Chapter Text
She opens the door, and seeing Sylus’s waiting form on the other side, immediately closes it. Sylus casually jams his foot in the door. She stares at the interfering limb, and turns away with a huff, going into the kitchen. Sylus takes the unspoken invitation for what it is, and nonchalantly follows her inside.
“What do you want, Sylus,” she says, pouring herself a glass of water.
“This safe house is one of mine, you know,” replies Sylus, sitting down at the table. She looks at him while she takes a drink, and then pointedly pours him a glass too, like it was an afterthought. He picks it up with a sardonic “Thanks.”
She just looks at him expectantly. Maybe he’s imagining it, but there’s less bite to her stare than usual. He tilts his head as he says, “A little birdie told me that this place was in use. I wanted a spot to rest for the day, so I figured I’d drop by.”
“I’ll get out of your hair, then,” she answers, getting up from her lean on the counter. Never mind that all her equipment was still scattered about the living room.
“No need.” Sylus gets up. “The house has enough rooms.” He turns an appraising eye on her, and she looks away. “You look like you could use the rest, too.”
“I’m on assignment,” she says.
“One that’s going badly enough that you took me up on my offer,” replies Sylus evenly.
She shrugs. “What’s so special about that? I’m sure you have plenty of people using your spaces.”
“Not everyone gets access to my personal safehouses, sweetheart,” he says dryly. He scans her again, and she’s tense with the effort of not shifting in discomfort. It’s been a long time since he’s seen her this closed off to him. He changes the subject, rising towards the kitchen. “Ate anything yet? I was thinking of ordering takeout.”
She stays where she is, still tense. “Do what you like. I’m not hungry.”
He raises an eyebrow, tilting his head. “Really?” He knows that she knows that it’s a red flag, in his point of view.
“I don’t want to talk about it. I’m leaving.” She pushes off from the counter, heading for the living room.
He shrugs, casually says “It’s fine, kitten. It’s not like I’m going to lock you up.” She stiffens for a moment, a single blink of pain, before she forces herself to move again. Like nothing happened.
“Thanks.” Then she pauses, and something in her eyes softens. “That’s – Well. That means a lot.” She clears her throat, and looks in his eyes directly for the first time since he came. She says with complete honesty, “Thank you, Sylus.”
He stares at her. When he doesn’t say anything, she exhales. Her shoulders relax as she gives herself a bit of a shake, and then she turns back towards the kitchen. “What was it you wanted to eat?” she asks, but suddenly her wrist is caught in a whirl of dark red.
“Who was it.” he says. Not a question, but a demand.
She is silent for a long time. Sylus is used to being patient. Then she says, “Why does it matter.” Also not a question, but not an answer either.
He releases her after a long moment. Her hand drops to her side, but she stands still, staring at the floor, stiff as if pain had turned her to stone. He walks up to her. She doesn’t look at him, and it sends a pang through him. Gently, he raises a palm to her cheek. She doesn’t startle at his touch. But when he doesn’t turn her face to make her look at him, she breathes out, letting his warmth settle in her cheek. The little contact she allows, the faintest echo of her pushing her skin into his hands, makes him feel like he’s won. Never mind that this isn’t and has never been a game to him.
“Let’s get pizza,” he just says, quietly.
She breathes in his heat and his acceptance for a moment longer, and then sighs. “Sure,” she says, and moves away, knocking her head into his chest briefly as she goes past him.
The return to casual contact echoes through his chest where she tapped it. He watches her as she goes, like he always does. When she reaches the door and he still hasn’t moved, she pauses and turns to him.
“Coming?” she asks.
Finally, a smirk returns to his face. “Of course,” he replies, stepping towards where she is, as he always does.
He eventually lets her go. He goes to Zayne.