aching inches between them he moved back from her, his hands leaving her, like the sun when its blocked from the clouds the cold swept over her. Her hands still close enough to rest on his chest. Her eyes seemed worried, he took that in. But he worried something make take him over. And it's not something he felt the right to think about right now.
"If I ask you to rest again." he said taking each one of her hands into each of his own. Warm and larger than hers, she could feel how rough they were, hard almost as they held hers.
"Okay." she spoke as she looked into his eyes. Pleased he smiled, that gave her a warm feeling, like it was too bright to look at, her eyes squinted. He took a step forward closing their distance once more. And planted a smiled lip kiss on the top of her head.
"Good girl".
Chapter 4 baby, it seems andropov is genuine, but can kluke believe that? If if they are he is still her enemy.
chapter song theme, Tears of an Angel- RyanDan