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[watch for the breaks between chapters]

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Aresius' POV

I rubbed at my temples, feeling worn out from the disastrous day of work. Holding a tattoo gun in my hands, I walked out of my dark office, and into the equally dark hallway. I looked over the railing, to the floor below; the shop was busy with a small amount of customers and a larger number of employees.

I watched as Jakob avoided all eyes, walking into my private studio to wait for me.

We both were exhausted; but our exhaustion had long faded into numbness.

After a hellish assignment, and an equally shitty workday, I knew that tattooing would take my mind off of things.

Jakob loved dissociating while he got a tattoo, and I loved dissociating while I gave them; we were two peas in a pod really.

A wilting, barely hanging onto dear life, pod.

I clenched my jaw, my shoulders tense; the fresh stitches on my side burned with every step I took.

I walked in the darkness, towards the surveillance room; I wanted to check on the security cameras.

The only way I knew where I was going was because of the light that came from the main floor; there was no other light on the top floor.

I walked towards the room, that constant grey cloud hanging over my head.

It had been there for a long time; as long as I could remember. The only constant in my life.

I tried so hard to look towards some kind of light, to find a way out.

I had a better life now; it was astronomically better than what I had when I was a child.

"You need a goddamned therapist Adler."

Jakob's voice rang out through my head.

He wasn't wrong. I needed some kind of professional help; something healthy to deal with my trauma.

I needed some kind of a push to the metaphorical sunlight.

I needed to know that there was something more.

I ground my teeth, my fingers wrapped tightly around the tattoo gun in my hand.

Stopping outside the door, I gripped the doorknob, pushing it open.

The light in the room flashed brightly as a figure came into my view.

I blinked a few times, my eyes adjusting to the light, my migraine hacking away merciless in my head, my thoughts on flames.

And then finally, I saw what stood in the light.

There were big brown eyes, a rounded face and reddened cheeks.

My face went slack, my heart deciding it was now time for it to show me that it could beat at inhumane speed.

I was hallucinating. My mind was playing tricks on me.

The celestial eyes held my gaze for a moment, widening just the slightest, as soft pink lips parted.

Then a small gasp, and the eyes moved away from mine, staring down at the ground.

I wanted to object.

But I couldn't speak. I couldn't move.

After a moment, her head lifted again, the beep of the monitor behind us seemingly prompting her thoughts.

She didn't do anything for a moment, just looked at me; her head tilted sideways, and my traitor of a heart did a flip.

And then, there was a soft, strong, kind voice.

"Are you the security man?"

Is this what a heart attack felt like?

She looked back down when I didn't reply.

I couldn't reply.

I couldn't move.

Her head moved again, before she froze, her eyes zeroing in on the tattoo gun in my hand.

She looked back up at me, and I felt as though I had been sucker punched.

"May I touch that please?

My brain was buzzing, as her finger pointed at the tattoo gun in my hand.

I couldn't speak, but she didn't give up, her soft voice a balm to my ears.

"That. Can I touch that please?"

I finally snapped out of it, my mouth dry as I extended the gun forwards, hoping my hands weren't shaking.

I reached it out close enough to her, and her eyes brightened when her hand finally touched the gun.

She looked down at it interestedly for a moment, and because she wasn't looking at me, I could finally try to catch my breath.

It didn't work because she looked up at me as a smile bloomed on her face.

I tried to remember if I had gotten hit in the head recently, because I felt so concussed.

"Thank you! That was really kind of you, but you can't tell my friend because for some reason he doesn't want-" she gasped and I tried to make sure that I was still breathing; not being able to do anything other than just look at her.

"Do you have a name?" she blurted out, "What is your name?"

Talk.

Say something.

Use your words.

She stood there, smiling shyly.

"You don't have to tell me, I apologize for asking, I'm just supposed to wait here for my friend," she mumbled, and her voice was softer now.

I mentally kicked myself for not being able to talk all of a sudden.

She stood on her tiptoes, trying to look behind me. It didn't work; she was too small.

Her eyes widened slightly, and she took a step back. Then one more.

She smiled again, meeting my stare.

"My name is Alette," she said shyly, and I felt my heart pound faster because it had hit me once again, just how beautiful she was.

"Most people call me..." she trailed off, "Actually I don't know very many people, but all the people I know well just call me nicknames. I don't really know why honestly. Other people call me Faye, because, well when I was younger, kids made fun of my name so I just went by my middle name. That's why I call Faye my Other People Name because that's what I introduce myself as because it's easier than my real na-" she abruptly cut herself off, turning pinker than before, before she promptly looked back at her feet.

I wanted to see her eyes.

I took a breath to steady myself, but it sounded more like I was drowning and trying to stay afloat.

My scratchy voice finally filled the room, quieter than I wished.

"Ares.

She looked at me, smiling widely and any composure that I had found in the last seconds vanished. She cocked her head to the side, tendrils of soft hair falling as she did so.

"Is that your Other People Name?"

I felt dizzy.

I swallowed, clearing my throat so that I could soften my voice. I didn't want, in any way, to scare her. I didn't think I was scary, but it was part of my job to be cold and at times, unforgiving; because my job was the only prevalent thing in my life, I found myself being cold outside of it too.

"Aresius."

I hadn't said my own name out loud in a long time. I went by Adler.

My name held significant value to myself; a promise I had made myself. But it wasn't necessary sharing that with anyone else.

I was just Adler.

She smiled softly again, as I continued staring.

"Aresius," my name was a whisper on her lips, and I could've sworn that getting shot was easier than this, "Pleased to meet you Aresius! Do you know where I can fin-"

"Bee! How did you get this door to..." Tai walked into the room, leaving his question unfinished. He looked at her. Then at me. Then back to her, his eyes wide.

"You alright Bee?" his tone was concerned.

She nodded, beaming, "I just met Aresius, we were talking."

If I wasn't so shocked, I would've been amused at the look on Tai's face.

He turned to me, clearing his throat slightly, "Sorry about that Adler, I had to handle something."

I watched her brows furrow cutely when he said my name.

"Bee this is my boss Adler, Adler this is my friend Faye. I just brought her here to show her around," Tai nodded at me. "You ready to go home now? Sorry this wasn't exciting, something came up," Tai asked her.

Alette Faye.

"I-It's okay, I had fun, and we can go now if you want," she smiled softly at Tai, who reached over to ruffle her hair. I watched as she poked him as he turned to walk out of the room.

A burning sensation coursed through my body.

Why didn't I want her to leave?

How did Tai know her?

Were they-

I clenched my jaw, it shouldn't matter to me. It shouldn't.

But it did.

She took a few steps forward, and I felt my heart feel like it was going to explode, so I moved aside to let her pass by. She walked by me, smelling like flowers, and literal goddamned sunshine.

How was that possible?

She turned around to face me and smiled shyly.

I wanted to memorize every inch of her face, in case the universe came to its senses and remembered that I didn't deserve to be looking at something so beautiful.

I was drowning in her eyes. I couldn't breathe when she looked at me like that.

At me.

"It was really nice to meet you, I hope I see you again soon!" she began walking away.

My mouth finally started working, but my brain hadn't caught up.

"I hope I see you again soon too."

My voice sounded breathless.

Her smile made my heart burst.

She left the room and I felt my legs finally give out; I dragged myself to the sofa in the room, falling on it haphazardly.

No control whatsoever.

I sat hunched over, my eyes on the floor.

What the hell had just happened?

I don't know how long I sat there for, but I hadn't recuperated at all.

Footsteps sounded outside the door and finally a voice called out.

"You good?"

Jakob.

I looked up at him, and his usual blank expression wasn't on his face when our eyes met.

His eyes narrowed the slightest at my face, confused.

"Why do you look like that?"

I took a shaky breath.

"I..." I still couldn't talk.

walked through the field, away from the graveyard, my head in a flurry.

I thought of the body that had just been buried.

How I wasn't quick enough to save them. How I wasn't good enough to save them.

I walked away from the direction that my car was parked, the afternoon sun beating down on my neck. It was an intense heat; it reminded me that I was still alive.

My thoughts were cut off when I heard an incoherent yell.

"-OF HERE!"

My brows furrowed.

I picked up my pace, trying to walk towards the sound, which I assumed was close to the wooden fence that separate some of the land.

It could have been the heat that made me imagine the familiarity in the voice.

I walked over to the fence and a small figure came into the view.

It was her.

Alette.

My heart did a flip.

She wore a light coloured dress that pooled around her as she sat on the patchy ground. Her round face was flushed; her big eyes rimmed red, dried tears on her cheeks.

Her eyes widened and she sheepishly smiled, giving me a small wave.

"Fancy seeing you here...in the middle of this field..."

Her words were comical, but she sounded anxious.

I scanned her body quickly, making sure there weren't any significant injuries, and then I looked into her eyes, feeling breathless all over again as I tried to soften my voice.

"What happened?"

She visibly gulped; was she scared of me? I couldn't bear the thought of that.

"I was um...visiting my parents," she pointed in the direction of the graveyard that was off into the distance and my heart fell, but she continued "I was just walking back home when I decided to hop over the fence because I saw it in a movie once, and it would be faster than walking around and the next thing I knew..." she trailed off and gestured to her dress, which was very clearly caught in the fence.

"Your hands, are they okay?" I asked, hating seeing the cuts on her, despite how minor they were.

"They don't hurt too bad," she replied, and then "I just want to get out of here because I've been stuck for so long." her lip wobbled and tears gathered in her eyes.

My heart...hurt.

I quickly walked around behind her, crouching down to where her soft dress was caught.

I tugged slightly, cursing in my head because I knew there was no way of getting it out without ripping, "Are you okay with this ripping?"

She shook her head vehemently, seeming thoroughly troubled at the thought.

I nodded, not wanting her to have to think about it if it made her so upset

I placed my hands back on the dress to pry it out. Her close proximity made my heart do that stupid beating loudly thing again.

I sighed when I couldn't get it out and turned towards her, trying to be gentle in the way I spoke, "There's no way to get this out without ripping it."

Her eyes welled up again, and I wanted it to stop. I wanted her to be okay.

"I'll help you fix the rip," I said quickly, wanting those tears out of her eyes. They didn't belong there, "I'll make it okay."

My words were soft; I knew my face was strict

"D-Do you p-promise?" she could barely form a sentence in her distressed state. She held out the pinky finger of her left hand.

I couldn't help the faint quirk in my lips, or the automatic fondness in my eyes.

How was she real?

"Promise," I said firmly, and slowly inched my pinky towards hers. My hand was so big compared to hers. I didn't want to touch her. I was good at destructing things nowadays, I tried so hard to be soft but I couldn't do it sometimes.

I wish I could've been better.

Painstakingly slow, my pinky wrapped around hers, engulfing her finger completely. I looked down at our joined fingers, feeling her eyes on me.

"Okay, I believe you," she smiled and reluctantly retracted her hand.

I didn't want to stop. Why did that feel so intense?

I brought my hand back to my body and flexed it, feeling her touch that still lingered. I swallowed deeply, and instead of confronting the thoughts in my head, I went back to the fence, trying to get her dress out.

She wiped her eyes, and I watched out of the corner of my eye; the way she looked up at the clouds, her shoulders less tense than before.

She was stunning.

I very gently pried the dress out of where it was stuck; I wanted to make sure that it wasn't damaged, as much as possible.

She definitely had some kind of attachment to it, and I didn't want her more upset or exhausted than she already was.

I finally got it out and she gasped, bounding to her feet.

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" she laughed, the pretty sound making me feel weak at the knees.

Before I could recover from her laughter, she sprung forwards and latched around my middle, holding me tightly.

I froze.

My first hug.

I couldn't get my body to feel less stiff, my arms felt locked by my side.

And as if she didn't already hold my whole heart in her hands already, she rested her chin on my chest, looking up at me.

My eyes widened, the feeling of her so close, the warmth she emanated; my world was flipped completely upside down.

"Thank you for helping me," she stared into my eyes, the sincerity so clear in hers; you would've thought I had saved her from a fire-breathing dragon.

She held my gaze until suddenly her eyes widened, and she pulled away.

No. I immediately wanted her back.

She looked at the ground, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

Don't apologize.

I wish you hadn't stopped.

Did I say it though?

No.

"I should get home now," she whispered, still talking to the ground.

I didn't reply, wanting to see her look at me when she spoke.

She looked at me, swallowing slightly when she saw that I was already staring steadily at her.

Like a fool.

I slowly nodded at her, still staring intently.

She wasn't real. She couldn't be.

She turned around, and started trekking to her home.

I followed behind, making sure she got home safe.

That was the only reason.

The thought of anything happening to her already felt harrowing; I had only spoken to her twice.

At one point, she slowed her steps so that we fell in line with each other.

And then we walked side-by-side.

I wanted her to feel comfortable. I wanted her to be okay.

We walked to her house; my body on high alert at her proximity, but my soul calm.

I watched as she smiled at the butterflies that fluttered around us, the trees and the flowers that we passed.

And then we finally made it to her house, walking up the narrow path to her front door.

I should've been glad that she had arrived home safe.

But...she had arrived home.

Which meant I had to leave.

She put her hand on the door, and I stood behind her, watching her bite her lip thoughtfully.

She turned around to face me, visibly standing up straighter, while her hands anxiously toyed with her dress.

She looked down, and then:

"Do you want to come in?"

I wanted to cheer. To throw a party.

She wanted me to stay.

"I said I would help make it all better didn't I?"

Her face shot up to look at me.

Our eyes met, and she smiled.

I thought of the paperwork I had waiting for me. The crime scene I had to inspect. The documents I had to sign. The judge I had to meet. The cases from today. The people that were expecting me.

A moment of peace.

I wanted it with her.

Her shining smile made the buzz of my brain quieter.

I almost smiled back.

The inside of the house was quiet. The sunlight filtered through, casting a glow around her.

She would've still glowed if the sun weren't out; I was almost sure of that.

"Do you want something to drink?" she asked me softly. "It's hot, maybe some lemonade? Oh! I baked a strawberry pie this morning, do you want a slice of..." she trailed off at the end, her beautiful face red.

"Um...let's just go to the kitchen," she stated. I followed her into the kitchen, feeling...soft at the way she mumbled to herself.

"Here's the um...kitchen," she said awkwardly, gesturing around when we walked in.

Say something before she asks you to leave.

Stop staring at her.

"Do you want some lemonade?" she asked hopefully as I stood by the kitchen door.

Her words registered in my head, and my automatic response was no.

Now why in the hell would you do that?

It's lemons, sugar, and water.

You could've just drunk it. That would've given you a reason to stay longer.

Her face fell, and I mentally punched myself even more.

I made her upset.

Her lips formed into a pout, "Do you want some...pie maybe? It's really good; I made it all myse-"

I nodded before she could even finish.

I didn't want to mess up again.

I wanted her to be happy.

My heart lightened when she smiled and nodded along with me, wiping her hands before walking to the wooden island where the pie.

She cut me a piece, placing it on the table.