Chapter 4: Cheesecake and A Promise to Make

"You know, I can't figure out how Fakir knew about you before we did? Like…I get it that you guys are a thing…but you live with him too?" Pike poked at her cheesecake outside a small coffee shop in the town-square.

Ahiru swallowed. It was strange. It was as if her, Mytho and Rue had never existed in the Raven's time. Fakir was the only one who remained. She might as well been a duck the whole time. Even when she'd had her parts, like her stage dance with Fakir, they only remembered her as some distant anonymous face of a girl who'd left their studio. They never really remembered anything. Filling in the blanks felt like lying…well it was. But telling them the truth was strange. Their reality wasn't composed of magic or fairy tale tragedy. "…just friends from before I guess."

"So Pike never really had a chance with Fakir then!" Lillie said. Ahiru bit her lip trying to hid her smile, while Pike stunned face looked accusingly to Lillie. Lillie never had had much of a filter, but she always was in high spirits about things, and only smiled back.

"Yea well I don't care. Nesumir is way better. Did you see him today without his glasses?" Pike changed the direction of the conversation.

"He did look different." Ahiru nodded. She kind of wondered why Fakir seemed to be so apprehensive around him. He probably didn't think she noticed, but he was beginning to become easier to read as the years went on.

"Either way, I don't want to be out long…I have to practice." Pike put a piece of her cheesecake her mouth and wiped it.

"For you or for Nesu?" Lillie smiled.

Pike ignored her. "See you Ahiru!" She took off as Lillie followed.

Ahiru smiled as she watched her friends leave. The evening sun was falling. She should go back to the cabin to meet Fakir.

"Hey, you're the other newbie arent you." She turned around to see Nesu standing behind her.

"Oh well…yea I guess I am." Ahiru looked at him. His eyes looked at her through his low tousled hair…his eyes actually…struck some kind of chord in her. Not familiar just…

"Though you seem like you've danced for an eternity."

"Oh well not really…"

"Well there are times when you're a little rough…but I saw the way you danced, kind of a swan-like quality when you're at your best."

Ahiru felt a little surprised. She'd never felt like a swan except for when she was Tutu…or dancing with Fakir…not to mention…the analogy was spot on. "I'm not much of a swan…but I appreciate the compliment."

"If it was my choice, I'd pick you as a partner…but-"

"But Pike's really good too…"

"Hmm. I can tell you really like your partner. But don't make lies for other people's lack of talent. Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow."

Nesumir walked away as if his words hadn't been harsh or rather straightforward. He was kind of strange…but she figured that was just because they hadn't gotten used to him yet. She sighed. She needed to get back.

If she really was going to dance like a swan tomorrow she needed practice for Romeo and Juliet.

She ran off to Fakir's cabin. She wondered how long his "chores" he had to perform would take. She barged through the door and walked into the living room area when she bumped into something .

"Oh!" She said as she looked up. It was Fakir.

"Welcome home." He said. "Pike and Lillie really kept you out for a while."

"Well…yea we kind of got carried a way catching up." Ahiru smiled. Should she tell him about Nesumir too? "What were you up to?"

"Nothing. Just a few more hunches on somethings thats all."

"No more clock-mechanism things?"

"Oh..no. I don't believe so." Fakir said. He was happy she didn't think of it as suspicious but… "Look, just do me one favour, at least for a while."

"What?" She looked up at him, staring into his intense green eyes.

"Just…just stay away from the Nesuma guy." Fakir said.

"Nesumir?" Ahiru wondered.

"Yea…look I can't place it. But something about him just bugs me. Maybe it's just because I'm so used to Drosselmeyer and his games…or maybe people from the outside world are coming in and I'm not used to this yet, but I can't help it." Fakir sighed and looked at her for a moment, before giving her a small smile. "Look, if he talks to you…or says anything just let me know."

"Oh..okay." Ahiru twiddled her thumbs. Nesumir might be a bit odd…but she shouldn't say anything just yet right? He didn't do anything…and he was the new boy and didn't seem to have many friends.

"Ahiru?"

She looked back up, her blue eyes wide and caught in a dead gaze with his. She blushed.

"Just trust me on this okay." He smiled at her. She'd seen that smile few times, when he'd reassured her about giving Mytho his heart shard. When they'd won against the Sorcerer and found out…they really were meant for each other.

"Okay." She nodded. He gave her a small hug. It felt nice that they could be in each others arms and both not worry about anything. She rested her head on his chest and sighed. Her knight.

"I just want to stay happy for a while. Maybe I want the bubble around this town to stick. Just with us, and the academy for a while." He looked down at her and kissed her forehead. She looked up and smiled. It was nice. This. She didn't want it to change either.

"Oh Fakir." She smiled back.

She felt his lips reach hers and was embraced in his arms.

This was what they needed to hold on to.

"Uhm Ahiru?"

"Huh what?" She hadn't realized he'd stopped kissing her.

"Didn't you say you wanted to practice Romeo and Juliet?" Fakir asked, smiling at her obliviousness.

"Oh yea! I'm not sure I remember it." She nodded.

"Well lets practice then, and make sure you get a good nights sleep."

"Mhm." Ahiru nodded, and took his hand as they practiced before the firelight. Little did they know the story of Romeo and Juliet wasn't the only tragedy spinning in their midst.