It didn't take him half a minute to eat those eggs. What's more is he was a picture of politeness; he didn't shovel his food or anything like that. He just ate fast, and I was willing to bet he was still hungry. I wasn't about to reach out and confirm my hunch, and when he looked up at me, I couldn't hide my expression of surprise before he saw it. I decided in that moment, to test some waters, after all I had just shared a ton of personal info with him, couldn't that go both ways? I was going to have to say this just right, or I was going to take three steps back with him.
"Bran, what are you?" I blurted out. See I can be leading example of tactfulness. He put the mask face on almost instantaneously.
"What would make you ask such a question?" Bran responded, as if I was being foolish. Did he think for a moment that was going to work on me? I don't take bait so easily.
"Alright Bran, it really makes no difference to me, I was just wondering. If you don't want to talk about it, then I'll leave it be for now. Would you like to look over this program, and let me know if you think it will work for tomorrow?" I said, and hoped he knew I meant it. It wasn't a lie; I truly wasn't concerned about what he was, and I knew it was something more than human. I am just curious by nature, but he did confirm to me, there was something more. That was enough for now. I looked up at him, with a calm expression and waited for him to choose. For as strong willed as he was, he certainly reminded me of a creature easily encouraged to hide away. He reached out for the program, and started to give it far more attention than I thought someone of his intelligence needed to. I let out a breath of air, got up from my spot at the bar and topped off our coffee. He was projecting his wariness like a bright red flag flapping in gale force winds. It was almost funny, but obviously it wasn't to him. I just ignored him, and tried to think of something calm so I wouldn't get caught up in the grief I was trying desperately to ignore. I closed my eyes, rested my head on my hands and let my mind wonder to the beaches in my home town, and how beautiful they are at sunset. I let myself hear the waves lap the shore, feel the wind brush my hair across my face, the sand crunching between my toes and to smell the wonderful salty spray. Once I found that place, I looked up to the sky in my minds eyes, and thanked God for his precious gifts; His creation that was made especially for His beloved people. No matter what trials and tests we have in our life, God never leaves us. My Gramps taught me that, and I knew it to be truth. I felt a single tear run down my face followed by a soft touch of hands to wipe it away. I opened my eyes to see Bran's face two inches from mine. It should have startled me, but the look on his face made me freeze. He looked as though he was really searching for something, and I didn't move, so he could find it.
"How do you do that Jessica?" he asked, and I wasn't entirely sure he was really asking me or even what he was talking about. I must have made a face, because he smiled. It was a real smile, and the beauty of it, made me feel a little weak, so I smiled back. With that he planted a kiss right on my forehead, turned around with the order to get to work. I was left blinking, and just followed him to the bar again. To my dismay, Bran had scribbled corrections all over the program, and I was just slightly less than annoyed.
She had no idea what she was, or even how valuable she was to him. It angered Bran to no end. With Leah, it was easier; he could force himself to keep her out. With Jessica, it was hopeless, she had found her place in his heart, as though he was born with and empty place just for her. She had claimed it even before he knew to protect it from her. He sighed to himself inwardly, because he knew he could never let her go. Unless she wanted to go, but even then, he would keep her safe. She was his, and he could no sooner change that, than stop his heart from beating. The challenge was going to be convincing her of all this. Bran could tell she was smitten with him, but she had a stubborn streak that was going to make his life difficult. He found himself excited by the challenge she posed to him, and wondered at how she would set the stage for their courtship. Bran smiled to himself, deciding that one way or another, this woman would demand to be pursued, the whole time he had with her. She wasn't the type to trail behind her man like a small puppy. That thought brought the first wisp of sadness, she was human, and all humans die. He moved beyond that as quickly as possible, the sudden desire to preserve her, almost bringing his wolf to the fore.
"Okay," she said, mercifully interrupting his train of thought, "I have relented to your list of suggestions." She said with a huff, passing the program back to him. She stared off into the wall, full of thought as he went over the program again. "This is as much a celebration, as it is sad." Her voice trailed off with the last words, and he watched as memories ghosted through her eyes. He observed her, wondering at all the scents of her emotions. Grief, Joy, contentment; always she ended with contentment. She looked at him finally, her face in conflict with itself.
"This is easier, than when my husband died. It took me a long time, to find peace about that. I think it's because my Gramps was older, and he prepared me" she paused "I didn't expect to lose a part of my heart when I lost my husband." She looked down at the paper again, waiting for his thoughts, a bitter smile working its way across her face. Bran found it didn't seem to belong there. Words were a talent of his, and for all things valuable in this world, he didn't know what to say, so he spoke from his own experience.
"When you love a person with your whole heart, when your spirits become one, then the loss of the other half is agony. It is a wound that is not easily healed, if ever. Many times, we learn to simply survive." He said quietly. She looked at him then, and he felt her in his mind. She rushed into him, like cool water, easing the pain of memories, stirred to life from the scent of her pain that of course were better left in the past.
"You're right, and that is how it should be. I am grateful for the time I had with him, all of it was a gift." And she smiled a soft smile. She searched his face for a moment, and then she caught his eyes. She looked at him hard, and held his gaze. It was a moment of choice for Bran, and he yielded, because this creature was theirs. She could look upon them as often as she wanted. When she realized what she was doing, her expression changed to one of shock then embarrassment. That wonderful red color filled her cheeks, and she covered her face with her hands.
"I am so sorry, Bran, I know you don't like it when I reach out to you." a muffled voice explained. When she pulled away from him, it was almost painful, and Bran felt the start of a headache. He could smell her embarrassment, but also a little fear.
"What are you afraid of?" he asked, and could have kicked himself for being so foolish. She froze, and slowly let her hands fall from her face. He knew she had caught his mistake, something he would never have done with anyone else, but she answered the question anyways.
"I let myself go, with you. I forgot about boundaries, and without those I am afraid I'll hurt the people around me. I don't know what it is about you, or what you are, but something." She let the sentence trail off. Her expression one of intense thought. He thought she was trying to decide how to ask. How did he know she was fearful? To his surprise, she slid off the stool, and walked over to him, all the while continuing that intense search. He wondered if she even realized she was moving.
"You are like gravity, you draw my attention. It's almost as if I can't help myself." She started to say something more, and stopped herself with a quick snap of her teeth. She narrowed her eyes at him, and then stepped back. After a moment, of them both staring at one another, she made her move, and ran.
"I'm going for a walk." she declared. With that she turned, put on her coat, hat and boots, and headed out the door, leaving Bran trailing behind her. Obviously Bran had thought he could convince her he was human, not werewolf. He was fairly certain she had no idea what he was precisely, but she was convinced that there was something more. She had made her mind up, he realized too late, that he was anything but human, and all this time, he was asking himself the wrong questions. With that epiphany, the front door shut, and he could hear the snow and dead leaves crunching underfoot as she made her way to the woods. He forced himself to wait as long as possible, subduing his wolf with sheer will power to wait, so as not to frighten their prey. They wouldn't let her get too far, but if he rushed after her now, he didn't know what would happen when they caught her.