Damaged Darkness.

OPEN TO: Everyone

LOCATION: Park

@darkesthourstarters​

“Whoa! Hey there, buddy,” Mila chuckled, trying to keep her balance. She was used to energetic dogs, but the one currently jumping up at her with its lolling tongue and wagging tail seemed to come from nowhere. Leaning down to soothingly scratch the fur along its sides, she began to inspect for sign of an ID tag. “Looks like you slipped your collar, huh?” With a sympathetic look, she glanced around the people within their proximity—it was a nice day, the park was pretty busy; the dog could’ve belonged to anybody. “Come on,” she instructed gently, standing upright to begin leading the dog—a difficult feat considering its lack of collar and leash—toward the nearest person. “Hey,” Mila cleared her throat, “um, this isn’t your dog, right?” She’d try the people close by, then head to work to check the chip if needed, but Mila remained hopeful that she’d be able to reunite it with its owner here.​

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“Oh no.” he shook his head, instantly pushing away any assumption that the dog wagging his tail was not his. “Not my dog, but he or she is very cute,” he adds, looking back at the female who did not seem completely comfortable holding the leash. What was it about this park and people going around with pets that didn’t belong to them? Theo was still not over his last incident at the park with the brunette that stole Rufus, he had not seen the black-haired cat since that day and was concerned that the crazy woman had locked up Rufus indoors, banning him from any fresh air and freedom. “Where did you find the dog? Do they have a collar?” he asked, glancing down and noticing the absence of a piece of material around the dog's neck. “Ahh-” he muses. “No collar.” he finishes his analysis with a satisfied nod, glancing around the park. “I’m sure someone will come around looking, they probably just couldn’t keep up with their dog. I would say stick to one spot for a little bit otherwise you’ll be going in circles.”

Delphina was always excited to show people around the store, this was the best part for her. Other than getting to read whatever she wanted. She was about to show him the latest Spider Gwen issues when she heard the light flirting. A smile slipped across her lips, she was no stranger to flirting, after all when she wasn’t here her 2nd job was doing a great deal of that. “Well I don’t know, that’s to be determined, after all we’ve only just met. Is this your secret identity? Or are you all hero all the time?” She questioned with an arch of her brow. 

“Batgirl is just really clever, and undervalued. Like batman she is a great detective. But she is also an incredibly loyal friend and resilient. I mean she becomes her own hero without the money or privilege Bruce Wayne has. And she is a team player. She leads the Birds of Prey after all.” The blonde gushed about her fav. 

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Theo had lived many lives, some were a blur, some were too vivid, and some just slipped through his fingers where he had no control over anything. If there was anything he had learnt through those years was that it was easier to sometimes take things easy rather than thinking about every little word that left his lips. A chuckle left his lips at her response, shaking his head quickly at the suggestion that he might be a hero, that was far from what Theo was. “I might have a secret identity but I’m sorry to break it to you now but I am most certainly not your friendly neighbourhood hero.”  Leaning against the shelves, he listened to the blonde describe her favourite superhero with a deep passion that it was hard not to be intrigued by the comic. “Okay, I’m sold. I’ll have a copy of a batgirl series you recommend and...” he hummed, glancing at the shelf, his fingertips running along the comics “And I’ll stick to these spiderman.” he nodded, pulling out a copy. “Can’t go wrong with a classic after all.” 

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To be honest, most of what the man said flew over Bea’s head as she attempted to lure Theo back to her. It wasn’t until he implied she was kidnapping her own cat that her brain made an attempt to catch up. “Wait, what?” She looked down at the cat in her hands, the knit sweater her neighbor made, yellow eyes and lazy meow, definitely Theo. “I’m not taking a cat from a park, I’m taking Theo–” Bea emphasized his name by lifting him slightly, “–back home. Where he lives. With me.” But she couldn’t help but notice how his head lifted when the stranger called out to him too. “Wait, do you think he lives at the park?”

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“You are taking a cat from the park, that is exactly what you’re doing because I’m not going anywhere with you -” Two and two click together and Theo realises the frantic woman trying to kidnap the cat he had grown fond of over the last few weeks had named the same cat Theo. “You’ve named him Theo?” he asks, brows furrowing as he shakes his head as he looks down at the animal who seemed to not be bothered at all by all the chaos he was causing. “You’re not called Theo are you Roo, I’m Theo and you’re Roo. Rufus. Mr Roo for short.” He points at himself and then at the cat, slowing down his tone and emphasising each syllable. “Theo. Roo. Are you up to date now?” He walks closer to them, crossing his arms against his chest as he uses his height as an advantage to tower over the woman. “I think you’re lying. What is your proof that he’s your cat? Because it surely does not seem like Roo wants to go off with you.”

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”No,” Her voice was all, but a low whisper as she tore her gaze from his, shaking her head the tiniest bit back and forth in one defiant movement. “No. You haven’t,” She argued. Her hand pushing up against his chest as she took a step back from him. The rational side of her brain desperately fighting against her all too eager heart, practically leaping out of her chest in a naive want to believe him. As if having her heart shredded apart at the seams the first time wasn’t enough of a lesson for her to know better. “Because if you had- if you truly had always cared, then you wouldn’t have let me believe you were dead for decades. You wouldn’t have-” 

You wouldn’t have left me. Her voice broke some more as she pressed her lips firmly together, standing her ground despite the tears itching to break at the thought of their family that she had lost all of the years ago, of the pain and resentment that was now etched into her bones and made her whole being shake. If he had cared, then he wouldn’t have left her. He wouldn’t have sat back all of those years she had to fend for herself. When she was practically torturing herself with the guilt of what she had been led to believe she had caused. He let her think he had burned alive and she could still hear their screams ringing in her ears as if it was only yesterday. 

“Don’t,” Devin found herself practically begging for him to stop. “Please, just don’t.” She didn’t want to hear about how often he had thought about her. How often he thought about them. She didn’t want to hear how much he had wanted to protect her, because if he had, then where was he all of those years? Where had he been when sweet and over forgiving girl she once was became twisted into the cold and indifferent monster she knew herself to be now? Where was he when she would have given just about anything to see him one last night? When she would have given up the air in her lungs and the will to carry on for just one last time? 

“Please? I’m fine, Theo. I’m fine, so just-” So, just go- It’s what she wanted to tell him and, yet, when that plump bottom lip of hers fell open, no audible sound came out. Instead, she just stood there, speechless. Her mind still racing at a hundred miles per minute while her body stood captivatingly still and, the next thing she knew, Theo was far from the door in which he came and, instead, closing the gap between them in that of one swift motion. 

A nearly breathless gasp broke from her parted lips as her body flushed against his. Any form of rational she had been clinging to before quickly dissipating the moment his breath collided with hers. It was the sort of kiss that could make her knees buckle out from under her. Her hands lacing their way around his neck in an attempt to keep herself steady, focusing in on the way their two hearts were hammering away in unison, as she hesitantly leaned in. Her lips, soft and tentative against his, as if dipping her toes into the water after coming off of a drought, before her body began to have a mind of its own. 

“Stay?” She hadn’t meant to say it, but the second the weight of the word had filled the air, she knew there would be no taking it back, no matter how hard she tried, and oh did she try. “Wait- erm, what are we- that’s not what I was going to say,” She mumbled out once more, shaking her head the tiniest bit back and forth as she began to recoil from him once more.

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He didn’t have an answer to her questions, he couldn’t take away the pain he had caused nor could he turn back time to fix the mess that was created. Theo had allowed her to live without him and he knew that he had no right to be here now. Yet, everything else was silenced the moment she kissed him back rather than slapping him away. Their conversation, their heightened feelings, everything. Nothing else mattered right now. All Theo could focus on was kissing Devin and her kissing him back, he would deal with everything else and with all the consequences of his actions after this moment. 

“I want to stay,” he answers instantly, without letting any thoughts or reasoning get in the way. “I want to stay,” he repeats, tone a lot more certain this time, inching closer towards her, his hand reaching forward to pull her back towards him, leaning down towards her once again to catch her lips against his own once more, his body meeting hers in needy friction. Theo's lips press harder against hers, his tongue slipping past her mouth as he deepens the kiss, nipping against her lower lip whilst his fingers tangle through her hair. “Let me stay.” he breathes against her mouth before moving his mouth hungrily down her jaw. Being this close to her again was euphoric, his emotions spilling out in the form of kisses as he groans breathily into the crook of her neck, endless kisses placed against her skin.

“I miss you.” The words spill free from him, his head spinning as he’s drunk off the sensation of being this close to her. Devin was the centre of his life, whether he liked it or not, no matter how much he tried to push thoughts of her away and forget the memories of their once shared life, it was impossible to move her from the spot she had secured herself in. She was the anchor that stabilised him when the current was too strong, the gravity that kept his feet on the ground and the only home he had ever known. “I need you,” he whispers, his fingertips dancing along her skin, tracing her stomach and against the fabric of her sweatpants.

One arm moving around her waist, Theo lifts Devin with ease, walking over to the couch where he sits down with her. Their limbs tangled up against each other just like their lives. There was no time to be sensible, he was consumed by her and all rationale had flown out the window, leaving them to be wrapped in a blanket of hunger and desire. Theo’s body burned, craving every inch of her desperately, the fear of being pushed away at any moment lingering at the back of his mind. “I miss you. I want to stay with you.”

“Flat white please, could I add an extra shot to that?” Theo asked the barista who gave him a quick nod at his special order. It had been a long week and Theo was in need of the taste of caffeine and the special nourishment to keep him functioning. Looking around the cafe for an empty table, his gaze meets one person he was not expecting to run into. “Sienna.” Her name falls from his lips, awkwardness instantly covering them like a blanket. “It seems like everyone decided to come to the crypt today, I’ve never seen it this busy before.”

“Water would be helpful,” she gave a sheepish smile as she flattened her hand across her chest. “Truthfully it might be a bit of both.” Valerie admitted as she spoke in a low voice, still not wanting to embarrass the bartender. “I work as a cocktail waitress but I don’t really get to partake that much,” she explained softly. Her smile pulled a little wider at his words. “Really? You’re too kind. I’d appreciate that though.” 

“Of course.” he nods, turning his head to grab the bartenders attention. “Could we have a glass of water and a margarita please.” he orders before focusing his gaze back to the female next to him. “If he doesn’t get the margarita right then that will conclude that he’s just not a very good bartender.” He shrugs his shoulders, shaking his head a little as a way to dismiss being called kind. “I know how disappointing it is it have a shit drink, it can ruin a night. Why drink something that is burning your throat when you can actually enjoy it? I think this guy might be new here though, I’ve not seen him before.” 

CLOSED: for @damagedrkness​ (aka, Human Theo) TIME: Afternoon LOCATION: Nondescript Park Cat Theo Often Frequents

This wasn’t the first time it happened, but Bea’s heart still beat just as furiously as the first time she returned home to an empty apartment. Her neighbor said she might have seen Theo at the nearby park, knit sweater and all, but hadn’t been able to lure him back home. Even though Bea had tried her best to raise him as an indoor cat, it seemed the previous stray was still prone to outdoor strolls. She still hadn’t found out how he was managing to get outside, but Bea had an inkling he might have a bit of supernatural in him too. “Theo,” she called out once she made it to the park, squeezing his favorite kicker toy to let him hear the crinkling sound. The mothers and nannies on the benches no longer asked her what her missing child looked like, but pointed in the direction they’d last seen her cute black ball of rebellion. “Theo, what on earth are you–” Bea came up short when she saw Theo circling a bearded man she hadn’t seen at the park before. “Oh I’m so sorry about that, Theo here managed to get out of my apartment again. Come on, let’s go home,” she said, shaking the toy in front of Theo to lure him close enough to scoop up.

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“Is that knit sweater new Mr Roo?” Theo chuckled as the black haired cat moved between his legs, rubbing against the fabric of his jeans before jumping up onto the bench next to him. “It really makes your eyes pop, you’re looking very handsome today Roo.” His fingers moved between the cat’s ear, gently stroking his soft fur, a smile forming on his lips at the sound of the purrs that left the animal. Over the last few weeks, whenever Theo wondered around the area or came to the park, the cat seemed to appear beside him every single time. It was hard not to get attached and each time he was tempted to take the small animal home with him. Lost in his thoughts, it wasn’t until he heard his name being called out frantically that he lifted his head. “Hello?” he responded, brows furrowing as he noticed the unfamiliar brunette rushing towards him. “Ummmm....what - sorry what is going on? Have we met before? Usually I don’t have girls screaming my name in parks, it’s a bit to public...sorry I don’t recog-” he shook his head, confusion lacing his tone. “Look I don’t - ” he pauses as the other scoops up the cat. “Errr excuse me can you put down Mr Rufus back down? You can’t just come and take a cat from the park. Roo, come back here.”

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“Heard what-” The question was brimming at the tip of her tongue as she blinked up at him with wide doe-like eyes. A rare vulnerability that she hadn’t held in quite sometime flickering across her gaze as she found herself momentarily taken aback as to why there was even concern to be had, until it hit her. He was referring to her run in with Alina. He was referring to the short burst of pain that shot up through her veins as the stake dug into her upper thigh before her sister sped behind her. Alina’s fingers locking onto that of Devin’s neck as she snapped it in half like one might snap a flimsy pencil. Something that in the grand scheme of things would be considered a cause for concern, if only she was human. But, then again, if she was still human, she’d be dead by now on a number of different accounts. 

Now, as a vampire, she barely thought twice about her own wellbeing let alone her own mortality. The actions her sister had inflicted upon her were nothing more than a mild inconvenience at best. A immature child acting out if you will and, comparatively to what Alina had done to Selene this time around and to her clan and the other council groups, getting hurt temporarily herself had seemed inconsequential at best? That was until those deep brown eyes of hers soaked in that of her once husband, now, stumbling over his words, worried in a way that she should have probably been herself. 

For a split second there, her cold heart might have even skipped a bit. The corner of her lips itching the smallest centimeter up as her eyes rolled lightly over at the way he stepped inside without waiting for much of an answer. He was lucky her only roommate was her sister who happened to also be a vampire, or he would have needed an actual invitation to be allowed to step one foot inside. Only, none of them were anything even remotely mortal at this point as much as they all pretended to be. So, in he walked. Her eyes following his around the grand foyer into that of the all too neatly organized living room in question. “No, but that’s not going to stop you, is it?” A soft tinge of nostalgia in her voice as she leaned against the far wall only to note, “You’ve always had a way of making yourself at home just about anywhere, haven’t you?”

Only for him to trip against the edge of the carpet almost immediately. A light giggle escaping herself before she quickly fought to stifle it back down. “You should watch where you’re going. That carpet is there to catch intruders and, oh look, it caught one. A job well done,” She mused, kicking herself up off the wall as she casually, or as casually as she could, trailed behind him into the center of the room. When they had first known each other, ‘Davina’ had been far from the girl with the quick witted response. She had been far too naive for her own good and, when he’d poke fun at himself or crack a joke, she’d merely giggle away to herself and flirt with him with her eyes, passing glances that made it feel as if the joke he had just made was a secret between the two of them rather than for the entire room to enjoy. And yet, a frustratingly curious part of herself wondered how he must view her now? The sweet girl who once might have been wrapping her arms around his torso, tears staining her cheeks as she hide her face against his chest and from the rest of the world, now stood tall with her keen observations, sharp tongue and an almost reckless demeanor when it came to her own well being despite being overly responsible and protective over others. Would he admire who she had become or mourn the loss of the girl she used to be? She wondered, often finding herself falling into the later category.

“We’re okay,” Devin whispered out without realizing that she once again directed the conversation away from herself and her own feelings. Her thoughts straying back to the man before her who had somehow moved closer while her mind had temporarily journeyed back to the past. “You- you were?” She asked, her brows scrunching up ever so slightly as her gaze drifted from his lips back up to his gaze in a mixture of surprise and confusion. “Why? You- you’ve never seemed to care before?” She pointed out, before she found any sort of rational she may have clouded once more by the moment the heat of from his fingertips cupping her cheek in his. “Don’t be. I- I’m fine. All healed up and everything, so you really don’t have to waste your tim-” Only the moment he mentioned their kids, her heart fell into the pit of her chest. Suddenly, all too reminded of the excruciating pain that haunted her most nights. A pain so devastatingly heartbreaking that it was simply incomparable to the brief run-in she had with her sister. “You’re the one who leaves, Theo. Not me.”

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It was funny how one simple movement was able to transform time and ignite past sensations, all of a sudden Theo was reminded of how within the four walls of their home they would not have been able to keep their hands off each other. They had been completely intoxicated by one another, and his heart had belonged to her to do whatever she wanted with it. They were just two young kids, alone in the world with nothing else but each other. Nothing else mattered to the two of them apart from each other. And they loved each other. They loved each other more than anything. If she had asked for his heart on a silver platter, he’d rip it out of his chest without a second thought and let the blood cover the streets of England. He’d die for her and some would say that he did, he died for their children and their love. The strange thing about love was that it was unknown, and as much as it was beautiful to allow someone that close to your soul, it was also similar to the sudden and terrifying motion of having your innards wrenched and squeezed, a consuming feeling that was so frightful as if you gasped for air to find none but then realised you didn’t need any because you had the person you loved. No one ever told you how to survive when the person you handed yourself to left you, you were left to learn how to breathe again without them. After believing that ‘Davina’ and their children died, all Theo could do was try to learn to stand and not fall without them. He turned to Alina and allowed the rage to consume him. It was the only way to not feel the emptiness. “That’s not true.” he shakes his head as a small protest. “I’ve always cared.” His thumb brushes against her cheek gently, his eyes focused on her dark ones as he speaks. The sensation of her skin against his touch makes him feel like he’s found the missing piece of a puzzle he had been searching for for centuries. “Always,” he repeats. “There’s never been a single day when I’ve not thought about you. When I’ve not thought about them,” he whispers. “Do you think it’s easy for me? Knowing we’re both here and they -” he’s unable to finish his sentence. “I couldn’t protect them. I couldn’t protect you. I will never forgive myself. Never.” Their connection still lingers like a stain on a perfectly white sheet, and that made everything harder. How was he supposed to stay away from her when she was his walking weakness? But also, how could he stay when he was no longer the man that she fell in love with? He couldn’t wipe away his past and the sins he had committed, he was a sinking ship that was burning for the rest of time. The best thing for Devin would be to let go of her, leave her so that she could forget him, and that’s what he tried to do all these years by staying away. But despite knowing all of that, knowing everything he had done with Alina, knowing that he was not even half of the man she once loved, selfishness took over and Theo couldn’t stay away. He was tired of running in circles when there was only one destination. Devin. Heart hammering against his chest, he knows that he should take a step away from her, maybe even walk out of the apartment and not look back. He opens his mouth, ready to say something, and yet the words he wanted to scream out feel trapped in his mouth. Instead, without even being conscious of deciding to do so, his body reacted in the only natural way of being this close to her. Rather than saying he didn’t want to leave, that he missed her, that he craved her, he allowed his actions to take over and without a second thought, his lips pressed against hers. His mouth brushes against hers slowly, at first, but the hunger within him for her could not keep anything controlled. He was deprived of her. He was desperate for her. A hand moves to intertwine fingers in her hair, pulling her closer to rid of the space that still managed to form its way between them. Kissing Devin after all these years was the first time that Theo finally felt alive again.

“Hmmm,” she nodded with a bit of a hum. She brought up her hand so her index finger could tap against her chin as she thought about it. “Well I mean someone from the Spiderman Universe might be a good idea. Spidey is a classic after all and super charismatic.” She noted as she rolled her shoulders back. “Me?” She pointed to herself shaking her head. “Oh I’m a batgirl gal myself, I think she is an underrated gem.” She explained with a shrug. “Lets get you some options.” 

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“Okay we can go down the Spiderman Universe, I think that they might like him. Let’s explore the options” he nods. “Classic and charismatic...the question is do you think Spiderman is as charismatic as me?” A small chuckle leaves him at his poor attempt at the light hearted flirting with the blonde. “Tell me more about batgirl, why do you think she’s underrated. I have a soft spots for the underdogs, maybe you can convince me to invest in those comics.”

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(X)

The night had blinked bye in a whirlwind, but maybe that had been for the best. Devin always had a way of throwing herself into work or the nearest problem. She liked keeping busy. She liked having endless to-do lists that she could check off and add to. She was practically meticulous about them, cluttering her schedule up with constant meetings and tasks until there was hardly a minute left for the woman to spare a thought on herself or on that of her miserable existence. And tonight was no exception. 

The moment they had been released outside, Devin’s brain had kicked into gear. The clan leader quickly accessing the situation and attempting to take a head count to narrow down exactly which members had been trapped inside and which had been able to get out. She had focused in on the problem at hand and was determined to solve it. So when Selene’s texts seemed off, it didn’t take the strategic thinker long to realize who was responsible for all of this. Her sister had always been a fan of the dramatics and what better way to make a reappearance than to force the species to vote on who out of them should brutally have to hurt each other for their self preservation? Of course, Alina would impersonate Selene in the process wanting to watch her scheme play out before her first hand. Devin’s only slip up was believing that she could catch the other off guard in the blood-deprived state she was in.

But, lucky for her, she hadn’t had a moment to let the wave of anger and self-reproach set in, because the moment she woke up- tired eyes blinking up at the wide open sky overhead as she rubbed her stiff neck that had previously been snapped and ripped the stake that had been jammed in her upper thigh out- she had to rush back into the castle and take care a now very ripper-like Selene. Her responsibilities once again safety keeping her from having attempt to cope with the rush of emotions bound to flood in if she would only let herself pause for a moment. 

Only when the moment finally did come, it came in the form of a knock followed by a soft and familiar sigh at the door. Theo. Devin had only just managed to put Selene to bed, which given the delirious state Alina had left Selene in was quite the feat, and was about to head off towards her room to shower the blood now dried to skin off of her when the deep and frustratingly comforting voice had her stop within her tracks. And she hated herself for what came next, because instead of telling him off or pretending to ignore him, she found herself simply standing there, helplessly, behind the door. Her bottom lip quivering ever so slightly as she let her eyes fall close for the second time that night and rested her forehead lightly against the wood.

She didn’t want to know how long she stood there breathlessly waiting. She didn’t want to know if he could feel her presence there, behind the door, or if he could hear the faintest sound of her heartbeat speeding up as if to imprudently call out to him. She didn’t want to see him. She couldn’t bring herself to face. Not right now. Not after she had already had to confront the one who had caused their lives to become so torn in completely opposite directions to begin with. And yet, maybe she really a masochist, because after a prolonged indiscernible moment, she forced herself to open the door and ask the unthinkable. “What are you doing here?”

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He taps his finger against the side of his thigh as he waits for her to open the door, every second that passes by builds an excruciating pain within his chest along with a concoction of desire and concern. He was desperate to see her, even if it was for a moment where she screamed and shouted at her, it wouldn’t matter. He would have seen her. Once upon a time, Theo knew all the reactions of Devin like the back of his hand, once upon a time he wouldn’t be waiting here but he would be inside with her. Now, Theo could not predict if that door would ever open for him.

“I heard what happened Dav-” he pauses as the realisation that he was about to refer to her as the name he once knew her as hangs unfinished in the gap between them. “I heard what happened Devin.” he corrects himself, letting out a sigh of defeat. There was no use in trying to mask his intentions for arriving at her doorstep, Devin had always been able to see right through him. “I wanted to see you...to see that you were okay.” It was embarrassing, how he felt at the sight of her face and the sound of her voice. Suddenly, he felt alive again. Suddenly, being in her presence made him feel like he was home after being lost for centuries.

Over the years they had been separated, he had been living his life if you could call what he was living a life, but without her presence, it was never really a case of him being fully present in anything that he was part of. After Alina and his recovery to adjusting to becoming a controlled vampire, Theo had been slipping through the centuries, coasting through day by day with nothing else on his mind other than surviving. One may think it was intentional self-sabotage— that Theo didn’t actually want anything to work out for him. That he was happier still pining after his dead wife and children. Their loss had left a void in him that could never be replaced and each day was just a reminder of that. Until the day he saw Devin, alive and smiling. He should have approached her that day, he should have pulled her into an embrace and never let go, but too much time had passed and Theo was no longer the same man that she had fallen in love with. His hands were covered in blood and there was nothing but shame and guilt brewed up within his chest. So what was different now compared to then? Why was he here now and not all those years ago? Why did he decide to stay in the city where he knew she was based? Running away from her was not able to put a cap on his feeling, there was no use in putting distance between them because no oceans or time would be able to change how he felt towards the woman standing in front of him. He had fought a long battle and now was giving in to the inevitable. Devin would always win. He could not stay away anymore.

“Can I come in?” he asks, but without waiting for a response Theo takes a step inside, closing the door shut behind himself. His eyes scan through her home as he follows her further into the apartment, taking in everything to put together the puzzle pieces of her life now. Theo’s thoughts start to wonder if there was anyone else in Devin’s life at the moment, he wonders if anyone filled the vacancy in her heart after him and anyone else she had welcomed into her life through the years he was absent. He’s so lost in his thoughts and analysing her home that he trips against the carpet, causing him to stumble forward for a moment as he catches his balance. “Fuck.” he chuckles. “You should put a warning sign on that.” he teases, rubbing the nape of his neck at the embarrassment. “Sorry about that.” Putting an anchor to his thoughts, Theo knows that his mind had no right to wander in any other direction.

Being close to her again is indescribably euphoric, and all Theo wants to do is walk closer and place a tender kiss on her cheek. He wants his lips to press against her lips and then to trail down her jaw, her throat, and linger against the crook of her neck until a soft moan escapes her. He wants to take in the familiar fragrance of her scent and wrap his arms around her. Instead, Theo remains still in his spot, not wanting to cross any of the boundaries between the two of them. “Can I do anything for you? Do you need anything? Does Selene need anything?”

As his eyes remain focused on Devin, he takes a deep breath before taking a few steps closer until he’s stood parallel to her. “I just...I was scared,” he admits. The truth is the instant Theo heard about what happened, the fear that overtook him was too strong to be described. “I was terrified that something happened to you.” his voice is quiet as he takes another step towards her, bracing himself to be pushed away for taking up her personal space, and yet he moves in close again, his own desires controlling him rather than his mind. His hand reached up towards her cheek, fingertips gently caressing her skin for the first time in years. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there,” he whispers, his nose brushing against hers. “I’m so sorry Devin - I....” Theo’s unable to finish his sentence, the warmth of her skin is too overwhelming to focus on anything else. Instead, he presses his forehead against hers. “I heard and all I could think about was you and our children and I -” his voice trembles, the words that spill from his lips covered in stained a heartache red. “I just needed to see you but I can leave if you want me to.”

.

Valerie hardly ever had a night off and when she did she normally spent it at home making dinner for herself and watching true crime documentaries. But the wolf had been attempting to change that this evening. So here she was, not really feeling very confident but still making an effort. She sipped on her drink coughing a little as it bit at her throat. She flushed as she looked beside her embarrassed. “Mmm, it’s um…its a little bit heavy on the bitters. But I wouldn’t want to offend the bartender.” She explained with a shrug of her shoulders. @darkesthourstarters​

Leaning against the bar, Theo chuckles as he watches the other cough on their drink. “Are you okay? Would you like some water?” he asks, taking a sip of his own whiskey. “I’d say that choking on your drink is a sign that the bartender is not that good, or that you’re not much of a drinker....or maybe both? If you’d like I can ask the bartender to make you a new drink and that way you would not be hurting their ego.”

The siren smiled as she watched the customers eyes move through their selection. “Well that’s why I’m here.” She assured him with a nod of her head. She listened to the question and lifted her brows. “Indeed it does seem you are in a real pickle.” She nodded as she set down the issue they were restocking. “Well I do have some ideas that could work. Is your friend familiar with comics?” She asked taking a few steps towards him. 

. “Honestly, I have no idea if they are really into comics or if they just like Marvel movies, because they fucking love those films but once again i have no idea who their favourite superhero is which doesn’t help. I am in need of your guidance and will be forever grateful if we can find something that will make them go ‘wow Theo, thank you, I love this present!’.” he chuckled, after mimicking a high pitched voice. “What’s your favourite?”

🚑

The other man was right and Brycen wasn’t even sure what he was thinking. Maybe asking random people to try the cookies he had attempted to make wasn’t such a good idea. “To be fair though I wouldn’t intentionally try and poison anyone,” the wolf stated, “But you could at least tried a little bit if you know anything about baking, but I mean it’s cool. I get it.” 

.

“Are you sure? Because that is exactly what anyone who was trying to poison someone would say! You’re starting to get more and more suspicious, digging yourself a big hole." Theo shrugged, having no interest in the cookies whatsoever. “No thank you, I don’t want to be poisoned, I will not try this -” he starts to raise his voice for dramatic effect “- and I don’t think anyone else should either if they don’t want to be poisoned.” A small smirk formed on his lips, for some reason seeing the other worried about something as basic as baked good was entertaining, that was how boring his day was. “So, are you saying that only people who can bake have the right to have an opinion on your cookies? A passer-by or just someone who loves cookies is not allowed to try a little and give you their thoughts? That’s harsh mate. I didn’t realise that bakers were this elitist on getting feedback.”

Delphina was at the shop today, working on restocking some of their “new issues” wall. She had her sketch book open behind the counter but as she placed the latest editions on the wall she would flip through a few pages. Deciding which ones she would want to pick up for herself. She heard the chime of the front door and lifted her gaze to give a friendly greeting to the person. “Hello,” the siren said making sure to step into their view so she was seen. “Anything I can help you find today?” 

“Hello.” Theo greets, walking further into the shop towards the counter, scanning the shelves of comics that surrounded the walls. “Yes!” he nods, picking up one of the issues which was placed on display, flicking through the pages before he raised his focus back on the other. “I actually really need your help. I’m looking to buy a present for a friend but I have no idea what they would be interested in...I know that really does not help the situation but that’s the pickle I’m in.” he chuckles. 

@swearonstars​