She could hear one of the voices raise from within the room. Verosika kept her cool, as high as the tension got, back against the wall of Blitz's apartment. She wasn't about to go inside, or risk acting too close. From what happened the other night, it wasn't in her place. Hearing the door open, Loona briskly rushing out the building, the two didn't see each other.
Verosika waited a while. Part of her knew that Blitz wasn't going to come out. The door, left ajar, was her invitation.
He wasn't in the kitchen, and he wasn't in his room. She was unfamiliar with the place, so it took her a while before she'd find him. Blitz stared out to the city in what looked to be a meeting room. As he glanced at her approach, he showed some surprise, eyes widening. Hastily brushing over his tears, he put on a smile, turning towards the familiar face.
"Oh, hey. Should've told me you were coming first, or I would've cleaned up."
The apartment was perfectly clean.
Verosika thought about asking Loona. She also thought about asking of the two business partners Blitz usually hung out with. She saw them leaving early, looking much happier with themselves, along with overhearing about things being ' finally over.' And judging by Blitz's face, it wasn't exactly closure for the boss.
She found herself walking towards him.
"Heh… I'm fine. Just a walk down memory lane, y'know?"
Verosika did not let him finish, pulling him into her arms, and holding tightly.
It was like taking a lost piece of her back into her life. She still remembered, vividly, how Blitz moved. Every single detail, and the smallest behaviors, and niches to his character. It didn't take an in depth analysis to know Blitz was hurting right now, though.
Cradling him, she felt the tears slide down her shoulder. Breathing against his neck, she sighed, stroking his back.
"It's ok… I'm here with you, Blitz. I'm here with you."
"No… I…" Blitz tried to keep his voice from cracking, his breaths broken in chokes.
He couldn't argue, as much as the thoughts raced. He didn't want to let go. And not a single other place in the world felt as right as in her arms now. Blitz expected her to stop eventually, or to say something. The tears kept on coming, and he tried to fight it in vain. He feared a second disappearance; then, he'd truly be alone.
She didn't move an inch, saying every single thing he wished to hear in his life. It only brought on further memories. Why did things have to get to now for them to be together again? Every single problem he'd faced, every single stress - he felt, if she'd been there, he would've been able to shoulder it all.
Then he'd lost her. All for the most stupid things imaginable.
Looking up, he saw the tattoo on her arm, still crossed out. As he looked up to her eyes, she knew, too, what he was looking at. Her eyes narrowed not in judgement, but in concern. Softly, she placed a kiss onto his forehead.
"We can't always control how things happen. And we can't take them back." Verosika took a full breath, looking away momentarily. His tears fell silently now, past the ragged breaths, and desperation. His eyes fell, regret residing in those orbs, but without the words to speak. She was right, after all. No matter how many times he could say sorry, and no matter how much he wished it hadn't gone the way it did, they were there. This was the present.
"Where's your room?" Her voice was quiet.
Blitz didn't question it, but wished he didn't have to pry himself from her.
He showed her to it. Choosing the couch to sit on, Verosika patted the spot next to her. Blitz sat there as pointed. Her hands guided his head to her lap.
It was a dream and a nightmare. Blitz knew he couldn't have held it together today without her, despite how much he was still falling apart. Her fingers stroked his face caringly. Her hands massaged his head. She traced his horns the way she always did. Just like before.
And whenever he'd look up, he'd find her eyes on his, looking over him. He felt safe… he felt cared for.
"Don't you have work?" Blitz asked awkwardly. "Or something you need to do?"
Verosika stifled a laugh. "You know I control my hours."
"Sure, but," Blitz would try to reason. "You don't have to be… my fallback."
"I want to be with you, Blitz."
That shutdown things real quick. Sitting up suddenly, he looked at Verosika cautiously. Curious, she just observed.
"Sorry, I… just a lot's been going on. And now we're just back to being nice. It doesn't really make sense to me."
"It's alright. I'm pretty scared too." Verosika broke eye contact for just a second. "If you'd rather take some time to yourself, it's fine."
"It's not that I don't want to be with you. God, trust me, I'm so, so happy… I really missed you. But it's like my mind is…" Blitz shook his head. "This is nuts. Here I am, about to retire from all the assassin bullshit, my daughter's gone, and we're… well, we're here."
Verosika took a moment to respond. "Is that all that is bothering you?"
Blitz's eyes went wide for a second. "...I don't even want to think about it. All that matters is…"
Looking over to Verosika, she looked a closer than he thought she was. Taking one of her hands into his, feeling her touch against his, he tried to find more words.
He leant in. It turned out, he didn't need any more.
"It is… inconceivable."
"You're certain of his intentions? My brother has shown his fickle nature, and, on a dime, he decides-"
"Yes. I'm certain."
The auger of her rage was evident, and as obvious as the hammer she slammed to the nail. Even looking at him now made something rise out of her; a need to lash out, and inflict. After all, their daughter had begun to look at her differently, too. But, what was once his silent indignation, turned to… something else.
The way Stolas looked at her had changed. Certainly, Stella knew of the way Stolas moved from the years they were together. They'd been married for so long that, regardless of the absence of love, they read each other like open books. The gradient of the colors they exuded, the painting they hated in each other, faded in their hues.
That in itself, confused her; and in turn, fanned flames.
"Well… make sure of it. You know what this implicates in our plans."
When the call cut, she looked behind her again, past the glass doors. Stolas had been schooling Octavia lately; on time, with great detail, and due diligence. Not a star was skipped over, and not just for duty; but for love. Stella had no doubt of his intentions for their daughter.
Stolas, catching wind of her glare, looked to her in question. And as he smiled lowly, a lack of grimace, but a wish on the curve of his lips, she turned away.
This was getting out of hand. None of this was adding up, and she needed to know what exactly he was up to.
She hadn't had a party in a while. And even now, thinking of it, she didn't want to. She found herself waiting for the night, or for a lapse in the character that Stolas was suddenly exhibiting lately; but, the prince stayed in the entire day. A lesson in the day, afternoon, and night, all filled with reading, drinking tea, and constellation observation.
Stolas was not found to be drowning in that need for that imp. She knew about every time he did; it's not as if he made an effort to hide it… and disgustingly, not even around their daughter.
As the time came to rest, Stolas enjoyed one last tea and laid in their bed, a lamp to illuminate his reading. Rarely did he ever come to bed this early.
And to this, Stella erupted.
"What the fuck do you think you are doing?"
Stolas didn't so much as bat an eye, but set the book down, facing her.
"My love-"
"Don't call me that. You've never called me that in the years of our marriage." Stella's took a shaky breath, fists balling. "What, did that imp's dick fall off? Did he finally see you for the pathetic trash you really are?"
Stolas, wordless, approached her.
Stella was glad to see the irritation on his face. She was glad to see some form of reaction; some sense of normalcy.
"You think you can suddenly turn everything around? You think being this… this polite, obedient act will change things?"
As he brought his hands to her face, she swatted them away, turning her head. "Stop. This is infuriating- ridiculous! This is-"
Lips met hers; firmly at first, but loose, allowing her to pull away. It took her a solid few seconds before she did, looking at the ground. Trying to look furious, her eyes glowered daggers at Stolas'.
"You…" Stella's face went steep red.
Stolas looked hurt. But, he something else was within those red eyes, much like hers.
Her heart thumped in a manner she'd fooled herself into believing before. She could remember the days prior to their arranged marriage. Indeed, she'd tried to fall in love with him, and briefly, she had. But Stolas, the handsome, intelligent prince he was, never seemed to reciprocate. She was no fool; the boy's heart belonged to someone else.
This very much felt like that same illusion. The kindness, all the smiling, and formalities-
She kissed him back much the same. Driving him backwards, their lips locked for the first time in years. It wasn't like the parties; not under the influence of a crowd watching, or to save face in front of the other royals. Nor was it Stolas' pity, in the twisted form of some kind of apology; a revolting consolation prize.
Stolas' hands roamed her body the way she wished he would. He could feel him practically tearing her gown apart as their tongues danced a dance never practiced, and yet the moves flowed perfectly.
Moaning, she arched her back as she grinded atop him. Just as she was getting comfortable, however, he felt him grab her hips. In an instant, he had flipped them over. As their hips continued to grind, Stolas' eyes staring right into hers as he undid his robe, her heart raced faster.
"Stolas…?" She asked breathily.
"Stella," He looked down at her with a small smile, looking just as red, but confidently. "I love you."
She felt that anger rise yet again, but feeling her legs spread and his hands grope against her chest, she gasped. "L… lies…"
"Then, I will have to show it."
"You brute, I… ahh~!"
"Sing for me, love. Sing…"
The owls' songs recited like never before…
The morning came unfamiliar. Each sunrise came with anger on her mind, alone, despite a husband laying next to her. She woke first in the family, after all, preferring to have all the time of the day. Not a minute wasted.
But on this morning, she felt warm. In the arms of Stolas, who watched keenly, she felt some kind of fear. The warmth threatened to melt her as she held against his chest. Feeling him nuzzle against her head, she sighed, allowing the preen.
"You've not. Not in years, since-"
"I know." Stolas whispered. "But please. Let me now."
The glow of the sun flowed through the glass, partly hidden. The birds outside sang louder than they had before, sweet notes laying across the flower outside. Two hearts' resonance found each other for the first time.
Stella turned her head to Stolas, facing him. Tears ran along the corners of her eyes as she reached up to his face.
"Am I under one of your spells?" She closed her eyes. "If so… please keep me under it."
