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That accepting look on her face, the calm that seemed to grace her features was all he needed to see to know he had done well.

Instinctively his arms opened as she turned to him. He wanted to be there for her, to help her to be close to her. To feel her against him and let his warmth chase away the cold she had draped herself in. She thanked him, but her words fell on silence for the moment, as she came close.

Without thought, without hesitation his arms wrapped around her, holding her close. There was no way to describe it other than to say she felt...right. Like she fit just right, where she was. For that moment, everything felt right, and if not right entirely than at least better.

...anytime.

He responded with a smile. No other thoughts in his mind beside this embrace.

Tomorrow, perhaps a few minutes or hours from now Maximos would be lost. He would think back and have no rhyme or reason for why he acted the way he did, or did what he did. But in this moment, there was no later, or before there was only the moment, and the feel of her against him, and her face buried in his chest.

He had never felt like this, not once in the whole of his life. For once...finally, he failed to analyze every detail of the situation. He failed to shove emotions behind calculating thought...and he just felt.

Can this...

He saw her tears, as she so kindly called his name. They had dried but, he saw where they were, streaks of glisten down her face, be it spiritual or actual and without a moment of thought, his hand came up to wipe her tears away.

Lu...

...is this...

...cind...

Before he had realized what he was feeling or doing, his thumb and palm were gently caressing her cheek, with his fingers delicately gracing the side of her face. Just like before, her touch felt divine. It stirred inside him, through him, all about him.

Where her fingers passed, he felt bliss, a feeling like nothing before. He couldnt help himself, his eyes met hers, they're hands had met each others faces, and slowly he found himself moving closer. He was drawn, by something...something inside...something deep. Until, unless Lucind protest there was no space between them at all. And, lest she turn away their lips would meet as their forms had in soft, gentle...kiss.

Nervous he most certainly was. But something else prevailed over his inner shaky nature. If this had been anyone else, Maximos would have been likely shaking in his britches, but this was Lucind...and his feelings for her were older, long lasting...many a time he had hope the two could share a moment just like this, and when the opportunity presented itself he simply couldnt stop himself. It flowed so beautifully, better than he had ever imagined.

Her lips were so soft, and so very close she smelled so very sweetly. His hands moved to her shoulders and he simply embraced the moment, a rare moment of pure emotion in the shadows life.

The footsteps, like a cat suddenly spooked while on the prowl Maximos nearly jumped, but managed to simply pull back. This would have made for a bad ending to what would be a lovely memory, if it werent for the fact that Lucind was already moving backwards reacting to the same set of footsteps.

In front of the window, with light gushing in Kara probably got a full view of the duette's blackened silhouette cast against the bright faintly yellow light just before the two broke off. Semi-nervously he waved at Kara, while scratching the back of his head with his bandaged hand.

Oh its ok!

Half laughing with a nervous toe, he said in response to Kara's apology. And once she was gone Lucind rather easily found his hand, and the shadow turned to face her with a warm smile from ear to ear. His face saying ages more than his voice would ever be able to.

Perhaps it was the years and years of wearing a smile on his face like a mask of utter, complete, and almost total happiness at all times. Perhaps somewhere in his mind a smile became synonymous with a lie. Whatever the reason, seeing that she did not smile, but simply let the tranquility wash over, meant more than any smile she could have made.

The shadow followed her in silence, completely unaware of the proper etiquette after a moment like the one they had just shared, and even more so he was entirely enraptured in the rolling bliss from the very idea that they just had that moment. If she looked close enough she would be able to see the blush flushing through his cheeks, despite how hidden it was by his very pale skin.

Yet still, hand in hand Maximos was brought to the seat, and very softly took it not wanting to rush the moment. He sat in silence, enjoying her calm, and the sweet remnants on his lips for just a bit, before the song began. Silence over took him as the melody washed over and through him. It scraped against him, and then gently assuaged those wounds with sweet soft silk. The melancholy undertones sung deeply to the tragic flare in the shadows own life. Rough and yet peaceful, dark and yet light. He was without the words to describe with any measure of success the beauty of her voice. Maximos had heard a few songs in his travels, but no mortal voice compared. The flow, the audible texture of the music traversed scales he simply could never reach, even if he practiced with that violin for decades. No, Lucind was truly in a league of her own and Maximos felt honored just to be gifted with hearing this song.

He closed his eyes, and simply took it in. And when it was done, he slowly opened them again facing the half siren. Spending a moment in silence just taking it all in before letting out a long slow breath, and finally speaking.

....that was absolutely beautiful.

He felt like a child who lacked the vocabulary to properly describe a pretty picture and is left with only the simplest of words. "Beautiful", wasnt enough, it was like calling an arctic wasteland "cold" when it was clearly so much more.

His ears still tingled.

What's it called?

One day I'd love to be good enough to play that.

He said with a gentle smile.

Rain...

Maximos let the sword slip from his pale lips. That described this entirely, this feeling, that song, all of it. Like rain, cold and odd at first and yet soothing in ways he had could never hope to describe.

My mother used to tell me that rain was the gods crying when we arent able to.

He paused for a moment, looking down at Lucind meeting her gentle smile with his own.

I love the rain.

Maybe it was right there, that unreal feeling that gave him the ability to slip past his own defenses and fears and have a moment like this. Knowing that tomorrow, tonight, or anytime he could be called away or attacked and fall in battle, knowing exactly how fleeting life is...and knowing that in truth, all he could promise was this and what they felt right here and now. This feeling he never knew and yet always missed.

As she moved to lay down, Maximos leaned forward keeping his legs still, but giving him the room to reach forward and gently lay a hand on her shoulder....just to make sure it was really there. And maybe to assure her that there, is here is where he really wanted her to be.

For a moment, Maximos wished his damned hand wasnt so scarred so he could feel his skin against hers, instead of through this damned glove and bandages. For some reason, he listened to her words and yet heard something entirely else.

He paused, looking down at her with an utterly peaceful grin on his face. It was just a long enough pause to maybe let doubt or two slip in as to whether or not he would accept her offer, before his lips opened into a wide bright smile and he cheerfully responded.

Yes, of course. I'd love to have dinner with you Lucind.

She had given him more in this welcome than he would likely ever be able to express or thank her for. Gifted...yes...thats part of how he felt, like he had just received a gift he had been waiting for, for a very long time. He felt so good infact that, that name didnt falter his smile or his mood.

He's gone, for now, back behind the door. The book is lost too, though thats probably for the best.

He nervously scratched the back of his head with his free hand. Lucind probably went through alot of effort to find that book, for it to be "lost", just like that.

He had to be honest, false hope wouldnt do Lucind any good. The fact was, she was likely on Nocturnes list for her roll in losing him a host at the crux of his takeover. If she believed everything was safe, she was only in more danger. There was a small pause before he responded, as he shaped the words together trying to soften the blow.

Nothing, nothing can truly stop him, and he has a very many ways at his disposal. But the door has held him thus far...Heaven help who so ever finds that book...

A slight chill rose and sank down his spine as he reeled in that thought for a moment. The idea that it could be in just about anyones hands was a scary prospect.

Her hand felt bittersweet on his own. There was a balm like soothing element to her touch, accompanied by the sting of having anything touch burned flesh like the arm below.

It did.

He said as the hand twitched once of its own accord.

It was the day I retured. I was sure I painted the array perfectly, it was a simple formation, but something went wrong. As the ink dried, it burned into my skin leaving it rather monstrous.

He paused remembering one of his very first lessons.

Father once said, "It is the nature of evil to turn you against yourself". If that is true then this arm truly tainted by evil. It hungers, it fights, it taps into powers far out of my range, it tries to lash out without my consent...it stinks of his work.

It was about then he realized that he was making the arm out to seem like a horrible monster, but he was touching her with it! Which was of course not the brightest thing to do. Nervously his changed as he tried to backtrack a bit.

But its under control now, I mean, I wouldnt intentionally put you at risk or...anything like that!