One little step at a time.
In this case, 'one little step' was a different part of town.
His stomach had been in knots and a cold had settled in a while ago; he was dreading any sort of confrontation but he'd spent so much time trying to work past it that he was trying his hardest.
It was all going well--until an energy signature caught on his radar. He was alarmed, a mess, honestly, but it wasn't a Negaverse agent. Not exactly.
It wasn't like Sanidine had been.
There was something a little odd about it--Chaos, but not as overwhelming, not as suffocating. His heart was pounding in his chest, but it wasn't so awful that he couldn't function.
A part of him wanted to run--a large part--but he had to stop and force himself to assess the situation. He was a super senshi. This threat didn't outrank him. And it was in a public enough place that it was worth investigating.
God, he hoped it wasn't a trap.
This wasn't like the usual shadowy parts of town, or the park; there were lights on--and people moving around. It made him anxious to be caught, but there was an energy signature here and that could mean trouble for anyone who wasn't aware enough to know what to watch out for.
The streets weren't necessarily busy but given the location of the energy signature he first assumed that someone might be traveling by rooftop. Cautiously he drifted to investigate, but when he was met with nothing he moved to explore the alleyways.
Though the shadows were dark enough to hide in, the fact that he couldn't figure out where the signature was sourcing from just doubled his anxiety. Whoever they were, whatever they were doing, they were well hidden.
Or worse, they were inside.
He swallowed and glanced at the building--a theater house that he assumed must be very packed right now, given how well maintained and alive the building looked.
Which begged the question: what were you supposed to do in that situation?
He couldn't go in without being seen. He didn't want to start a panic, or hostage situation. He didn't even know what was going on--anyone could be inside.
Or, no one.
Maybe he was just losing his mind.
~~~
As the final encore ended, Meridiana rose from her seat with a rather satisfied expression. The performance was great, but what was even better was that her quota had been completed in excess. Which meant that she could take a few days off and relax if she felt so inclined to do.
Running her hands down the back of her dress to remove any wrinkles she gave the young man in the row in front of her an almost seductive smile and a suggestive wink when she caught him glancing down at her chest.
“Eyes up here love.” The senshi of the succubus teased as she wrapped the black shawl around her slender shoulders.
As Meridiana entered the lobby she picked up on the rather strong order aura just outside the double glass doors. Times like this she wished she had the ability to teleport away. Emergency exits were an option, as was going into the women's bathroom and powering down. But both scenarios had their drawbacks.
It was made clear to her that they had picked up on her signature well before she had sensed them and that they had no intention on leaving, at least until she did. And so, she merged with the crowd of patrons; many who were yawning enough that one would think it was several hours past their bedtime.
Outside the air was a bit nippy, but was thankfully nothing when compared to the polar vortex they had gone through early this year. “Come to escort me home?” Meridiana canted her head to the side curiously as she approached the senshi that the aura clearly belonged to.
~~~
Honestly, Adria hadn’t known what he was expecting. That she approached him either meant that she was arrogant, or foolish, or...friendly…
He shifted positions. “What were you doing?” he asked, watching her face closely. She’d have stuck out in a crowd even if she hadn’t been a corrupted senshi, and he kicked himself for not considering that she could have been inside.
She had exited with the group; he didn’t need to think too hard to figure out what must have happened--especially not with how tired they all looked.
His eyes remained on her face and he was clearly guarded. He didn’t want her up to trouble--and he didn’t want to start any. Everyone coming out seemed to be in one piece, but he wasn’t going to take anything for granted.
Adria himself wasn’t particularly intimidating; he wasn’t very tall and he had a kind face. Even with his knit brows, he didn’t look like anyone to fear. Instead, he just looked worried.
~~~
“Hmm?” Meridiana leaned her head to the side in a curious fashion. Her oceanic blue eyes traveled up and down appraisingly before crossing her arms under her chest and shifting her weight onto one foot. “I was just enjoying the play.”
“Don’t worry, I didn’t go McBeth on anyone. It’s been a long week for many of the couples, I was just making sure they slept soundly when they got home.” She answered in a very nonchalant kind of way.
Despite his signature being much stronger than her own, Meridiana couldn’t help but view him as anything except a threat. Zinkenite would probably give her that exasperated displeased look and force her back out into the snow covered parking lot if he caught wind that she was kind of openly disregarding his training. But sometimes exceptions were to be made especially now that she had a new agenda to pursue; it wasn’t often that a white moon senshi opted to start an encounter with a conversation, why not see how far she could take it before going home for the night?
~~~
He watched carefully, brows still knit. "...I don't think you need to be powered up to enjoy the play. You really shouldn't be walking around like that, draining people." He wasn't much for lecturing, and he could feel a knot in the back of his throat.
He hated the Negaverse. He hated it for what it had done to his brother, for what it had done to Evan. For what it had put him through.
But there was no hatred for an individual. There was a fear, of course; he had seen what they were capable of at their worst and he wasn't going to put himself in a position to wind up inches from death. Again.
"...In a place that large, aren't you worried you'll get caught? That someone will see you, will know what you are--will hurt you?"
~~~
“It’s safer for me in there than it is out here.” The only time she had ever been seriously injured, and nearly killed, was when she was lured away from the crowd. A part of her still wanted to believe the page had nothing to do with it, especially with how hard they fought to try to get the Knight off her. But even she wasn’t fully convinced that wasn’t a facade.
“I could have easily powered down and you would have been left none the wiser as to who I was or where I went.” It was all too easy for her to blend in with the crowd if she so wished. “Whereas out here,” she paused and motioned to the area around them. “We stand out way too easily.”
“If you’re worried that I may have hurt someone, rest assured, there are no dead bodies inside and there are no starseeds on my person. You’re welcome to check if you’d like.” Meridiana held her arms out in open invitation knowing he would undoubtedly reject her offer. Still, it pleased her greatly to see him shift his weight uncomfortably at her suggestion.
~~~
Adria considered her words for a moment; she had a good point on blending in. It wasn't something he had considered before, but it didn't exactly reassure him to know that any time he was out, anyone could be an agent in disguise. It made him question all those times that he had suddenly gotten tired while out in public, where it felt like he'd suddenly had all the spirit drained from him.
He wondered how many times he'd been standing right next to an agent that could have pulled his starseed, instead.
A shiver ran down his spine and he just shook his head.
He didn't want to get too close to her in case it was a trap; she could have been lying to him, but...someone would have noticed if someone wasn't breathing. There would have been an ambulance out front or something. He looked away, instead. As if in that split second he would have suddenly gotten the willpower to get any closer--to frisk her.
"No, that's fine. I believe you." He wasn't sure what else to say, and suddenly he felt very foolish. He had to force himself to look at her again. "What do you even do with the energy? Why do you need it?"
~~~
An overly amused grin spread across Meridiana's features alighting her fathomless blue eyes with a mischievous twinkle. Only once had she dealt with someone who had acted this uncomfortable around her; unfortunately, he was off-limits for various reasons.
A pity really but she did promise to behave, at least around Zinkenite he was a General Sovereign after all which commanded an amount of respect. But this White Moon Senshi, however, he was fair game.
Shifting her weight onto one leg, she too crossed her arms in front of her chest but in a less defensive kind of manner. The Senshi of the Succubus then tilted her head slightly as she carefully considered how to respond to him. “I can’t really give you a full answer because, in part, I don’t really know. Usually, I deliver my quota to a superior officer whom, I assume, then gives it to theirs. So on and then some.”
“The way I see it, it’s more like a transfusion without the need for blood and needles. Similarly, it could be compared to an energy drink without the cleanup or waste. The benefit, that I see, is that there really is only one type of energy you don’t have to worry about matching types. And, as far as I’m aware, nobody has ever died from having energy taken whereas blood loss runs a much higher risk.” To be so vilified for something that was in truth rather humane was a bit silly it’s not like it ever hurt anyone.
Meridiana shrugged her shoulders almost eloquently and let out a soft sigh. Continuing on which this conversation would likely not end well, for her at least. And so, she relaxed her stance, allowing her arms to fall to her side she summoned the ethereal whip and swung it over her head. The snapping sound behind her was rather loud in the otherwise quiet street across from the theater. “Look at me,” she spoke softly in a non-threatening tone.
With her left hand, she blew him a kiss before daring to step forward to close the distance between them. “Trust me when I say you are more of a threat to me than I am to you.” With that admission, there was an almost sad if not scared look in her eyes; however fleeting it may have been it was still there.
“Relax. I’m not going to hurt you or steal your energy.” She lightly tugged on one of his sleeves to test for resistance, Meridiana's touch was gentle as her fingers circled his wrist so she could place one of his hands on her hip and the other against her cheek. “I wish you would believe me when I tell you that I have never killed anyone nor stolen a starseed. I do not like sticking my hand in anyone's chest any more than I care for someone else sticking theirs in mine.” Only once had she ever forcibly removed a seed from a White Moon’s chest, an act that had made her feel ill even after returning it to the young girl. Her point had been clearly made but Meridiana had been worse for ware several days after the fact after coming to terms with the simple fact she had nearly taken someone's life, and terrifyingly enough liked the power.
Meridiana knew that her time was almost up; the magic she had cast only lasted so long.
It was a dangerous game she played, flirting with the opposite faction. One she had nearly lost only four months ago if it wasn’t for General King Zinkenite and Abby saving her. Nonetheless, she was, after all, the Senshi of the Succubus; it would go against her nature to do nothing. And so, Meridiana relinquished her hold on his hand that rested comfortably on her hip and reached up to cup his cheek. Her eyes drifting down from Adria’s eyes to his lips as she rose up onto her toes to steal from him an innocent, if not chaste, kiss.
~~~
Adria seemed a bit dazed from the get go; her answer was well thought out and it had given him enough to consider. His gaze had drifted downwards as he considered, but at the command to look at her, he'd lifted his gaze to meet hers. He hadn't realized it was an attack--hadn't realized anything was amiss.
He tensed when she neared but made no move to fight, to draw away. He couldn't put his finger on why--nor did he necessarily care to--but he couldn't stop looking at her.
Adria hadn't moved when she tugged on his sleeves, and goosebumps erupted up his arm at her touch. He might not have resisted, but it was clear that he was wary--or just nervous. He was out of his comfort zone, and his cheeks were promptly stained red.
When she released him, he held the position, too rigid, too complying, to protest; he didn't know what had come over him, and even his own thoughts seemed fuzzy.
And then she had kissed him, and his stomach flopped. His eyes widened and his thoughts screeched to a standstill.
He had never kissed anyone. He had never even considered kissing a girl; every time he'd daydreamed it had been about...
His stomach flopped and he just seemed confused, like he was scrambling to find an answer. The fireworks in his head weren't bad but his stomach was flopping awkwardly and he didn't seem to have any idea what to do; he couldn't even move his hands away from her, his lips away from her, after the sway of her magic ended.
Like a deer in headlights, Adria had completely frozen in place.
~~~
Meridiana’s thumb brushed against his cheek tenderly as she pulled away and looked up into handsome lavender eyes. Though she was grateful that he didn’t punch her in the face like the blonde haired girl,his reaction was similar enough to Zinkenites that she could take a hint without being told.
“We’re not all as bad as you might think. Just like your own faction, or the Knights that run around pretending they’re chivalrous beings; each side has their bad apples.” Her hand then traveled from where it cupped the side of his face to rest comfortably on his shoulder. “If I allowed the fear of nearly being killed again to stop me, I would not have found the courage to come speak with you.” Without truly thinking through on her actions, Meridiana closed her eyes and leaned her head forward to rest against his chest.
Any second now, she knew he would pull away; perhaps yell at her or even strike her as others have before him. But for a fraction of a moment, she almost yearned for returned affection and just wanted to remember the feeling of being held even if it had not entirely been his choice.
~~~
Adria seemed flustered and jarred from the kiss, from her gentle touch. He had dreamed about kisses, he had imagined them, written about them--and yet, something about this was just different. He didn't think it was supposed to leave you so winded, so shocked.
It didn't even register for a long moment that her hand had moved.
His ears were still red and he almost couldn't keep his gaze on her.
The hand on his shoulder, he was fine with; her head on his chest, he didn't know what to do. His heart was pounding so loudly he was sure it must be deafening her. He didn't reach to put his arms around her but neither did he pull away.
"Maybe you're just braver than I am," he heard himself saying, but he couldn't remember saying the words.
He swallowed. "...I haven't really met any Knights like that. Bad apples. Knights or Senshi. I mean, some of them are gruff, but...everyone seems to mean well..."
~~~
“It’s natural they would seem kind to you. You’re on the same side. Although, it is an interesting thing to see what others will do, or are capable of, when they think nobody else is watching.” Unfortunately for her, Meridiana had followed the Page away from the streets where the incident could have been caught on a camera, leaving no proof for her to show thanks to her severe lapse in judgment.
With her head resting against his chest, Meridiana could not only feel but also hear the humming of his heartbeat rapidly against his ribcage. It was clear as day that he was uncomfortable by her forwardness. And so, for his sake, it was probably time to say goodbye; for now at least.
Reluctantly, Meridiana leaned her head back to look up at him and gave him an almost amused smiled before rising up onto her toes to give him a small kiss on the cheek. “I should probably go. Otherwise, we might risk our signatures drawing some unwanted attention from at least one of our factions.” The last thing she wanted was for their casual conversation to turn into a fight that would ruin one, if not both, of their nights.
~~~
Adria didn’t know if he wanted to protest or urge her to continue; it wasn’t that he thought he wanted her affection, but he had been so frozen, so jarred, that he hadn’t thought to push her away. Even if he had been thinking clearly, he wouldn't have pushed her away. He didn’t have the energy to hurt her feelings.
...Truthfully, and though he wouldn’t have admitted it, he was more starved for any sort of attention than he realized, until it hit him that she was going to draw away.
She was an enemy, he rationed. She had just gone in there, drained energy.
...And then come out, and kissed him and rested against him, and talked to him.
He wanted to talk to her.
But also, probably, he shouldn’t, until he got a grip on himself. If someone saw him fraternizing with the enemy…
“Yes,” he agreed, but seemed completely uncertain. He was speaking before thinking, partially on autopilot, partially fighting with himself and trying to make sense of all of this. “You...you, should. And you should be safe. Ah...stay out of trouble…”
...Was that right? To warn her to be careful? ...Was she even hurting anyone like this?
His head hurt; he wished he had more time to sort it out, but all he could think about was what he was supposed to do after someone kissed you. Was there social etiquette? Was there some secret formality?
...Was his heart just supposed to explode while his face overheated like this?
~~~
“Meridiana,” she finished his stammered sentence with a name of which to call her by.
The hand that had been resting on his arm, traveled down the sheer sleeve to his gloved fingertips which she held onto for a moment longer. “I hope we meet again.” she honestly admitted.
“Be safe out there.”
With that, Meridiana turned and walked away. Disappearing among the thinning crowd of patrons who had converged in the parking garage. Once she could no longer sense the Super Senshi, she powered down, got in her car and went home as everyone else was in the process of doing.
~~~
Adria found himself nodded somewhat absentmindedly, confused every but as much when she was gone as when she had been standing in front of him. By the time he had any sort of grip on himself again, she was long gone--gone into the crowd, without any sort of energy signature. He almost moved closer, as if to seek her out, but it was a wasted effort and he knew it.
He didn't want to be seen by anyone coming out of the theater; he'd done the best that he could to make sure that they were okay, but...
Maybe they weren't really in any danger to begin with.
He was still red, still confused, and still had no idea what had happened.
Adria figured he'd had enough excitement for one night; he took the opportunity to slip away from the scene and head home.
...He felt like writing.
Kyuseisha no Hikari
