Unbalanced

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Lucien was still awake when Lita emerged from Jared's bedroom. The two of them had finally found the place and basically been shut in this apartment for three days. He was getting extremely tired of waiting for Jared. Seriously, where was this guy? What could be more important than this? He found Fane’s daughter, for chrissake. Plus, with her help, they may actually have a shot at dealing with those sanctimonious witches.

Even her presence wasn’t enough to calm his mind at this point. It didn’t look like she got much sleep either. Although, to be fair, that was more than likely due to her wariness. After they came so close to crossing that line, again, she had been jumpy just sitting near him. It was like she was afraid she’d end up under him if she got too close. That was probably his fault, he thought, he knew she would never see him as anything more than a monster. He shouldn’t have let anything happen; he shouldn’t have touched her at all.

She didn’t say anything about it, however, and she did seem to be getting a handle on her powers. Well, she had accepted that she had powers, at least, and she was able to draw on them when they practiced. He had no idea if she would be able to use them in a fight or to heal any serious injuries, though. Honestly, he wasn’t sure how strong she would be as a half human wraith; he had never known one before. In fact, he hadn’t known it was possible before Rain told him she was pregnant. He still wasn’t sure that one would survive until he started hearing stories about the “Unbeatable Sora.” He sat up on the couch and made room, as he ran his fingers through his hair in a poor attempt to tame the curls and conceal his exhaustion.

She plopped down next to him, after grabbing a cola from the fridge. They had stocked up the day before after realizing that they might be there longer than they had anticipated. Several minutes later, they were still sitting in silence; Lucien was studying her profile while he scoured his brain for something to say to her. She may have had Fane’s coloring, but she really did look like her mother with those high cheekbones and full lips. “Hey,” he started, with a sudden burst of inspiration. “I have something for you; if you want them.”

He was moving before she had a chance to answer, though he heard the wariness in her voice. What did she think he would do? Propose? He chuckled to himself, that would probably scare her faster than any actual danger he could put her in.

“What?” She asked him as he bent to retrieve the item.

He reached into his duffel bag, which was carrying the majority of their belongings, and pulled out a shoebox held together with rubber bands. Sitting back on the couch, he looked over to Lita and took a moment to enjoy her eager expression. She wouldn’t admit it, he thought, but she was excited to see what he had for her. “These used to be your mothers, I’m not sure if you know how to use them, properly, but I thought you might like to have them.”

“My mother’s?” She said, anticipation clear in her voice.

He pulled out the set of chakaram and set them in her waiting hands. He was struck, again, by how beautiful she was as she curled her finger around the wooden handle that held the two blades together. She looked as if she’d been wielding the weapons her whole life. Maybe she had.

“My mother used chakaram?” She asked, lifting her gaze to meet his eyes.

“She did,” he told her. “Watching her fight, or even train, with those was something like watching ballet. Albeit, a lethal ballet,” he grinned.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. Tears were welling up in her eyes, and Lucien was immediately afraid he mis stepped, somehow. “I’m sorry,” he began, but Lita shook her head.

“No, I love them.” She told him, whiping the tears from her eyes. “I’ve never had anything of hers. Thank you.” She paused briefly before she leaned forward and threw her arms around his neck. “I trained with chakram when I was younger, but the elders admonished me for being ‘theatrical’ and insisted they weren’t practical weapons for killing wraiths, since they weren’t long enough to pierce the heart.”

Instantly overwhelmed by the sweet scent of her skin, he gingerly wrapped his arms around her waist. He had done his best to avoid touching her since their first night, here, and he didn’t want to upset her, now. They were supposed to be the ‘good guys’ and they kept so much from her. He suspected the real problem with her using chackram was that they were her mother’s preferred weapons, as well. He breathed her in as he held her gingerly, wanting to keep her near him as long as possible. Unfortunately, she squeezed his shoulders and pulled away from him a heartbeat later, returning her attention to the chakram.

Suddenly, Lucien wanted to make her smile more than he had wanted anything in years. “Lita,” he said, excitement building in his chest. “Let’s go to the square, today. Enjoy ourselves, before everything gets…,” he wasn’t quite sure how to finish.

She looked at him for a long moment before she spoke. “Okay.”

“Really?” He asked. Truthfully, he thought she would say no.

“Yea,” she nodded, the corners of her mouth turning up. “I think I would like that.”

It was the first time she had smiled since their first night in the apartment. She had been so careful to keep herself contained and out of his reach that she barely seemed aware of his presence, at all. Except to avoid it. It was as if nobody was home; her body just going through the motions on autopilot. He hadn’t even realized how much it bothered him until the relief of seeing her smile tonight swept through his bones. Truthfully, he wasn’t aware he could feel anything as strongly as he felt her. Just being near her evoked stronger emotions and desires than he had felt in his entire existence.