(Setting)
In order to reach this pocket dimension, you would need to travel to 'the bar of social freedom', and stroll through any door branching outward from the main area. Or, open a handy dandy aether! Once your feet rest on solidified ground, take a look around.
The sky, forever suspended in twilight. The dying sun casting the everlasting glow over the landscape.
Hills rise and fall quite a distance away. A river sparkles and shimmers under the lighted evening sky, where one would peer into the ripples to find mermaids smiling with bright faces, and sharpened teeth. Hair fanning around their delicate faces.
She could feel the crunches beneath her feet. Hear them far away, and muffled, as if she was suspended in water, and straining to listen. No bugs were chirping, no movements made aside from her own. Her nose met the warming ball of fire in the sky, half up half down on the a
Horizon. This had to be superior to pleasing one's soul. And body. And mind. For this magical dimension was the sun gods getaway, as well as anyone else's.
Her mind dipped and swayed through intricate threads of thoughts, sifted to the subjects boarder lining innocence. Never moody enough to discover internally places of enjoyment. Instead, seeking what worldy offers she could afford to view, and picking them with precise delicacy. Acceptance being a serious deal... Sometimes.
Teleporting like that had been one of the weirdest things Anzio experienced. After they had arrived he was struck with a small bout of dizziness and held on to Khainley for support.
"That was weird."
With unprepared haste, she half dragged the dizzy illusionist, and, after bidding farewell to the cursed form of entry, gently pulled Anzio to sit a minute. His first portal, and he managed not to chuck up his insides. A wave of slight jelousy replaced the haze from the trip. "You alright, love?" she cooed in the british format.
Anzio merely nodded in response to her question as the world slowly came back into focus.
"I won't be looking forward to the return trip."
She nodded, resuming the upright position.
Anzio's vision finally came back into focus and he looked around. This Twilight Island place was pretty nice.
"So, what do we do first?"
She perked up, paranoia kicking to overdrive. No... That couldn't have been...
"Now, we slaughter the Kintet's." she drew her dagger, blade gleaming as a time lapse moment took place while it grew to full glory, patterns along the weapon glowing from dark energy. "When I say-"
Too late. Creatures of man-size, with predatory gleams in their eyes, came charging. Khainley's eyes widened. She saw... "David..."
She backed away, clearly frightened. The creature's grin was sinister, and so much like David's. "Be careful! They'll take the form of the person you hate the most!"
Hair fell in her face as she continued to back down and shrink back as he smiled lazily. "Your master commands you to come." He beckons with a slender finger. And she shakes her head slowly. "Ah, ah, ah. Don't make me force you."
"No. No, I won't... You'll... You're not real."
"Aren't I?" He reached her, reaching downward and locking a hand on her waist. Forefinger and middle slipping into the waistband of her jeans. "Come now, Amaria. Don't fight me." He cooes.
She went fluid and pliant, collapsing on her knees in the dirt, lip bleeding as she bit it harder and harder. he's not real, he's not real...
"Get away from her!"
Anzio launched himself at the creature, driving his daggers into its chest. He then kicked the beast to the ground before driving his daggers into its eye sockets, not taking the time to look at its face in order to avoid its trickery. Anzio rushed to Khainley's side.
"Are you alright?"
"Y-Yes-"
Hands lock on her waist again, and pulls her backward. Another David. She twists and tries to drive the dagger to his chest, only to be pinned to the ground, the creature wearing David's face growling seductively.
Anzio charged the second creature as well, bringing it down with his daggers. He didn't know what these were, but they were after Khainley, HIS Khainley, and he didn't care about anything else beyond that. In the blink of an eye a small army of Anzio copies filled the area and formed a protective barrier around Khainley. Now that Khainley was protected and he had reinforcements, it was time to put an end to this nonsense. Anzio readied his daggers and called out to the creatures.
"Come get some, you bastards!"
She shifted and back blended to a standing position. Extreme flexibility handy in this. "Anzio. I hate to pry, but who is your worst nightmare?"
"The worst thing that ever happened to me was being betrayed by the other orphans, but if these guys want to turn into them I'd be more than happy to kill them all."
Altough what Anzio had said was true, it wasn't his worst nightmare. His worst nightmare would be losing Khainley, but he wasn't about to let that happen.
Suddenly, her sex ridden master paled in comparison as his story came back to her mind. She pushed it down. No, Amaria Pavati Connara, known to most as Khainley Meliorn, DOES NOT CRY!!!
"Ok. Beating around the bush won't help us." She tyed her hair into a high ponytail, sudden attire appearing on her form. The suit skin tight to show lovely curves with weapons of the shinigami hanging at coordinated intervals on her hips, in her boots, and on her chest. Yes, the last part is accurate.
"Let's do this then!"
Anzio and his copies all charged the creatures. Even though his copies were incapable of killing, they would provide enough of a distraction for Khainley and Anzio to take the beasts down one by one.
For a start, a seraph blade was plunged into the side of ones head, while her other hand fought to control the sensor as it blared beneath her fingers. "Dam..." She muttered, ducking a blow from two David's, and crouching to kick their feet out from under them. She then triple flips to a group of sexists and swinged the blades in a downward cut motion, eliminating most in the crowd, just as more replace them.
Granted the group was fairly large, she could see the last of the, filing out. All David's. she wondered what Anzio was seeing...
The creatures stuggled against Anzio. Having never taken anything in his life seriously enough, there weren't any particular people that he was afraid of. However, one of the beasts noticed how protective Anzio had been of Khainley. The next creature Anzio came to turned into Khainley and Anzio froze. He knew it was a trick, but he couldn't bring himself to stab the woman he loved. A hand clamped around Anzio's throat and hurled him the air, only for another beast to knock him back down onto the ground. Anzio became surrounded by more Khainley's. Despite having the appearance of the one he loved, he made himself attack anyway. After the creatures were dispatched, he sunk to his knees with tears streaming down his. He had just killed Khainley several times over, and he was praying to whoever would listen that he would never have to again.
Ok. The rest of them were now after her skilled form, flipping, dodging, striking, until, in the crowd of sex offenders, came a voice. A voice the caused a wave of warmth to flow through her. "Khainley..."
She turned, slowly, only to come face to face with the lost orphan. "Anzio? You should be helping me fight! What's wrong?"
"Lets just give up. Too many too late. Its a good thing we could be together like this before our untimely ends." He ran a hand through her hair, the palm soft and warm. A weight dropped in her. Anzio would never say any of this. He would be brave, and selfless. This was not him.
She raised her blade, hand shaking violently. Only to drop it. She couldn't kill him. Even if this was a trick. She would rather take her own life before his. She'd lived a hellova lot longer then he had.
Her left leg swooped below the imposter, knocking it to its knees. A fist collided with its jaw, and she avoided watching it dislocate. The creature moaned, and her knee plunged into its stomach, and soon enough, the creature collapsed. Not dead, but unconsious.
The rest were easy to obliterate, using her absolute hate for david to reign victor, before she turned. Finsing Anzio, in tears, on his knees. She approached him, cautiously, a nagging feeling that the kintets might not have been all gone. She sunk to her own knees, and said, in a quiet voice, "Anzio? Is this really you?"
Anzio nodded in reply.
"The bastards turned into you," he said softly. "They made me kill you at least ten times."
Anzio began visibly trembling as he began to cry.
"I'd want to go home if I had one to go to."
"But you do have one." She wrapped her arms around him, never having seen him actually cry, and felt her soul rip to shreads. "Me."
She lightly ran her fingers over his back to calm him. Soothe him, if so. Her hands shook as the memory of what she had to do to the imposter Anzio slipped into her mind, and she refused to acknowledge her own heavily pouring tears.
Anzio turned in Khainley's arms and hugged her back. This was his home. Her arms were his home. Now he started crying for real, both tears of sadness and of joy. Tears dripped down off of his chin from beneath his mask.
"Don't ever leave me."
"A fate worse then death."
She removed his mask only breifly to give him a slow, sad yet relieved kiss, wiping the tears from his cheeks and chin. Thumb gently gliding over his eyelids, which both received kisses as well, before reapplying his mask, and gently pulling him with her to stand.
"Come now. I don't want to stay here any longer then we already have." She let his hand go, only to wrap a protective arm around his waist and leave the treeline, which opened to a clearing. Only, the volcano shone like a distant mountain. A structure of enormous porportion rose from the ground. A cathedral of sorts, of gothic architecture. She peeled the glamour, but could HE?
Anzio had his arm around Khainley's waist as well as they walked. They soon came to a clearing with a volcano off in the distance. That was probably the volcano that Khainley wanted to swim in. Anzio could tell something was off about this clearing. There was a strange sensation in the air.
"Something is here," Anzio observed. "But it is not meant to be seen."
Though glamours were outside his field of expertise, he could still detect them. He couldn't see through them, but he could detect them.
She squeezed his waist in agreement before striding forward. Abandoned sanctuary? nah. A beautiful mansion. Creme colored pillars arose, contrasting with the pale wooden balcony. The entirity of it's frontal walls were sky blue, doors being a dark purple.
A fountain was set in their direct front, with a sidewalk splitting in themiddle, rounding the fountain on both sides, and connecting as on again. Gardens were placed and well tended n eithside of the three story building. "welcome, love."
yes, he could see it all now.
Anzio could only think of one thing to say.
"Damn."
It was a mansion. It was a big mansion with everything. Walkways, fountains, balconies. Anzio was awestruck. Having grown up in an orphanage, Anzio had never seen anything so magnificent. He began walking forward as if in a trance to explore the newly revealed mansion.
She chuckled, entered, and locked the door with a frown. Enough excitement for now.
She removed her jacket, and climbed the glass staircase to the second floor, leaving Anzio to explore the gentlemens library, kitchen, recording studio, and living area.
She unlocked her bedroom, entered, and shut the door. She abandoned her former attire andopted for a satin dress. Cobalt blue two peice sharara indian dress. Exposing her midsection. It clung to her form as she slipped down the halkway, the stairs, and into the kitchen where she prepared a meal for the both of them.
Anzio's exploration came to halt at a library. He had never seen so many books in one place. He walked over to one of the shelves and ran his hands over the books. What did they all say? How much knowledge could be contained in one room? There were so many books, and Anzio couldn't read any of them. He rested his hand on a shelf and sighed. There was so much to know and learn, and it was all denied to him.
She peered at him from the kitchen while wiping the counter clean. Dinner laid out, but she need SOMETHING to do. She decided to whip up a choclate eclair ice cream bar for him.
Suddenly, she remembered her fist colliding with his jaw, hearingthe crack and groan of pain. Then, watching her knee strike his stomach, and hearing him scream.
She dropped the fixings on the counter, clattering loudly. Her hands tightened on the sinks edge, her tears summoning back.
Hair fell around her head as she ran the water to drown out whatever might happen. Not wanting him to find her, let alone SEE her this way.
Anzio's attention was stolen by the sound of loud clattering. He followed the sound to the kitchen.
"Khainley? You ok?"
She inwardly cursed all sinks. "Yes. Fine." She didn't look at him, but continued to fix the ice cream bar. "Dinners ready," she said, drying her measuring cup leisurely.
Anzio walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"What's wrong, my love?"
Once done with the dish, she layed her hands on top of his, shaking a bit with her should as she muffled a sob by biting her lip. He was... He was ok. Unharmed.
So why did she feel as though he was injured... Hurt... Killed, even? It was a copy of him. A brain induced hallucination. Though, shestill couldnt look at him in fear sh might find his jaw dislocated, or badly bruised. She said nothing...
Anzio could feel Khainley trembling. Something was definitely wrong. Anzio took off his mask and placed it on the counter. He then placed kisses on Khainley's neck and cheek.
"Don't lock me out, Khainley," Anzio said softly.
"I saw you..." she said quietly, voice an inconsistant waver, and sounding forced. "One of them took your body formation... Told me to stop fighting... I... I didn't mean... I didn't mean to..." she buried her face in her hands, body going limp as she cried her broken heart out.
Anzio spun Khainley around so that she was facing him and embraced her.
"Shhh. It's ok," Anzio reassured her. "Everything's ok now. I've got you. We're safe now."
"I broke your jaw, I kicked your stomach... I heard you scream my name before you... Fell..." She shook her head. What was wrong with her today?
It was all clear to him now. Those creatures had took on his appearance to fight Khainley, and she was now upset over it.
"No you didn't," Anzio told her. "That wasn't me. It was just a trick. They used you against me also. It was all just those stupid monsters playing tricks on us."
"Did they try to kill you? Because that kintet didn't. He looked at me, as if asking me why i would kill what i loved."
"Some of them. Others just stood and stared at me," Anzio replied. "It was a good thing that I could tell the difference between them and you, or they probably would have gotten me."
"How? I had my glamour on. I looked excactly like them." She said.
"My copies," Anzio explained. "You can't fool an illusion with an illusion. My copies aren't real, so they don't have any fears. The creatures could not trick them. So, the ones that were being attacked by my copies, were the creatures."
"I used hallucinations. It didn't end well..." she pulled back, but her head was aimed at the floor. "Don't want dinner to cool to much. C'mon..."
Anzio lifted Khainley's gaze to meet his and gave her a peck on the lips and a smile.
"Let's eat then."
"Hadn't realized you took off your mask.." she muttered, before pulling out two chairs. One for each of them.
"How else would I have been able to kiss you," Anzio asked. "You look positively stunning by the way."
She had the decency to blush, before sliding into her seat. "I meant BEFORE you kissed me, love."
"I did have it on before I kissed you," Anzio replied. "I took it off so that I could kiss you."
"How thoughtful," she muttered.
"Don't pretend you didn't like it," Anzio said with a chuckle.
"Now then, what kinds of foods is there?"
"Macaroni Cassarole, and a mini lasagna with side dishes of green olives, apple slices, and lima beans. The drinks are in either the fridge, or wine cellar to your left."
She scooped out some cassarole goodness, and lima beans. taking the first bite and smiling at the deliciousness.
"I don't know what most of that is, but it sounds good."
Anzio piled a little bit of everything onto his plate and then headed to the wine cellar. Wine was a rare commodity for him because people usually kept it locked up, making it considerably harder to steal.
To open the cellar, she had to zap the slot to which it creaked, and opened. Revealing no bare walls. All variety.
"All our ranged in different dates," she said, suddenly behind him.
"Dates? You mean like when they were put in here dates?"
Most people would think it common knowledge to know what the date on wine bottles meant, but Anzio did not. He never cared before. Whenever he managed to get his hands on wine, he drank. That was all he cared to know about it.
She shook her head, chesnut locks turned raven as she walked in ahead of him. "No. Dates too which they were made. Manufactered. Presented."
"Oh. What does that matter," Anzio said pulling out a random bottle and examining it.
"Wine doesnt tend to grow old quickly. Bottles, like the one your holding, gave been here for three years. And yet, it tastes fresh when the cork is popped."
"I see."
Anzio pulled out a second bottle and compared the two. He couldn't really tell which one was better because he couldn't read them, so he was looking for which one had a fancier label. He soon just held the bottles out toward Khainley.
"Which one of these is better?"
She smiled a little, eyes alight for a mysterious reason as she approached. She ran a hand through his hair, along his forarm, to his left hand, and plucked the bottle from his fingers. "Sparkling champagne will do quite nicely."
Anzio didn't entirely understand why she ran her hand through his hair and down his arm, but he didn't really care. Women were mysterious creatures.
"That one it is then," Anzio said putting the other bottle in the nearest available slot.
"Let's go."
Anzio made his way back to the table eagerly. As far as he was concerned, this was what it was like to live like royalty.
Cause she wanted to!!
She slipped back into her chair and snagged another bite. "So, how do you like my ratty shack?"
"It's a lot nicer than mine was," Anzio replied. "A lot less crowded too."
Anzio began shoveling food into his face. Having been an orphan and thief, eating fast was essential. It kept others from taking your food, and got rid of any evidence.
"Jesus, Anzio, slow down. No one's taking your meal." She paused, spoon midway to her parted lips.
Anzio froze, spoon halfway to his mouth.
"Sorry," he said lowering the spoon. "I don't really get the chance to sit down and actually enjoy the meal very often."
"Don't apologize. It's something you did in the past. But god forbid you got a stomach ache." Yes, she is religious. "Just remember, when you're here, with me, none of that is required of you. You don't need to steal, or speed eat, or hide away. I promise."
She then turned to eat, mouth pressed into a line.
You could get a stomach ache from eating too fast? That had never happened to him before, but that be because he had never eaten enough to get one. He wasn't sure how to respond, so he just kept eating; slower this time. The food really was good, but he had completely forgotten about the wine in his quest to stuff his face.
A door opened, and closed. The front one. "Excuse me," she said to Anzio before parting. As she crossed the foyer barefoot, her eyes widened and she beamed.
She ran the rest of the way, and was soon picked up and spun playfully. "Oh my god! You actually came back!"
"Well, yeah. Couldn't die just yet," he said, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. "How's my little rajkumary doing, hmm?"
"Oh shut up, Alagan."S She punched his bicep and he chuckled warmly. "Forget me. How's Kishan?"
"Quite stubbornly fine." He frowned at the mention of his brother but quickly smiled again.
"Well, hope you survived the kintets."
"I did."
He saw her face turn pained, and he brought her face up to his, cobalt blue iris's narrowing, studying.
"Nothin..." she said, and pulled away from him.
Anzio was curious as to who had arrived and wanted to see for himself. He made a point to put his mask back on first before investigating. He walked into the foyer and saw the strange man.
"Who's this," he asked casually, but he couldn't help but be protective. He had a tendency to not trust people.
Ren turned and looked Anzio. His face suddenly stone cold and pale. "Mar," he said, voice low, "who is this?"
She looked to Ren, eyes wide as she followed his line of sight. "Ah. Oh. This is Anzio. Anzio, this is Dhiren-"
"Ren," he amended.
She rolled her eyes. "Yes. Ren. Indian prince of the Mujullain empire."
Ren's body was tense, his eyes narrow. He didn't loosen when she explained what she and Anzio had done since their first meeting. Making note to avoid the kissing and all that. "So, there you have it."
Ren hadn't altered a single bit in her explanation. In fact, he'd been growing considerably pale.
"Ren?"
"I'm going upstairs." Ren then advanced to the stairwell stiffly, disappearing at the top.
She looked after him for a minute, and blinked. Oh no. She cleared her throat. "Well, shall we continue dining?"
"I don't like him," Anzio said simply. "There's something not right about him."
Anzio then returned to the table to continue eating, making sure to keep his mask close by so that he could quickly put it back on should the man come back downstairs.
"Why is he here?"
"He doesn't appear to like you much either," she said. Sitting down again, but casting a glance at the stairwell. She'd talk to him later.
"He was originally suppose to be with his brother, Kishan, in mumbai. Apparently, they were conversing about inhereting the money from the company, or keep it running." She swallowed a bite before continueing. "Lokesh-" she saw Anzio's confusion, and sighed. "A bad guy came back from hiding, and Ren was sent to fight him down. He either won, or dispatched for healing."
"What bad guy hides himself," Anzio asked. "That isn't any fun. I sure don't hide. I love playing with the law enforcement officials."
She looked at Anzio's mask, then his eyes, raising her eyebrows as if to say 'really?'
"What? Don't you believe me," Anzio asked with feigned indignity. "Why else would I where such a gaudy outfit if not to be seen?"
"Why hide such a flawless face behind a mask?" she asked, proving a point.
"I'm not hiding my face," Anzio replied. "I'm hiding myself, preventing others from seeing who and what I truly am. You're the only person who has ever seen my face since I ran away from the orphanage and got this scar."
She lifted a hand to lightly touch the scar, but dropped it back in her lap. Looking to her food. "Precisely. Lokesh wasn't hiding his wrongs from the authoraties. He was hiding what they connected to be. The actual picture behind his sceme."
"What picture? I've always just stolen stuff. I've never had any pictures or schemes behind it. What's he even trying to do?"
"We don't know. But whatever it is, he isn't gonna stop until Ren and Kishan are dead. Maybe me. But he kidnapped me once for the soul purpous of alluring my two tigers." She expelled a breath silently, eyes closing. "Sometimes it's hard here without Kishan. Without his charms. His yet-to-be enticing flirtatious behavior, ya know?"
"No, I don't know," Anzio replied. "Wait. Did you just say he was after you too?"
"Most likely. Kishan and Ren are drawn to me, protective of me, in love with ME. Therefor, Lokesh would hurt or even screw me to get under their skin." She rose from the table and began cleaning up. "Did you want anything before I put it all away?"
Anzio simply shook his head.
"I'm finished."
Whoever this Lokesh fellow was, he needed to die. He presented a threat to Khainley, and that was intolerable. Anzio stood and put his mask on. Without a word, he went to the library for some alone time so he could think. He figured that the library was the best place for him to go because it was the last place someone would look for someone who was illiterate.
She cleared what was left, and did the dishes. She turned only to find Anzio had gone somewhere. She decided to opt for a relaxing swim.
Khainley made a beeline for her room, climbing the stairwell, and reaching for the knob. "Kells."
She jumped, and spun around. Ren stood a few feet away, hair damp and wavy, with a silk blouse and black yoga pants that hang off his hips. She had to swallow before matching his gaze entirely. "Ren`."
With that, she slipped into her room, and shut the door.
Anzio stood in the library staring at all the books that he couldn't read. Something was going on here. Khainley had never mentioned those two guys before, two guys who, apparently, have feelings for her and will be staying in the mansion. She also failed to mention this Lokesh fellow before now. What else wasn't she telling him?
She peeled the dress from her curvy form, applying a bikini, and doubletiming it downstairs. Her hands clamped on a cobalt blue towel, and she quickly chose another. Not wanting a single thing to remind her of Ren, Kishan... or even Anzio. She saw how resigned he looked, before his expression had hardened. Keeping to revealing nothing to her.
She pinched the bridge of her nose, and tossed the towel on a lounging lawnchair. She descended the pool stairs into the water, slowly, savoring the cool wetness against her sweaty body.
She swam laps with her head below the surface, before halting. On the deepest side of the pool. Like suspended animation.
Anzio began going down the rows of books and reading their titles trying to find at least one word he could identify. He has had no luck so far. Why was she keeping secrets from him? She had told him her life story, but she seems to have left out a lot of minor details. What was going on here? Who really was this woman that he had fallen in love with?
She was under for about five, six minutes before her lunges gave way. Her head popped to the surface of the water. She was on the farthest side of the island. Where stars twinkled constantly, and the sky was barely dim, almost dark blue.
She looked down at the surface of the water, seeing her chest rise and fall fast. She then blurred that image, and focused on the mirroring face of the pool. Seeing herself, before it twisted into another form.
One in a clean buisness suit, and dark purple tie. With dark brown hair gelled back and a wicked grin. Lokesh.
Anzio was getting really tired of trying to read, so he decided to take a walk through the garden he never had. He grabbed his staff, just 'cause, and began making his way to the backdoor to get to the garden.
She froze.
His lips curled into a smirk, and his lips moved in a chant. This time, the view changed, as did the setting. He was standing above a crumpled body removing a sword plundged into it. When he was upright, bloody blade in hand, he smiled at her, licking crimson from the edge.
She sank back under. A sob burst from her mouth, drowned out by the water. Her breath left her lunges, and she was on her knees under 8 feet of the water, with her face in her hands.
The man dead in her vision was her father, Mr. Kadam.
As Anzio stepped outside, he noticed the pool and was instantly intrigued. He walked over to it and looked at the water. It was so clear that you could see to the bottom. Wait a minute? It looked like someone was down there. Someone was down there. It was Khainley! Anzio quickly took of his coat and shirt and dove in after her. If there was one thing he could do, it was swim.
Her lunges were screaming for a breath, but she woudn't rise. If she could merely drown, maybe she might see her father again. Her actual father. The one she loved to no end, before she watched him die at the hands of Lokesh. Ren and Kishan and her all screaming for him to live. Just as the life drained from his eyes, and his hand went limp.
She didn't want that as her only memory. She wanted him back. To see his bright smile and the wise look in his aging eyes. She wanted him to hug her, and tell her it was ok. HE was ok.
But he wasn't. He wouldn't ever come back.
Anzio grabbed a hold a Khainley and yanked her to the surface of the water and then to the edge of the pool.
"What the hell were you doing down there?"
She went into a coughing fit. Wretching up both water and blood. It mixed and mingled on the surface of the concrete. She looked away from the man in front of her, and let her legs go pliant under the water, holding the side with her arms propped out. "Nothing. Just thinking." She let go, and swam to the division of shallow to descending deep. The water encircling her waist. And she took to looking at the forest, back to Anzio.
Anzio swam over to her and stood next to her.
"You just decided to stop and think under eight feet of water," Anzio asked. "What's been happening to you lately? Does it have to do with that guy?"
"I knew I shouldn't have taken you here. Knowing the chances. Why am I such a brainless idiot..." she muttered. Water dripping from her hairling down her cheeks like tears. "Anzio... Don't pretend you aren't the least bit shaken. Just don't. It's better to just be honest. Honest with each other."
"Of course I'm shaken," Anzio said wrapping his arms around her. "So far today I've killed you ten times, learned that some psychopath is out to get you, and you almost drowned. I'm just really good at burying my feelings. I've been doing it for years"
Anzio realized that he still had his mask on. Normally he would take it off around Khainley, but he wasn't going to take any chances with those other guys around.
She felt a heated gaze, and shifted her eyes to the source. Ren stood on the third floor balcony. His eyes cold and shadowed, with flushed cheeks and parted lips in supressed surprise. She took a deep breath. She was not about to ride on a rollercoaster of feelings when she obviously knew what she wanted. She wanted the ride to end.
She made sure Anzio had hs back to Ren, when she reached up and removed his mask. She placed it on the ground behind her, wrapped anarm around his neck and waste and softly pressed her lips to his.
She wouldn't deny that she had once loved Ren. But ever since Anzio had jumped into that bar, she had rearranged her life. He broke the walls around her heart, and gave her his love. And she had givenhimhers. Ren's sudden appearance never changed that. "I love you. Only you, Anzio." she murmured against his lips. Meaning every word.
Anzio wasn't sure where that came from or why there was such a random show of affection, but he wouldn't press the matter. He didn't know what was wrong, but something obviously had Khainley very distressed. Anzio returned the kiss, deciding that all he could do was be there for her, and that's exactly what he planned to do.
"I love you too," he replied softly. "Always and forever."
A tear slipped, and she shakily exhaled. When she needed air, she pulled away, breathing heavily as more tears poured. "Anzio. Please forgiv me. I never told you any of this. I swear I would've, but I didn't want you hurt, killed. Lokesh had killed two tiger princes before. Made Ren go through hell by forcing him to forget me, so he couldn't tell Lokesh where I was. He made Kishan have constant dreams of me dying, or running from him, and I just coudn't put you through it. Anzio, I garantee I don't want to spend my life with anyone but you. And one day, Ihope we could get married, ave a kid, a together. She didn't want him to be scared shitless,so she rushed the next part, "but we don't have to do that right now."
She didn't want to rush their relationship, but another part of her, deep inside, knew shemight not live long enough to do all the things she said...
Anzio gently wiped Khainley's tears away and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"I would love to," Anzio said offering a smile. "I thought we'd see the world, jump off some more buildings, and swim in lava first before we settle down."
His obliviousness to her planned death made her smile sadly. She knew where, and when she would die. So, let him enjoy his last week with her before she departs for mumbai to fight to her death. "Ok, Anzio. Lets go, then." She swam to the stairs, climbed them, and toweled her hair. It was a relief to look away from him as she walked into the house. "Get dressed, love!" she catcalled, before running into ren's abdomen.
She hesitantly looked up at his face, which looked resigned and tired. "You didn't tel him, did you?"
"No. He doesn't need to know. I'll tell him I'm moving and won't get to see him anymore. If he knew I was walking into my death be, he would ask to come. I want him to have a lovely life, get together with a nicer woman, and live happily ever after."
Ren sighed. "I don't think what you're doing to him is right."
"As if you give a flying fuck." She looked to the floor with desperationcoloring her tone. "I will do what it takes. I'll fix it."
"The only way is to tell him the truth. You said it yourself in the pool. You can't expect him to take it well, but you have to trust him enough to give him what he deserves." He walked over to the glass doors overlooking the front yard. His face obviously hurt to all hell.
"How do you know he deserves it" You practically killed him with your glare when you met."
"I was using tiger senses. Whenyou told me of you and him, I was thinking of him as someone who was taking you from me when I still had a chance," he sai, voice cracking. "But I watched him when he didn't hesitate to comfort you. I saw you give him that kiss, and though it broke me, I can't see any reason not to let him have you."
Her lips parted in surprise. Stunned into silence. He wasn't facing her, but she could feel his struggle not to cry. She enfolded him into her embrace, squeezing his waist reassuringly, before rising on her tip toes, and planting a chastekiss to his cheek. "Never forget, you have yet to meet Kelsey Hayes.
Anzio retrieved his mask and put it on. He didn't have a towel, so he figured that he would just air dry. He grabbed his shirt, coat, and staff and began walking back to the house.
She let go in a flash as Anzio slipped in, Ren turning to him, and staring, before holding up a hand. "Hold on," he said quietly. "Amaria-" he cleared his throat, face paling as he looked away. "Khainley needs to tell you something."
She made note that he said 'needs' rather then 'wants'. She fidgeted a bit, frowning at Ren's general direction before turning her back on the prince to face what was about to be a broken Anzio. "Hun... Me and Ren will be departing for Mumbai in a week. We, uh... I'm moving, and won't come back due to budget cuts at my company. Connara incorporation."
Ren growled at her, and she turned to see hhe had changed intohis tiger form. Cobalt blue eyes holding disapproval. "Fine! You win! Anzio, I'm leaving for mumbai to fight Lokesh, and I won't come back because I won't survive."
She turned on her heel and ran up the stairs to her room,and slammed it shut.
Ren shifted to a human, looked at Anzio with sadness and depresion before sliding the glass door and leaving for the forest.
Anzio dropped everything onto the floor and just stood there in shock. She was leaving? She would die? He didn't know how to react. She said that she would never leave him. She had mentioned getting married and starting a family, but she was leaving to die. He was going to lose the one person on this earth that he cared about in a week. Forgetting everything that he had just dropped onto the floor, he went into the library. Libraries held the answer to almost anything, except he couldn't read. Anzio pulled a book off a shelf, opened it up, looked at it a few seconds, and then hurled it across the room. Why couldn't he read?! Anzio started grabbing books and throwing them. He couldn't do anything right! He couldn't read, he couldn't write, math was a complete mystery, science was a myth. What good was he? Anzio grabbed a table and threw it across the room. Why was he so useless?! He then spotted a chair and decided that it would be the next airborne object.
She applied her gear, black on black with swords and a traveling spellbook, and opened her door. Halfway down the stairs, she heard crashes of splintering wood, and ripping paper.
She raced to the source. The gentlemen's library. Anzio was steamed, red faced behind the mask, she believed. Instead of shouting at him to cut it out, instead of looking disappointed or afraid, she felt her legs go out fro beneath her, caused by an airborn book. Ren stormed in, and caught her in time. Without a word, he hauled her away a few feet and spoke in a cold tone. "Stay. Don't leave him. He needs you. And I'll be damned if we e ver break him. Kushan and me thinks it's best." He placed a kiss between her eyebrows, lingering a bit before retracting. "Take care, rajkumari."
It was when she heard the jeep pull from the driveway did she move. She walked back slowly, head throbbing with every step. She weeved between the shelves, stepping on top of broken peices of god knows what, and came to stand behind him.
"Anzio, love, please look at me. I have great news, and it hurts when you are like this... Even if I had caused it."
She wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her forhead on his spine. "I'm not leaving, Anzio. I'm staying..." She inhaled deeply, scenting the sandlewood, and sage. "I'm staying..." she whispered.
Anzio was holding the chair in the air all set to throw when he heard Khainley's voice and a pair of arms wrapping around him. After she told him that she wasn't leaving, he dropped the chair and started crying. He was so afraid that he would lose her, and now he had destroyed her library. He spun around in her arms and held her tight.
"Don't ever leave me," he said softly between sobs. "I've never had anyone love me before. I don't want to be alone again."
(OOC- oops. I kinda modified my message. *points to the reply before yours* I LOVE YOU, PERSON!!)
(OOC POOF! All better! :D )
"No. No, never. Don't say that." She nuzzled her nose with his, and opened her closed eyes, the color having changed to pure blackness.
"I had broken my promise of staying with you. I had hurt you. I had taken what mattered from you. And I now know why I had no love aside from times with mr kadam. My biological father. He told me once that to love is to destroy. I had looked at him with shock, and he had said, with a smile: 'To love is to destroy all forms of loneliness. If you give your heart to the one you love, it will be returned in a greater form. Never forget that, rajkumari'." She reached up, and removed Anzio's mask to meet tear streaked cheeks, and puffy eyes. She tossed the mask to the side carelessly, before looking back to him. "That was said hours before he was killed by Lokesh. And though the memory is vivid, you have modified it to the point where he had loved me, and was doing it for me. To save me."
She looked down and shut her eyes, expelling a pent up breath. "I ask... No... Beg for your forgivenes, too which I don't deserve. But I wanted to show you something."
She pulled away, unzipped the top part of her suit, and opened it. Granted, she was wearing only a lacy black bra, that wasn't what it was meant for.
On her chest, directly taped over her heart, was a picture of Anzio. Shyly grinning. Taken in secret mere minutes before their first kiss. "I put this here... To remind me of who I was fighting for. I no longer cared about using my hate to bring Lokesh to his knees. I was going to fight on that battlefield carrying the one memory of your face in my mind. Your smile, your floppy hair, your eyes... All of it." She reached out, gently grabbed hold of his hand, and brought his palm to rest against the picture. She closed her eyes. "Love is never truly gone, unless you refuse to embrace it."
She choked tears back, covering the sound with a cough to clear her throat. "I just wanted you to realize how sorry, and broken I was..."
"I forgive you," Anzio said softly. "I will always love you no matter what happens. There is nothing you can do to make me stop loving you."
Anzio peeled the picture off of her chest and put his hand back where the picture was. The picture had been in the way. Her skin was so smooth and soft. Anzio kissed Khainley deeply.
"I love you, Khainley. I always will, no matter what."
She balled his shirt into her fists as they kissed, before breathing was essential, though, she merely inhaled against his mouth without breaking it. Men have and always will be a mystery to her. But she wasn't out to solve their rubix cube. She had the puzzle that was Anzio to deal with. That was gonna take an eternity she was willing to sacrafice.
"Ren left. For the fight." She pulled away and zipped her jacket up shamelessly. Surprising enough, she didn't feel at all embarrassed when she bared her chest to Anzio. Strange... "In which case, we'll have to visit here every so often-" She paused. "I'LL have to visit here every so often as a checkup. Hopefully my company can supply minimal staff to help me with that. I'll have to get Saki to round up members of the farming division..." she muttered, the last part meant for her.
She walked out and into the studio, coming out with a microphone. "Lets go lava diving, hmm?" she said, without smiling or looking at him, clipping her belt buckle.
"Sounds like fun," Anzio said with a grin. However, the grin waan't as cheerful and carefree as the others. He was still getting over the fact that he had almost lost her.
"I take it we'll be using that volcano I saw earlier?"
"Spot on, sherlock," she said in near monotone without usual animation. She was still in te process of ridding Anzio's broken hearted face. His teary eyes. His flushed cheeks. His sweaty hair. His coloress lips. His screams, and sobs. His shoulders shaking. His slack body. His defeated posture. His unsteady breathing. Yeah, this was going to take a while.
She checked herself, dressed in black gear, then to Anzio, in his shaggy suit. "I'll be right back..." she muttered. She ventured up two flights of stairs, entering Ren's room. His doo ajar. She didn't look atanything but the spair gear in his closet. Buried by silken fabrics and spandex.
After retreiving such, she used the elevator to go back down. When the door closed, she grew shaky. Ren's Lavender scent filled her every inhale, and she stopped breathing entirely to refrain from dying... A third time.
She was relieved when the chrome doors parted on the first floor where she walked to Anzio, and handed him the gear. "Go change. I avoid risks."
She parted, leaving him to his own devices until, "meet me out front."
Her lunges greatfully filled with the humidity marking an oncoming storm. They had better scoot or the enchanted volcano will burn out at the hands of the rain.
Anzio looked down at all the gear in his hands that he was told to change into. He didn't know where he was supposes to change, so he just changed right where he was standing. He gathered up his clothes into a pile on the floor. It felt weird not being in his usual atire. He retrieved his mask, but didn't put it on. He left it with his pile of clothes and went out to meet Khainley.
"Ready?" She buckled a grappling hook, spare cords, and wet suits no more then the size of her palm, to her belt. She retreived two blades, spun them in the air at perfect precision, extending boot cladded feet, and letting them slide of their own accord into the top of the boots.
She then swiftly turned and tied her hair into a high ponytail. With no warning in advance, she whipped around, something silver glinting, airborn until it sank into a tree 50 feet from where she stood. Despite the immaculate presentation, her expression remained impassive; unyeilding. "C'mon," she muttered before steadily strolling off the premises.
Anzio followed her without a word, entranced by her display. To be honest, he didn't want to do anything fun for once in his life. He was still getting over what had just happened and just wanted to crawl into a bed and lay there until he forgot about it. He was hoping that Khainley wouldn't turn around. He had left his mask behind, and he knew that she could read him like a book almost as well as he could read her.
Amaria watched, horror pronounced in her wide rimmed Amber eyes. Kadam and Lokesh, sword fighting, using their hatred for each other for extra advantage. The only difference being the fact that Kadam's hate was in honor, and nobility, rather then disregard for getting what is desired.
She observed the battle, albeit little, like it was a bloody film she always craved to avoid. Except... The stakes were high... And the participants were real.
Her father dived for Lokesh, his face hard with focus, eyes trained on his target, until, by some unbelievable extent, the enemy vanished. She widely turned her head here and there, trying to spot him without blowing their cover, but to no avail. That is, until he decided the time was precise to appear behind the elderly male. Startling a gasp from him as he staggered away, Lokesh's blade marking a narrow gash on his side. Amaria balled her hands into fists, palms bleeding from her sharp nails.
The scene that followed made her want to run. Not away, but in a dejected manner. Forest animals of ultimate danger flew from the trees and attacked her father. She was opening her mouth to scream, and in the process of standing to blow her cover just so she could spare her father's life. Ren wrapped a vice-like grip encircling her waist, while Kishan barracaded the scream from her throat to a distant muffle.
She kicked and thrashed in their hold, only to fail. After her fit, she looked to the progress In the fight, in time to see Lokesh appear behind Kadam's, smirking. But when he turned to match his strikes, the real Lokesh peeled his glamour, and inserted the black, hell bound sword into his opponent, effectively piercing his heart. And as she listen to her dad breathe, a lung was sliced as well. Kadam's fell, back to the ground, as her glowered at Lokesh.
"That was for intrusion on my plans," he said, and with the flash of an evil grin, grabbed the swords handle again, twisting it viscously. "And THAT... Was for my suit."
Ren, Kishan, and Amaria watched his retreat into dimensions, before finally arriving at Kadam's side, only to wish him a hail and farewell. Which didn't take place. He left... He left her...
She stopped abruptly, blinking the blur from her vision. No, too much pain for the CEO. Not only had she fucked with Anzio's feelings, un-intentionally of course, she was now in a state of remembrence to her father? She would admit she didn't want that to be the last memory of him. Why had she sufferd the will to watch...?
She would've questioned further, had they not arrived at the volcano.
Anzio peered over the edge of the volcano at the lava residing within the belly of the beast. He then looked at Khainley. She seemed to be in a trance, and it was clear she was in deep thought. Anzio put his hand on her shoulder.
"Do you wanna just wait 'til tomorrow to do this? You don't seem to be in the mood and, to be honest, I'm not either."
Taken by sudden surprise, drowned by the lingerie of the memory, she turned to Anzio and nodded slightly. "Alright. You go back to the house... I'll- catch up..." Should I choose not to commit suicide... She looked pale. Unhealthily pale. Her black eyes turned to a deep churning violet. The color of sorrow... Not that he knew that.
"Dinner is in the fridge. Pre made. The microwave is to the right of the stove. Learn how it operates if you aren't aware as of now..."
Her phone rattled just the. From her breast pocket. She drew it out, uploading the message, lips in what felt like a natural frown. Oh, lord what was with her these past few years. "Hold on, Anzio." An index finger was raised as emphasis as she answered the video call.
Her editors oval face and bony features displayed on the screen. "Amaria! What the hell is with you? The counsel men were here hours ago to discuss the latest reports you so carelessly forgot to file."
She paled to pure, per white. "They weren't due to arrive until Saturday, Caller." Her tone was neutral, but her face was full of the will to kill herself. She was already fingering the handle of her knife. "I was in the process of proof reading since you couldn't review the day before. I understand your worry. How well did they take the absence?"
"Like fuckin pansies. They cut the agreement of being our Italian client. This far, we now have merely three. A fourth is set on next Tuesday, with Ireland's representatives the following day." He looked back to her from the stack papers he was evening out, his eyes crinkled and tired. "Tell me you at least have the report on Death's latest scheme?"
She nodded, forlorn and with sudden exhaustion. "He is now in preparation for the fall fling set to active during May. The location has yet to be released among the public, but I can take a run to his office at a later time." She looked back over at Anzio, keeping her gaze on him as she continued. "right now, I have loose ends to tie, and feelings to regenerate." The editor narrowed his eyes, but relented, much to her relief. "Ask for assistance from Lianna, but I must go."
She shut her phone down to preserve battery power, seeing as how the island didn't carry electricity. For a moment, her eyes bore into the ground as if it were to blame for her current state, but softened as those amber Kris's slid to her love. "Shall we depart?" She said, voice croaking as if in physical(instead of mental) pain. Much to her utter dismay.
"No we shall not," Anzio replied. "I see that look in your eyes. I know it all to well, for I have had the same look many times throughout my life. We're both going back to the house, and we're both going to take a mental health day to just sit and recover from everything that had just happened."
Anzio was somewhat surprised by his sudden display of dominance and control, but he knew what Khainley might do if he left her alone for even an instant.
"Anzio-" she stopped short, realizing the ending to this conversation should she make a scene. It wasn't... All that bad. Perhaps a recovery day for him meant to be well away from her. God knows she wouldn't blame him.
She'd put men in situations that need mending, and always lacked actually caring for them. But this... This time was different. Who knew a runaway orphan, subjected to the life of a criminal for survival, would be the one to take apart the dam around her heart she always thought were indestructible. Filling the years of emptiness with feelings she didn't know existed. And now... In payment for all the love he'd given her, she screws him over... Twice.
One would say this is depression. Oh no, my dears. The world and situation itself was the very picture of hell. "Okay, love. You win, let's go back to the house," she relented softly. Feet steadily thumping the hollowed volcano in an eruption of booms and thuds. Her trail and mindset haywire. But surely she was capable of looking up to see if she was going the right way, yes?
It wasn't her lack of capability... It was her lack of trying...
Anzio could tell that Khainley's mind was still elsewhere, so he took her hand as they walked to provide guidance to her physical form while her mind wandered. He would never understand what it was like losing a loved one. He had never had any before Khainley, but he figured it must be pretty rough with how Khainley was acting.
She was tired and felt shitty to the point of no return, but was awake enough to feel the familiarity of his hand in hers, anchoring her to reality like one would do to a ship in rough waters. Ah, the perfect comparison...
In her minds eye, her father was more close then anyone would get. He understood her. He read her feelings and tended to them accordingly. He knew what made her tick. He was a practical soul mate, always there for her. Constantly saying he would never leave her when she would get riled up over a movie where someone dies to spare another's life. Back then, she was sane, innocent, and pure. A purified soul, with no shifting powers or shinigami (death) marks.
When her father passed, she grew into the newfound powers, using them to escape the abusive substitute the state of New York threw her with. Heartless bastards...
She was then reminded of a song...
All I need is a little love in my life
All I need is a little love in the dark
A little but I'm hoping it might kick start
Me and my broken heart
I need a little loving tonight
Hold me so I'm not falling apart
A little but I'm hoping it might kick start
Me and my broken heart
It was sung by Rixton, an artist she heard of in Brooklyn. The song's name... Me and my broken heart. Though, she suspected what Rixton was referring to anything but related to what she thought of it as. Reassurance... Only a little more, since Anzio had been supportive till the very end... Her end... To which, his heart was shattered. A climax never to turn back from. A cause that could've been prevented...
When they finally made it back to the house, Anzio led Khainley through the front door. She was still out of it. Anzio decided that the only way to wake sleeping beauty was by the kiss of a handsome prince. He didn't have a prince on hand, but since she wasn't actually asleep he figured that he would be sufficient. He kissed Khainley deeply and without warning to bring her back to reality.
"We're here," he said smiling softly.
She was shocked at first, and was surprise to find her hands in his hair... When did she do that? "So I see," she muttered. Pulling away with a decently bright blush heating her cheeks. That... Was still the only indication the grave faced demon of a woman was alive. She crossed the foyer barefoot, having kicked her shoes off upon their arrival. Unconsciously.
She padded to the kitchen, where Anzio's line of sight then cut his vision of her forms retreat, blocked by a wall. A narrow one at that. The door swung shut, and things cringed and clanged. Eventually, she emerged in pajama wear. A faded flannel loose tee shirt that read- Made in Brooklyn across the front, overlapping fuzzy bottoms. The color the darkest of blues, contrasting the almost stark white back ground to the shirt if not for her fathers constant wear of it. It was his favorite ensemble.
She rested the right side of her body against the doorframe leading to the dining room, where the kitchen branched off from. Her temple slamming against the wall, eliciting a grown from the brunette. She caressed the soon to be bruised area lightly before sighing. For the hundredth time, feeling and sounding exhausted... And suicidal if one were really looking for the hints to prove it. All you would have to do was look in her black pits for eyes. The pupil dilated so badly from internal pain, it swallowed the burning amber flecks in hose once lovely iris's.
"Hungry?"
Anzio walked up to Khainley and took her hands in his. Her eyes were filled with so much pain. He wished so badly that he could make that pain go away. He wished that he could make everything better and make Khainley smile again.
"Just tired," he replied. "We should rest, especially you."
Anzio caressed her cheek with his hand.
"You've been through a lot today."
Such a blunt description would amuse me if not for my state of mind as of late. I have to grip the sanity thread, pulsing with brightness if I have any inclination to get better... For him. I'll get better for him. And thus, a taste of her internal wordplay. None to intelligently spoken, but not as loose as previous Amaria. In the bar mere dimensions from their place standing where they were.
"I suppose we do." She couldn't halt the shiver that raked her spine as he touched her. Everywhere they touched feeling alight with electricity. Her face soon cleared of expression, even pain. The near blackness of the huge palace of a place casting eerie shadows across her face. Showing a glimpse of the person she never wanted him to see. So, to prevent any facial reading, she averted her eyes. Cascading down to the finely glossy tile flooring. "There's... There's spare rooms on all three floors," she said in monotone. Keeping the desperation to ask him to accompany her in her room for the soul purpous of holding him close, knowing he would most likely rather keep a safe distance.
After all... She was half demon... "If you need anything, you don't have to ask for it. So long as you don't steal any belongings of mine, too which the outcome would be my iron toed boot up your ass, I trust you with your own devices... I'll-" she started, neglecting to finish as she strayed from his grip and to the stairwell, engulfed in darkness. Her bare feet thumped instead of pounded each stair, and once on the second floor, she stepped right, pressing her back to the wall, sliding down it, and wrapping her arms around her legs.
The tears came fast and stained her cheeks. Having time to fully reflect, she played through the day in her head like a story she despised to see. Once finished, she could feel her mothers chastising. Her voice bubbling in anger, and spilled like the breaking of the Hoover Dam. Look at you. Pathetic. What lover are you to rob him of happiness? Just because you have problems, doesn't mean he is a stress receiver. If you know what's good for him, rdi him of your existence. You mean little to nothing, and he's to pained to see that. How could he understand love at such a younge age?
"But... He's twenty seven..."
All the more reason for you to separate. He obviously means nothing to you but a trash back. Tossing his feeling and throwing them down the shoot like they mean nothing. 800 years, my ass. More like a moody teen in need of therapy... Years of fucking therapy, she hissed, voice like poisin heating her blood.
Anzio went after Khainley up the stairs. Unless she specifically told him to, he wasn't going to leave her side for a second. He sat down on the floor next to her, put his arm around her shoulders, and pulled close. He knew that words would offer little solace, so he said nothing. He just sat beside her, letting her know that that was where he would always be; right beside her.
Despite her latest behavior issues, a little person inside her, one that just so happened to be her innocent counterpart, repeated the mantra: Mom has no power over who I love... And how I love them
When he sat beside her, she felt a wave of something warm enfold her form. She soon found it to be physical instead of metaphorical. He had embraced her in the darkest of hours, in near blackened night. Still not comprehending why the lights hadn't been turned on... Perhaps Ren disengaged the automatic switches...
She deranged her arms from he knees, and instead used them to circle Anzio. Amaria buried her face in the crook of his neck, tears having stopped at an unknown interval. Her hair was pasted to her cheeks, soaked from the confrontation her mother had so viscously presented. At least now she knew. She knew that voice spoke pure truth.
"I swear on the choir of demons, I am sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen." She was suddenly pleased her voice sounded normal. Soft and tenderly delivered, pouring animation. She was in the process of applying the proper medicine to tend to her wounded soul. Heh... Another perfect relation.
"I know I caused this... This... Whatever it is between us. I would call it a barrier, if not for the contradicting fact that this particular wedge seems... Unmovable. At least... I think it's incapable of being removed... But hey, what do I know, right?" She hugged him tighter, just then realizing how loyal he must be to have come to her when he carried the pain she had been mourning over all this time. "It's just... How do you mend a broken heart? How do you heal a shredded soul?" These questions were spoken in a barely audible whisper.
And she knew full well he didn't have the answers.
"You can't," Anzio replied softly, tilting her chin upwards to meet his gaze. "I'll just have to give you mine."
With that he kissed her, and then embraced her. As far as he was concerned, there was no wedge. Nothing would keep him from her. She was his, and he was hers. He would go through Hell for her, both ways.
"Anzio..." she whispered against his lips, not even bothering to finish. What was the point when they both could pre-guess the end and get it correct?
She shifted. Tired of being strong. Tired of bearing heavy weights she couldn't handle. Tired of keeping her feeling bottled up... Tired of lying awake all night greiving and scared. And though she could only take the physical form of the pink kirn, her personality stayed tucked within, while she gave her innocent counterpart the reigns for a while.
Now that she had the bushy tail of silk she missed, and the soft-as-a-cloud pink fur she adored, the kirn crawled intoAnzio's lap. Her body way smaller then before, and she still felt a little of te lingering pain. She curled against his chest, tail wrapping around them for slight comfort. And since she had turned back into kind khainley, she nuzzled his neck with her nose before controlling her voice volume.
"Hi again," she said, pitch higher, and pouring innocence. She was a different personality among the many that form the puzzle peices of Amaria. So, she was sweeter, and vouched for keeping Anzio safe, supplying fun, and showing love in all it's radiance. And right now, he looked unhappy.
Khainley brushed her lips against his temple, on his cheek, and finally reaching his mouth. "Anzio, I can see your upset... I know what happened... Please... Show me a smile... I know it's absurd for me to ask this of you, but I miss it. The... Happiness..." she whispered.
Anzio was surprisingly unfazed by how Khainley could switch between forms. As she crawled into his lap, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him. When she asked for smile, he ended up smiling in spite of himself and he peppered Khainley with small kisses.
"I love you," he said with that smile Khainley had craved.
Despite the request that, before, seemed unnecessary, she found herself bearing a smile of melancholy. Of course, she could tell the expression was forced on his part. A mere curve of the lips to satisfy her, when he was in need of it. She slowly tousled his locks by running a paw through his hair. It rested on his cheek, thumb caressing his cheekbone. Her eyes were inquisitive. Curious on how she should go about making him... At the very least, better. A bit mended. And then the idea clicked.
"Come on, love. Spare bedrooms, remember?" Then her next thought through the wrench right into her strategy. "Do you, uh... Wanna have your own room?"
Anzio shook his head.
"Nope," he replied simply.
The thought of his own room had never crossed his mind. He had never slept better than when he slept with Khainley, and at the moment he wanted, no needed, to be with her. He had almost lost her. The last place he wanted to be was away from her.
She nodded a bit. Standing, and pinching a tuft of darker pink hair between her fingers. "Let's get somewhere more suitable for comfort. This hallway is..." She looked perceptively through the darkness of the endlessly stretching walkway, a shiver clawing her spine. "Uh, l-let's just go."
She looked at her hands, refusing to acknowledge the shadows that frighten her. What was in there...?
Anzio stood as well and took Khainley's arm in his.
"Lead the way, my dear," he said.
She flinched. Then swallowed dryly, dragging Anzio through blackened corridors until mounting the second set of stairs, and stepping onto the lighter third floor. She walked down the hallway a bit calmer, and stopped at a room. Her room. On the door was parchment, folded in half. Neatly sealed with a red inked stamp.
She sighed and obtained said message before opening the door, and trending inside.
The walls were an even, glossy coat of violet with flooring of dark crimson. The drawer set, her desk, and desk housing her lamp was black.
Her bed was king sized. Comforter a silky shine of grey with intricate swirls woven in the middle. Marks that match those patterned on her skin. With soft material for the sheets under it, the color of the darkest caramel. And the pillows were stark white. The only light color in the room.
The bedroom branched to a bathroom housing tile matching the grey on her sheets. Marble counters the color of obsidian that match the bathtub. Last but not least, the toilet was the crimson standout.
Anzio was astounded when they entered the room. It was even fancier than that room at the tavern. He began walking around the room, examining its contents, running his fingertips along the smooth wood furnishings and soft bed.
"There's so many things in here," he said, his voice full of wonder.
She smiled shyly. "Yeah... Oh, um..." She cleared her throat, and made her leisure way to the back wall, gyrating her hips to avoid hitting the desk, and resting a hand to it's surface upon arrival. "There's more," she said dreamily, before balling her hand into a fist. The wall practically gathered in her hand, and she softly yanked.
It presented itself to be the illusion of a wall. It was, in actuallity, a glamoured tarp of cascading silk falling away and bunching at the bottom of a suddenly revealed bookcase. The entirety of the back wall was made up of shelves and shelves of books. ANd she turned to him, a knowing sparkle to her eyes.
"I know you can't read, and think you are to illiterate to learn. That is not true. These books," she said, gesturing to the expanded shelves, "are enchanted. At will, they will begin to read it to you. Giving tips in pronunciation, grammar, and what I like to call 'silent letters'."
She tapped her furry chin, and smiled a bit more. "An exapmple of the latter would be this. You are aware of the word 'know'. It's meaning a simple collection of knowledge about a subject. Did you realize that the word 'know' had a silent 'k' as the first letter? It's what separates the word 'know' from the word 'now'."
Khainley walked to the bed, and sat on it's edge, tucking her legs beneath her and propping her upper body on her arm. "Do you understand, or am I confusing you?"
"Why would there be silent letters," Anzio asked. "That seems rather pointless."
Anzio examined the books for a few seconds more before sitting down on the bed next to Khainley.
"It's a way of detecting differences between different words that sound alike, but do not look alike." She trailed a finger over the bedding, tracing the intricate patterns she had engraved to ensure after when unconscious. She was always unsettled with being alone in this house. It was... Big...
She snagged a calligraphy pen and piece of parchment, laying the page on her lap and writing a few words in lovely cursive. "Here's another example."
"I know you"
I like this music now"
Anzio stared at what she had written on the paper for a moment.
"You are still aware that I can't read this right," Anzio said. "Why do you make your letters so swirly when you write? I can't even tell where one starts and one ends."
Even to himself Anzio sounded like an idiot. There Khainley was writing away like it was the easiest thing in the world, and Anzio was utterly clueless. He was starting to not like this whole literacy thing. It was too hard.
She was patient. Her face showing no emotion but soften features until he was finished, too which she took to explanation.
"Now. I am going to show you the trick I had explained earlier. The bold lettering. The one in thicker black pen? I will read one sentence from the page and you have to guess which one I say. Remember what I told you about how to spell 'know' and 'now'."
She flopped onto the bed, her body temporarily cushioned. "Look to the paper as I say the chosen sentence." She closed her eyes and expelled a breath. "I like this music now," she said, pronouncing every word, and slowing her usual pace of speech to help him.
Anzio concentrated on the sentences. How was he suppose to know which one she read when he couldn't read them himself. He pointed to the second sentence.
"This one."
She had said too many words for it to be the first sentence, so she must have said the longer second sentence.
She sighed. A little tip... She can read a mind if she so chooses. She hadn't in years, but now was a cute little exception. "Ok. You're right. Congrats, my lovely." She packed the supplies and slid under the cover silently. Fur preventing any sound to emit from her ministrations. And she layed on her back, fingers interlaced together and limply set on her stomach, her hair fanning out a little from her head.
Anzio removed his shirt and slid beneath the covers next to Khainley.
"I'm glad that's over. Reading is hard."
Not mention the fact that he nearly choked on his male pride because a four year old could read better than he could. He'd gone 27 years without the ability to write, or even read, his own name. It couldn't be that important if he had been able to get so far without it right? Anzio sighed. Of all the people she could have given her heart to, she gave it to an orphaned, illiterate criminal. That was something that Anzio would never understand.
Of all the people she could have given her heart to, she gave it to an orphaned, illiterate criminal. She winced a bit, hearing the sigh before. Choosing not to dwell on it, she nodded in retroaction to his earlier input. "It grows easier with time."
"I tried learning how to read and write before, but the guy told me I was past the ideal age to learn how and refused to teach me. If I learn anything, I would want to be able to write my own name."
Anzio stared at the ceiling. He felt like crap. Who, besides him, couldn't write their own name? He couldn't read his own name, or anything at all for that matter. Everything he knew about the world was from going out and experiencing it for himself because he didn't have the alternative option of reading about it. Fighting for survival didn't leave a lot of free time for reading, let alone learning how to read. There was one thing he wanted to know about more than anything else: parents. What was it like to have parents? What do parents do? What are they like? Unlike everything else, he couldn't simply go experience it. If he wanted to know about parents, he had no choice but to read. Maybe being illiterate was a bigger hindrance than he originally thought.
The feelings and thoughts flowing through him were solvable. She could solve them... and yet, she didn't know what he would think of her if he new about her tuning to listen in on his every thought. And exasperated sigh escaped her and she palmed her eye sockets for a brief few seconds before removing them. Keeping her eyes closed. "I was once a teacher of illiterates. I worked as a substitute at many schools until the book I wrote was published. I continued writing from there, and walla! Here I am, CEO of my own company. But my point is that you have the capability to learn. You just need the right teacher," she said. Eyes opening into a squint through the darkness.
It was pretty obvious that she was the teacher she was referring to, but if Anzio were to choose anyone to teach him, it would be Khainley. He knew she wouldn't judge him, or mock him, or make fun of him like others have done. She was the only person that he felt safe and comfortable around, despite any surprise complications or surprises that show up. Anzio rolled onto his side so that he was facing Khainley. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace. She cared about him. She wanted to help him. She loved him. She gave him what he never had before, and now she was offering the ability to read and access all those things denied to him for so many years. Tears of joy welled up in his eyes and he held her a bit tighter.
"I love you," he whispered.
Having blocked mind connection with him, the reason for his tears and admition to the love she already knew he felt for her was puzzling. Her arms absently wrapped around his middle, paws softly skimming the muscles in his back. Strong, like his stamina, apparently.
"Why the tears, love," she asked. The question muffled by his shirt but clearly pronounced as her wording always had been.
"I've never had anyone love me before," Anzio replied through the tears. "You've done more for me than anyone. If there's any way I can pay you back, please tell me."
Anzio didn't know why he had gotten like this all of a sudden, but it would have had to come out eventually, so why not now? He wished he could help Khainley as much as she had helped him. He wanted to pull her life back together like she had done for him. He wanted her to be happy again.
Khainley froze. He was upset... And she knew around now that settling his tears would be the better option... But all she could do was stare at his emerald eyes.
Finally blinking at a rapid pace for a few seconds, she was able to think straight and form a freikin sentence. "Pay me back? Anzio, you already have. By returning the love I give to you. What makes you think I want anything else but you? To be able to make you happy. To be able to put that breathtaking smile on your face. To be able to love you, to be loved by you is more then whatever else this world can bribe me with," she stated softly. Voice like silk, and melted caramel.
Her paw detached itself from his back and rid his cheeks of tears and their tracks. Her nose nuzzled his own softly, trying to soothe her lover.
Anzio pulled Khainley as close to himself as possible and buried his face in her long, soft hair that he loved so much.
"I'm tired," he said softly.
He sounded like a big child. He never really had the chance to be a child growing up. Right from the start it was all about surviving until the next day. Now, he finally had the human contact that is so vital during development, even though he had finished developing years ago. He was tired and he just wanted to sleep with Khainley in his arms. That was all he wanted right now; sleep and Khainley.
"Then go to sleep. I've got you..." She said quietly. Seeing his need for her closeness as he slept, she snuggled against his warm chest, softly nuzzling her furry head in the crook of his neck, emphasizing her statement.
"Sleep sweet, love," she said. Again, realizing she would lie awake until he awoke. She guessed seeing his tousled bed head and bright emerald eyes would definitely make up for it later.
With Khainley beside him it didn't take long for Anzio to fall asleep. While he wasn't worn out physically, he had been an emotional wreck. But now, he was asleep in a big house, in a warm bed, and with the love of his life cuddling up against him. For the first time in years, Anzio would get the full night of sleep that had been eluding him for so long.
As soon as his breathing subsided to evenly spaced and soft, her smile fell away. Like the melting of a canvas bearing a happy picture. Now that Anzio was no longer awake, he was unable to read her facial expressions. To see the pain from the day well up in her eyes, and pour out in the form of both tears, and stomach wrenching sobs. In fact, despite having hate the shift, she pulled away from Anzio's embrace. Effectively breaking yet another promise to her true love. Deserving of a woman who doesn't lie to his face at every problem. At that thought, she clutched her stomach and stifled a sob. A woman who provides safety for him... And not just hugs and kisses. Another muffled sob. A woman who treats him right... Like she should... And doesn't.
She stood among fields of green grass. Wind sweeping the landscape. Hills rose around her as she stood atop one.
Her autumn iris's took in the tranquility, muscles relaxing. That is, until a distant hill shimmered, and revealed Anzio. Adorned in his usual. With tousled locks she itched to smooth down, and a smile that had her heart fluttering, skipping more then one beat.
Her feet began taking her in his direction, until they halted. Despite her eyes never have left his hill, a woman was now at his side that hadn't been there before.
She was one of those evenly tanned models with perfect curly hair, and a glossy smile. She wrapped Anzio in a hug that he lovingly returned. The smile on his face softening like it always did with her. And she would've let the scene not bother her... Had he not captured the woman's lips with his, which launched an embrace more passionate then she'd ever seen him do, let alone EXPIRIENCE herself...
She felt suddenly weak. Her knees buckling until she curled into a ball on the grass, and willed herself to die...
She buried her face in the pillow. The vision teasing at her mind. And she inaudibly screamed. Voice burnt out by the episode beforehand. She knew it was an overreaction. And she was merely moody. So, she deeply breathed in the scent on in her pillow. A loving mix of lemon detergent and... Lavender?
She jerked into a sitting position so suddenly it startled her. When had Ren come into her room...?
A howl could be heard coming from all around and yet not on this world... then a throaty growl followed by a barking and then a loud snap, almost sounding like a bone and sinew snapping. then silence. Then suddenly a large haunting howl was summoned then an unlivable silence...
Anzio remained asleep, but he could tell, subconciously, that something wasnt' right. Something was missing. Where was the safety, comfort, and warmth? He began stirring and grew restless as if he knew that Khainley had moved away from him, and in a way, it was true. His arms began searching the bed in front of him for Khainley.
It took a few seconds of realization to spot Anzio's growing desperation, too which she crawled back over to him. Softly grabbing his wrists, and bringing his arms around her waist while snuggling closer to his bare chest. Tenderly placing a kiss to his cheek before resting her head on his collarbone.
The moment he felt Khainley in his arms again, he tightened his hold on her, buried his face in her hair again, and immediately calmed down. The warmth, comfort, and security had returned, and he could sleep soundly once more.
Khainley inhaled deeply with a smile. He still loved her...
As morning finally arrived, Anzio began to stir once more. He lazily opened his eyes and Khainley was the first thing he saw. He smiled contentedly and kissed her on the head. Beyond the kiss, he made no further movements. He just wanted to stay like that for awhile with Khainley in his arms. Nothing else mattered at that moment except him and Khainley, and he wanted it to stay that way for as long as possible.
Khainley nuzzled ins neck a bit apon sensing his stir, grinning as she was reminded of their first night together at the bar when he just held her till he was hungry. Just one of many memories too make with her perfect man...
Anzio smiled even bigger as he felt Khainley nuzzle his neck. He planted another kiss on her head.
"I love you," he whispered as if he was trying to keep the world from waking up and making them move.
She grinned a bit wider, chuckling at inner monologue she dare not speak aloud. Oh how she humoured herself sometimes...
"That is the best wake up call," she said, bopping his nose gently with a paw that soon re-wound itself around his midriff.
"Indeed," Anzio agreed. "I want to wake up like this every morning for the rest of my life."
Khainley looks at her wrist like one would look to a watch, and slowly smiled. "It just so happens that I have time for that."
Anzio smiled.
"Excellent."
He kissed Khainley on the lips deeply and passionaltely. There was nowhere else in the world he would have rather been. He was exactly where he wanted to be, and where he wanted to stay for the rest of his life. One of these days he planned on slinking away and buying a ring. Khainley deserved a ring that was bought, not simply stolen. He would propose with that ring, he didn't know where or how, but he would. He needed Khainley, and he wanted to be with her for the rest of his life.
"You have no idea, my friend." She stuck her tongue out childishly, realizing that the 'night' of mental destruction had most likely mended a bit of her heart to the point where upholding playful nature wasn't un gracefully forced.
But she knew the real reason was him.
She extended her arms above her head, arching her back for a stretch, and long yawn. Despite her having neglected to fall asleep.
"No idea about what, my dear," Anzio asked giving her a light tap on the nose with his finger.
Her nose twitched. "You have no idea just how excellent it is," she remarked, poking his forarm with a paw.
Anzio leaned in and spoke softly, directly into her ear.
"I would certainly like to find out."
Upon hearing his quiet opinion, and feeling his warm breath over her ear, she shivered. "Hmm. That's funny, so di I... I wonder what we should do next..." she said softly, a smile of mischief leisure molding her lips as she buried her face further into his collarbone to obscure such an expression from him.
"What do you want to do," Anzio asked burying his face in her again.
Anzio liked when Khainley was in her cat-person form. She was so warm and soft, and he loved how her hair was especially soft.
An idea came into her head that she knew she hadn't yet tried with him.
Her paws came to rest upon his chest, pads pressing into his abdomen, before she began kneeding his chest. Claws poking out, then back in, then back out, then back in, against his warm skin. Without hurting him.
And then, a sound so quiet he would have to either strain to hear it, or feel it... she began to purr.
Anzio wasn't entirely sure what to make of Khainley kneading his chest, but he could feel the faint vibrations. She was purring. Anzio smiled as he recalled when he had scratched her behind the ear to make her pur when he had first met her in the tavern. That gave him an idea. He reached up and gently began scratching her behind her ear just like he had done in the tavern.
"Normally cats do this when they are trying to get comfortable," he teased. "Am I not comfortable enough?"
"Nah. Needs a little... Tenderizing," she said playfully. Sticking her tongue out at him, only for it to retract as her purring increased in volume and vibration. Ok, she had dignity... But it just felt soooooooooooooo good...
Anzio smiled as her purring increased. She was so adorable.
"Just don't knead by pecs away," Anzio said with a smile.
"I'll take that into consideration but won't promise anything," she said wistfully with an evil grin teasing at the edges of her lips that she had to cover with a sudden cough.
Anzio couldn't take it anymore. He wanted her badly. He grabbed her wrists and placed her arms over his shoulders. He then wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a kiss, running his hands through the soft fur on her back.
She giggled quietly, before twining her fingers through his hair, and snuggling closer into his warm embrace. A little place she would move mountains to get to, if even for a few minutes. He was always so comfortable, she could lose herself for hours without noticing.
Anzio kissed her until he needed to stop for air. After he broke the kiss, he sighed contentedly and stared into her eyes lovingly.
"You enjoy making me come and get it don't you," he teased.
She feigned a gasp of utter disbelief. "Who? Me? No! Why ever would I do a thing like that?" She raised an eyebrow and, while he was still catching his breath, softly kissed his nose.
"Because you know that you're sexy and that it'll work," Anzio replied.
"Sexy, huh?" Oh, that grin. The simple lip curl that could either knock a series of men into a swoon, or cause them to back away at the glint that accompanied it in her eyes. Yes... She was that good.
"Haven't heard such a man of your strife would be effected by my," she tossed her hair in his face in a exaggerated flip, "good looks." Amusement collected and poured from her tone alone... Just think of he inner monologue around now.
"I am still only a man," Anzio replied gently pushing her hair behind her ear. "You can't blame me for your irresistibilty."
"Oh, come now, I'm not that good looking. I have been told I am very resistable within a five minute time frame of meeting someone." A sad fact, but one she had no trouble dealing with. She smiled sweetly up at him, eyes closing as he tucks the lock of hair behind her ear.
Anzio smiled.
"If weren't that good looking, I wouldn't be experiencing the constant urge to do this," Anzio said kissing her deeply.
She was breathless when she drew back. "Ah. Thought this was what you did with close friends and family." She shrugged, beaming at him.
"What close friends and family," Anzio asked softly, his face now a little downcast. "You're all I have."
Oops. She caught herself before he said anything, but that statement she said was uncalled for. "Oh, Anzio. I'm sorry..." she said softly, snuggling back into him. And biting her lip.
Anzio pulled her closer than she already was. Her presence was always comforting, even if she was the one who caused the discomfort.
"It's fine," Anzio replied simply.
However, the sound of his voice said otherwise. It wasn't that Khainley wasn't sufficient. Khainley was all he would ever need, but he wouldn't mind having at least a couple friends. Just a couple of drinking buddies even. If/when he and Khainley were married, he would have no one there to watch. The groom's side would be totally empty. His grip on Khainley tightened even further, desperately holding on to the one person that loved him and cared about him.
Like Anzio, Khainley was wistfully thinking about what it would be like to marry the man by her side. Except, she ran into the fact that she, like him, had no one. Well, no one aside from Kishan and Ren. But they wouldn't support her if she were to get married at all. Who knows? Maybe she wont ever experience it. She would have no one to be bridesmaids, no one to help her pick the perfect dress... No real money t hire a priest to wed them... I guess the entirety of the situation would never happen after all.
"I can read you like an open book. It's definitely not fine."
Anzio did not respond. He knew that there would be no point in arguing. She knew him too well for him to get away with lying to her anymore. He continued holding on to Khainley for dear life. Of the times he hadn't wanted to let go of her, this was the most serious. He would rather die than let go of her at the moment. Anzio decided to do something he never did before meeting Khainley: voice his feelings.
"Khainley," he said so softly that it was barely audible. "I want to marry you."
Wen he didn't respond, she knew her statements were correct. She seemed to have this talent for seeing his feelings, and feeling his trouble. And right now, as he held her like a lifeline, she knew the previous downer had hit home. And she didn't mean for it to.
But then he nearly whispered her name. and she was about to ask what he needed... But then the next part was voiced.
"You do?" Unlike his volume, hers was a barely audible whisper.
"I do," he replied slightly louder than before. "Will you?"
There are no words to describe the sheer amount of anxiety he felt right then. He prayed to any higher being that would listen that she would say yes. His whole life had been a mistake. He wanted to do something right, and Khainley was that something. He would treat her right and with respect. He would spoil and pamper her. He would give her the life she deserved, because she deserved it.
At hearing the question that would change her life if she said yes, or blow by if she said no, she pulled back, and looked up at him. Her eyes and face giving nothing away. That is, until she grew teary eyed with a joy she thought would cause her heart to stop, and nodded her head. Whispering her answer. "Yes. Yes I will."
Now Anzio's eyes began welling up with tears of joy. He pulled Khainley back in and held her tightly as his tears began flowing. She said yes. She said yes. He was so overcome with emotion that he could think of only one thing to say.
"I love you, Khainley."
"I... I love you, too." She had a little trouble speaking since her voice was unsteady. Tears streaked her cheeks, leaving trails, and all se could think about was his admittion.
Khainley... I want to marry you... Like an echo. That only brought more joy as she thought of it,
Where there once had been indescribable anxiety, there was now indescribable joy. His only regret was that he did not have a ring to give her at that moment. His life now had a whole new meaning. He kept reliving the moment Khainley had agreed to marry him over and over in his head, from her look of indifference, to the forming of tears, and finally to her answer of "Yes. Yes I will." Now, their life could begin. Anzio moved Khainley back a bit so that he could see her face. He tenderly wiped the tears away and looked into her eyes. What he was about to say next he was very serious about.
"I promise you that I will do everything I can to be the kind of man you deserve."
"That's just it though," she said softly, voice still a bit unsteady but almost fully recovered, "you already are."
A small smile appeared on Anzio's face as he reached out and tenderly caressed Khainley's cheek, his thumb lightly stroking her cheek.
"You flatter me, my love," he said softly. "You have a lot more faith in me than I do."
"Just like you call me beautiful even tough I know a woman with a furry face cant be," she said teasingly with a smile. Don't forget, she also caressed his cheeks with her paws to eliminate HIS tears.
"You're just being modest," Anzio replied. "You know how beautiful you are. There's nothing wrong with admitting it."
"Modesty is the best quality." She looked away before instinct told her to add That's what my father always said.
"Then I will boast about your beauty for you," Anzio said with a smile.
She rolled auttumm iris's before a teasing grin spread across her face. "Then I shall do the same."
Anzio grinned and pulled her in for another kiss and then held her close and cuddled her. All he could think about was how she was his and he was hers.
"I guess that's only fair," Anzio replied kissing her head and playing with her hair.
"You see? I can cooperate with compromise," she mumbled in her lyrical tone. A lazy grin grazing her lips, before her paw lightly poked a his chest with each word next sentence. "And I don't want to starve you, love."
Food had long since faded from her mind when a certain life changing question popped to he forefront of it. But now, it was somewhat crucial to make sure her man was getting the proper nutrients and calories and such. Even if it meant ending this wonderful pastime.
"But I don't want to get up," Anzio said whining like a child. "I just want to stay here, like this, with you."
She sighed playful, and nuzzled his chest with he little nose. "Fine. Just wait until your stomach makes you get up."
"I'm in no hurry," Anzio replied burrying his face in her hair.
He slowly ran his hands up and down her back, still unable to get over how wonderfully soft her fur is. After only about five seconds, his stomach growled, but he didn't react to it and just kept cuddling Khainley.
"I'm going to pretend that didn't happen so I can stay here longer."
Ok, mister. You win."
However, she didn't let that go easily. And considering the bed was, in fact, king sized, she waved a paw, and breakfast laid out before them on the comforter. "Our own, breakfast in bed picnic," she said with a smile.
Anzio was instantly conflicted. He didn't want to let go of Khainley, but there was food. He weighed his options in his head. He could always go back to holding Khainley when he was done eating. They would still be in the bed. Anzio finally gave in and started eating. He ate fast, but it wasn't due to past experience this time. The sooner he finished eating, the sooner he could hold Khainley again.
Khainley ate at regular speed. Downing two breakfast burrito's and a glass of orange juice, managing to finish before Anzio. Despite his speed.
She laid her head in his lap, and patiently waited, while chuckling of course, for him to finish.
Anzio soon finished eating and let out a loud, satisfied burp. He looked down and smiled as Khainley rested her head on his lap. He began gently petting her and playing in her hair.
"I swear you can play me like a piano sometimes," Anzio said.
And in reprocation, she purred. Pawing the air like a cat would do to a dangling string. She started paying with his hair as well, still pawing it, while smiling a cat-like grin.
"There you go being adorable again," Anzio said chuckling softly at her display.
He grabbed a hold of her and laid back down, pulling her on top of him as he descended. He kissed her passionately.
"You are just so damn irresistible," Anzio said kissing her again.
"Goes both ways," she said, humor painting her tone. She smiled into the kisses, his lips so soft and warm, as they always had been. She wrapped her furry arms around her lover and wiggled while shifting a bit into comfortable state. A single paw reaching up to tangle in his hair. She liked the soft, silkiness of the strands.
Anzio loved the way Khainley felt in his arms. Everything about her was so soft; her hair, her fur, her lips. He didn't know how long they had been in that bed or what time it was, but he didn't care. Khainley, his future wife, was the only thing that mattered.
Khainley sighed contently and looked into Anzio's emeralds for eyes. The shone. With love... And satisfied hunger.
She chuckled at inner monologue before touching her forehead against his and closing her eyes. Breathing him in, and holding it. Paw caressing his cheek.
Anzio closed his eyes as well and simply enjoyed Khainley's presence. He never knew that another human being could make bring about so many amazing, unexplainable emotions. After a few moments had gone by he opened his eyes.
"We're going to have to make wedding plans," he said softly.
"Eventually, yes. And don't think just because I'm the woman doesn't mean I'll take control like that stupid stereotype..." Even though I'm completely capable of it. She rolled her eyes internally, opening the physical, and raising an eyebrow.
"Also, I'm thinkin' you've either grown into the bed, or you're just downright lazy and I haven't noticed before." A nuzzle to his neck, before beginning to purr again. Just cause she can.
Anzio smiled at her remarks and the sensation of her chest vibrating against his own as she began purring. He continued lightly rubbing her back and laid his head down on her's as she nuzzled his neck.
"It's not that I'm incapable of moving," Anzio replied. "It's why the hell would I want to move when I have such an amazing woman in my arms?"
"Hmm..." she hummed in agreeance. Except, on her end, it was vice versa. He was... to be completely blunt... A sexy, irresistible, loving little guy, and one with the talent to swoon an army of woman in bikini's. The thought brought forth a shiver... Even though she was bisexual. Just the thought of more women earning his attention... Another shiver, and she pulled the bed covers tighter over both of them. As if the movement could keep out the world's temptations.
Anzio thought it strange that she would be shivering. It wasn't even cold, but she was somehow cold. Anzio stopped rubbing her back and instead just wrapped his arms around her and held her close to keep her warm. He then placed a light kiss on the top of her head and sighed contentedly.
"I see you're happy," she mumbled. Only to smile a little. 3... 2... 1...
She flipped them with strength that one wouldn't expect to be in such a little kirn. She smiled up at him and planted her lips softly upon his.
Anzio was slow to react to the kiss as he got over the sudden position reversal. He was about to ask her what just happened, but decided to just write it off as one of the many surprises that she was filled with.
"I see how it is," Anzio replied mischievously with a sly grin.
He began kissing Khainley deeply and passionately while running his hands up and down her body and legs, but keeping off of any private locations. He would not touch any of those areas without her consent.
"Mphdrmp," she said, meaning to pronounce the words "you do?", but his words muffling anything coherent. She mucked up his hair purposely before running her paws down his sides slowly, but also refraining from nearing any of those private places. Avoidance unless given admittance by his consent.
Anzio was not too far gone too noticed that she had tried to say something before being smothered. He paused so that she could try again.
"What was that?"
She chuckled. "I said, 'You do?'"
"I think I've already answered that question," Anzio replied. "If you don't feel comfortable I can stop."
"When did I ever say anything about me being uncomfortable? You are just fine, Anzio. I won't make you continue If you don't see fit." She shrugged and tucked her hands behind her head. Not wanting to be the catalyst of today's problems.
"What makes you think I wanted to stop," he asked huskily.
Anzio resumed his assault, his hands still refraining from contacting any personal areas and his kisses still deep and passionate. He loved Khainley more than life itself, and he wanted to demonstrate it.
Her arms twined upward and around his shoulders, bringing him down for a kiss. A love as strong as the one she held could never be truly expressed through physical touch. No, the connection was stronger. A bond never to break.
Time had become completely nonexistent to Anzio. However, he still didn't feel that this was sufficient enough to truly express his love for her. Then it hit him. There is more. The sacred act that truly consummated a couple's feelings for each other. He had never given it much thought before, but then again he didn't have anyone he wanted to do it with until now. There was also another problem. How did he go about it? Did he just ask? He was able to tell her that he wanted to marry her, but this was something else entirely. This was about her giving him something she could only ever give once, the greatest gift that a woman could ever give to the man of her choosing. Anzio didn't notice that while he had been so lost in thought, the attention he had been giving Khainley had slowed down significantly. He immediately resumed with the same eagerness he had before, but she undoubtedly knew that he had something on his mind.
She had noticed, and while he resumed such as a cover up, she knew he was in deep thought about something. His eyes told her so. She wrapped her arms around his middle, bringing him considerably closer and pressing her lips to the indent in his collarbone. "Something on your mind, love?"
Yup. There it was, the very question he had feared. Anzio wanted to tell her, but he didn't know how. He had only even known about the act from overheard conversations. He decided to try his best.
"I...uh...You know when....uh....when two people....uh..."
This was going well. Now he was just blabbering like an idiot. Anzio knew that Khainley was quite intelligent, and so he hoped she would pick up on what he was trying to say before he made his lack of education even more pronounced.
To his utter dismay, she couldn't quite pick up on what the poor man was stuttering about. "When two people...?" She raised an eyebrow, racking her brain for what he might mean, but conjuring nothing.
"When two people love each other......a lot," Anzio tried. "And they want to show each other how much they love each other."
This was hopeless.
Her eyes widened. "Oh. Oh, you mean..." She facepalmed. It was obvious. They were the two people he was talking about. "Consumation?" She looked up at him, not daring to contain the blush that crimsonafyed her features.
Anzio turned beet red. He broke eye contact and simply nodded. He couldn't bring himself to look her in the eyes. He felt selfish for asking for such a sacred thing from her.
"Hey. Hey, look at me," she said softly, tilting his chin so he had to meet her gaze. And she could see the shamefulness shining in those gorgeous emeralds. "It's fine, really. I don't..." she had to stop and tamp down that stupid blush before continuing. "Anzio, if it's with you, then I wouldn't hesitate."
She hoped such a statement would bring him back to the realization that she'd do anything for him and with him. And seriously, could you blame her for blushing?
Anzio looked into her eyes, but he still had that sad, shameful look in his eyes.
"You...You don't have to i-if you don't want to," he said shakily. "I was...I-I was just..."
"Anzio, shh." She embraced him further, one paw coming to stroke his hair. "I do want to. It's fine, really."
She nuzzled her soft furry head against his collarbone.
Anzio hugged her tightly as tears started flowing. If there were ever an indication of true love, that was it. She was willing to do the most intimate thing possible with him.
"I'm not sure how," Anzio said, his voice an obvious indication that he was crying.
She planted a feathery kiss to his bare chest before coming up to kiss the tears away. "Shh, my love. It's never too late to learn anything." Once the tears were eliminated, she softly kissed his lips. Then pulled back to re-situate herself, shifting Anzio so he was completely covering her. Before looking up at him.
"Will you teach me," he asked, his emotions a mixture of nervousness, anxiety, and happiness.
"Of course," she said, before once again flipping their places, and capturing the lovely man into a kiss of blinding passion.
*** A good while Later ***
Khainley's eyes slowly cracked open under the same minimal lighting. Her fur pasted to her body with sweat... an something else, and her muscles feeling well used. She stretched her arms up above her head and yawned. She slept quite well for a particular creature who opposes to it.
Anzio's eyes slowly opened after waking up for the second time that day. The moment his eyes opened, he saw Khainley, who was still laying on top of him, but he didn't mind. The room felt hot and humid. There was also an odor which he can only assume came from the consummation of their love for each other. Anzio's arms slowly wrapped themselves around Khainley. She was covered in sweat, but so was he so he didn't care. He held her close and her a kiss.
"Thank you," he whispered softly.
"Anytime, my love," she said with a soft smile. So much for someone with no experience. Apparently she knew more then she thought... And that was either a good thing... or a bad thing...
She curled up against his chest, and tucked her head under his chin. "How was it? I didn't... Hurt you or anything, did I?" Hey... It's never too late for constructive criticism.
Anzio chuckled softly at her concern. It wasn't that he found it funny that she asked, it was the irony.
"That was the most amazing thing I've ever experienced," Anzio replied softly. "What about you? Did it hurt you?"
When she shifted to kiss him, she winced. "Such as life. But nothing that isn't tolerable." This time, their lips did connect. And in the sweetest manner, mind you. "More pleasure then pain, anyway."
"Why didn't you tell me that it hurt," Anzio asked feeling a little guilty. "I would have stopped or...did something to make it less painful."
"Anzio, please, it's what's supposed to happen. It's not nearly what i'll feel like tomorrow," she mumbled, before shaking her head with a sigh. Cupping his face with her hands. "You were gentle, and kind, and loving with every move and kiss. Please don't feel guilty in the least when I wouldn't trade a moment of it for my life."
A small smile managed to make its way to Anzio's face as he cupped her face with his own hands and kissed her deeply.
"I will never forget this for as long as I live," Anzio told her.
"I definitely won't. In fact, it'll be what I think about every time I move for the next week," she said with joking enthusiasm. Casting a glance back to herself. Only to smile a little. "Hungry yet? Or still wanna stay here and force me to conjure lunch?"
"How about I take you on a date and buy you lunch," Anzio offered, gently brushing some of her hair behind her ear. "What do you say?"
Her face lit up in a bright smile. "I'd love that!" She giggled, and scrambled off him, and shot into the bathroom to clean up.
Anzio laughed at the reaction he received. He sat up in the bed and stretched his stiff limbs. How long had he been in that bed? It must have been several hours at least. All well, after what had just happened between him and Khainley, a little stiffness was of no concern. He needed to freshen up as well, but Khainley was in the bathroom, so he just sat relived the best moment of his life over and over in his head. She loved him. She really loved him.
The water from the shower cascaded over her fur and stiff form. The warmness massaging her muscles and tenderizing the bites. She had that cat-like grin apon her face, and that bounce in her step. Anzio... and her... Now bound by the most permanent of relationships...
Her face hen fell. Oh no... She had forgotten of her virginity loss when she was being used as a slave for pleasure by David... But what would Anzio think of her if he knew? He would believe the bond not to be permanent. Damit Damit Damit....
Anzio remained seated on the bed twiddling his thumbs. Khainley was sure taking her time. She probably wanted to look her best for their date, not that that was difficult for her to do, Anzio thought with a smile. Anzio felt like the luckiest man alive. There was only one Khainley, and there would only ever be one Khainley, and she was his. He was lucky enough to have the only Khainley to ever exist. He smiled to himself as he thought about Khainley and waited for his turn in the bathroom.
She eventually emerged in a cloud of steam with a forced smile, and drenched fur. She rubbed the towel everywhere possible to get minimally dry before winking at Anzio. "Your turn, love." She retrieved the hair dryer from the sink, moved to the vanity, and blow dried her fur. Pushing back the negativity brought forth in the shower. Today, they ceiled their relationship. Now, even though she knew this would never happen, if Anzio were to leave he would be taking everything with him.
Anzio sprung to his feet and made his way to the bathroom after giving Khainley a kiss on the cheek as he walked by. Okay, the vanity was very out of his way as far as going to the bathroom, but he didn't care. Anzio entered the bathroom and shut the door. Shortly after the door was shut, running water could be heard as Anzio took his turn in the shower.
A small smile teased her lips' corner. She cast a glance back at Anzio just as he disappeared in the bathroom, an held it until the water ran for the second time before resuming the disentangling process. "I love you!" She called before slipping out of the room and down the stairs into darkness.
"I love you too," Anzio called back unaware that she had left.
His shower was soon finished and he dried himself off. He was planning to adorn his usual raiment since he was going out in public, but then a thought occurred to him. No one but Khainley knew what he looked like. If he dressed up and kept his mask off no one would be able to tell who he was, except he didn't own any other clothes. For now he just put his normal clothes on and went downstairs to find Khainley. She might have something different for him to wear.
She heard him descend and smiled. Indeed, she did have a spare wardrobe. "Lookin for a different outfit, I suppose?" She called to him with a grin.
Before he could say anything, Khainley already knew what he was coming to her for. Weird, but not unusual.
"How did you know?"
"Lucky guess," she said slyly. Drying a dish and sticking it in the drainer. "Come wit me," she spoke, trailing to a room darkened with no light. She popped the switch and opened the wardrobe. Stepping back to allow Anzio to choose his attire among the batches of silk, leather, spandex, and stretcy material. "Have fun."
"Whoa. I've never seen so many clothes in one place," Anzio said. "I only own this one outfit."
Anzio went into the closet and began perusing the wide selection of outfits. He was taking his fiance on a date. He would need something nice to wear. There had to be at least one date-worthy outfit in here.
"Here," she was so suddenly behind him, reaching around him, her arm brushing his, and obtaining a blue silken shirt that buttoned completely down the middle but had character in it's leafy design. "This look good to you? Or should we put It back?" she asked softly with a small smile.
"You're asking the guy wearing a gaudy green and purple jacket about fashion," Anzio joked. "Do you think it will look good on me?"
"Why don't we find out?" She stepped back and, without warning, grabbed the hem of his shirt, and swiftly removed it. It wasn't hard. Soon, she came up in front of him, with the shirt already magically unbuttoned, and wrapped her arms around his torso, slipping the shirt up and over his shoulders. Smiling a little as it fell, as if naturally, upon his upper body.
"You look nothing less then perfect, as you always have and will," she said with all sincerity. Before producing a pair of black dress pants, and throwing it at his abdomen. Shooting out of the closet with fading laughter to hide among the house.
Anzio chuckled to himself at how adorable Khainley was. He decided to just get changed right there in the closet. After he was finished he looked at himself in a mirror that was inside the closet. He didn't look half bad. Exiting the closet he looked around. Where was Khainley hiding? He began sneaking around the house to find his beloved fiance and beat her at her own game.
"In here!" Her call was pretty useless. Since she used enchantments to cause it to bounce off every possible wall in the foyer. Which was pretty dam big! She giggled quietly and wiggled underneath the bedcovers of their room. Not even trying to obscure herself completely, and instead breathed in Anzio's scent among the pillows. A lovely sage. She loved it.
Anzio sighed as Khainley's voice seemed to come from every direction possible. Knowing it would be useless to try to find her in her own home, he made his way back up to the bathroom to fix his hair. He entered the bedroom and noticed a shape beneath the bedsheets that looked like Khainley. He walked over to the bed and pulled the sheets back, revealing Khainley. He smiled and gave her a kiss.
"And just what might you be doing, my dear?"
Her arms unwound from around the pillow as she began batting at his wet tendrils of hair like a cat again. Giggling. "Reveling in your wonderful sage scent." She seized the front of his shirt and brought him down for a kiss. "But this is MUCH better."
Screw the hair. This was more important. Anzio wrapped his arms around her and started giving some kisses of his own. He didn't know what came over Khainley, but she was A LOT more affectionate. Anzio didn't mind at all. He could be just as affectionate.
Eh. Call it the aftermath of engagement.
She sweetly smiled up at him, knowing what he came here for, and becoming a distraction for her own secret amusement, and that she wanted first turn in the bathroom again. Hey... A lady-kirn has to look her best fiancé self for a freiken date! You understand....
Her paw ruffled his hair, messing it up even more with a sly grin.
"Well, I'm definitely going to have to fix it now," Anzio said after Khainley messed up his hair. "This is worth a little messed up hair."
Anzio began kissing Khainley again and playing with her hair. Justice.
She groaned as he messed up her own hair. Dam... SO close yet.... so far. She then presented a passionate embrace, slowly wiggling out from beneath him sneakily, ready to shoot for the ajar bathroom door when he wasn't lookin.
Anzio put his hands on her waist and pulled her back up where she was.
"You're a sneaky one," he said tapping her on the nose with his finger. "I might let you have the bathroom first again if you 'ask nicely'."
She murmured something under her breath, and slipped her paws around his waist, trailing a ticklish trail up his ribs. "How may I ask?"
A shiver traveled up Anzio's spine as Khainley's paws slid up his ribs. When she asked how she should ask, he simply smiled and said "Like this."
Anzio pulled her in for a deep, passionate kiss. As they kissed, Anzio decided to try something crazy, something that he'd overheard people talking about doing. As they kissed, he cautiously slid his tongue into Khainley's mouth, giving her time to react to it so that he knew whether or not she would allow him to proceed.
She smiled into the kiss, and touched her tongue with his gently. Coaxing it into a minor dance of passion.
Emboldened by her approval, Anzio slid his tongue in the rest of the way, exploring the inside of her mouth and intertwining her tongue. He relocated one of his hands from her back to the back of her head to deepen the kiss even further. Despite how weird it sounded to him, she tasted good.
He was spicy but mostly sweet. Like a jolly rancher... Oh god, that sounded weird... She grinned, tongue catching his before entering his mouth again. It was a passionate experience, indeed.
The dancing of the tongues lasted a good 30 seconds before Anzio needed to stop for air.
"You can go first," he panted giving her one more little kiss.
"Heh," she said through a serious of obscured pants. She stood up and confidently sauntered into the bathroom while holding her breath, before closing the door and panting a bit. Dam, inexperience or not, he still has the best presentation.
After Khainley had entered the bathroom, Anzio flopped onto the bed to catch his breath. He felt kind of proud of himself for having the guts to instigate that little session. Anzio chuckled to himself. This was, by far, the best day of his life.
She hook off the last of the aftereffects with a grin, and seized the brush. Gritting her teeth and pulling at some of the knots. Once done, she looked in the mirror. And her breath did a sharp intake.
Her hair was... Flyaway... Free... And wavy to all hell, almost curly. It hung like a curvy waterfall of pink down around her face and her back. "Oh," she muttered. Before patting it down and exiting the bathroom.
"Your turn!" she said with a cat-like grin before flopping onto the bed beside him, effectively messing up her hair again.
Anzio smiled and gave her a kiss before getting up and going to the bathroom.
"Let's see if I can fix all the damage you've caused to my hair," he jested as he closed the door.
"In m defense, you look sexy like that!" she mused. Grinning from ear to ear without shame. She figured she should have some, but she doesn't.
Anzio rolled his eyes and chuckled as he got to work. His hair was sticking up in every direction imaginable. It looked like he had been struck by lightning. After finally gaining control over his hair he stepped out of the bathroom and held out his arms.
"What do you think?"
"I love it, as usual," she said, but an evil grin came upon her face, and she stood, sashayed to her future husband, and ruffled his hair again. Making it look like it did when he first met her. "There. Preserving memories!"
Anzio groaned and started trying to fix his hair again with his hands.
"I worked so hard on that," he said with feigned sadness.
She grabbed his wrists, and brought them down. Standing on her toes and softly planting her lips upon his. "You sound so feminine, my dear," she murmured against his lips with a chuckle.
Anzio put his hands on Khainley's waist and drew her in as he returned her kiss.
"I just want to make sure that I look my best for my date with my beautiful fiance."
"I know. But you know I think you look fine already." She looked up at him and drained her face of expression. Oh god, she was still thinking negatively!!! She pushed it down as she drew away and slapped on another smile. Patting down the mess of hair that formed the dark pink halo around her face.
"Shall we, m'dear?"
"But of course," Anzio replied taking her arm in his. "Although I don't know of any restaurants around here."
"There's a town behind the volcano on the east side. Scarlet Moon is the best eatery I know of. C'mon," she said, moving to the door, into the hallway, down the stairs, across the foyer, and into the open air faster then two blinks of the eye.
Anzio just held on tight and went along for the ride as Khainley led the way. She was very excited, and Anzio knew that he was the reason why and it made him feel good. He was happy that he had made Khainley happy. Her happiness was all that mattered.
She smiled apologetically in his direction before slowing to a subtle walk down the driveway and off the premises. "I love today," she said with a lazy grin.
"Me too."
Anzio was willing to be that this day couldn't possibly get any better. They had consummated their love, she had agreed to marry him, and now he was taking her to lunch. He had never been happier, and Khainley looked quite happy also. Anzio sighed contentedly as they walked. He never thought that he would catch himself thinking it, but life was good.
She looked his way and smiled a little as he caught him in thought. She released his arm, and wrapped and arm around his waist, laying her against his shoulder without missing a step. Finally... A life where she felt protected and loved and content...
Anzio smiled as Khainley wrapped her arm around his waist. In return, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her on the head.
"I love you."
"I know," she said softly, with obvious humor. She eventually gave in though. "I love you as well, love."
"I know," he said repeating her joke. "I love you more though."
"Hail nah!" she said with a chuckle. Sounding like she's from the ghetto..
Anzio laughed at her response and gave her a small squeeze.
"You're so freakin' adorable," he told her.
She purred in response with a cat-like grin.
Anzio chuckled and gave Khainley another kiss. She was far surpassing normal human adorableness capabilities.
"How much farther to the city, my love," he asked. "All this walking and basking in your beauty is making me hungry."
She grinned and shivered at the low tone he used when saying such. She wasn't sure if he noticed but she definitely did. "Ah. A good half mile or so." She nudged Anzio with her shoulder and outstretched a single paw. What once stood a trail of sulfur, then stood an elevator.
"Shall we, love?"
"This will make things easier," Anzio said as they stepped inside. "I guess we're going all the way up?"
She chuckled. "You could say that," she muttered. The doors shuttered shut, and after about three seconds, the car lurched to the left, throwing poor Khainley into the wall with a following wince. "Ow," she said after all movement ceased.
Anzio reacted a bit quicker than Khainley as the elevator jolted to the left. He managed to stop himself by putting his hand on the wall before he squashed poor Khainley.
"What the hell just happened," Anzio asked wide-eyed. "Are you hurt?"
"Nothing to serious," she said. Left hand wrapping around her upper left arm as they descended downhill.
Anzio grabbed Khainley's wrist and moved her hand. He then placed a light kiss on her arm where it had been bumped.
"Better," he asked with a smile.
She smiled back, and kissed his cheek. "Better."
"So, where is this thing taking us exactly?"
Anzio was beginning to think that they were going through a lot of trouble just to eat lunch, but she was worth it. However, it was probably best that he didn't tell her that the money he was buying her lunch with was stolen. But then again, she probably already knows seeing how she knows that he is a criminal. All well, it doesn't matter where the money came from. As long as Khainley had a good time, that's all that mattered.
"Here." The doors shuttered open, revealing the frontal part of an obsidian colored restaraunt with dark crimson shutters and inner decor. "Don't be fooled by the looks of it. Its pretty cheap ndepending on what you get."
"Well then. Shall we," Anzio asked offering his arm to Khainley again.
It was then that he just remembered that he didn't have his mask on. He knew that no one would be able to tell who he was, but he had never been in a public place without it before. To him, it was almost like being naked. He kept all of that hidden inside though. He was sure that it would be fine once they walked in. Hopefully people didn't all start asking where his scar came from. Now that he thought about, Khainley had never even asked where it came from. All well, none of that mattered now. He had a date.
She curtsy'd and smiled warmly. "Indeed."
She took his arm and gently led the way into the restaraunt. What she neglected to mention was the fact that it was... well run by faries. And that every mythical creature was welcome. Khainley shyly grinned and dipped her head in minor bows to those who know her and was soon blocked out by the shutting of a curtain.
Now, they resigned in a private room. With candels and a rectangular table with lovely drapes and everything one would expect. "Don't worry. This was rented by a friend. She can't make it and I just so happened to have a date the night she couldn't come. Funny, huh?"
"Lucky for us," Anzio said giving Khainley a quick kiss.
He walked over to the table and pulled out a chair for Khainley and motioned for her to have a seat.
"What a gentleman," she said. Smiling and slipping into the chair.
Anzio gently slid Khainley's chair in and gave her another quick kiss before taking his own seat. After sitting down he ran his hand over the tablecloth.
"Why would you cover a table like this? Wouldn't it be easier to clean just the bare table?"
Again, because of his rough life, he was completely foreign to the world of fanciness. He had never seen a table with a tablecloth over it. He was also in awe of the ornate candlesticks and the other decor. He was like a child discovering a new world.
"Its what adds faness to the place. Ya know, character." She shrugged and finger the lacy edges of the raven and crimson toned tablecloth. Secretly grinning at his obliviousness to the real world.
"Finesse huh," Anzio replied still examining the tablecloth. "Still seems like too much extra trouble."
Anzio stopped messing with the tablecloth as he suddenly remembered what he was there for in the first place.
"So, uh, what do they have to eat here?"
She tossed him a menu the length of two of his arms, and opened hers. Effectively blocking his view of her as she smiled evilly.
Anzio eyes widened in shock at the sheer size of the menu. He picked it up and shielded himself with it just like Khainley was doing. At that very moment, he remembered something that would prove to be quite an obstacle in this particular situation. The menu was absolutely useless to him. He couldn't read. Slowly lowering his menu back down onto the table he cleared his throat.
"Um...I can't read," he said embarrassed even though she already knew.
She didn't lower hers. "I know. Thus, why I was smiling. Would you like me to help you?" She peeked over her menu with a quirked eyebrow in question. Just barely choking down a chuckle.
"Stop making fun of me you big meanie," Anzio said pouting like a child. "I never had the time to learn to read. I was always too busy trying to survive. That didn't leave a lot of free time."
"So, you dont want my help? Fine. Have fun readin, m'dear," she said, bhumor pouring from her tone as she giggled.
"Come on, please," Anzio begged. "There's no way I'm asking some random stranger to read for me. I would look like a big idiot. Well, I am an idiot, but no one else needs to know that."
She rolled her eyes, muttering "drama queen" before slipping out of her chair, sashaying over to him, and sitting in his lap. Smiling innocently, of course, before pointing to the pictures of every item and explaining. "This one is breaded chicken with corn on the cab, and this is mashed potatoes as a choice for a second side dish."
She then proceeded to read and elaborate everything else. Laying her head in the crook of his neck while doing so.
"So. Questions?"
Anzio wrapped his arms around Khainley and cuddled her as she read the menu for him. When she asked if he had any questions he thought for a moment.
"Well, I never heard of most of that stuff, so what would you recommend, my dear?"
If she was going to sit on his lap read the menu for him every time they went out to eat, then he was going to take her out to eat a lot and forget about learning to read. He would take any excuse to cuddle with her.
"Hmm... we can get the medium plate of spaghetti... and snag some mashed potatoes as a side. Two cokes would suffice for drinks. Large, small, or medium?" She tilted her head up to look at him, raising an eyebrow as she then noticed the embrace he'd wrapped her in.
No matter. It was comfy and she resented moving.
Anzio wasn't entirely sure by what she meant by small, medium, or large, but medium was usually a safe bet.
"Medium sounds good," Anzio replied.
"Alright. Then we're all set." Her eyes slid to the door. It would be a few minutes for the waiters arrival considering guests like them get served last. Just buisness not favoritism.
She shoved the menu's to her side of the table, and snuggled closer to Anzio. Nuzzling her nose against his with a small grin. "Expect our server in a few minutes. Its busy out there tonight."
"I could wait a few minutes," Anzio said with a smile.
He gave Khainly a deep kiss, making sure to stay away from her hair this time. He didn't want to mess it up while they were out in public, but he would once they got back home.
She cupped the back of his neck, a safety precaution to ensure she didnt mess his attire up. And that, sadly, included his hair. Hopefully sooner rather then later the date could continue back home. Where regards to his dress up would be discarded.
Unable to let his hands roam for fear of ruining her apparel, Anzio simple held her a bit tighter as they kissed. It would we really awkward if someone were to walk in right now, but he didn't care. He loved Khainley. He didn't care if other people saw it. Why should he hide his feelings for her? It's not like he could if he wanted to anyway.
She layed her paws gently on his chest. Resisting the urge to ball the sliken shirt into a fist and pull him tighter against her. She was in love with this man. This kindhearted male. And she couldnt express that enough. Its as if satisfying her need for him was impossiblel.. and it is.
Anzio broke the kiss to catch his breath and smiled.
"I can't wait for dessert," he said softly before kissing her again.
"I must say, you taste better then cheesecake... and I know that sounds weird, but still." She smiled crookedly, kissing his chin, jaw, cheek, nose, and finally pausing. Lips hovering above his teasingly.
"I'm not entirely sure what cheesecake is, but I don't really care," Anzio said giving Khainley's lips and quick lick.
"Nothing could possibly be as good as you."
She shivered as his tongue glided over her lips. Her eyes darting to his lips as she connected them and slowly slipped her tongue into his mouth. Raising an eyebrow at his obliviousness to cheesecake. She would have to let him taste it.
Anzio eagerly accepted her tongue and met it with his own. Maybe one day he would learn to dance with the rest of her as well as her tongue. She definitely tasted better than anything he had every eaten, and he knew for a fact that nothing ever would taste better. He didn't care how weird that sounded. The more times he thought it, the more he realized that it was true.
She sighed in pleasure and deepened it. Smiling a bit at the eagerness of acceptance. She realized then that she was utterly at the mans mercy. He had her heart, he had her soul, and as of the present, he kinda had her tongue. And kisses, and hugs, and love. God, the love. She still coukdnt find the words to express it all.
Anzio was on cloud nine. Khainley was absolutely intoxicating. Her looks, her scent, her voice, her softness, even her taste. He wasn't even sure if time was still moving forward, but he didn't care. If it was within his power to stop time at this moment, he would do so immediately with no hesitation just so that he could stay with Khainley like this forever.
She shivered a bit. Dam... she pulled away to catch her breath, looking up at him with golden eyes in a shimmer, but not saying anything. She was 9retty sure his and her internal monologue was enough to fill in the blanks.
"One of these days," Anzio said short of breath, "you're going to have to teach the rest of me how to dance with you."
"How Bout today?" She raised an eyebrow again, smiling a little. Just then, the door opened, and she was no longer in the younge mans lap. No, she was in her seat. Before the door completely swung out. She smiled as the waiter approached, and eyed Anzio as she murmured about their choices. The waiter nodded twice once done, and slipped out, reassuring us the food will be there in approximately ten minutes.
She winked to her date, and applied a smug grin.
Anzio watched inquisitively as the waiter came, took their order, and left.
"You tell them what you want, and then they bring it to you," Anzio asked in awe. "I wish it always worked like that. It would have saved me a lot of trouble."
While he had heard Khainley mention teaching him to dance that day, it was completely forgotten due to the amazing discovery of the concept of a waiter. If someone didn't know better, they would think that Anzio had been living under a rock his whole life.
"Well, that ends project dancing tutor..." she mumbled halfheartedly before half grinning his way. "Yes. It's a well payed job, and the workers have tolerable mannerism," she said. Then cutting short once she realized how wordy she was getting.
She coughed quietly. "Anyway..."
"Hm? Oh! You were saying something about dancing weren't you," Anzio said feeling a bit ridiculous. "You may continue. I'm done being clueless about the workings of middle-class society. For now, anyways."
Her chuckle rang out. Half air and half sound. "Nevermind, Anzio. Just a measly offer..." She shrugged, eyes gleaming a bit with anxiety. Rumor has it men tire of most women quite quickly. What if... She couldn't be interesting enough?
Another cover up cough.
"No, no. What did you say," Anzio urged. "Come on. I like it when you offer me things."
She gave a nonchalant shrug. And that came the time of the waiters arrival, carrying a sizeably large bowl with spaghetti noodles and sauce, two meatballs in total, and two medium sized drinks. Two packets of silverware, wrapped neatly in napkins. "Here. I go," he said.
Now would be a wonderfully acknowledged time to present the staff as indian. So, barely speaking english?
"Not a very talkative fellow is he," Anzio commented after the waiter had left.
As with any other time, the moment food showed up, Anzio started eating. For a skinny guy he loved to eat. Eating used to be an infrequent occurrence for him until he met Khainley, but now he was actually getting three meals a day, and taking full advantage of each one. Khainley and he could discuss dancing later. It was time to eat.
"From Mumbai. I wouldn't expect a speech." She dipped the fork and spun the noodles. Popping the forkful in her mouth and chewing with silence. Still, a burst of flavor greeted her wanting tongue. Ah, it was delicious.
Anzio was on his second helping before Khainley was halfway done with her first, and that's really saying something considering that Anzio took large helpings to begin with. As he ate, all he could think about was how much he had missed out on over the years and how Khainley could probably make spaghetti even better than what he had. Sure she kinda cheated by using magic, but he didn't care. The food still tasted good, and so did she.
((Sowwy! been quite busy...))
Khainley giggled quietly. Looking to Anzio with amusement blazing in her chrystaline golden orbs. "Done!" She announced after slurping up a group of noodle and sauce off her spoon.
(OOC She's ALIIIIIIIIIIVE!!!!!)
"It's about time," Anzio said with a grin. "I'm on my third helping. What took you so long?"
((Funny... I feel dead... *pokes self*))
"A lady needn't eat like a haste waster," she commented lightheary. toying with a tendril of pink hair that smelled heavily of jasmine soap and lily scented gel.
"I'm sure I'll slow down once I get used to this whole three meals a day thing," Anzio said.
"But... You'll spoil dinner dear," she said. Placing two fingers to her mouth, and giggling again. "I'm cooking tonight... Without magic..." she murmured under breath as an afterthought. Her hands in her lap and her fingers twisted along with her lips.
"I wouldn't want to miss that," Anzio replied swallowing his last mouthful. "In that case I'm done eating, for now anyway. I need to be sure I have plenty of room."
"Sweet man," she said quietly with a small smile tugging her lips. She stood, and side stepped, pushing in her chair, and tossing coins on the table. "Shall we go?"
"I'll go wherever you go," Anzio replied as he stood and offered his arm to her.
She took his arm and smiled slightly. leading him out and back onto the streets. She looked around for a second before tapping be chin in thought. "Perhaps you should close your eyes..."
"Close my eyes? Why?"
"Because... this spell will make you pass ouy or dizzy to the etreme... please... close them..."
"Um...okay."
Anzio closed his eyes and slightly tightened his grip on Khainley. He didn't like surprises unless he was the one causing them.
Khainley made a ball lf flame and tossed it at the scenery. it then created a hole and the surroudings ripped down the middle as if it were paper. their bedroom at the house was now their scenery surroundings. "Here we are!"
Anzio opened his eyes and looked around. They were in their bedroom.
"That was fast," Anzio commented.
After a small moment of silence, Anzio asked "What now?"
"What do you WANT. to do?"
Anzio grinned slyly.
"You."
Khainley blushed a fiery crimson. grinning and beckoning for him to come closer. "Is that so!"
Anzio grinned as well and stepped closer. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his forehead on hers.
"That is so," he replied. "What do you want to do?"
"Hmm... would it be twice as sly if i said the same answer?"
she grinned and pressed her lips to his.
"Possibly."
Anzio was unable to say anything further as Khainley's lips pressed to his own. He returned the kiss in earnest and pulled Khainley in even closer. It was at this point that he noticed how good Khainley's hair smelled, which made him only more motivated to prolong the kiss for as long as possible.
Khainley smiled and traced invisibl_e lines along anzio's back gently. He was so cute sometimes... Then again, so was she. She twined a paw into the tresses of his hair, the silky feel of it so slick and familiar. Shr tenderly slipped her tongue into his mouth and gave him time to react before moving.
Anzio eagerly accepted her tongue and quickly intertwined it with his own as his hands slowly slid up her back. One hand stopped on her upper back to keep her close while the other began playing with her soft, silky hair.
"You really like my hair today, don't you?" She mumbled against their joined lips. Smiling with a slight giggle. She grazed his sides, the ticklish areas with her soft furry paws. They were gliding over the ribs under his shirt. Uh, Oh... Doesn't fur add to the tickling, thus making it worse???
"I always like your hair," he replied softly.
When her hands grazed his sides he couldn't help but squirm at the tickling sensation. Anzio decided to give her a taste of her own medicine and ran his fingertips over her ribs to tickle her right back.
She pressed her lips together, and felt the area wriggle a bit. Oh no... She would keep her lips CEALED! CEALED, KHAINLEY DONT GIVE HIM THE SATISFACTION TO SEE YOU EVEN SQUIRM!!! MAKE HIM EARN IT!! "Ah yes... earn it, love..."
Anzio smiled at Khainley's resistance. He couldn't let that slide. Running his hands down her sides, he found that place just below her bottom rib that was the most ticklish and went to work. She would laugh, and he would be sure of it.
She batted his hand away with a paw, and found his most ticklish place. Attacking it gently, an d slipping her paws along his ribs like a zylephone, wriggling her fingers and smiling coyly. It is not HER that would laugh....
Anzio quickly pressed his lips shut and grabbed onto Khainley's wrists to pull her hands away from his sides. He then decided to unleash his secret weapon. Anzio leaned in and gave Khainley as raspberry on the side of her neck.
(OOC I hope you know what a raspberry is because I don't think I could explain it.)
She left out an inaudible gasp, and twined her fingers into his hair, gritting her teeth. Oh, he was not about to go down this route..."Is that how it is to be played, love?" she asked, breathing a bit hard and fighting not to make it noticable..
"It is," he replied briefly before getting back to work.
He had her right where he wanted her.
She grit her teeth again, and set her furry jaw, kicking his legs from under him so he fell back onto the bed. Wriggling from his grasp, she darted to his side and pinned him, using one hand to pin his arms, and the other to attack his ribs and armpits. She had HIM right where she wanted him...
Anzio quickly wrapped his legs around Khainley's midsection and rolled her up and over, putting Anzio on top. He then proceeded to give her the same treatment that she had just tried to give him.
She grit her teeth, and seized his wrists after freeing her own. That paw kept a firm hold on both as she slipped the other one under his shirt again and gliding the fur over the most ticklish place on his body, keeping a straight face.
Anzio hated himself for being ticklish. As much as he tried to hold it in, for all of his willpower, he could not resist Khainley's ministrations any longer. As he started laughing, he dropped and landed right on top of Khainley for a bit of revenge. Damn his ribs.
Khainley grinned and surpressed a giggle. Soon enough, she weazled her way out from under him and crawled onto his back, kneeding at it with her pink paws. "I would apologize... but I'm not at all sorry, love~ Wait till we get MARRIED! It'll be much worse... ehe..."
"Actually, I look forward to getting married," Anzio replied with a grin.
An involuntary grunt sounded in Anzio's throat as Khainley began kneading his back. It felt really good. Her paws were magical. Actually, they really were magical, but that's beside the point. Anzio just laid there and enjoyed the massage.
She began a soft purr, resonating from her chest to his back as she tenderly moved her paws to his shoulders, and worked at the tensed muscle. "Love, you should relax more..." She mumured kindly in his ear after kissing his cheek.
Anzio's reply was simply another involuntary vocalization. It felt like he was practically melting beneath her touch, and he was helpless to stop it. Not that he wanted to stop it. It was another one of many reminders of how talented and amazing Khainley was and how lucky he was to have found her.
Khainley smiled softly, and continued the massage. Kneading at the muscle that contracted at her touch. Soon, she had worked at every tensed muscle, and had crawled off him. Only to curl up at his side, wrapping her tail around his waist, and tucking her head under his.
Despite now feeling like a bag of pudding, Anzio still managed to wrap his arms around Khainley and hold her close. Though he thought of it every single time he held her, he liked how warm and soft she felt against him. After having the best, and first, massage of his life, and having now having the girl of his dreams in his arms, he was pretty certain that he would now be unable to move. He also did not want to move.
Khainley surpressed a giggle, and pawed at his chest incredibly gently. As to ensure he could barely feel it. "I love you lots, Mr Kanerich~" she said softly with a following nuzzle to the neck with her nose softly.
"I love you to," Anzio replied placing a kiss on the top of her head. "I wish we could just stay like this forever."
"That makes two of us~" She had a grin on her lips, and a twinkle in her eyes that just made the forever twilight sun brighter.
Anzio was completely at ease. It was as if there were no more problems in the world, and he was completely relaxed and at peace. Perhaps he was a little too relaxed, for ended up falling asleep right there with Khainley in his arms.
Her sleeping partner, with his even breathing and steady heartbeat, lulled even her to sleep. And her rest was sound, and relaxed.
For now, it was just her, and Anzio. She would choose this over anything. He was pretty comfy...
As Anzio slept, he had a dream. This time, however, it was different. While his nights were usually tormented by relentless nightmares, it was a pleasant dream this time. It looked like a wedding ceremony. There were flowers everywhere, but not a lot of people. The one thing that caught his eye the most was that he was standing at the altar and Khainely was walking up the aisle in a long white dress. Was this what the real thing would like? Anzio had snuck into weddings before just to get his hands on the free food, but none of them had ever looked as nice as the one he was seeing now. Anzio smiled in his sleep and let out a soft, contented sigh as he snuggled up a little closer to Khainley. For once in his life, he wanted one of his dreams to become a reality, and he would do everything in his power to make sure that it did.
I won't bother writing out Khainley's dream. Mainly because the writer would rather not delve into depression...
She shuffled in her sleep, paws shifting into hands slowly, and her human form popped out. Her hands, laying on anzio's chest, balled the mans' shirt into her fists. But not hard enough to wake him up.
An incoherent murmur arose. If deciphered, it would come out as "je'taime..." Which is "I love you" in french.
But why was she crying???
Unfortunately Anzio's dream, like all other good things, wasn't meant to last and he awoke. He wiped the sleep from his eyes and looked down at Khainley who was sleeping on his chest and....crying? Why was she crying? Anzio wrapped his arms around her and placed a kiss on the top of her head.
"What's wrong," he asked softly. "Why are you crying? Did you have a bad dream?"
"It was scarier this time Anzio... sacraficial. You had to be killed to spare my kin, and you didn't listen to me screaming for you not to. You never saw me..."
She vuddled closer, wipping at her muzzle with a paw at the wet tears streaking her fur.
"Shhhh. It's ok. Everything's fine," Anzio said trying to soothe Khainley's frayed nerves. "It was just a dream."
He held her close and kissed her on the head. He wished there was something he could do to make all of the pain go away. He wished so much to make her happy, but how could he put an end to nightmares? All he could do was hold her and tell her that everything would be ok. He didn't know if it really was ok, but he would make it ok if it wasn't. He would do anything for her. He just needed to know what it was exactly that he needed to do.
((i am a horrid person for not posting so sorryyyyyy... Ill do it now tho))
Khainley felt her nerves begin to soothe slowly under his touch. Her eyes opened and glistened slightly. "Oh wow that was..." She didn't want to say invigorating, but it was an adrenaline rush she didn't much like. Such as one you'd get when normal women were on their period. "Can we just..." She snuggled closer, burrowing into his neck. "Yeah."
Anzio held her close and kissed her again. If she just wanted to cuddle, then Anzio would be more than happy to oblige. He would hold her for however long it would take for her to calm down.
"I'm really hungry. Are you?" She glanced up at him.
"I can be," Anzio replied. "We can get something to eat if you want."
She smiled, and kissed Anzios cheek intertwining her furry fingers with his. There was a warm feeling in her chest in doing so. God, she was like a lovesick puppy. "You sure?"
"I'm sure," he replied giving her hand a small squeeze.
"Alright." She lifted her furry body from his, draping a silken gown over herself. She issued a change in appearance and suddenly she was a very bare woman. Thus, why she grabbed the gown.
"Ill go put some clothes on," she murmured.
"Aw, do you have to," Anzio teased with a sly grin.
"Yessssss," she drawled. Smiling slightly. "Unless you dont want food..." She hooked a finger in the from of the gown, popping the button. "I could always stall..."
"Well, food is technically more important," Anzio said. "But we could make plans for what to do once we're done eating."
"S'what I thought," she said. Smiling and making her way to her wardrobe, disappearing down the walkin closet.
"So what are you hungry for," Anzio called to her as he got up and stretched.
"Hamburglers," she murmured back through the closet. Coming out in a pair of skinny jeans, knee high black boots and a shirt that read "Made in london" across the chest. "Currently though, I'd like to pick a place that doesnt searve grease as the main dish."
"Well then we won't be eating at any taverns then," Aznio joked. "That's largely what most of them serve."
Anzio began freshening himself up to make himself more presentable.
"Did you have anywhere particular in mind where you would like to go?"
"No..." She brushed out her hair and tied it up in a bun composed of a singular large braid.
"What shall we do then," Anzio asked. "I certainly can't cook."
"You don't have to," she murmured. Her eyes were only half open, and her lips parted for a soft breath. "You feeling fast food or fancy?"
"Which would you prefer," Anzio asked. "I don't have a preference. I haven't eaten at many restaurants in my time. Legally anyway."
She chuckled, pulling her hair back and into a ponytail. Her eyes glimmered as she examined herself in The mirror and sighed slightly.
"Why the sigh," Anzio asked.
"I don't look runway fabulous," she teased. Pouting like a petulant child and puckering her bottom lip.
"Says who," he asked.
"Says me," she countered.
"Well I think you need to re-evaluate your assessment," he told her with a sly smile.
"And why on earth should I do that~?" She smiled and crooked a finger at him. "Suddenly I'm not hungry. I might need some proof..."
Aznio's sly grin grew.
"What kind of proof do you need?"
"What kind of proof are you will to provide?" She smirked at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and hooking her hands together. "Show me any way you want..."
Anzio put his hands on her hips and pulled her in for a kiss.
"What kind of proof will you accept?"