Author's note: Hey guys sorry for the delay. I was flying back to London in a 14 hour flight and WAS NOT gonna risk the authors curse and post before the flight so here we are, enjoy!
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The whole night as she lay awake debating if to even ask him what was that about to confront him directly or to let a few days passâŠ
Next day she woke up with the anger marinated and spiced up as she stormed out of her apartment into his door knocking on it. Sure she had no reason to feel the anger she felt, well to be fair it wasn't really anger more like a type of petty jealousy but she wouldn't admit to herself.
âParker open up, I brought coffee.â she used as an excuse to break in
No answer came.
She banged the door a bit harder
âParker.â she said a bit more worried
âUhhmm ah right now its not a good time Roseâ Peters voice came from inside
She hesitated listening to the noise of things dropping, scattering, and Peters hisses and curses.
âIs it another migraine are you okay Peter?â she asked her concern overtaking whatever previous emotions she had felt.
âNot now Roseâ Peter called out distracted in a way as if he was dealing with something
Something didn't sit right with her as she crouched taking the emergency key under his mat he had entrusted her with about opening the door to his flat.
Within the very second of doing so the panic dash of a very panicked Peter Parker crashed through the room holding the door from opening completely.Â
âPeter what the fuck?!â she exclaimed, taken mostly by surprise by the sudden jump.
She barely looked past him she couldn't see the apartment well but she could swear she saw something white and weird handing from the things flashed of something glistening on the backgr9ound/âŠlike webs-
âI was ummmâ Peter took a quick glance back then back at her face completely scattered in actions and words âRose right now its not a good time please just not now.â He said a bit too harshly from the panic as he closed the door on her as she stood there in shock that he really just did that.
Son of a bitch. He closed the door on MY FACE.
She scoffed, leaving back to her own place to get ready for work.
The whole day at the coffee shop her body was there but it felt like her mind kept dragging her back to him, that interaction their previous mixed signals interactions. What the hell was the deal with this guy.Â
SHe knew it was wrong and she felt the guilt of feeling any jealousy towards how Peter reacted to MJâŠRose could tell just by seeing the way his eyes phantom with memories gleamed in the spark of his eyes that they had history at least for him.
As she left work sirens blared and screams and clanking hitting noises erupted from around the corner. She turned around to see the commotion. It was scorpion he was fighting Spiderman.
And he was winning. With his scorpion tail he smacked spiderman hard against the wall of a building shattering the bricks flying away. Rose screamed and flinched dropping down as chaos erupted around her she tried making a run for it out of there when a car flew in to the street she was running to blocking her way, the fright made her slip falling into the ground looking back at Spiderman who was against the wall with scorpion.
Nothing away from tearing at his face down that mask. Rose's eyes flickered not exactly fear but frozen in what she was about to witness and to happen to her. Suddenly under that mask she couldn't quite see but she could've sworn it felt like his eyes burned into hers even if she couldn't see them. She could feel the burn into her soul, something then in spiderman snapped as he turned back into his reality taking scorpions machine and like a savage animal tearing it apart , trashing scorpions left and right hitting a cop car in the process sending it flying away. That violent excessive side of spiderman was slipping into light again the same one she had seen that one night. She crawled away cornering herself against the car not knowing any other safe place to go as Spiderman was losing it before snapping back to normal. Then he flinched, he flinched so violently grabbing ahold of his head whimpering and crying from a migraine so intense it made him foldâŠa so familiar notion almost remind her of Pe- then he snapped his head at her looking at the scene then at the small girl terrified in the middle of it all.
She stood as he took one careful step at her which she seemed to flinch walking back and met with her back against the trashed car.
âAre you ok?â Spiderman asked with a trembling voice. He was scared, scared of himself, of what was happening to him, everyone he could've almost killed to night ... .including her.
She took a moment of silence not answering just observing as another migraine strictly making him fold again with a whine. She didn't like Spiderman not one bit which made her mad at the pity and concern growing in her gut.Â
--------------
After the incident she went straight home leaving Spiderman standing there as the Police gathered. Something wasn't right, what the hell had that been, the way he stared at her, the way he had reacted with such violenceâŠthe migraines?
When she got home she had considered knocking one more time at Peters door but the exhaustion in her mind gave up that thought as she began unlocking her own door when suddenly the one across hers swung open revealing a Peter Parker with widden eyes looking her up and down with heavy breaths.
âRoseâ he breathed out
âPeter?â
âAre you ok?â he asked with a crack in his voice. His eyes resembled the ones of a kicked puppy he seemed guilty and at the same time scared to death.
She nodded slowly as she walked to Peter.
âYou okay Peter you dont seem go-â
âThere was an attack by the bakery. I heard it on the news, are you okay? I got worried?â he spoke under his breath taking her in as if he would touch her she would disappear.
Her face softened at that as she walked closer putting a hand at his chest to calm him down looking up at him as his head lowered hanging above hers
âHey Iâm ok dont worry, dont worryâ seh reassured coming in closer, her face inching from his but only to meet his eyes.
For a second it had helped as his eyes navigated hers tendering off the panic off them. But soon his eyes traveled across her face reaching a spot over her forehead as blood dried in small spots in her hairline. His face fell as he felt the guilt brutally tear him apart open from his gut to his throat align his chest. She had gotten hurt because of him in that stupid fight.
His hand snapped at her head checking the wound, she touched it herself
âEy eyeyey no its fine Pete probably just something grazed me during the fight I'm fine dont worry just a scratch.â
A scratch that was his fault
âHey look at meâŠâ she cupped his jaw making his eyes meet hers again âlets go to mine for a bit ok?...Please Peteâ
He swallowed not giving an answer btu still giving in as she slid her hands into his taking him across the hall into her apartment.
They sat in a silence that was the comforting silence she was use to having a more heavy dreading silence that echoed off Parker as he looked out the window as she made him coffee.
âYou have history with her don't you?" Rose suddenly spoke up
Peter's head snapped back into the room finding her face.
He froze for a moment hesitating as a scrambled words escaped his mouth
âWha- no- I dont even know-â
âBullshit your eyes cannot lie Parker, and it's obvious the pain in them when that guy kissed herâŠyou guys had something didn't you?â
He looked down swallowing pondering in thought
âRose is more complicated than that I justâŠgot a lot going on"
âYou could've just told meâ she breathed before trying to walk past him handing him his coffee.
âWhat if I told you I had history with you tooâ the words suddenly escaped him catching him by surprise too.
âWhat?â
Peter hesitated thinking it through if this was even a good ideaâŠso much had happened sos much but he was slowly losing it.
âWhat if I told you, you hate me, like despise me as a person you just don't know itâŠâ
He searched her face awaiting for any reaction or memory to resurface anything to break through her mind to remind her, but nothing came instead a softness appeared
âDo you think Iâll suddenly switch up on you? Is that what you're scared of, what you're trying to say? That's why you've been weird lately?â she asked fully missing the point
Peter could only stare at her before a soft sad smile broke in the corner of his lipsâŠhe couldn't bring himself to tell her. And he wouldn't.
âI guessâŠâ he lied, well not fully he was truly scared. Scared one day she would remember and go back to hating himâŠhe was scared of losing that side of her he finally found, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth of things.
âBut back to the MJ thing Parker I know it's none of my business and it's wrong for me to ask you to tell me butâŠi don't know if you can tell but, you're my only friend. I care about you and I want you to be ok. I want you to know you can talk to meâŠâ
âThere's just some stuff that died long agoâŠshe doesn't remember.â again not truly a lie just the context of it not explained.
âSometimes the only thing you can do is let go of things, mourn and grief them, and continue living because if you don't it'll kill you.â
â...youve also lost someone like that?â
âWhen you love someone best you can do is just treasure the good there was once and make more golden memories withthose new people you meet, is only way to keep on living on and to not dwell on the pain , especially if you cannot change a thingâ
âYou've been in love too?â
âNot exactlyâ she said side eying his face as he stared off the window, the sharp of his jaw and the longing sadness in his eyes she wish she could be the one to take away but she knew it was not her place to do.
â.. that guy Ned um mentioned something about your sister I think, what was that about?.â Peter tried digging around switching the conversation
Her face change almost crumbled as something in her shifted looking away
âIm sorry I shouldn't of-â
ââŠI lostâŠâ her voice caught in her throat as she had to swallow down the dread that overtook her body âI lost my sister over 3 years ago.â
A beat of silence followed as Peter finally looked at her.
âIm sorryâŠâ
âIt was just us two well my dad is technically alive but he is a drunk I havent heard of him since i was 6.â she began opening up refusing to meet this eye; the vulnerability of speaking of it already too much for her looking at him would make it too real and she woudlnt be able to speak at all.
âShe went missing one day after work. She worked in a lab that collaborated with Damage Control and dismantled technology and shitâŠâ
âI had the hope she was still alive but police found her remains with her id, one of those freak hero accidents apparentlyâŠâ
âHero accidents?"
â....Spidermanâ she breathed out as if the name itself poisoned her lips
âSpiderman doesn't kil-â
âYea i fuckign know he doesntâ she snapped
âIt was his careless destructive fight all those freaks with powers and destruction who put innocent normal people on the way that killed her,Thast whyâŠiâŠi despise that fucker of spiderman. For example todayâŠtoday I would've repeated the same fate as my sisterâŠI could've-" she stopped talking swallowing the venom of her words as she realized she was spiraling letting her emotions take over.
âThat accident was the result of one of his fights at first it didn't seem there was anyone hurt till they actually looked well enoughâŠhe is careless. It's his fault my sister is dead.â
Peter's breath stopped for a second as he looked away thinking which of his fight couldâve cause it.
âShe was all I had. She had been my guardian since I was 6. She herself was only 18 when she took me with her.â Tears burned behind her eyes threatening to come out but she looked up and refusing to cry but suddenly Parker grabbed her forearm with extreme gentleness almost scared to touch her as if she could burn him.
She looked back at him. He was already tearing a bit of a look of distraught and somehow guilt swallowed his face as tears swelled in his eyes already threatening to slip down his face.
âIm sorry Rose. Im so sorry Rosieâ he began saying as his voice betrayed him cracking mid sentence. She snapped launching at him crashing against his chest hiding her head in his hoodie crying holding him tight
Truth is he could only hold her patting her head with guilt eating him alive. Another life another person's blood in his hands was all he could think ofâŠit was wrong now it was truly wrong and deceiving for her to be held in his arms the arms of her sisters murderer he thought he couldn't he just couldntâŠthis had to be the line he had to draw with her for her own good, this would be the last tim he touched her, held her, talk to herâŠsaw herâŠhe decided in that moment he had to move away and it would kill her but she would get over it just like everyone else did in his life she deserves something honest something true and real not whatever bullshit game he had been playing at with her.
I'll find you Chapter 3: Who wouldn't want a memory of you?
Sorry for the delay guys, the author's curse is very much real so much has happened within these days but here we are lesssss gooooo. Btw i went to watch brand new day just to remember the details correctly and also to look at them biceps SUE ME. Btw this story started months before Brand New Day story line but we are moving to that story line in this chapter. I get lazy so yall fill gaps with imagination im here to feed random nice scenes that somehow connect together. But I have already pictured out the whole story. I just gotta find the willpower to write it out.
It had been a few weeks since that strange interaction with Peter and somehow things between them had settled back into their particular version of normal. Peter found increasingly pathetic excuses to come over. From a light flickering to a shelf that needs to be put up, her computer crashing out every so often. All excuses he knew he was making to remain close to her when every instinct born from experience told him he should be doing the opposite. Rose also found excuses of her own. Sometimes needed his help for a painting and indeed a model, sometimes she ordered too much food, and sometimes she simply opened the door when she heard him coming home and somehow twenty minutes in the hallway turned into three hours in her apartment.
Neither of them called it anything more than friendship. And perhaps that was all it was. What neither seemed to understand was how much that friendship had begun to matter. They were two people who had in different ways been hollowed out by absence, and neither spoke enough about the past to realise just how similar those absences were.
Occasionally Peter brushed against the edges of hers without meaning to. He would mention her family and watch something shutter behind her expression.Â
âI don't really have family.â Then she would change the subject. Peter never pushed but later alone he would find himself staring at the ceiling thinking about the girl he remembered. Rose before everything had someoneâŠhe remembered another headache split his skull as the migraines kept getting worse and more frequent.
There were moments when every sound became unbearable, when his senses sharpened far beyond their normal limits and the city seemed to crawl directly beneath his skin.Â
And sometimes, there were thoughts. Thoughts that did not feel entirely foreign, which somehow made them worse. They came from him, just stripped of restraint, compassion and whatever ordinary human boundary normally separated wanting something from taking it.
After what happened at Rose's apartment, Peter had become more careful. Whenever this thing would strike his body he would make distance avoiding her for days at times not taking the chance of something like that to happen again. What he neglected to acknowledge was that his definition of distance had become strangely selective.
Because Peter might keep fifty yards between them. But spiderman did not, Spiderman just had to fuckign follow her didn't he. At first he rationalized it easily. She walked home late. The neighborhood was not particularly safe so in his head he was protecting her. That was all. Protecting her meaning he had memorized her schedule, her route swung from building to building watching her from afar admiring the way her hair tangled in the air, the way she walked and her necklace bounced against her chest. He was only paying attention when she got home safe; he thought that's why he was starring.
One night Peter was already waiting on a rooftop across the cafe. Rose stopped beneath the streetlight and pulled her jacket securely around herself. The movement briefly exposed the pale skin beneath her collarbone and the familiar necklace resting there, the pink quarts swung once against her chest as Peter's eyes followed it too long. His jaw tightened.Â
He turned his head sharply away, shutting his eyes trying to remind himself of having common decent respect for her.
Then he heard laughter, three men stood outside a bar further down the pavement. One of them looked at Rose, head to toes. His gaze travelled slowly down her body before returning upward. He nudged the man beside hima and seemed to mumble something.
A sharp whistle sliced through the air as it curved disgustingly with its implication at Rose.
Something inside Peter went still. Rose kept walking but the men began to follow. That's when Peter rose from his crouch he shot his web and followed from the shadows swinging between alleyways building by building following up close.
After a bit the whistles stopped being playful, if they had ever been playful at all. Their voices followed several steps behind her as she turned onto another street quickening her pace but so did they. She turned abruptly into an alley and immediately realised her mistake it was a dead end.
âShitâ Rose hissed looking around the darkness spotting a piece a broken length of wood she immediately grabbed up turning around watching as the men appeared at the entrance moments later.
âIâll fuck up ya face worse than it already is, if you come anywhere closer to meâ
One laughed already approaching her
âRelax, sweetheartâ he teased, closing the distance doing sudden movements to sacred her which pissed her off more than cause fear. She gave him a deadpan expression.She had enough as she swung the piece of wood full force out of nowhere into his face making a loud smacking noise as the wood collided with his face.
He groaned in pain, turning quickly and lunging at her. His arms barely made air around her before something dropped above the impact sounded violent. Spiderman struck the man sideways with enough force to tear him away from Rose entirely and send him crashing shoulder first into the brick wall.
For a moment Spider Man stood there in the shadows, his silhouette outlined by the silver light of the moon that barely spilled into the alleyway. No jokes or any attempts of conversation came as he slowly turned to the other two men who froze in fear or stupidity didn't matter.
In an attempt of stupidity the second man reached for his and a web struck his chest. Spiderman yanked, making the man fly toward with such force that his feet left the ground as Spiderman jumped and drove the webs into the pavement dragging him through the concrete. The noise so grotesque it made Rose fling and squirm
âJesus Christ-â
The third tried to run as another web caught his ankle dragging him backwards. The man clawed at the ground as Spiderman fished him over. Rose sat down against the wall watching it all unfold, this was not much of a fight it was more of a punishment, a very harsh punishment. She was no fan of Spiderman, she hated the guy but she had to admit this was not like him.
One of the men staggered upright, Peter hit him once, making his head snapped sideways as blood sprayed across the pavement. He collapsed beside Rose with both hands covering his mouth, producing wet terrified noises between his fingers
Rose eyes widened âOh fuckâ was all she manged before Spiderman started walking at him again. The man saw him coming and immediately began scrambling away.
âNo,no,no-â
Spiderman caught him by the collar dragging him like a dog like his weight meant nothing. He threw him against the opposite wall.Â
The mans knees barely touched the ground before Peter seized him again lifting him by the front of his shirt pinning him against the brick
âIm sorryâ the man chocked âIm sorry, we weren't gonna do anything-â
The man was sobbing, barely able to breath, coking on tears and blood, His nose and teeth were broken, his words slurring as Spiderman grabbed him by the neck pinning him against the bricks.Â
He leaned in slowly the white of hsi lenses catching the moonlight before disappearing completely as he moved further into the shadows closer to the man's face, absolute silence other than heavy breaths containing rage under the mask.
âSpiderman wait stop-â Rose called out as she stood, growing more worried now that this was going too far.
For a movement it seemed to have no effect, as if her voice had been muffled into the background. But inside him everything force. Hearing her voice pleading for him stopped the growing pressure of his grip around the man's neck, stopping him before he could snap it.
âThats enough,â she said getting closer
She had some damn balls.
âYea listen to her,â the man said in a strangled voice, which pissed Peter off. A rough grunt left him as he gripped again tigther just to shut him up as a small squawk escaped the man's throat.
âSpiderman,â she said again, more warningly this time.
He stared into the man's face for a second before releasing his grip letting the man drop to the ground, dragging desperate breaths followed by hard coughs as he scrambled away with the others who were still conscious. They ran out of the alley calling him a freak and muttering frightened things between themselves.
Once it was only the two of them, Spiderman kept his back to her, his dark silhouette drowned in the shadows of any vibrant color.
âWhat the fucl was that?â Rose called out angrily.
He turned slowly. The moonlight caught once more in the reflection of his lenses. His breathing was still dragging out heavily beneath the mask as she stood hovering over her in silence.
âYou alright?â he finally asked, his voice lower and husky.
âI was fine on my ownâ she dragged through her teeth
He scoffed before taking one slow step forward.
âThey where 3 grown ass man-â
âI was fine and you nearly killed them, what the fucl was that!? I knew you were careless but that's taking the piss man.â
âSo what you rather i left you here for them to do as they wish with youâ
âI can defend myself. I would rather fight on my own than let some egocentric, careless, destructive, God complex spandex wonder boy on my ass thinking I needed him.â she snarled each insult with a step closer to him aiming her chin raise up to face him he lips spitting insults nothing away from his mask.
For a moment under the mask Peter's face contorted to an old expression he hasn't done since high school since his run ins with little miss sunshine over here. She had been all giggles and smiles with him this last months he had forgotten how big of a jerk she could get
âGod you're a shit ass jerkâ he breathed out of muscle memory before he could stop himself.
She only narrowed her eyes in response, biting the inside of her cheek before pushing past him into the opening of the alley way.
âA thank you wouldâve been enoughâ
She gave him one last death glare before disappearing from view or so she thought he still followed her till she reached home.
Peter couldn't explain himself what the hell was this change, why did she hate him now as Spiderman, he remembered before the wish before everything how she used to be one of Spiderman biggest fansâŠeven worse when his identity was revealed she surprisingly stood for him and set aside her cruelty.Â
He thought that affection would still stand steel for only spiderman; he was entirely wrong.
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After encounters like that it was sometimes a bit hard switching back to normal with her as Peter Parker as Spiderman resented her and was still pretty heat up from their run ins he had to swallow his pride and would be slightly passive aggressive the first 5 minutes which she would make impossible for him to keep up as she kept smiling, checking on him, touching his hair, talking about anything nonsense she could think of, all the little things that put a smile on his face.
âSo what do you actually do for work, Parker?â
Peter glanced up.
Rose had been sitting on the edge of hsi wortable for nearly twenty minutes now, legs swinging loosely. He had pretended to concentrate on fixing her laptop she ahd dropped again.
âYou always come home exhausted,â she continued âor disappear at weird hours. Sometimes you look like you got hit by a busâ
Peter cough for a second before getting back to the computer
âSmall stuffâ
She waited but he kept working
âSmall stuff?â
âSmall potatoes kind of stuffâ he joked mostly to himself.
There was a beat as her eyebrows crunched and she tilted her head with a silly smile
âPoatoes?â she laughed
âYou a chef or something?â
âNoâ Peter shook his head already smiling despite himself âI umâŠdo photography sometimesâ
Her expression changed immensely to one of excitement and surprise.
âYoure a photogragper? That's actually so cool what type of photographer are you?â She leaned closer as her hands held to the edge of the table .
He let go of his tools for a second looking at her and her full attention on him wanting to know more, when he was with her this last week it had become easy in a way to forget, for a moment he could forget everything, spiderman, the spell, and just have a nromal conversation. He smiled at the warmth she brought him, going back to the computer.
âI sell pictures to newspapers and stuff. On Spiderman.â
Her smile fell completely to a deadpan face
âAughâ she groaned, rolling her eyes, earring a small glance from his eyes for a second.
âWaste of your what I'm guessing is amazing talent.â she joked but only received a half fake chuckle.
âAre they good though?" she asked
Peter shrugged. âI don't knowâ To be honest it's not something he could put too much energy or time in, sure he used to love photography beforeâŠall this. But now it was merely a source for money here and there into something he had put passion in.
"You don't know if your own pictures are good?â
âI don't know if anything I do is good.â
Peter realized too late how that sounded side-eying her slowly knowing her well by now she was already giving him a look he chose to ignore.
As he avoided her eyes she gazed around the apartment. There wasn't much to look at. Everything was old stuff in boxes Peter doesnt let her touch saying it was fragile she barely came in here he barely let her but sometimes just sometimes he'd let her and it was always strange some stuff looked like it had been hidden away or covered up but everyone had their own thing she guessed. From what seh could see there was a mattress, a dresser, chemistry books, a sewing machine?protein powderâŠto that her eyes stop a glance quickly at his arms specifically his biceps before her heartbeat quick and she looked away. Peter for a second heard the shift in her pulse looking at her seeing her alright he went back to work.
Then her eyes caught the camera sitting on the shelf
âIs that the camera?â
Peter looked up then at the shelf
âWhat?â
âThe cameraâ
His stomach dropped
âOh yea.â
Rose slide from the table making her way to the shelf as Peter immediately stood
âWait-â she grabbed on to it looking back at him already before he could stop her
âWhat?â she asked confusedÂ
âPut it downâ he asked rather commandingly, his voice low for a second which made something in her stomach drop and jump a grin appearing instantly across her face.
âWhat ya got on the camera Parkerâ she teased as he got red, understanding her implication.
He lunged for the camera which took her by surprise which she yelled with a frightened giggled twisting away. Peter could've taken it easily but he didn't want to accidentally hurt her so restraining himself to wrestle her was already a task on top of getting the camera back.
Rose stretched one arm behind herself, keeping the camera away while planting her other hand squarely against his chest.
âGive it back Rose.â he demanded stretching his arm at hers which she only moved around giggling
âComeon let me see Peteâ
âNope, they are bad give it hereâ he curled his two fingers at him motioning her to hand it over
âI'll decide thatâ she whispered with a grin as her face closed up to his during the struggle, her eyes shifting from his eyes to his lips for a second before she retreated backwards, her knee catching against the edge of the mattress making her fall backwards, falling onto the bed with another yelp.Â
The camera landed above her head near the pillow they both locked eyes with it and then with each other. He climbed into the bed stretching out his arm to grab the camera, while the other hand sank into the mattress on the space next to her head but her hand flew faster to grab onto it holding it against her chest. His other hand came down laying next to the other side of her head cageing her beneath him before snapping to her arm. For a moment he froze at the position. He suddenly felt painfully conscious of everything. The way her curls spread across his bed, a few had caught under his hand, her laughter continued warmly, softening the corner of her mouth. The way her hand rested against his chest, her knee beside his hip, her breathing, her myself. The warmth of her skin beneath his palm where he had caught her arm.Â
Lately everything had begun to feel like too much. The sounds were sharper, light was cutting through his eyes, migraines turned into skull aches. Something in his body was changing Spiking. He hadn't told her, he barely understood it himself. He lost in through for a moment as he felt that side of him starting to surface from the overwhelming sight of her.
Rose lifted the camera between them
Flash.
Peter's eyes closed at the sudden light and he flinched slightly off her.
âWhat the-â
Flash
âRoseâ
Flash, flash.
She dissolved into laughter as Peter finally ripped the camera from her hands.
âOh my God your faceâ she laughed
He rolled his eyes, sitting on the edge of the bed going through the camera to delta the pictures. She sat up beside him tucking herself against his side, chin resting on his shoulder looking at the photographs
The first one was terrible, second worse, then the third one she caught him halfway though saying her name
Rose laughed "that oneâ
âHell noâ
âYesssssâ
Peter pressed delete.
âHEY!â
Another disappeared
âPeter!â
âTheyre terrible!â
âStop deleting them!â
âWhyâ
 She grabbed his wrist to prevent him from deleting the last one.
âBecause I want one!â
That stopped him making him look over his shoulder meeting her face too close to his. She was already staring into his eyes with that stupid smile full of warmth.
âWhy would you want a picture of me?â
Her face softened as she lowered her eyes then turning her face away from him.
â I like physical memories.â she whispered a bit shyly, the presence of her pocket watch burning through her pocket for a second at that statement.
âPictures, letters, tickets,stupid little things, anything you can hold.â
Her gaze became blank for a second
âTheyre the best kind of memory.â
In that moment Peter could hear his heartbeatâŠhot hers, his.
âYou want a memory of me?â
He meant it as a joke, but his voice betrayed him showing the care beneath.
Rose snapped her face back at him furrowing her brows
"Who wouldn't want a memory of you?â
Peter's head turned at her, a wounded expression laying there for a second. She felt the warm scent of her perfume intoxicating his lungs, sweet and addicting as she hovered so closely he could feel her breath on his cheek. Peters smiled, something melancholic and sad laid beneath though.
-------------------------------
Peter had been busy with the prison break of scorpion, the attacks on damage control and trying to conceal his headaches which hadn't turned too bad yet but still more moments he flinched. In other words he was exhausted and had not been very functional lately.
A knock came at the door to which his head split to. He walked to the door rubbing his forehead, opening it, seeing Rose stand there with coffee cups in hands.
âOk which one is the chocolate and which one is the coffee? "Peter asked eyeing both cups
She giggled âHow dare you, maybe they are both coffeeâŠâ
He raised a brow to which she replied by pressing her lips, extending one of the cups forward
âI just don't get how you can drink that thingâ she remarked coming into his apartment as he took the coffee in his hand.
After a bit inside the apartment they had settled in silence for abitâŠthat bit ended quickly as Rose began speaking softly from topic to topic of things he's missed aka stuff from the building and the clients at her coffee shop.
He lifted the cup to his mouth, still listening to whatever she had been saying, and her eyes betrayed her.
They slipped from his eyes down to his lips, only for a second as she restrained herself to look away stumbling over her words suddenly.
âGod this is goodâ he held the cup out slightly
âYou sure you don't want some?â
She hated coffeeâŠhe knew she hated coffee
âYou know what? Fuck it. Give me a sip.â
Something amused moved across his face, but he passed it over without comment. The cup was warm when in her hands. She adjusted it between her hands, pretending to search for a complete grip when really she was far too conscious of the place his lips had been.
It was ridiculous. Completely, humiliatingly ridiculous.
Still, she turned the cup until that side found her and her lips met the rim.
The coffee was bitter enough to make her tongue recoil, burnt and unpleasant in exactly the way she remembered. But beneath the bitterness was the awareness of him.
It felt like stealing a kiss, once more truly pathetic. The thought sent a quiet rush through her, warm and dizzying. She lowered the cup before her expression could betray her once more.
âYeaâ she said forcing my voice into something casual âits alrightâ
Rose hand it back over, a faint trace of pink gloss remained along the rim
Her heart stumbled when he lifted the cup again without hesitation. His mouth settled over the mark she had left behind, the corner of his lips rising slightly against it. He lowered the cup glancing down for a beat, his hand raised brushing the corner of his lip slightly. The phantom of a smile tugged for a second at the corner of his mouth before quickly vanishing, making me wonder whether he knew exactly what he was doing.
Rose looked away before he could catch me staring again, though the image had already rooted itself somewhere beneath her ribs.
This man was gonna be the death of her.
They sat in silence for a bit, New York was pretty at this hour especially from this window its peaceful in a way the presence of someone else m-
âSoâŠwhat do you think Spiderman is doing.â he asked bluntly
âAUGHHH you find my annoyance for him quite entertaining don't you?â
He gave a slight grin hanging his head to the side resting on the window.
âI just don't get why you hate him so much. âŠ.I think he's cool.â
"Of course you do, you two are like the same personâ
To that comment he choked on his coffee breaking on a cough attackÂ
âWhat?â he choked out as she patted his back quickly
âI'm teasing you, calm down, you could never be like that jerk.â
âWhat did he ever do to you?â
ââŠheâs carelessâ is all she could manage.
He only narrowed his eyes looking back into the scenery but his gaze unfocused into the void as his mind escaped further into thought on what the hell did he did to her.
âAnyways you're coming later with me right?â
He hesitated before a nervous laugh escaped him accompanied by a wide apologetic grin.
âOh come on Peter this is the 3rd time you cancel on me I wont invite you to shit anymore.â
The apartment felt too crowded as Rose dragged herself through the sea of people trying to find any free space to exist a bit longer before leaving. She didn't even like coming to these things but they were her old friends she hadn't seen in a few years sinceâŠthe accident and to be completely honest for once in a long time she was doing good, well better at least. Being around Peter in a way brought the side of her that she had buried out. For once in a long time she had gotten close with someone again, well close enough.
Still if someone else asked her one more time what's been of her and how she's doing with that pitiful superiority face she was gonna jump out the window and become a mood killer herself. She struggled against the back of two guys finally reaching free space walking into a room where Ned stood with 2 other people
âROSE! YOU CAME!â Ned explained as his eyes widened rushing at her emrbacin gher tightly. She chuckled as she hugged back hugging MJ next.
âHey guys, I had to do my annual announcement tIm still alive after all,â Rose joked.
âOmg Rose how you been you actually came i cannot believe it omg its been years since we last saw youâŠyouve been under a rock this whole time or whatâ
She shrugged her shoulders looking down before realization⊠well more like memory caught up to Ned
âOh yea rightâŠim sorry i had forgottenâŠIm sorry again bout your sis-â
âYOu guys got a nice placeâ she interrupted looking around before Ned could continue.
The 3rd person in the room finally turned around and she registered his face. Those dark brown eyes found hers and her heart stopped, it was her Peter. She felt her heart do a double beat as she finally was able to speak.
âPe-â
âHeyâ he interrupted her, smiling with a slight panic creeping in his face.
âWhat are you doing here?â Rose asked estranged âyou decided to come with me after all? How did you even know where to come, did you follow me Parker?â to many questions rushed out as she looked at him baffled but beneath it all warmth laid as she simply was happy to have his presences
âYou know him?â MJ asked, holding flowers in her hands to which Rose's eyes flickered to for a second.
âPeter? Yea, heâs my-â
âFriend,â Peter said.
The word came too quickly making Rose's eyes flicker toward him as something unreadable passed through them. She decided to keep her mouth shut for now.
âOh really how do you guys know each other he lives across the hall apparentlyâ Ned added to which roses tugged her eyebrows together in confusion. Her Peter, her neighborâŠwas their neighbor???Â
âOh really?â she asked, looking back at Peter with a raised eyebrow. Suddenly sensing the tension ned asked mj abut her job interview
âIm gonna put this in waterâ she avoided the question leaving the room with Ned following behind asking about if she even went to the interview she said yes but declined the job peter starred form after his focus fully tranced into them Rose becoming invisible for a second as she followed his gaze on MJ. The trance itself was not what it used to be but Peter was so swelled up by it he couldn't help himself what once was love and longing felt more like melancholy mixed with a bittersweet feeling of comfort knowing his friends the life he left is at peace. Nevertheless the stare he held was confused by Rose as she took a step back realizing how much of a fool she felt in that moment.
âPeter what's goin-â Rose began to speak again when MJs boyfriend walked into the kitchen planting a soft kiss on her lips. With that something broke in Peter's face.
Peters face fell he looked physically distraught as he pushed passed out of the apartment
âPeter wait-â
By the time Rose made it outside rian had started falling.
âParker!â she called after him, falling trying to catch up as Peter rounded the corner running. His fingers were trembling, he could hear heartbeats from half a block away, a car horn sounded streets away and still his skull was like an explosion. He couldn't let her catch him like this. So Peter disappeared as he felt like he lost control of his body swinging through the night sky.
Rose reached the corner too late, finding it empty. She stood beneath the rain breathing hard.
*Peter having a spider dna spike around y/n*: God she's probably so terrified of me right now. I'm a monster, I resemble a monster I need to get away from her right now.
*Y/n hungringly ready to pounce at Peter any second*: Come closer Peter I wanna look at your eyes better... don't be scared...COME CLOSER I SAY
AUTHORS NOTE: Hey guyssss hope you enjoy this is a twilight fanfic x shadowhutnersx oc. Im gonna jump a lot between povs sometimes 3rd person but most of the time ocs pov so i hope its not messy i do it without noticing so imma just give that warning lol. Sorry if some parts are cheesy just tryna fit in the twilight universe theme, feel free to recommend scenes of funny things to add because there's a plot and whole story planned out but i mainly wanna give you guys a good laugh too. We started off at a slow start just to settle in dynamics and backstory for now. Please enjoy!
---------------------------------
The air was damp and chilly, the sort of cold that would just settle into your bones under your clothes lounging there without bite. I rested my forehead against the car window and watched a single raindrop race down the glass trembling whenever the tires struck a crack in the road before being swept sideways by the cars movement.
I had always hoped for something wonderful to find me.Â
What else could a child do after learning that her existence had been an inconvenience? You either accept the smallness people assigned to you, or you spend your life waiting for something extraordinary enough to prove them wrong.
Ordinary has always been my biggest fear. So for years, every new beginning had felt like a clean slate, a brand new opportunity for that wonderful thing to finally arrive, but hope eventually became a dream and the dream with enough time and disappointment became something close to delusion.
And so here I was,
Forks, Washington. Population: 3120. The forecast: rain with a bit of rain and more variety colder rain. Not that I minded, I liked the rain and that blue like melancholy cozyness it brought with it.
The trees blurred beyond the window as we drove down the road in the middle of the forest. The silence inside the cruiser had stopped feeling awkward twenty minutes ago. Now it was merely comforting. My father, Charlie kept both hands on the steering wheel jaw tight in place. He was the chief of police in Forks, he was a quiet awkward man, with a simple life. At least I knew where I got it from, but from there on I knew very little about him.
I was the product of one night stand. Or a blessing as my mother likes to call it, I call it I'm a bastard born out of wedlock nice to meet you too, it's a real party killer though apparently. Charlie had recently divorced his wife when it happened. His other daughter had been taken to Arizona, he had been drunk and lonely and my mother was stopping by the town and kaboom. Nine months later his surprise second spawn was born.
I had met him only a handful of times as a child. Quick visits to forks, occasional telephone calls and birthday cards here and there. He had never been cruel or cold but it was just a distance that always remained. But now I am going to live with him as it turns out. It was March, the middle of the semester and my mother had received an incredible work opportunity she couldn't turn down which happened to be abroad though and the opportunity did not include me.Â
And as luck would have it though, my arrival nearly coincided with my half sisters, Isabella, according to Charlie, who would be coming from Arizona next week.
I barely knew Isabella in all honesty. We had met a few times, so few I could count them in my fingers, we were kids last time I saw her , I was 8 she was 9 I think.Â
The engine hummed beneath us as Charlie turned onto a narrower road.
âYour hair is um blondeâ he commented
âYea it lightened up in the last yearsâ i replied softly
He nodded once after this attempt of conversation lasted there.
The cruiser slowed as a small house emerged through the rain. It looked almost exactly as I remembered it. Although memories from childhood had a way of exaggerating things. The house seemed smaller now I guess. Last time I was here I was 8.
Charlie parked in the drive getting out, winning me to the luggage carrying it on his own, leaving me to carry my small pink duffle bag. Inside the house it smelled faintly of old wood and coffee . Almost nothing had changed, the same pictures remained on the shelves, same worn sofa on the same spot, even the same curtains.
Charlie carried my bags upstairs as I followed him down the narrow hallway and into the bedroom. Two beds stood parallel to one another with a window between them.One side of the room had been prepared with purple bedding and the other was light pink with a folded quilt and a small lamp on the bedside table between both beds.
âYour mom mentioned you like pinkâ Charli mentioned looking back at his kid searching her face for any reaction that it was a good call.
I felt less heavy in the chest for a split of a second as I nodded with a smile, yes to which Charlie seemed satisfied as he nodded back.
âTheres space in the wardrobe. Might need another dresser once Bella gets here, but we'll figure it out.â
âOkayâ
âAnd cleared some shelves in the bathroom for you guys.â
I nodded once more smiling politely,
âRight.â
Charlie looked around the room for a second before nodding and leaving her to it. She settled down her douche bag on the bed with small flower details adorning the fabric with embodiment of pink. She opened the bag taking out her sketch book first putting it on the desk she sat down taking in the room and the moment looking at the other bed soon to be occupied and something anxiously crawled tugging her chest and gut.
She took in a deep breath before looking at the window as raindrops hit themselves sliding down as she herself plop down into the bed. She laid down listening to the rain tap against the window and for the moment she was alone. That part at least she knew how to survive.
----------------------------
My first morning in Forks began with an argument. Which in my defense was not entirely my fault. My phone had rang while I was attempting to force my curls into something less boring and flat but I kept tugging on them accidentally, making me overstimulated already. Then my mothers contact appeared across the screen. I could've just ignored it and I considered it, but guilt was faster then self preservation as i picked up.
âHello?â
âMorning baby, how did you sleep, how was your first night?â she asked brightly, the more light she sounded like in the last 17 years of my whole existence.
âFineâ
âDid you sleep well?â
âYea a little the rain got a bit strongâ I muttered, still tugging at my hair to braid from the top.
âAnd Charlie? Is everything good?â
I looked around the half unpacked bedroom.
âYea he bought me pink beedingâ
âOh. good. I told him you would like that.â
 She paused for a second
âBaby I need to tell you something..the process to bring you here is a bit too complicated. It would take a while to eve do the applications.. and i think it would be too unstable for now to bring you across seas incase I get changed ag-â
âYou said this would only be for this semester and I would move in with you in summerâ I interrupted her realizing where she was getting at
âI know baby but being honest with you its gonna be indifinate⊠Iâll talk to your dad about it later but I don't know why you are even mad I mean your dad has also a responsibility with you I've had you for the last 17 years he seems capable of having you for the rest, its not like your being homeless eith-â
âFine fine fine I get it, it's whateverâ I stopped her before she could get into another one of her ultimatums.Â
âDont raise your voice at meâ she warn through the phone.
âIt's not like I'm no longer your problem to deal with so you can just hang up if you don't like my toneâ I snapped at her.
A knock sounded against the open bedroom door. Charlie stood in the hallway already in uniform. His eyes moved from my face to the phone clenched in my hands now.
âWe should leave in five,â he said carefully
âI knowâ
âEverything alright?â
My mother heard him as she began calling out to him from the phone
âIs Charlie there? Let me speak to himâ
âNo.â
âLucy-â
âWhat? You forgot to give him the warning policies before shipping me off to him?â I snapped into the phone
âEyyâ charlie warned as my tone hardened with my mom âtake it down a notch kid pass me your mom.â
To that I snapped.
âOh so now you want to play dad?â
The silence that followed was immediate and heavy.
Charlie became very still, my mother said my name sharply through the phone, but her voice felt muffled beneath the sudden pounding in my ears. The regret came at once flooding through my chest climbing to my head feeling it of words to say but wouldn't come out.Â
Charlie looked towards the floor, his jaw shifted once before he nodded.
âWe leave in five,â he repeated walking out of the room.
My eyes closed as I slowly turned back to the mirror, raising the phone back into my ear to hear my mothers screaming and scolding. As I stared back into my reflection my finger ended the call cutting her off. For several seconds I stood alone before finally picking up my bag going downstairs.
Charlie was waiting already inside the car looking blanky and distantly out the window. I took in a breath of courage before opening the door and into the awkward heaviness that lingered inside the car. I sat inside avoiding his eye which he made it easy as he refused to look at me driving in silence.Â
My lip started to hurt from how much I kept sucking and biting on it out of a bad habit I never grew out of. After a bit realizing the school was still not in sight, guilt was eating me from the inside out with each beat, for being my first day here I was already starting things off to shitty wasn't it?
âI'm sorryâ I mumbled, finally turning my head to him.
He immediately looked back taken a bit surprise before nodding and looking abc into the road
âIt's alright kid, just big changes I understand." he replied as Forks High School came into view. I had almost convinced myself that I could exit the car quietly and disappear into the building and have a more calm day than how it started like.
Then I noticed the students in the parking lot. Every face seemed to turn towards the police cruiser as it neutered the parking lot.Â
âShitâ i breathed out earning a look from charlie,
âWhat?â
âCan we drive out and can you drop me off a street away?"
He looked at me with pure confusion.
âDad, the police car is taking a lot of attention. It's already bad enough that I'm new in the middle of the semester. Give me a fighting chance by letting me blend into the building by coming in walking.â I pleaded dramatically.
He gave me a look having had enough of my bullshit for this morning as he continued driving towards the entrance.
âCharlie.â
âYouâll live kid, I need to get to the station, you can do your popular plans once you learn to drive yourself.âÂ
I took in a breath as some students glared at the car waiting to see who came from inside.
Charlie rested one hand on the steering wheel turning at me
âI know this wasn't in the plans,â he said.
I stopped reaching for the handle.
âFor you or me,â he continued âAnd Bella coming next week is going to make things crowded. Probably strange."
âThats one word for it.âÂ
He nodded
âI know youâd rather be with your momâ
The guilt in my chest shifted tugging once more at my heart.
âI didn't mean what I said earlier.â
âSome of it, you didâ
I stared at my knees playing with the hem of my sleeves.
âYou miss your mom, that's okay. I know you barely know me. I barely know you but we can try. We are getting off to a rocky start but you're already here.â To Charlie that was the speech of a lifetime the most he would ever open up and speak that openly and sentimental in his life and in response.Â
I gave him a small smile. I know it was an asshole move but something in me felt like it burned anytime I would touch emotional depth situations. And right now I just couldn't touch the actual emotional depth of the situation so I nodded smiling quickly giving him a quick okay. I pushed the door open stepping into the parking lot.
âLove you kid.â Charlie called out sincerely to try for the talk he just gave me to mean something.
I closed the door crouching slightly to see him through the window of the car giving a quick half smile,
âI know dadâ I said quickly wanting to leave the touchy feeling situation buried behind, already starting to turn away. I was able to make it maybe six steps.
Ok yea no that was it for Charlie, a scoff left him as he nodded his head a petty annoyed smoked finding his lips as he grabbed something from inside the car.
Suddenly the loudspeaker intercom of the police car crackled making my body freeze in the spot.
âYou have to say I love you backâ Charlie's voice echoed across the car park through the cruise's external speaker making every head that wasn't turn already turn. I quickly spun around with pure disbelief and horror ain't no fuckign way. There was Charlie leaning towards the radio with an expression of mild satisfaction.
âDadâ I called, horrified âNo. Pleaseâ I practically beggedÂ
âI wanna hear itâ
My social life had not merely died, it had been dragged into the street and publicly executed before it was given a chance to exist.
I rushed back to the window of the car looking with wilder eyes full of fear as I tried to pull at the passenger door to get in and stop him, only to find it locked. I started knocking against the window pressing my face against itÂ
âStop.â I plead. Â
Charlie rolled the down two inches smirk turning into a full on grin.
âCome on kid, I can stay here all dayâ he said away from the speaker.
'
âDad, please. This is social annihilationâ I hiss as people are already looking from every corner of the parking lot. Charlie lifted the speaker again
âI LOVE YOU DADâ repeated a bit louder waiting for me to give in
âGODDAMIT YOU STUBBORN OLD MANâ I tried the door handle again repeatedly this time to get in to hide myself. Within the milliseconds of humiliation I gave up, taking a step back looking at him in horror.
âDad I love youâ he said with an innocent smile tilting his head enjoying every bit of this. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. My life was gone .
âLove you tooâ i finally said through my teethed that grated against each other almost more like a groan
âCopy thatâ he said with chuckle starting to drive off leaving me standing there like a goddamn fool
As I walked through the halls, snickers of kids who saw what happened in the parking lot reached my ears. I could only tighten the strap of my bag against my shoulders and walk faster.
Forks High School was smaller than most of the schools I had attended, which somehow made being new worse. In a larger school a person could disappear , here everyone seemed connected by an invisible web of gossip, curiously and mild boredom. My mothers work had moved us around for most of my life. I had become familiar with the roles people occupied in every school: athletes, overachievers, theatre kids, asshole popular girls, quiet kids, etc.
The faces changed but the arrangement and personalities usually stayed the same
By lunch the closest human interaction I've gotten has been correcting my name to teachers from Lucille to Lucy. I carried my tray through the cafeteria beneath another wave of cruise glances and chose an empty table near the edge of the room.
The sandwich was cold and the chips were nonexistent inside the bag. I picked up the bread and observed the room. There were the athletes taking up enough space for twice their number. The academic looking people. Table of girls , etc. But then I noticed the table in the far corner by the windows. Five students sat together, each of them unnaturally pale, porcelain like skin with dark black eyes and weird perfect posture. I observed them for a moment taking each individual in. One blond boy seemed constipated..that's my sign not to eat the food hereâŠone with a bag of eggs? I mean pop off bulking I guess⊠the girls seemed nice, one had short hair with pretty style and seemed cheerful. I always liked that type of person, the blonde one was gorgeousâŠthen my eyes moved to the next guy just to find him staring back at me already.
I narrowed my eyes looking him head to toe
why the fuck is the emo hair one looking at me? The fuck you looking at egg face. I thought to myself. His jaw tightened before he looked away.
Ye thats damn right punk look away hoe I thought to myself thinkingI had intimidated him with my gazeâŠyeah definitely don't like that kid.
I was snapped out of my haze by the sudden presence of an actual emo hair kid taking the seat across from me.
âHey you Lucille Swan right?
I stared at him with widened eyes for a secondÂ
âLucyâ i corrected him a bit stern my voice
âJust lucyâ i clarified a bit softer
âRight. Cool. Iâm Eric, I run the school paper with Angela over thereâ he pointed at a girl that waved at us from another table full of students that were already staring at me although it felt more like sizing me up.
I nodded and half assed smiled
âLovelyâ is said with a very much forced smile wondering why I was being talked to.
Eric either failed to notice my discomfort or chose ignorance as he kept talking.
âWe here for anything you need, tour guide, lunch dateeee, shoulder to cry on. I can personally if you wish give you a tour after schoolâŠschool, town-â he began giving me a smirk and weird eyes.
âIâm gayâ I blurted.
His mouth remained open for half a second.
Technically, it was only half a lie. My bisexuality was simply being called into emergency service.
âOH-â He shifted in the seat. âumâŠlike fully orâ he tried testing the waters for some fuckign reason.
âI love pussyâ my brain farted through my mouth in a self defense mechanism. He could only stare at me for a second as I could only stare back too.
âBut my sister is probably straighter than I am,â I continued to word vomit my way out of this. âSheâll be here next week. I'm sure she would appreciate the tour, lunch date, shoulder to cry on thing. All thatâ
I lowered my eyes to my sandwich.
âWell that's one hell of a headline for your featureâ he said a bit baffled
My head snapped up. He gave an awkward laughÂ
âI mean you and your sister being new. We thought it could be a front page sort of thingâ
I felt my heart drop into my ass as my eyes widen once more and I blinded slowly maybe I heard wrong
âPlease noâ i breathed out shaking my head fuck no repeatedly âI think my dear old sister knowing her so very well would absolutely love all this conversation I think you should retry this whole convo with her when she gets here, she would appreciate it way more than meâ I said quickly and awkwardly as I was begging fro this whole interaction to go away.
I was going to hell. I owed Isabella a fatass apology and I did not even know the woman.
Eric nodded and rose from the table with the cautious smile of someone retreating from an unstable animal.
âOkay.Iâll keep that in mind.â
âWonderfulâ
He returned to his table. The group immediately leaned towards him in whispers before they all started looking back at me. I could only close my eyes before picking up my tray and finding refuge in the bathroom stall earning an amused look from the table of porcelain dolls as I made my way out of the cafeteria.
Aren't I just charming? I thought to myself while eating my cold sandwich in the bathroom.
-------------------------------------
By the end of the day I had art class. I actually enjoyed these classes. Usually in my old school I could just sit in silence and focus on drawing which I enjoyed and thought I was decent at.
So for the first ten minutes everything was perfect. Then the teacher announced that we would be working in pairs.
Yay.
She began reading names of the list. I stared at my sketchbook silently praying to be placed with someone quiet.
âLucille Swan and Emmett Cullen.â
I raised my head and across the room the enormous boy with the bag of eggs looked up.
Oh God why
He stood unfolding to what appeared to be the approximate height of a bear and carried his stuff over before he sat next to me.
I nodded once in greeting as he endowed back with a board sincere smile
âI also love pussyâ he nodded at me with full support and a smile like he was proud of himself for saying that.Â
My eyes closed. So this was how I died.Â
âThats wonderfulâ I said in a strangled voice before looking back at my notebook blankly not knowing what the fuck to do next.
âI thought you should know"
âI'm deeply grateful,â I replied with what was left of my soul in my body. He nodded, apparently satisfied and picked up his pencil.
The worst part was that he seemed to mean it supportively.
----------------------------
The day finally ended painfully as I ran out of the building into Charlie's car, slamming the door behind me.
âSpeed it old manâÂ
Charlie glanced at meÂ
âPlease dadâ I squeaked out
He pulled away from the school as I sank into the seat and watched the school disappear behind.
âSoâ he said after a minute. âHow was it?â
I could only look back at him with a glare he met before turning his eyes back to the road.
âI overdid it with the speaker, didn't I?"
âA bitâ
âThey gave u shit for it?â
âHonestly, noâ I rested my forehead against the window âI sabotaged myself so badly afterwards that your contribution became irrelevantâ I tried to joke looking out the window but feeling the weight of how bad today went.
He glanced at me
âI was going to ruin everything anyways,â I mumbled. âSo don't worryâ I mumbled putting in my earphones untangling the cable.
Charlie could only stare at his daughter for a second feeling a sort of pity and guilt as he turned the car around . She noticed they changed the street that was supposed to take them home
âWhere we goingâ I asked taking off one earphone
âPicking up something"
âWhat?â
âYouâll seeâÂ
Several minutes later, he parked outside a small diner. The windows glowed warmly against the grey afternoon. Charlie switched off the engine.
âCome onâ
âArent you supposed to get back to work?â
âTheyâll survive.â
âYou said you only had enough time to pick me up.â
H eopned his door.
âWhat are they going to do, fire me? I'm their boss.â
To that I gave him an involuntary chuckle which seemed to make him smile.
Inside the dinner was warm, smelled sweet and of fried comfort food at the same time. We slid into a table at the corner. I remember coming here as a child. The memory is not as clear but if I digged hard enough I could see parts of it clearly. Charlie picked up the dessert menu and passed it across the table
âThey still got the double chocolate cakeâ
I stared at him for a second, he remembered? He took my silence though as confusion as he cleared his throat and explained out a memory that was one of my biggest treasures.
âYou used to order it when you visited. The few times you came hereâ
Of course it remembered it as one of my favorite memories, my mom had left me with my dad for the weekend and bella had been picked up early so it was just me and him I was crying because I didn't wanna go so he drive me around to see the forest and ended the drive with dinner and a tall slice of chocolate cake and chocolate syrup i smeared all over my face along with the silent tears that still came as the sweetness of the moment made me bitter about leaving I think I was like 6?
âYou were little,â he continued âYou might not like it anymore. We can get something else if you-â
âI remember,â I interrupted â I used to crave it when I would go back home and my mom would keep buying normal chocolate cake and insisting it was the sameâ
Charlie's mouth began to curve into a smile.
âIt wasn't, not even close.â
âSo cake?â
A smile touched my lips as i shaked my head yes.
He ordered two slices. When it arrived the cake was almost exactly as I remembered it, dark layers of chocolate beneath a shining coat of fudge. I took a bite and Charlie stole a piece of icing from my cake and pretended not to notice my glare, the tightness in my chest loosened slightly as the burning behind my eyes started threatening to let a tear out. I couldn't remember the last time I sat down to eat with my mom or shared a nice moment like this, in a way it felt weird to have your own blood everywhere around and at the same time to have no family with you. But maybe things could be different from now on, just maybe.
Next events involving the candle are based on personal experience.
Over the following weeks, Rose and Peter continued to collide with one another around the building. Sometimes she could swear it was less accidental, almost intentional the way he would be there the exact moment she was carrying something heavy, or her hands were full of groceries and takeout, or how he would always be on time when she would slip on the same last two steps of the exit. Like he was always there when she needed but always disappeared quickly afterwards almost as if he had regretted being there.
He would become strangely rigid around her. Shoulder raised, hands would lose whatever coordination and clumsily find themselves in pockets, and every sentence seemed to arrive in his mouth already strangled.Â
Truth be told, she had been the last person Peter would ever have expected, much less wanted to see regularly. He could hardly have joked about enjoying her company without the words sounding absurd. Yet she was still someone from his past. Someone who had known him before everything had been stripped away and who during the final hours of that life he still ached for, had seemed to soften towards him, only slightly. He had assumed even that fragile progress had been lost with everything else.Â
Then she arrived at the building.
For her safely, he had considered moving away. He had told himself that distance was the only way to keep her safe like he had with everyone else. That staying away was the only way to keep her beyond the reach of the disasters that followed him. But a quieter, more selfish part of him had won. The part that wanted this, that wanted a chance, however small and undeserved, to salvage something from the ruins of his former life and keep it to himself.
What did unsettle him though was how different she seemed. She was less hostile than he remembered, her sharp edges no longer turned towards him at every opportunity. She even smiled at him sometimesâŠgenuinely smiled. Peter could not recall a single smile she had ever given him before that had not followed from some cruel remark, petty triumph or delivered attempt to provoke him.Â
He knew it was selfish, so he kept lying to himself. Disguised it as a concern. He told himself that he was only keeping an eye on her, the same way he occasionally checked in Ned and MJ from afar. She lived alone, after all. Someone ought to make sure she was safe.
But still the truth laid plain as daylight, he wanted to hold on to something, to have something from his life had once been, even if it was the smartmouth brunette whose favorite pastime was to ragebait him.
--------------------------
The light had blown out for the 4th time this week.
The building surrendered to darkness with an abrupt mechanical click. A chorus of complaints immediately rose behind the paperthin walls, doors opening, someone swearing down the hall, a child crying somewhere in an apartment.Â
In his apartment Peter stood motionless in the centre of it all. A cluster of exposed cables remained gathered in one hand. The screwdriver in the other hovered uselessly above the opne electrical panel besides the kitchen. His mouth tightened into a thin guilty line.
âFuckâŠâ he murmured into the darkness.
A faint spark snapped between two wires. Peter flinched and slowly separated them. He had only meant to redirect enough energy to test the piece of equipment spread across his desk. In his defense the building's electrical system technically should have been able to handle it wasn't his fault whoever installed it made such a shitty job. He disconnected the remaining cables and listened as irritated voices travelled through the walls. But surely another sound grabbed his full attention from across the hall. A sharp cry of pain which immediately followed by a string of curses and violent clatter of something being dropped and again the small strangled noises of pain followed. Peter lifted, hesitating before slowly walking to the door poking his head out hearing silence. He pulled his head back into his apartment starting to close the door as another curse was heard, he froze closing his eyes a grunt in annoyance escaped him as his jaw flexed knocking his body was gonna betray him as it moved on its own back into the hallway.Â
He stood out her door for a second trying to hear in before gently knocking.
âRose?â
There was movement inside, followed by what sounded like something being kicked out of the way.
âYea?â
âYou okay in there?â
A pause before the lock shifted, the door swung open. Instead of pitch blackness; warm light spilled from inside from candles and fairylights running off batteries.
Rose stood in the doorway with one hand braised against the frame, the sleeve of her oversized sweater concealed most of it. The wool around her wrist however was blacked and uneven, very much burnt as the smell of burnt wool filled his nostrils.
âHey yea sorry I was lighting a candle and my sweater caught aflameâ she explained casually out of breathÂ
His eyes widened a bit as his mouth opened to say something and closed again, taken by surprise to the lack of panic.
âYou burned?â he finally decided upon asking
âNah, I mean yea but like nothing serious I think.â
âCan I see?â
The question came quickly, but his voice softened around it. Rose hesitated for a bit before lifting her arm pushing the sleeve up exposing her wrist. The skin had begun to reddened and glossy under the candlelightâŠthere was something pasty in her skin.
âTooth paste?â
âYea you never learned that lifehack?â
âNo I can't say I have-â he said stranged out before laughing. Narrowing his eyes to see better in the dark at her hand.
She smiled at him the way he looked so focused on checking her arm, for a stranger, well a neighbor he was quite friendly. If he doesn't turn out to be some psycho then he would be one of the few decent people she's met in a long time.
She bit her lip shifting her weight against the frame of the door before getting courage to speak.
âHey um do you wanna come in? I already had some food on the way and I got some tools that wont blow up the building I was actually working on something if u wanted to do hatâŠor not that sounded stupidâ
His head snapped up meeting her hopeful eyes.
âYou knew it was?âÂ
âI mean the scent of burnt cables coming from your place isn't exactly subtle.â she joked.
He laughed slightly too before recognising her offerÂ
He considered it for a second freezing in palace with a blank expression breaking from her gaze focusing on the floor.
He shouldn't he truly shouldn't
âŠand he wasn't going to
âI'm sorry I gotta finish a thing I'm working on but maybe another ..time.â
Her face reddened as she pressed her lips together noddingÂ
âYe no of course no problem byeâ she said quickly slamming the door on his face as he stood frozen in place, hand still slightly up from where he was holding her.
âGreat, amazing progress Peter.â he muttered to himself.
-------------------------
Days that followed, encounters that followed. Full of petty door slams, and petty avoidance too. Rose began timing her exits with almost militant precision. If she heard Peter moving around in the hallway she waited behind the door until his footsteps disappeared down the stairs. When they did cross paths, she greeted him with a brief smile devoid of warmth. It was somehow worse than when she had been openly hostile..
Peter told himself this was good. That she was keeping her distance. This way was for the best, she would stay out of his life for good other than the occasional bumping. And he would stay out of hers like he's been doing for the last yearsâŠbut still he couldn't help himself listening for her door whenever he passed through the corridor, he would notice faint music from her apartment, her voice probably talking to herself she always had that stupiud annoying habit that drove him insane back in high school. Sometimes he would slow down outside her apartment for no reason beyond the possibility that she might open it.
One day he found her struggling with the lock to her apartment, a paper grocery bag balanced against her hip while she attempted to locate her keys somewhere in her purse. Peter hesitated at the opposite end of the hallway. He could have just gone into his apartment ignoring her completely, instead he made his way to her.
âHeyâ
Rose glanced at him briefly before returning her attention to her bag. âHeyâ she said flat enough to discourage further conversation but Peter had already made his mind.
âDo you need help?â
âNopeâ
As the word left her mouth the bag shifted falling forward and a glass jar tipped over the edge. Peter caught it before it could fall.. Rose stared at the jar than at him
âThanksâ she muttered
âYoure welcomeâ he placed it carefully back inside
Peter rubbed the back of his neck. âSo about the other night-â
âTheres nothing to worry aboutâ she said rapidly as she finally found her keys inserting them in the door.
âYou know I wasn't saying no because I didn't want to come insideâ
The key stopped turning.
âI said I don't care,â she said with red cheeks.
He huff slightly recognizing that stubborn look she had giving into a tiny smile.
âIm not always very good at being around people.â he explained
âYou don't say" she said raising an eyebrow
His small smile turned into a full one. Her own expression almost softened before she seemed to remember that she was annoyed with him. She pushed the door open and stepped inside.
âWell good luck fixing that,â she said.
The door closed.
Peter remained in the wallway, blinking at the wood. After a second she swallowed his sanity and his judgment as his hand raised, freezing and hovering for a second before he knocked.
âHey um Rose?â
The door swung open immediately, she leaned against the frame looking him up and down expectantlyÂ
âYes?â She asked, trying to sound casual.
âI actually ordered a bunch of food, well more like one pizza but I don't think I can finish it aloneâ
Her eyes glinted smiling instead of her lips as she looked back into her apartment then back at him
âMmm I don't know I got stuff to do.â
His grin widened as he shook his head, she's as petty as he remembered but now it didn't annoy him as much as he was expecting to.
âOk what if I put it this way. Would you do me the honor of sparing me a depressing evening eating alien cold pizza?â
She hum considering it before biting her lip from curling into a smile
âMmmmm if you put it that way I see why notâ
After that, encounters like this initiated against Peter's better judgment, turning into late night hangouts, coffee runs, little hangouts which meant nothing which were already too far than he should have allowed. He began finding himself spending more time in her apartment than he intended.But it was he had to admit a nice break from the daily headache at workâŠwhich was turning lately into an actual migraine he had been trying to avoid for the last weeksâŠ.
-------------
Peter's head was splitting open, that was the only explanation his disordered mind could produce as he staggered along the corridor, one shoulder colliding with the wall hard enough to fracture the plaster. Every sound in the building seemed to detonate inside his skull from the metallic complaints of the pipes, a television murmuring three floors below, the frantic scratching of a pet, someone coughing outside on the street, he heard all of it.
The hallway stretched before him in nauseating distortions, rushing away and contracting again as though the building itself were breathing. His body could no longer decide whether the world was moving too quickly or not moving at all. Peter reached his door with his fingers catching the handle but his knees struck the floor before he could turn it. Pain lanced through his spine as he folded in on himself, pressing the heels of his hands against his temples trying to keep his head together. His breath tore out of him in dry brutal gasps. Heat crawled beneath his skin, feverish and electric gathering around every nerve until even the friction of his clothes became unbearable.
Something was terribly wrong. Not injured but what the hell was happening to him?
His body felt like a stranger to his mind, too powerful and alert every sense of his body maxed out. A broken sound tore out of his mouth in pain as he dragged his knees against his chest pressing himself against the nearest door, barely aware that it was not his own. The wood after a second shifted beneath his weight. Then the door swung open making Peter fall backwards.
âPeter?â
The voice reached him from what felt liek a great distance movement around him happened but he was truly out of it. Hands seized his arms before his head could strike the floor.
âPeter!â
For one moment, the frightened cry became something else, a memory or rather the various memories of his name being called. May screaming his name through smoke, MJ shouting across the scaffolding, Ned laughing from the either side of a classroom. All voices belonging to people who could look directly at him now and see no one.Â
His eyes snapped open and there Rosabelle Thomas hovered above him. Dark curls spilling over one shoulder, disordered from sleep and those dark eyes which were now bigger from concern. She was kneeling close enough that one harsh breath and her chest would meet his. Her fingers gripped at his clothes trying to seat him up standing off from him.
Peter could only stare at her before closing his eyes again as another pain struck his skull.
âHeyâ her voice softened, although the panic remained beneath it.
âLook at me look at me you're not ok.â
âIm fineâ he answered with a hoarse and unconvincing whine. âJust a migraineâ
âA migraine???â she asked rather offended if he really thought her that stupid.
âYeah a bad oneâ he groaned.
He started to sit up before his knees buckled for a second. Rose caught his shoulder before he could fall again.
âStop moving for Christ sakeâ
âI need to get homeâ he whined his hands, finding her arms that held on to him.
âSeat your ass down before you crack your head openâ
âAlready feel like itâ
âYea exactly seat downâ she said demandly, already pushing him inside the apartment by his shoulders. Despite being barely tall enough to reach his shoulder her determination to manhandle him inside won as Peter let her push him inside guiding him into the apartment.Â
The apartment smelled like extinguished candles, paint and under it, her scent came out strong into his nostrils, cinnamon and vanilla. Rose pushed him down by the shoulders into the nearest chair
âStay.â she commanded him, giving his shoulder a slight squeeze. Even her touch for some reason seems to burn him, every sense in his body aflame and maxed out.
She moved around the apartment before coming back with a wet cloth pressing cooly against his burning skin as she took a seat next to him. Then she began torturing him with questions.
âWhat happened?â
âNothingâ Peter was able to respond in a strangled manner as he held back another headache.
âDid something happen while you were out?â
âNo.â
âDid you take anything?â
His eyes narrowed. âNoâ
âMaybe we should go the hospital-â
âI said I'm fineâ he raised his voice at her, startling them both. Rose drew her hand back as Peter shut his eyes, guilt already cutting briefly even as the pain in his head was stronger.
âI need to sleep.âÂ
He gripped the arms of the chair and stood and his right knee buckled once more falling over on his knees but before the rest of his body followed his hands flowed out on time to steady himself, they flew out grabbignon to her thighs.Â
Rose's breath stopped for a second as he remained needling before her, his head bowed and his fingers locked around the soft warmth of her legs. One palm landed just above the bend of her knee; the other rested higher, his thumb pressed into the inside of her thigh through the thin fabric of the sleep shorts.
She swallowed, forcing her body to remember how to breathe.
âPeter?â she asked softer as he groaned, keeping his head hanging low.
Rose leaned forward, trying to see his face. Her fingers hovered uncertainly beside his cheek till her fingers touched his jaw followed by her palm which cupped the side of his face. Slow and gently she guided his face upwards till his eyes met hers.
Rose went still. He saw the exact moment she understood that this was not a migraine. Sweat gleamed at his temple. His breathing remained harsh, his chest rising beneath his shirt with every labored inhale. His jaw flexed as his grip on her thighs tightened the slightest bit. There was something wounded in his expressions but also something darker had surfaced beneath it almost as if his eyes darkened the tiniest bit.
Her thumb rested at his jaw slightly almost letting go of him as something in her shivered from the look in his eyes.
âPeter,â she whispered, âI don't think you're okay.â
The world queued, not slowly but entirely as if in a snap all the outside world noise he was listening into at the same time vanished. Not vanish actually but replaced, everything was replaced by a new noise. A pounding noise, that layed under her chest. The way her pulse sounded beneath her flesh, the warmth gathered beneath his hands, the way her breath was becoming uneven like his.
His senses were still accelerated but focused on something new. Her.
âNo,â he breathed out
Her eyes searched for him. âNo?â
âIm not okayâ
Rose's expression softened despite the warning trembling through her body. Her palm settled fully against his cheek. Peter turned his head instinctively into the touch melting into it a part of him of whatever this was taking control finding her touch a need. After all these years in a fake way he finally had someone from his past right here right across the hall where she was under his grip. Whatever the hell had gotten into him,twisted inside of him felt comfort in having her here, being able to recognize her scent, her voice, the rhythm of her heart. As selfish as it was he wanted her near, in his life once more, and this new side of him that was battling to come out breaking through his skull needed her all of her.
The intrusive thought crept for a flash making his stomach turn in disgust on himself but reason was slipping as his hand left her thigh. His fingers slide around the beck of her neck a bit harsher than he expected. Her breath caught as he leaned closer watching every detail on her face engraving it in his mind. Peter held her there with unintended force, his palm spanning her nape, his thumb resting beneath her ear rubbing slightly on her skin.Â
He leaned closer, the top of his nose passed beside her cheek. Heat radiated from her skin onto his. Her curls brushed his forehead, carrying the scent of shampoo and paint.
âPeterâ she whispered his name again
God he loved being able to hear her saying his name after all these years. His ears that were still listening to her heart notice the sudden spike in the pounding that seemed heavy against her chest. Peters gaze dropped to her throat then traveled down her collarbone and chest. A fine golden chain rested against her collarbone, disappearing beneath the neckline of her shirt, each uneven breath shifted it slightly over her skin.
His fingers hooked beneath the chain, his knuckles brushing against the warmth of her skin at her cleavage. He drew the pendant from beneath her shirt, settling the pendant of a rose quartz in his palm warmed by her body.
It was a smooth pink quartz, he remembered damn too well that Goddamn necklace swinging around her neck in every little outfit she wore to school, the way it played in her fingers as she would mock him in class how it would lay against her chest in low cut shirts being able to feel her, her body, her touch. He played with the quartz in his own hand. Peter stared at the stone lying against his hand, beneath it his fingers grazed the upper curve of her chest with every frantic breath she took. He could feel her heartbeat not merely hear it now, hard and swift against the back of his knuckles.
A low sound gathered in his chest before he could suppress it, a groan escaped him as he swallowed, forcing himself to look away. Her hand slid from his cheek to his wrist making his hold tighten at her neck. Peter lifted his eyes to hers. There was fear there, but also something else. Her gaze moved helplessly over his face. Lingering on his mouth before returning to his eyes. The movement was minute and still every altered cell in his body reacted.Â
He moved closer until there was barely an inch remained between their faces. His body settled between her legs pressing himself slightly against her body. Instinctively her knees tightened for a second around his sides.
âTell me to go,â he said, his breath striking her lips.
Her eyes flickered, losing focus from his darkened eyes to his mouth, unable to decide which one to settle on.Â
âPeter youâre sickâŠâ she managed to whispered out
âThat isn't what I said.â
â...you can't even stand correctly Pete.â
âI am now aren't I?"
â.....youre kneeling smartassâ she said forcefully trying to sound annoyed
The corner of his mouth curved for a second seeing the old her still buried somewhere in there.
The ghost of Peter, the real Peter surfaced for half a second with that gesture. Then his thumb shifted beneath her ear, and her answering shiver erased it.
âTell me to go, Rose.â
Her fingers tightened around his wrist knuckles going slightly white. She should just say it, she should've said it a bit ago. Instead she could only whisper, "You're hurting me.â
Peter released her within the second. The room crashed into existence and everything flooded back into his mind. Traffic roared beneath the window, people voices everywhere, a glass dropping somewhere in the building, the impact exploding through Peter's skull.
He staggered backwards, nearly overturning the chair.
Rose remained seated, one hand pressed to her neck where he had held her, a form of shock and fear mixing together in her face as seh could only watch him.
Peter breathed heavily as the pain kept erupting and blooming but for a second of his sight focusing the sight of her neck cleared making him pause. Faint marks forming beneath her fingers from his own. Then horror eclipsed everything else.
âRos-â
âIm sorry im so sorryâ
He forced himself upright too quickly, catching the edge of the table when the floor lurched beneath him
âPeter wait-â
âIm sorryâ
He could not remain there. Not with her scent surrounding him and her heartbeat still racing in his ears. Not with the way she looked at him which seemed to affect him more in whatever state this was. He couldn't stay knowing that whatever twisted thing was taking over his body was in such need of her.
He reached the door disappearing into the hallway and into his own apartment.
âŠ.âwhat the fuck,â she breathed into the silence.
âWhat the fuck is happening to meâ Peter breathed on the silence of his own apartment.
--------------------------------------
A rapid series of knocks sounded the following morning, not loud enough to be alarming but still loud enough to not ignore. Rose opened the door with one hand still wrapped around the handle peaking slightly out. Peter stood on the other side. Whatever predatory, feverish creature had occupied his body the night before appeared to have been gone. He was clean with no traces of any illness and his usual puppy eyes bright smile. A brown paper bag occupied one hand while the other held a cardboard tray containing two coffees.
He offered her a stranded boyish smile,
âHeyâŠgood morning.â
Rose stared at him in disbelief
âMonring?â
âI brought you something.â he thrust the bag towards her fast enough she almost didn't notice the insane nervous grip he had on it. Her gaze traveled from the offering to his face. Peter's smile became an unsure expression as his face tightened.
âSo, umâŠâ He glanced down the corridor âAbout yesterday.â
Peter began waiting and expecting to be interrupted but Rose only folded her arms and waited.Â
âI was really sick,â he continued, âLike crazy fever sick, delicious even. Like I felt like I was dying, which sounds dramatic, but I'm pretty sure that's what dying mustâŠfeel like.â The words died slowly in his mouth followed by a small nervous chuckle which was more like a nervous huff.
He swallowed looking down at his shoes.
âIâm sorry Rose.â
At the sound of her name, something shifted across her face, narrowing her eyes for a second before shaking the expression off.
Silence followed for a while before she looked down away from his gaze.Â
âYou scared meâŠâ she said quietly, making his chest hurt, a panic gathering beneath his ribs.
âI knowâŠand I'm so so sorry Rose. That's the last thing I would ever want to do to youâ
She finally glanced back at him, the sincerity in his face maintaining her anger inconvenient.
âLook, I justâŠI just think we've become goodâŠfriends, and I don't want to lose that. I don't wanna lose you, in all honesty.â he began explaining a bit panicked and worried like someone who will break into tears to which her expression deepened but in concern.
â And I know I crossed a line. I'm sorry I wasn't in control of myself, which is not an excuse for what I did. I frighten you, I grabbed yo-â
She grabbed the bag from his hands in order to shut him up before he could continue.
âParker, it's fine.â she said softly, giving a half smile, raising one hand to his arm giving it a comfort squeeze.Â
âJust don't scare me like that againâ she added, squeezing a bit tighter, making him chuckle.
Her attention shifted to the bag, opening it up peering inside. Her face light immediately. In the bag were two banana bread cinnamon rolls (just did the recipe myself totally recommend)
Rose looked up sharply.
âWhere did you find these?â
Peter shifted his weight.
âThe bakery that's like 6 blocks from hereâ
âHow did you know I liked these?â
Panic surfaced across Peter's face before being rapidly buried beneath a helpless smile and an attempted shrug
âLucky guess?â
Her face brightened up with another one of those smiles he liked seeing more of as her eyes shined.
âI'm glad you're not dead,â she chuckled with him.
Imma include how the DNA alterations in Peters blood makes him obsessive and possessive needy in a yearning and aching way every time his arachnid side spikes.
AAAHHHH OMG THE SCENE IS PLAYIGN IN MY HEAD IMMA GET TO WORK
I know last chapter was a bit meh but so i hope i'm spoiling yall with this one so here we go people i promise i got plans i cant reveal right now I think yall might like it, pinky promise yall the story does have a plot and plot twists in the future, and sorry for the grammar and spelling mistakes i don't do editing i just write my ass off and english isn't my first language.
 ps. Just remember the rule of sirens we established in the first chapter for future chapters of the story not necessarily rn ;)
------
Those eyes.
He knew those eyes.
It was her without a doubt.
He froze in place for one moment, his body forgetting how to breathe. Her eyes holding him underwater, it wasn't till the maids ran into the room from the door she had fallen from he snapped back into it. Air returned to him but it felt like it was the first time his lungs ever had oxygen. Like if he had been drowning all his life.
âYour Grace, forgive us. She was found by the outer path last night near the shore. She wandered off from us-â The maid began explaining to Rhaenyra but all sense vanished from Jacaerys body as he took one step from the table, unable to hear the rest.Â
âJacaerysâ Rhaernyra warn interrupting the maid.
Once again fell on deaf ears .
âIt's youâ he breathed out in disbelief catching the attention of his mother and lords around the table.
âJac-âÂ
He moved quickly across the room to her, arms sliding gently under hers to help her rise to her feet. Both pairs of dark eyes met.Â
âIt's really youâ he repeated louder with glee as he looked her up and down but stopping at her face examining every detail.
She was just as he recalled from memories forced to be called dreams and fantasies. Her skin warm under this grip. Her eyes gleamed meeting his. She was so close the heat radiating from her chest was getting to him as she smiled widely, barely holding down her excitement.Â
How is it that someone can live a whole life without a beating heart, without oxygen in their lungs till the moment they meet someone. Till the moment their eyes meet and their life actually starts. For once she was ever conscious of how her pulse felt as it pounded against her chest threatening to explode.Â
Rhaenyra watched the pair with concern, confusion and disbelief.Â
âFound near the shore you say?â Rhaenyra' asked a bit urgently, still filled with disbelief.
âYes, Your Grace. The guards found her last night; they thought she might be from one of the wrecks.â
âA survivor?â Lord Celtigar muttered. âAfter this long?â
No one answered
Jacaerys finally turned around facing his mother.Â
âThis the girl I sawâŠWhen I woke at shore, the one who saved meâÂ
The girl remained in his grip, her eyes glued on him smiling bright and full of sort of relief.
A moment of silence dawned on the room.
Daemon leaned forward slightly.
âWell,â he said dryly but full of amusement, breaking the silence. âit appears the boy was not raving after allâÂ
Rhaenyra shot him a warning glance before turning back to Jace.
He ignored Daemon, his eyes glued on his mother waiting on her response. His grip loosened on her, which was a mistake as her legs buckled for a second, her body almost betraying her, falling slightly forward before he regained his hold on her once more. One arm slided around her waist while the other held her under her other arm holding her against him upright.
âEasy,â he whispered under his breath
Rhaenyra stood still, a form of unease and suspicion grew on her face as her eyes flickered between the girl and her son. But whatever suspicion lived in her, she did not let become cruelty,
âWhat are you named child?â She finally addressed the girl.
The girl in return seemed confused tilting her head slightly.
âShe does not speak your Grace, we have tried talking to her. She does not answer. Not properly at least.â the maid answered on the girl's behalf.
Jacaerys looked back at the girl as he learned this.
âShe is mute?â Lord Staunton asked.
âNot mute,â the maid said uncertainly. âShe speaks in a weird tongue none of use recognizeâ
Lord Celtigars mouth tightened.
âWith respect, your Grace, the timing is difficult to ignore.â
Daemon's smile returned, thin and calculating.
âSay what you mean.â
The lod hesitated.
âI mean only that enemies have used stranger methods than a pretty face at a door.â
âShe saved my lifeâ Jacaerys intervened with his voice raising.
âWe do not know that,â Celtigar replied carefullyÂ
âHow curious because I was there, the one who almost died, so yes I do know.â Jacearys replied with patience running thin.
Daemon watched with amusement, so did Rhaenyra but with another sentiment.
Jace held the girl closer, her eyes lifted to his. For a moment his composure nearly failed. She was real.
Real.
He had not invented her out of loneliness and sea foam.
Rhaenyras voice cut gently through the moment.
âJaceâ
He looked back at his mother. There was a warning in her face not anger exactly but rather fear. Not the fear of common men but the fear of a mother, a fear only a mother herself could know and express with her eyes. She has already lost one son, almost lost another one and on a normal voyage at that. She would not watch him be led into danger just because of a pretty face.
Jace understood what layed behind his mothers eyes. But he was his mothers son, and refused to back down.
Rhaenyra held his glare for a moment before it flicked involuntarily to the girl's face. She hid slightly on Jace's side, unsure of the room making herself small.
â...if she truly pulled you from the sea,â Rhaenyra continued, her eyes remaining upon the girl, âthen House Targaryen stands indebted to herâ
The words envelved the room in silence and tension.
Rhaenyra stepped forward, hands folded tightly in front of her, her expression had softened but her eyes didn't.Â
âNo debt owed for the life of my son shall go unanswered.â
The strange girl only met Rhaenyra eye, pressing herself closer to Jace unsure as the Queen approached.
âShe may remain upon Dragonstone,â Rhaenyra declared. âShe shall be given a chamber, food, clothing and the protection of this house. She may find place for herself among my household, should she wish to earn her keeping along the maids.â
Lord Celtigar shifted uneasily.
âYour Grace-â
âShe will not be cast back upon the shore,â Rhaenyra said, silencing him without raising her voice âNot after delivering my heir from it.â
âShe will be kept in the servants care for nowâŠwatchedâ she added cautiously, eyeing the girl down.
âAs you command, your Graceâ the maids bowed moving to the girl to collect her
âSee that she is properly settledâŠand find someone patient enough to discover what tongue she speaksâ seh added finally turning away back to the meeting.
The girl grip tightened on Jaceâs clothing not understanding what was going on,not wanting to let go as the maids tried taking herHe himself hesitated before having to let her go, but rather than losing his hold around her it tightened as he turned back to his mother
âI will take herâÂ
His mothers eyes narrowed as everyone around the table shifted uneasily.
âThe maids are capable of-â
âShe is scared and she knows me only.â
The girl stood as she had this entire time holding onto Jace as if he was the only steady familiar thing in the world.
Rhaenyra studied them both for a long moment. Then she relented with a quiet breath.
âYou may accompany her to the maester,â she said âNo fartherâ
Jace inclined his head, unable to hide the gratitude in his face.
âThank you, Mother.â
Rhaenyra could only watch as he carefully guided the girl towards the door, moving slowly so her uncertain legs could follow.
Only after they had gone did Daeon began his mockeries
âPerhaps the sea has finally decided to repay House Velaryon,â he said. âThough I would still ask why it sent repayment in a dressâ
Corlys looked at him sharply.
The mention of the sea had shifted something in the old lord's expression. Not belief, exactly.Â
He glanced over at the door the girl had just disappeared into. Only briefly but still something in him recoiled a form of recognition without understanding exactly what he recognized. As if some old sailor's tale had brushed a cold finger along the back of his neck. Something did not sit right with him but had no option to push it down as the original council meeting continued.Â
------------------
As they walked down the hall she kept stumbling over her own ankles, twisting, wobbling and buckling. Only thing holding her from falling face first was his arms tightly holding around her.Â
âEasyyy. One foot then the other, steady.â Jace tried explaining uselessly as she didn't understand him stumbling once more letting out a small yelp. Her arms held around his neck on instinct.Â
She looked back to him the distance so small between them he could see her freckles with more clarity and the way they vanished as blush arose under her cheeks. She let out a small warm laugh at the sudden closeness and awkwardness of the moment pulling shyly away from him as she tried walking again but slower.
By a miracle did they make it to the maesters.
Besides the wobbling she kept stopping, looking at everything and everywhere at once. At torches burning within the walls which she tried to touch again thinking maybe this fire was nicer than the one in her chamber but Jace was able to stop her on time dragging her hand down.
âNo- nope nope, what are you doin-â
Next her attention was on the carved dragons looming from pillars and archways, her hand dragging across it as they passed by. Servants bowed as Jacaerys walked by them, whatever they held became the next object of focus of the girl.
Yet no matter what caught her attention her gaze always returned to Jace.
He guided her into the maesters finally, where the sharp scent of herbs and smoke hung thickly in the air.
Maester Geradys looked up from his table.
âYour Grace.â
âShe was found near the shore,â Jace explained. âMy mother wishes her examined.â
Geradys eyes settled upon the girl and nodded slowly before he gestured towards the low examination table.
A maid came in claiming to be here to assist the girl that she would take it from here.
Leaving Jace no choice but to leave. He stood there for a moment hesitating as the girl looked at him helplessly making small protest noises as she noticed him leaving, speaking in her strange tongue.
He tried later to keep his mind off it but soonly inquired about the girl and was told they haven't been able to find anything about her nor the tongue she speaks. But she seems well enough and has been settled with the servants.Â
Kindness at dragonstone was given through patience from the servants explaining to her the best they could do her tasks, more like demonstrating the action given her the tools and leaving her to it. Within the walls she hadn't expected coldness to be just as at sea not coldness felt in the flesh although that was also an issue but rather coldness felt at heart, adn a weight heavier than any wave, a weight of pressure, grief, tension. Humans were stranger than anticipated, she had thought to herself.
Over the week she had managed walking, and doing the tasks, still words were not exactly easy or a skill she had accomplished yet.Â
The wet clothed scrabbed agasitn the stone her fingers ached from dragging them on the floor repeatedly. She sat back down soaking the cloth into the bucket repeating the same motion on the cold floor. Preoccupied with the task she hadnt notice the steps that echoed closer till he was in the room. Her eyes darted up meeting his face as he paid attention to whatever lord walked beside him. She rose to her feet quickly waiting on him to set his eyes upon her. Soon he sensed her, snapping his gaze into hers, he flexed his jaw forcing his eyes away as quickly as they found her, he walked painfully beside her, her existence a burning flame in the room he tried to ignore the burn of. As he passed by her without a glance, face forcefully turned to his side his hand accidentally grazed hers. A simple accidental touch on the fingers which set aflame every piece of body and mind making his hand twitch. Her lungs were at a loss for air as her heart climbed up her throat. She closed her eyes before looking over her shoulder watching his back as he was about to leave the room. He could have just left, ignore the innocent accident, but surely his heart won over his reason as his body disobeyed his mind, making him look back for a second giving her a discreet smile as he walked out. It was moments like this she anxiously awaited for, hoped for, on every turn, every room, every chance of the day to get glimpses of him. Moments she treasured before her time was to run out. Sure it had only been one week from the 3 moon cycles (3 months) but still it felt as time slipped through her fingers because no matter how much she got from him it wasn't enough, after all that's how she ended up here in the first place.
She watched helpless till the last of him could be seen before fully vanishing from the room. Her face tightened in a frown, feeling that heaviness on her chest, no one inside this fortress could escape. The wet cloth slapping down at the stone once more with a more aggressive force behind it.
âHomines plane absurdiâ she mumbled under her breath, annoyed, getting back to work.
That night the biting cold air felt especially cutting in the lungs, each breath becoming difficult to take for everyone for their own reasons.Â
Sharp swings slice through the air with heavy thuds that followed, as the Prince's sword latched into the dummy. Pulled out and swung again. Frustrated grunts followed by heavy breathes filled the night air under all the motion.
Late at night even with his mystery girl found something kept him restless like even if the mystery had been answered something remained unanswered hidden in plain sight.Â
He had come out here hoping exhaustion might quiet his mind.Â
It had not.
The stranger from the sea followed him even when she was nowhere near. Those dark eyes appeared whenever he closed his own. He remembered her hands upon himâŠin the water of course, though he could not tell which parts belonged to memory and which had been shaped by dreams. Anyhow even with her here he had thought it'd be the end of it. Proving she was real, that he wasnt mad and repaying her for saving his life, it should've been the end of it. But the fact she was real made it worse as the haunting of her existence persisted stronger than ever.Â
Another sharp hit struck into the dummy's head accompanied by a small petty kick as he walked off for abit. His breath came out ragged as his shoulder came up and down, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath for a second.Â
Alongside mirroring him a figure drifted within the shadows of the halls moving from pillar to pillar observing with awe.Â
The small figure balanced itself from behind a pillar by one of the archways. Her silhouette threatening to cross the line from the shadows and on to display on the moon's silver light. For moments peeking clumsily.
He felt as someone watched him, from the corner of his eye catching their shadow peek slightly into the light for seconds. His feet balance slightly to the right as he spun, grabbing quickly onto the handle of his sword, unlatching it off the dummy, holding it out ready to aim.Â
âWho is out thereâŠâ he called out more as a warning.
The figure hid further behind the pillar, the fabric of a dress swaying a second too late after her. His eyes narrowed at the sight.
âI can see your skirt,â he called out annoyed.
Behind the pillar she held tightly, her fingers drew white at the tips from the pression, her throat tightened, her forehead pressed against the arch meeting against the coldness of the stone. She had awaited so long for a moment like this she had come all this way but still it was just like at sea hiding behind stones watching from afar. Changing her tail to legs was not the answer to getting to him; it had to be within her to actually do something.
For a second no answer came, the training yard only filled further with silence and darkness. He readjusted his grip on the handle taking a slow cautious step forward.
With each heartbeat passing the silence disappeared as his pulse was the only thing he could focus as it pounded into his ear.
His leg shifted about to take another step but stopping abruptly as the shadow revealed itself. Her face emerged first from behind the pillar, outlined by the moonlight, familiar warm flesh adorned by freckles and those eyes showed themselves at last. Soft golden curls swiftly draped behind her next.
His face softened with his hand lowering the sword.
A sigh of relief escaped his lips as the heaviness in his heart blurred off.
âWhat-what are you doing here.â he asked, unsure looking around for signs of anybody else as he approached her.
She fully came out from behind the pillar dressed in sheer white fabrics that matched the moonlight perfectly. Her chest rose and fell with every heavy breath before she found his eyes timidly. Within those dark eyes she seemed to steady herself, her breath evening out before she took out one step. Her gaze lowered as she walked a bit more slowly but carefully, her gaze fully focused on her feet, she only met the prince's gaze again till she stood in front of him. A joyful smile spread as she showed off her progress.
His gaze softened at the innocent excitement.
âI see you are feeling better.â He commented
She only tilted her head in return.
Of CourseâŠthe language barrier.
Even if she had words to use she would still be at a loss for them. Never in all her fantasies for the last months had she even thought it a possibility to reach as far as she had to stand in front of him at plain sight. Needless to say she hadn't even imagined what shall follow what to say or do.
She could only stand there sharing the same gaze before even that became too intense and had to turn her eyes anywhere else.
Her eyes dropped from his to the blade lowered by his side. Her eyes travelled along its length, following the moonlight cough upon the dulled edge. He immediately yielded it back into his sheath but before he could fully do that her hand snapped out to his stopping him from doing so. Her eyes travelled back up to him slowly making his breath stop. She gave him a pleading look which confused him, eyes darting from her eyes to her hand which still laid over his bigger one. Â
She finally let go but only to mimic his previous movements with an imaginary sword.
He gave her a puzzled look which she returned with a frustrated breath not being understood yet. Her eyes scanned the yard landing on the swords that were piled up.Â
She walked to them steadily, only buckling an ankle one time before catching herself against the wood, the other hand already grazing all the handles of the swords. Jace finally caught up with what she intended, quickly holding a hand up as she took her pick grabbing the handle of one.
âWait those are hea-â
As she pulled the sword out she dropped with it, the sword landing first in the ground a loud clang ringing through the yard. Her knees landed next. The moment Jace reached her, he crouched to her level, taking hold of the sword she refused to release. He rose with it, attempting to pull the weapon safely away from her.
She rose with him, or at least tried to.
Her fingers remained stubbornly fastened around the handle, forcing her onto the tips of her feet as he lifted it beyond her reach to his side high up. The blade hung awkwardly next to him, the handle reaching the top of his head, as she kept her grip on it being pulled closer to him.
âRelease it,â he ordered
She looked at him without understanding and pulled harder. Jace tightened his jaw.
âYou will hurt yourself.â he said sternly
Once more another useless sentence.
âYou dont understand a thing I say, do you?â He asked with a small sad smile
The girl looked at him helpless, it was hopeless.
She tugged once moreÂ
âYou wish to learn?â he tried guessing, hesitating before lowering the sword closer to her still not letting go.
He sighed double checking for the yard before going around her placing his arms around her enveloping her whole. His hands stayed on the handle guiding her showing her how heavy it was.
She froze at the action looking back second guessing the situation but melting into it as she giggled from getting her way. She tried swinging the sword around as he had moments ago but was met with his force keeping the sword in place.Â
âEasyâ he whispered into her ear, sending every hair on her neck up.
He gently held the sword up in defense position, moving it around swiftly and slowly. Letting her experience the weight and movement.
âIf you wish to learn, you should be familiar with the weight of it, the balance. Footing ofcrouseâ he looked down watching her feet correcting them with his own.
She just stared over her shoulder trying to pay attention although she didn't understand she was trying to.
The way she stared at him attentively and genuine made him stop holding her stare back. It took everything in him to break from it looking down. Letting go, taking the sword with him taking 2 steps away.Â
âIf you wish to learn I'll see into a guard teaching you to their discretion of course.â he grumbled walking back to the pile throwing the sword in.
She tilted her head making her way back to him. As she got closer he took another step back keeping proprietary.Â
âIt's late, you should find rest soon-â the words died in his mouth as she closed the distance again.
This time she studied his face, her hand lifting gently up to his face repeating that same sweet motion she had done at shore. Her fingers smoothed his curls away, parting them to reveal his forehead,her fingertips traced a slow path down his cheekbone across the rough warmth of his jaw until her hand came to rest beneath his chin.
This time he didn't have the willpower to move or look away. Instead against any proprietary he relaxed against her touch leaning into it staring her down.
Studying that face, those eyes and whatever motive laid behind them. He swallowed before holding her wrist, peeling her hand off. Not letting go though as her wrist rested between both his hands gently shifting his thumb across her skin. He thought for a second hsi face betraying him as pity and something else showed.
He gently guided her hand against his center, right over the steady thumping of his heart.
âJacaerysâ he whispered
âMy name is Jacaerysâ
Her face stayed blank, showing no hint of whatever she thought. He could only sigh.
âYou must have been through a lot this weeks haven't you? I donât think I've genuinely thanked you for saving my life. If I could help you in any way or understand you I promise I wouldâŠI feel as my debt stands unpaid with you. I promise I'll make it right one day.â
Her eyebrows tighten for a second trying to understand and find any clue of what he spoke but didn't. She could only look down at her feet, disappointed in herself.
The sight of her upset made him uneasy pressing her hand harder against him trying one more time stubbornly.
âJacaerysâ he repeated himself.Â
Her fingers flexed stretching out across his chest settling against his clothed skin, she could feel his heartbeat under her hand, the pulse of every beat against her palm, she kept her eyes there upon her hand as she forgot to breathe. Her hand shifted slightly up and down caressing his chest, her lips parted slightly unsure before a small soft noise came to be.
âJa-â Her lips closed and parted again
His eyes widened, other hand shooting over the one already holding hers as he nodded his head excitedly.Â
âYes yes. Jacaerys.â
She finally flicked her gaze on to his eyes darkness meeting darkness as she let out a shaky breath
âJacaerys?â she repeated unsure to which he only delightely nodded yes
She smiled joyfully, grabbing his hand pressing against her own chest right below her bare collarbone. His breath caught feeling her bare warm flesh feeling her heartbeat in return.
A moment stood frozen and silence before she smiledÂ
âLirielâÂ
She pronounced slowly rolling the R.
He stared at her a small smile twitching at the corner of his lip
âLirielâ he tried the name in his mouth as the space between them seemed to close without them noticing almost chest to chest..
Just wanted to mention I'm basically just moving some of my work from wattpad here so if yall feel more comfy over there this is my username: Peonies666a
âWe found her by the gate to the beachâ the guard grumbled as he made his way through the servant's, girl still cradled in his arms.
âStumbling and dragging herself naked. We think she's been in a wreck of some sort.â The other guard added pulling a chair from the corner for the girl to be sat on.
The guard carrying the creature hesitated unsure before putting the girl down into the chair still clothed only by the cape as blood trickled down her leg and forearms. Most likely from dragging herself through stone. He turned back to the other guard mumbling on what to do next.
One of the younger maids approached quickly, her hand extending with a wet cloth to attend to her wounds. The creature in return flinched and hissed, giving a warning bite to the air.Â
Earning collective gasps and synchronized recoil from the rest of the maids, as the one in front only had time to fall backwards pulling her hand against her chest with the wet cloth.
âSi manum in me inieceris, manum tuam penitus praemordebo!â The strange woman hissed in a tongue no one understood, pressing herself tighter against the chair.
Stillness remained for a second only the harsh breathes of the girl could be heard as they came out with force as everyone else began to murmur which were abruptly interrupted by a stern voice.
âBy the Gods, we have faced far greater terrors than a frightened maiden. Compose yourselves at onceâ The older maid from before scolded as she pushed past the other maids and two guards.
 Joan who had originally made her way through the servants stood among the rest but not sharing the same motion as her eyes squinted analyzing the creature. She was small, bleeding , frightened. She approached with more caution, taking the wet cloth from the younger maid, crouching in front of the girl.
âIt's all alright sweetling, it shall all be alrightâ she reassured her in a softer voice, although she couldn't understand her, the approach made her breath easy. Joan pressed the wet cloth against the girl's knee making her hiss.
âI shall take care of her, leave her to me.â
The creature slowly rose her head, soaked curls falling away from her face revealing large dark brown eyes shaking in fear. Joan gave her cheek a soft touch fixing her hair away too.
âOh poor thingâ another maid muttered
âMartha bring the child some clothing at once, we shall bathe her too,â Joan commanded
âShall we take her to one of the servant chambers?â another maid asked
âFor now yes,â Joan answered
âI'll see what I can get out of herâ she said turning to the guards who could only nod as the child got carried between two maids off into the hallway that led to the servants chambers.Â
As the maids flocked and moved in and out of the room everything around her seemed to fade into the background muffling with the world outside as something greater had grabbed her attention.
As if time had slowed itself, freezing this moment just for her as she finally took in the world above, the world she could only imagine all these years and still exceed her expectations. The cold stone of the chamber seems bright as the light of the fireplace lightens up the chamber. Her attention slowly focused on the glow as she could feel warmth radiating off it into her flesh the small opalite glimmer flashed for a second under her skin as her hand slowly rose, uncurling her fingers forward the glow. So this was fire⊠she had only seen it afar a few times, always mesmerized by the unrestrain form that seemed to grow and dance with the ips of its flames. Her finger met with the sharp edge of the flame,making her flinch back with a hissÂ
She looked down to her finger offended for a moment then back at the fire.
âŠBites. She thought to herself.
She looked back at her finger at the red tip pulsing with pain and a small amuse breath left her, âŠshe was bitten by fire. She looked around the room, still in the moment everything seemed unreal as she took in she was truly here.
From outside the room the maid Joan and the guard stood observing the child. She was in her own world as she looked around the room staying in the chair.
âWe found her alone, nothing on her, isn't that strange?â the guard mumbled his eyes not coming off her
âA slave you think?â Joan asked.
The guard tilted his head looking at the girl who was touching the stone on the wall, fascinated next by the pot over the fire boiling water.
He let out an uncertain hum
âWhatever it is I don't like it, I'll comment it with her majesty in the morning. Tonight give the girl some clothes and food.â He finally decided upon it before walking away.
In the room she stared out the glass as the rain poured in from the sky. The great moon she was familiar with was the only thing in that room she could recognize making her feel the tiniest steady in the moment as the silver of its light reached for her.
The maids gently bathe and dress her, each moment of a new experience was thrilling at first until even that became dulled by her own mind who repeated the same image on her head.
THe memory of his face, the memory of each detail of his features she engraved into her heart repeating it with each beat like a mission to not forget why she was here. As she dropped into the white nest they called bed, her mind stood at ease for a second. She bounced slightly on the material as a giggle escaped her, feeling the softness and warmth of the sheets.Â
Joan tucked her to sleep leaving the chamber after, leaving her alone as the fire diminished to red embers. On the wall the small window remained with its glass letting moonlight spill into the room. She dragged herself to sit upright leaning her head slightly forward. Beyond the window lay towers, walls, and black courtyards. Farther still, the sea shone beneath the moon. Its beauty glimmeringâŠ.
Her legs ache beneath the blankets. Her attention shifted back to the room as she tried to lay again giving her back to the window. But sleep did not find her as her heartbeat pounded inside her head a heavy weight of an anxious expectation arose in her chest sliding into her body filling her whole. She glanced once more at the moon.
His face glimpsed before her eyes, those dark wet curls clinging into his face as she pushed them away.
She had 3 more full moon cycles before she was forced back into her tail, back into the tides.
The anxious feeling settled deeper into her chest and into her bones, the same feeling
that also unexplainably haunted the Prince's heart at the very moment.
Far above the servants quarters, Jacaerys stared into the open ocean that glinted with each wave under the dim light. IN his mind it came in flashes, flashes of gold richer than any treasure or jewel, pure gold from the sun itself embellished into hair. Those giant eyes as dark as the night that could hold all the stars. They have haunted him endlessly since that night. He had taken the decision to go out to look for her around the island himself if his mother wouldn't help or believe him.Â
He walked slowly back into his bed settling in his eyes not coming off the silver moon as he laid down arms coming behind him supporting his head.
Fuck
He sighed.Â
----
Next morning he was up and ready not like he had much sleep, but it was indeed smarter to search during daylight. He quickly was making his way through the courtyard hoping to make it out before anyone stopped him.
âWhere are you off to may I know?â his mothers voice came from behind him.
âMothe-â
âDo not tell me where you are about to go out there on your own.â
âIt wouldn't be the first time I walked around Dragonstone on my own mother.â
âYes but you seem to forget we are at war Jacaerys, not only that but you can not be seriously indulging into fantasies right now of all times. I've tried to be patient but it's starting to run thin as you keep on pressing the matter. Whatever this is you have to wake away from it. You have duties to this house, to the people, to the crown to me. Is that understoodâ
âBut moth-â
âEnough.â
âWe are to meet the council soon. You are expected there in my sight.â She said a bit more sternly then she meant to as she walked away.
Jacaerys could only helplessly swallow his words and any argument to come as he walked after his mother with his head down.
-------
The moment she woke up her head snapped up unfamiliar with her surroundings once the memories settled in glee outpower her lack of skill of walking as she threw herself out of bed. Intending to leave the chamber but instead fell face first on the floor. Her patience was nonexistent even as the maids tried dressing her and she kept trying to get up and walk off. They had managed to keep her standing as they dressed her in a simple blue gown, the material friel and a bit sheer on the sleeves and ends of the skirt, a simple gown for a commoner but she wore it with beauty. She had learned so far how to stand and put a foot in front of the other which was good enough for her next course of actions.Â
Her feets wobbled and crossed each other as she tore clumsily down the hallway, ankles twisting in an attempt to get away from the maids before they could stop her. Her heart quickens at even the slightest memory of him soon to be turned to flesh and bone and have him face to face. She turned over the corner stumbling and tearing through the halls finding the first opening hands out to catch herself betraying her as the door gave out easily barging into the room face first with a yelp
Everyone around the stone table turned some standing in the instinct of surprise looking at the small figure that laid scattered across the floor, cascades of wild golden curls covering her face. Her arm moved, tossing her hair back revealing warm tan skin kissed with constellations of freckles, soft features in her face worthy of an angelâŠat least in his eyes. Her gaze fixed to the people at the table landing on him, finding him within the second.
The moment those dark brown eyes laid into his, he could feel the way his heart itself tighten crawling into his throat. Pounding into his head behind his eyes every sense of his body freezing and at flames at the same time.
The waves crashed violently against the rocks of Dragonstone as the sea grew restless over the weeks, wellâŠas someone grew restless over the weeks.
After that incident Jacaerys couldn't part for long from the sea, always coming back to shore staring into the horizon as if something was calling out to him.
Sometimes even for the tiniest split of a second he thought he actually heard a calling. A haunting ethereal note echoed from the waves crashing at shore at times dragging him to walk into the water pulling him in. As the water met his thighs the note disappeared, blurring with the sounds of the sea, heâd snapped out of it not hearing anything at all confused as to how he made it out so far from the sand.
Sleepless nights he'd come at the beach past the guards past his mother who was more protective and controlling since his almost accident.Â
As he stared into the dark void the sea had become he sat down at the moist sand dagger in hand switching around in his fingers anxiously. He couldn't explain what had happened, he was supposed to be dead , drowned at the depths of the sea claimed by the void. Yet he woke up at the shores of dragonstone unharmedâŠeven stranger the face he saw as he came through. When he recalled what seemed like a Goddess herself or atleast the face of one, tan skin with constellations of freckles had been kissed across her skin, dark brown eyes as deep as the void in the ocean staring at him swallowing him full, golden curtains of curls swallowing anything around them as she hover over him within the second she had vanished as if she had been a hallucination. He had entrusted in his mother on the matter which of course was met with unbelief and the logical thinking on tricks of the mind after all he had drifted at salt seas alone for hours til he was spit out by the tea to shore luckly alive.Â
A part of him believed the logical explanation, another part just knew that wasn't true. He looked over the horizon with longing beyond sane men's comprehension as he waited for something he himself did not know what he awaited for. He played with his dagger stiff enough for any more pressure to draw blood surely. He hadn't noticed tho not until the sharp wet pain finally snapped his attention back to his hands where he had dropped the dagger out of instinct. The sand painted scarlet as his hand dripped from the fingertips.Â
âFuckâ
He hissed sucking as his finger tip the taste of metal hitting his mouth and his gaze suddenly snapped up again annoyingly where he thought he had heard a small giggle. He truly could not explain the drag, the pull, the calling, whatever he could not quite put a name on it. He rose to his feet making his way to where the waves met the sand softly with its foam, stepping into the water his dagger long forgotten behind him.
âHello?â
âIf there's someone out there it'd be wise to come out now.â
Silence, nothing but waves crashing against rocks.
He felt annoyed first, then silly. He truly had gone mad, he thought to himself. He took in the breeze into his lungs the salt air infiltrating his nossilts, receiving him as an old friend from childhood. He stood there for a bit examining the darkness the ocean's horizon lost itself in.Â
A moment of peace or a moment that should've felt peaceful but yet he felt an uneasy weight upon his chest.
He scoffed as he walked back annoyed to the dry sand to be met with the absence of his dagger.Â
What?
At first he looked around alarmed and alert as waiting to meet eyes with who was messing with him but when his eyes laid upon with nobody he looked back into the spot the dagger once laid and felt disappointmentâŠthe logical thing was it had probably washed away with the waves in his moment of distraction he thought as he walked away into land making his way back into the fortress shaking his head with a groan.
Beyond the shore across the rocks behind one of the larger ones in the moonlight shining in silver light, there she laid in all unnatural beauty and existence. She twiddled and fidgeted the strange sharp object in her hands, imitating his movements from before. Studying the beautiful jewels embedded into the handle of the dagger, shining across her eyes from the night's glow.Â
She glanced over from where he had just stood. A warm feeling strikes at her heart spreading through her veins.
She gazed into the horizon where the land began. Another world from the one she knew earth, sand, fire and love everything she didn't know but was longing for. As the human disappeared from view she dived back into the water swimming closer to the island.
It was a mistake, something against her nature ,something she knew was dangerous butâŠshe couldn't help herself.
Ever since she had returned him to land she tried to stay away, she truly did but returned every time the first ray of light was given by the sun and every single time the moon settled in the sky. The creature swam cautiously around the island trying new angles to see if she would spot him but at the end of the night always ended at the same spot she had left him weeks ago.
Sheâd settled in a rock near the shore , tail curled against the edges flipping around waiting. She would stare at the shore for hours and tried entertaining herself with the way the waves washed up with foam before retreating into the ocean till at last some heâd come into sight. Some nights he'd walk around the edge of the water, its foam washing at his boots. She never approached, just watched. It was routine by now. Well maybe sometimes she accidentally sang to herself to let time go by without realizing he had already come out accidentally luring him into sea. She stopped right away of course but a small part of her was happy to see him upclose.
The way his dark curls graced his face moving swiftly as they were brushed by the salty air. The way those mesmerizing brown eyes moved across the scenery never landing on her, never finding her, what would she give to look directly at them. The way his jaw tightened and flexed as his focus hardened out of frustration. Every detail she engraved and carved into her mind afraid to miss the tiniest thing, she wanted to treasure this little thing that was hers the memory of him was hers to keep, to dream about at night and jiggle as she danced through the waves.
Some nights when there was no sign of him with a groan she would dive into the water with a harsh splash from her tail, she swam another lap around dragonstone growing impatient, and the best part of it all after all these efforts she was in denial on why she was there. She told herself it was her checking that the human is well and alive after saving him and that her efforts were not in vain. But she grew restless as she wanted more and more. THe memory and sight of him were not enough anymore and she grew bolder.
And tonight she had stolen a physical memory. She didn't know what it was, she just knew it was his. She played with it under the water watching her eyes on the reflection of the blade. Her eyes stared back into hers with thoughts stirring behind them, snapping back up looking at the silver cape of light that draped the ocean. A dangerous craving rose in her heart.
Her tail flicked harshly making her glide through the water rising sharply breaching within seconds the surface. She didn't stop there as dashed through the water, opalite shining through the black waves, her tail reflecting the light of the moon as she got closer to shore. As she reached shallow waters her hands reached for the sand as she dragged her weight out of the water. She dragged herself to shore crawling and twisting herself against the moist sand that stuck to her as she curled around. Her tail slapping into the moist surface wiggling trying to get her as far as she could off the water. Her struggle was a success as she flipped over in the cold sand facing the night sky.
Her chest heathed with every exhausted breath, taking a moment to recompose herself before the actual hard work began. Then her tail curled and twitched as she wiggled it around with a suppress hiss that escaped her chest. Her opalite scales seemed to sunken like claws beneath her flesh leaving the tiniest glimmer to smooth skin as the tail itself seemed to part and tear itself into two. Mutating themselves and their anatomy completely. The length shrunken, fins retracted and vanished within her skin as the final form of legs, human legs. She let out a cry and painful deep breath as she was done. She sighed looking down at the finished product freezing at the sight.
A laugh
An actual baffled laugh escaped her as she studied her legs running a hand across the smooth scaleless skin. No fins, no scales just human skin, well close enough to it a slight shimmer light underneath her flesh not really noticeable unless you looked hard but still there.
 Her eyes unfocused from her legs to the background as the sparkle of the dagger she had stolen layed a bit further down the shore before she dropped it to drag herself to shore.Â
She immediately tried standing to go get it just for the weight of her body to crash down onto her unsteady legs making her knees buckle and fall face first into the sand. A surprise yelp escaped her as she pulled her face up, her golden curls dirty with black sand matching her cheeks and nose.
She huffed as she gave it another go but failed miserably as the next try she rose to her feet just for her ankle to twist falling sideways. From her throat a mix of a whine and groan escaped as she laid in the sand. She huffed giving up and crawling to it instead snatching it up looking around trying to figure out what to do next.Â
A growl from the skies roared, shaking her very bones as a storm approached. Her head snapped in direction of the sea seeing clouds incoming quick.Â
----------------------------------------------<3
Back within Dragonstone Jace stood by the window watching as the sudden storm took place. One hand laid over his head supporting against the cold stone as he leaned looking through the window to nothing in particular , the other at his waist. It was getting ugly outside as the rain banged into the glass and the wind howled.
âLooking out for your sea lady?â Daemon joked with amusement as he walked by.
Jace's head snapped quickly in his direction looking with disbelief as his mother who stood behind him.
âDaemonâ she quickly hushed at him.
In response he only let out a low chest chuckle completely amused with himself as he walked into the room.
âYou told him?â Jace asked, offended.
Rhaenyra paused before raising her arms slightly as if the explanation was logical
âI was concerned about you and needed to confide in someone.â she let out in breath
Jaecerys scoffed, turning around baffled, his jaw flexing.
âSo you believe me mad now?â
âI didn't say that.â Rahynera added, reaching out to her son, making him face her once more. Her hand caressing his locks affectionately.
âI did,â Daemon called out, making his way to the chair that lay by the warmth of the fireplace.
âDaemonâ Rhaynera hissed turning at him.
He put his hands up in mocking defense as he sat.
âMy mistake not mad ... .delirious and lonelyâ he corrected.
Rhaynera breathed out, shaking her head slightly looking up in a form of defeat against him.
âWhen I first heard of your sea adventures. For a moment one would believe you were trying to describe a NÄiades.â he mocked, settling deeper into the seat with another chuckle.
Jace breathed harshly through his nose, annoyed rolling his eyes tightening his jaw looking away.
âI am not describing a fucking siren-â
âJaecerysâ Rhaenyra scolded at the choice of words.
âYea not shit a NÄiade wouldn't have saved your ass even if they were real, if anything you would have washed up nibbled on.â Daemon commented looking into the fire.
Jace seemed annoyed having to take in a breath before continuing his explanation properly.
âI'm saying I saw someoneâ he stated a bit harshly
âSomeone saved me.â he added a bit softer.
âJace when we found you there was no one nearâ Rhaynera commented softly
He pressed his lips thinking on his next words but also the ones of his mother.Â
âExactly, what if she is hurt or scared somewhere through the island hidingâŠSure I could've been hallucinating but if it's worth the chance to look she could be somewhere.â he pleaded.
â...after all she saved my lifeâ he whispered under his voice.
Rhaenyra face soften with concern but also understanding for her son stepping closer resting a hand upon his cheek
âWeâll seeâ she finally gave in to settle him for now.
Jace was not satisfied with that answer, giving out a breath going away from his mother's touch turning around to leave the room. As he left Hraynera turned to Daemon walking besides his chair with an annoyed look.
âWhat?â Daemon asked innocently
Rhaynera only scoffed, shaking her head, taking the seat across from him.
âI don't know where this infatuation with this dream lady is coming fromâŠyou think he could be unhappy with the idea of being betrothed? Could this be what's causing his troubles?â Rhaynera wondered with concern.
âCould be, or he is a young man forced into his duties at all times, searching to please his mother and house, no contact with any other lady then the ones he knows from duty, boy is gonna break sometimes. Give it time it'll passâ Daemon comforted her the way he could, with his honesty.
Somewhere deeper in the castle within the servant quarters the kitchen exploded in chaos and confusion. Two guards had barged in from the storm soaked from the rain panic in their eyes. But it wasn't the actions themselves that brought the scandal but rather what they brought with them. One of the older maids pushed her way to the front to see what the fuss was about. As she made it up front she was met with the sight of one of the guards cradling a small figure wrapped in nothing but his own cloak. Wet to the bone, soaked curls draped over her face as she trembled. Her face hid into her own chest pulling tightly into the cloaked covering herself from the cold refusing to meet anyone's eye.
I've seen many takes on this idea of Jace and mermaids/sirens and I'm obsessedddddd and wanna give it a try myself yall are so creative all credits to the ones who had this idea first and inspired me to give it a go on my own story, I could never yall amazing. So hope yall like this story my way of coping about Jace because nah he is still alive i'm in deniallll he is very much alive.
As the waves and tides crashed at the beat of the storm. The sides of the boat didn't stand a chance to begin with and rocked to the sides violently. Men scattered aboard on useless attempts to steady its rhythm, as they preoccupied themselves with useless tasks before their cold deaths, something slitter through the water glittering under the foam, splitting through the waves sharper than any ship.
The sea itself had decided to team with the skies on the decision to sink these men. As lightning struck with thunder. Crackling strokes of sharp lights across the sky caressing its sails with a growl of rage from the clouds.
Warmth started to kindle and glow the corner of the sail quickly expanding at the rest of the fabric. Orange flames ablazed the ship.
Men jumped overboard seeking for death in the cold rather than in the hell the boat had become.
Screams muffled with the blasts of the waves drowning their sorrow prayers before drowning their actual bodies.
As the prince fell over with one harsh rock of the ship, his body was met to the bone with needle sharp pain by the piercing ice cold water, lungs locked tight refusing to inhale as the razor-like pain intruded his nerve system.
Soon the burn became numb alongside his consciousness blurring as he sank under the violence above the ocean.
His body slowly dragged down by the dark void the ocean opened up to be, claiming him into the depths.
On his way down, shines of opalite glimmer from above, cruising the thick waters with ease, the figure that had been skittering across the surface earlier now descending down to him.Â
Scales that shined like opalites dipped in gold at the corners adorned the strong tail that swam its way to the prince. Her fins were like silk, like a betta fish fin, beautifully delicate, impossible to believe that fins that resembled flower petals could hold force.The same scales spread from her tail to parts of her abdomen to her breasts.Â
The sea creature caught up with the Prince, swiftly wrapping her arms around him, hands if that's what you could even call them as they webbed across each finger, clawed tightly into his chest keeping a tight grip on his body as her tail struck the water accelerating them up, breaching into the surface with a half conscious gasp off his body.Â
Above the surface the sea was still drenching on fire and death, the Prince drifted unconscious in her arms across the scene, cradled by the waves which slowly rocked them to a more gentle rhythm as the storm apeaced.Â
By the first rays of daylight they had arrived on shore. The sky painted in pinks and oranges ever so beautiful, as if the skies apologized for sending a storm so violent.
She crawled into the sand with one arm and all its strength, the other still wrapped around Jaycaerys pulling him to shore. Tail wiggled to get them closer, now on the surface scales catching the light, glimmering beautifully.Â
She grunted and groaned as she managed to get his dead weight and hers off to the sand away from the slight foaming waves. The sun was starting to rise from over the horizon displaying its first rays upon them. The sight of her shining tail is remarkable but dull to her eyes, compared to the real sight in front of her. His face softened in sleep caressed by the warmth of the sun revealing every detail on his face for her to see and engraved into her mind. Her hand raised without her wanting to but she couldn't help herself as she traced with her fingers his hair away from his face slightly rosing his cheek and jaw, hand lingering its touch on his chin as she watched his lips parting slightly, breathing softly.
If her sisters could see herâŠshe just broke the major law of her existence, of her species, and went against her very own nature. And yet she didn't regret it one bit.
Velaryons had old tales, tales for children Jacaerys had thought every time he heard it even as an infant at sea. Tales of creatures in the deep sea, creatures with bodies of angels to deceive you and tails strong enough to drag you under to drown and devour. Daughters from the tide and sea foam, the NÄiades.Â
Stories tell of this creatures devouring men as they see the wickedness and corruption in their heart, this sirens enchant ships with their voice driving them to their doom, there's so much to tell of this creatures, how in season they change their tail for human legs to mix along mortals to reproduce but have to give up the price of their song as long as they are human, how a bite is poisonous enough to kill a men within 2 minutes it's only cure 3 drops of the creatures blood, how a mermaids kiss strips her from her tail as she's chosen land over sea, how consuming mermaid blood ties you to one for life but betraying her condemns her to die, how a mermaid can only fall in love in her whole immortal existence once madly and desperately, and then the one favorite that make people believe in them desperately to seek this thing, the tale how a mermaid's tear can grant you one wish anything you want bending laws of reality,old magic and life.
All foolish tales he had thought annoyed when the conversation dragged out at sea and yet here he lay unconscious in the sand saved by the supposed demon of the sea.
Her face lowered slightly hovering over his casting shadow across his closed eyes, her golden wild curls styled by the sea fell over like a curtain washing down beside them. Her hand rested upon his chest as it raised up and down with each weak breath. The other that had lingered upon his chin remained there as she shifted hesitant for a moment but something had taken over her stronger than any sense of sanity or logic, getting closer her breath hitching as her lips lingered nothing away from his-
What the hell was she doing, she thought to herself unable to fight her body from whatever trance she had entered.
Before her lips could even grace his, his eyes fluttered slightly open, not fully conscious yet making her snap out of it, backing her head off hovering over him still but letting light spill into his face.
His eyes fluttering open where the color of gold against the light, a treasure she would gladly die seeking. As he slowly came to all he could see at first in his blurry vision was the outline of a face, a face ever so delicate and beautiful his heart even in that state failed to beat for a second. One moment she was there the next she had flashed off, he fought against his own body trying to compose himself opening his eyes fully seated up in the warm sand.Â
There was no one around, no sign of anyone, just the sea crashing its waves at shore and the sky warmly greeting him with its colors.
That was the first time of many to come, that the sea returned Jacaerys Velaryon.
Peter Parker fanfiction on how the girl thats hated him his whole life finds Peter again years after the wish that erased Peter Parker off everyones minds just to fall in love with him.
âYouâre gonna forget who I am. It's okay. I'm gonna come and find you and I'll explain everythingâŠI promiseâ Peter forced the words out quickly, like saying them faster might make the hurt less.
She stood to the side listening as something unfamiliar twisted at her gut and chest.
Her hand shit out and caught his arm.Â
âThe fuck you mean forget you Parker?âÂ
He looked at her but she had already released him shaking her head as if refusing the words could stop them from becoming true.
âIt's gonna be okay.â
He turned away.
âWait Pet- PETERâ she screamed after uselessly as within seconds she would forget any memory of him.Â
She ran after him. After the boy she has spent years fighting, resenting, only to understand him when it was already too late. After the last person she had ever expected to do something good for her.
Light tore across the sky. Her next step faltered as she landed head first.
When she came through she no longer remembered why she had been running nor why tears ran down her face.
------------------------------------------
The hallway was gray.
Cold, cracked stone covered the floor, while long stains of water damage crept across the ceiling and down the walls where the paint had begun to peel. Every sound carried through the paper thin walls, though none quite managed to overpower the groaning pipes.
Perfect.
She adjusted the box in her arms and continued down the hall. It was one of the heavier ones, packed badly enough that its weight kept shifting against her chest, blocking nearly all her view.
She only needed to reach the corner. Apartment sixâŠlucky number she thought to herself. The box began slipping. She threw it upward for half a second, attempting to readjust her grip as she turned the corner-
Just to walk indirectly into something solid
Well someone solid.
The impact sent her stumbling backwards. The box struck the floor with a heavy crack, spilling its contents across the hallway.
Books. Journals. Tangled wires. Old tools and pieces of unfinished technology scattered over the stone.
âShitâ
She dropped to her knees immediately, grabbing whatever she could reach before anything rolled beneath the radiators.
âIm so sorry,â a voice rushed out above her âI wasnt-I mean, I was standing there, obviously, but I didn't think you were going to- Not that this is your fault.â
âGreat. Thanksâ
âNo, I didn't mean-â
She looked up.
The rest of his sentence died.
He was around her age, perhaps a little older as he seemed it in the eyes, tired eyes. He had unruly brown hair matching those tired eyes, they were dark brown a deep rich dark brown. All color seemed to drain from his face as he stared at her.
For one fleeting second,something almost hopeful broke through his expression. The beginning of a smile he seemed unable to stop graced his lips.
Then it vanished as his face closed so quickly she wondered whether she had imagined it.
âYou okay man?â she asked weirded out.
âYeaâ he breathed out too quickly.
Her eyes narrowed before returning to the mess . âRight.â
The stranger crouched beside her and began gathering the fallen belongings.
âSorry,â he said again, quieter this time.
âIts fine, Nothing looks broken.â
His attention shifted toward something that lay against the wall.Â
A pocket watch.
His breathing stopped as his eyes locked onto to it a warm memory flashing through him.
She quickly reached for it, but he was faster picking it up first. His thumb passed carefully over the faded engraving on its surface, handling it with an intimacy that made discomfort prickle along the back of her neck.
âCan I have that?â she asked rather demandingly with her hand stretched out.
His eyes snapped to hers
âYe, sorryâ he let out quietly, placing it into her open palm.
Their fingers brushed and something small and electric moved through her, too sharp to be static, too familiar to make sense of it. She imminently pulled ehr hand back glancing down at the watch
The watch had opened slightly during the fall. Before she could force the damaged clasp into place, he leaned closer.
âYou have to press the crown first.â
She looked at him, making him freeze.
âHow do you know that?â
âI-â His gaze dropped to the watch, a distant memory replaying for a second of his hands fixing it to make it close that way.Â
âMost of them work like that.â he finally saidÂ
âNo they dontâ she muttered looking back down to her watch as she pressed the crown. The cover clicked shut effortlessly.
She looked back at him, he had returned his attention to the scattered contents of the box, suddenly very interested in winding a loose cable around his hand.
âLucky guess,â he muttered.
âYouâre weird.â
A faint smile touched his lips.
âYeah, I get that a lot.â
They finished collecting the rest in silence. He placed her journals into the box alongside the old tools and tech.
When he stood, he lifted the box with him
âIve got it.â he said already turning around as she tried reaching for the box
âI can carry my own stuff.â she replied as she tried once more to grab on to the box for him to turn it away once more.
âWhich apartment?" he asked, completely ignoring her protests, giving her a glance.
She huffed but let a ghost of a smile grace the corner of her mouth for a second.
â...number six.â she let out flatly
His eyes brows raised, recognition flashing through his faceÂ
âOh lucky numberâ he said without thinking with a quick smile before dropping it quickly, turning to find the door fast as if that just didn't happen.
She only furrowed her eyebrows, something in her chest felt heavy and her brain was fighting to find for something to be found empty.
THye got to the door as she hesitated before unlocking it, pushing it open. He stepped inside only far enough to place the box beside the wall. His eyes moved around the empty apartment lingering briefly over the windows and the half unpacked bags on the floor.
There was something unsettling in the way he looked at everything.
Not soy but almost nostalgic.
âNew to the building?â he askedÂ
âNo, I've lived here twenty years. I just enjoy emptying the place and removing everything keeps it interestingâ she said with all seriousness before breaking a small smile
âWhat you think, wonder boy.â she added as she turned to place her pocket watch into the counter of the kitchen.
âRight,â he nodded once. âStupid questionâ he chuckled
âA littleâ she smiled
His eyes narrowed with the tiniest amusement and curiosity at the way she smiled. He barely ever saw her smile before.
She could only stare back into the way he looked at her. There was a certain intimacy in the way he held her gaze that set whatever weight in chest she felt earlier heavier as something old within her pulled.
She swallowed before breaking the silence and breaking away from the moment.
âSo you gonna tell me your name?â
âRight my nameâÂ
âYe usually people got thoseâ
He chuckled as he looked down thinking for a second. Something in him found a split second of courage as he looked back into her eyes letting the words come out before his brain could stop him.
âPeter.â
The name landed strangely, not recognition, but again that strange dull pull beneath her chest, as though something inside her had heard it before.
She studied his face. Peter watched her carefully, something guarded behind his eyes.
âHave we met?â
His expression didnt change but something in his eyes did.
âNoâ
The answer came softly, almost a whisper as he swallowed looking at the window then back at her. She continued staring at him. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket shoulder drawing inward.
âI just have one of those faces.â
âYeaâŠI guessâ she laughed it off or at least tried to before it died off.
Another silence settled between them.
Peter glanced toward the hallway.
âIm across the hall,â he said âSo, if you need anythingâŠanythign at allâ
âIll know which door not to knock onâ she said once more with that serious sarcastic tone before giving a half smile.
He smiled again but this one carried something melancholic and nostalgic beneath it as if he's heard this whole tough act before.
âYeaâ he said âOkay.â he scoffed with a slight grin.
He turned to leave. Her gaze turned to the pocket watch on the counter.
âPeter.â
He stopped immediately turning around.Â
âYesâ he asked quickly
âThanks for helping.â
His face softened for a second he looked at her as though she had given him far more than a simple thank you.
âAnytime.â
He stepped into the hallway and pulled the door gently closed behind him.
She remained where she was staring at the peeling wood.
Peter.
The name continued echoing faintly inside her head, searching for a memory that was no longer there. Across the hall Peter walked into his own apartment closing the door behind him before pressing his back against it sliding down to the ground closing his eyes.
âYouâre still a bit of an assholeâ he chuckled to himself, smiling sadly.Â
