You've been on my mind from the day we met
and ever since the time I cannot forget
the look in your eyes, the smile on your face,
the words you spoke so soft, they can never be erased.
Stealth was never Liam’s strong suit.
Even before the Light, when he was a perpetrator in thievery and mischief, he never cowered in the shadows where nobody could see him. To Liam, if he was going to be a troublemaker and break the rules, there was no point going through life unnoticed.
Action - it was part of the fun when it came to playing by his own rules. Running and leaping over obstacles with a wallet in a hand and childish glee in his head, Liam always found the most satisfaction in turning around to find nobody trailing his path.
However, ever since Liam had to step up and embrace the role of leader of Inferno, going through situations with a one-track mind started to lead into dead ends. Though there was nothing more delightful than leaving his legacy through flames and burned rubble, Liam had to take care of more than just himself nowadays. To sacrifice himself would be to sacrifice his team, his family, which was how he found himself slinking along the inner castle walls with Jerome by his side.
If the situation were a little more laid-back, then Liam would almost laugh at a distant memory of him and Jerome breaking into countless abandoned and restricted buildings just for the hell of it. But this wasn’t just two teenagers skirting the law with booze and laughter.
This was a stealth mission to gain more information about the Delacroix.
Just thinking about the name itself made Liam’s lips curl into a sneer as he watched a guard pass from afar.
That dreaded family had done nothing for Liam except rip away his parents away from him before he could even walk. Though Liam never got the chance to know his parents, he was always told stories by his grandparents about the people they were, and that they died with honor.
Liam’s only images of his parents were the few worn, black and white photographs that his grandparents showed him from time to time. Liam never missed them - after all, he couldn’t miss what wasn’t there to begin with - but there was always a hollowness sitting firmly in his chest whenever he looked forlornly at a happy family meandering through town.
Though Liam’s parents may have died with honor under the Delacroix rule, he swore to himself that he would live and leave his legacy behind while the Delacroix name lay in ashes.
“Are you ready?” Jerome’s quiet voice broke through Liam’s thoughts, causing him to turn towards his trusted companion.
Liam smiled, less than lightly nudging Jerome in the arm before fixing the hat on his head.
“Ready when you are, Alistair.” Liam winked, letting the fake name roll off his tongue, making Jerome snort out of amusement.
“Let’s make this quick, shall we?” Jerome drolled in an over-the-top accent.
“God...shut up, dude,” Liam said between snickers. “If we’re lucky, we won’t have to make much conversation and we can duck out before any of them recognize us.”
With a nod from Jerome, they slipped through the doors and diverged from each other, into the giant crowd.
People littered the gigantic ballroom, all donned in their best dresses and suits. Slender champagne flutes rested in almost everyone’s hands as servers walked around, tending to the people. The floor was undoubtedly buffed, the tables polished so meticulously that Liam could see his own reflection in the shiny wood.
“The king’s getting more and more decrepit with age, and yet he still finds the time to host these lavish birthday parties each year...” Liam muttered under his breath, slowly making his way through the throng of people, being careful not to hold eye contact with anyone for too long.
Though Liam had to admit that the hor d'oeuvres were a beautiful display, he never quite understood the need for such lavish luxuries. A ballroom bigger than 5 of his own houses, gold statues - it was just all too much and bordered on desperation of showing everybody how big the king’s dick was.
There came to a point in wealth where it was simply excessive overindulgence - an idea that the Delacroix seemed to just adore.
At least...all but one Delacroix.
Liam squinted, letting his steps halt to a stop when he saw what appeared to be a young princess covertly kicking off her diamond encrusted high heeled shoes underneath her long dress. She took a quick look around before proceeding to hide her now bare feet under her gown as she buoyantly glided along the floor, evidently separating herself from the rest of her family.
Emilia.
The name fluttered in Liam’s mind as he watched her brown hair drift elegantly behind her. Liam knew of the Delacroix family, but had never seen Emilia until this day. She clearly had a place to be, and her destination seemed to be that of the table of hor d’oeuvres.
Liam snorted, admittedly amused at her excitement over luxurious food that she probably had the chance to eat every single day. Moving slowly through the crowd, eyes never leaving the woman, Liam adjusted his position to take a better look.
For the sake of the mission, he told himself.
Unlike the rest of Emilia’s family, she seemed so...bright. So unburdened by the power that was held in the name, Delacroix. Watching as she laughed and squealed at the sight of her friends, talking to them without caring about the food still in her mouth, Liam was fascinated.
Emilia just seemed so innocent in Liam’s eyes that nothing could convince him in that moment that she was like the rest of the Delacroix family. Emilia certainly looked the part with her frills and her gown, but one glance at her forgotten, undoubtedly expensive shoes in the corner of the room was enough to make Liam wonder if maybe...she broke as many rules as Liam on a daily basis.
A troublemaker under the guise of a poised Delacroix, Liam mused to himself.
Liam’s intrigue was piqued, and against his better judgement, he took a step forward towards the princess. Liam just wanted to know more, wanted to know more about this woman that was making him throw everything he knew about the pretentious Delacroix family out the window.
If Liam could just get a little closer...
“Captain, we should go,” Jerome’s voice shattered his fantasy, and Liam turned to him, momentarily in a daze before shaking it off. “I’m starting to get some stares.”
Liam nodded in understanding, but couldn’t help look back to see if Emilia was there. Unsurprisingly, she vanished from view, making Liam wonder why there was an ounce of disappointment squeezing his chest.
“You’re right.” Liam mumbled quietly, turning his back to the ballroom and making his way towards the doors with Jerome in tow.
“Let’s go. We can always find a way back next time.” Liam glanced behind him, making sure Jerome was right there with him. And though he told himself that was the only reason, Liam found his gaze wandering, searching for that bubbly woman again with no success.
Slipping back outside, Liam knew that he now had another reason for coming back within the proximity of the Delacroix family.
Perhaps, if he played his cards right, Liam wouldn’t need to sneak around for more information about the Delacroix if there was a certain Delacroix herself willing to help him.
A far-fetched plan, but it allowed Liam to think back to the fresh-faced beauty that was Emilia.
Liam knew that he wouldn’t be forgetting her so easily, and he knew in his heart that that wouldn’t be the last attempt to try and get closer to her.
