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         there was a change in him ( @v-iciious ) that was obvious to the one who had always stayed by his side.
         the time she had seen him became lesser and lesser, though the ex-soldier would never complain about it. the lives they both led even prior to their first meet shaped who they are now, and their pasts were exactly why their paths had crossed in that fateful night and the mission that should've ended her life as they knew it.
         the BEAST watched him from the corner, noting that inevitable change in his demeanor, the way his eyes were more fierce even when he wasn't reading the documents in hand. violet was never someone demanding of his presence or time ever since they were together, there was never once a complaint from her side. perhaps, the only thing that came to her mind was that of worry, of the hardened personality he began to adapt after he returned from work, if it could be called that.
         if it were the time before this, he would've noticed the subtle change in the BLONDE's demeanor. the way her lips parted as though she was trying to tell him something, yet decided against it. if it were before, he'd have inquired what was on her mind, or why her eyes were following him as though she was longing for his presence despite him still seated beside her. but those times were no more, not when sometimes it went weeks, or even more without them seeing each other.
         she didn't know what was on his mind anymore, nor did he know what was on hers.
         he was busy, that was what she kept telling herself. from days turned into weeks, of how she had never found the right time to speak to him about what was on her mind, and it was beginning to eat up at her. day after day, she would be lucky to get a glimpse of him returning home ( could their place still be called that ? )
         " lir. " the silence was BROKEN, and for some reasons, she noticed how the sound of his name became foreign to her tongue. since when did his name that used to be the very thing that calmed her down become something alien to her ? when was the last time she had called him by name ? she didn't know. bright azure hues were staring at him, hoping for a moment of his time but even the affectionate nickname he used to call her felt like a distant past, too. a wordless gaze was all she got from him, this time, but she had his attention.
         an envelop was presented to him, rather a peculiar way to communicate something. no other sound nor words were uttered until he took it, and only then would he notice it was not her handwriting, nor was it addressed to him. if anything, he wouldn't have recognized the HANDWRITING at all. it was, however, the content of the letter that would grab at his attention.
         a hand-written letter with no address. it could only mean one thing â
         â this was delivered to her in person.
         as he read it, the EX-SOLDIER stood there with mixed emotions. when she first read the letter, she could feel her heart pounding. should this news be received many years prior to this, then she would have leapt for joy and rushed to the person's side without any hesitation. yet, the fact that she was standing there, looking like she was torn between making the decision with her heart or her mind. it was a summon, or perhaps one could say a request and a plead ? but to violet, anything that person said would've been an order.
         so why was it that she was reluctant to follow ?
         " he's calling for me. " finally, her words were heard once more, and the man-made weapon was sure that he already finished reading the letter itself. lips thinned, and gloved digits curled inwardly, the matching ring she had on her finger gleamed dimly upon the light, mirroring the one he had on his own.
         i don't want to leave. i don't want to leave you, lir ...
         head lowered, and her hand came to caress the EMERALD BROOCH on her person. no matter what he said, no matter what was asked of her, if he simply said the word, she would follow. she was his tool, and he was her master. he was EVERYTHING â despite being unable to feel it with her prosthetic hands, she gripped the brooch tightly.
         after all, it was the man who gave it to her that wrote the letter.
         " lir â " idon'twanttogoidon'twanttogoidon'twanttogo.
         " â i have to go. to him. "
         gilbert bougainvillea is alive.










