The Older Twin

“I am also half naked on the roof. At least we are equally exposed,” Arno chuckled, wrapping an arm securely around Evie’s waist as his other hand gripped hers gently. He leaned his head against hers as soon as she placed it on his shoulder, closing his eyes briefly as her loose hair tickled his face. He spun them around in a circle, gliding them across the roof with the smooth grace borne of a lot of practice. “Dance lessons were part of my studies when I lived with the de la Serres,” he responded, voice just loud enough to be heard over the music. “There were many balls and public events to be attended, though often I managed to get out of going to them. When I could not, though, dancing was always a requirement. It was only polite.” He made a face even though Evie could not see it, the hand that rested on the small of her back pulling her even closer. “It was never one of my favorite activities, but I was always told I was good at it.” He spun them elegantly as if to prove it, smiling as he dipped Evie down gently before pulling her back up and into his chest. “Though it’s much more fun with a partner you care about,” he admitted.

Around and around they went, their shadows spinning after them as they drifted along beneath the lights strung overhead. Arno could hear the last few notes of the song approaching, and he brought them to a slow halt, continuing to hold Evie close as the music came to an end. He waited for a moment, wondering if she could feel the pounding of his heart in his chest, and then he stepped back, keeping hold of one of her hands as he lowered himself to one knee before her. His free hand dug around in his pocket, producing the small box that he had slipped in there before they had exited their room and opening it to reveal an intricate ring. “Evie,” Arno began, swallowing to try and clear the tremor from his voice. “I have loved and lost many things in my life, and have had to find a way to claw forward without them, but I can say with certainty that there is nothing I fear more than being without you. You’re the half of my soul that I thought was gone forever, and every time I look at you I wonder how I could possibly have gotten so lucky even after all of my mistakes. You make me a better man, and the amount of strength that you display every single day inspires me to be strong too. I know that we are from different eras and that we cannot know what the future may hold, but what I do know is that I want to face that future with you. I love you more than anything. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”

Evie just listened to Arno talk, as they danced to whatever song was playing.  She wasn’t really paying attention to it, just the sound of his voice and what he was telling her.  She laughed softly when he dipped her only to pull her back and close to him once more.  They continued to dance until the song was over.  When he stopped, and held her close she didn’t think much of it until she felt him hold onto one of her hands, and then watched him drop to one knee.

“So impatient, Miss Frye,” Arno tsked, a playful grin on his face as he led Evie out of the room by the hand. “You’ll see in just a moment.” He made his way up the multiple flights of stairs in the house until they reached the covered patio on the roof, holding the door open for Evie before slipping out after her. There were fairy lights hanging from the ceiling of the patio, illuminating the space in a soft golden glow, and Arno released Evie’s hand for a second so that he could dig around inside of his pocket for his phone. Pulling it out, he turned up the volume all the way and then put on some music, the soft acoustic lilt of it wreathing around them. Setting his phone down, he stretched out his hand to Evie once again, adding in a small bow for flair. “May I have this dance, mon amour?”

“You know I always want to cuddle you,” Arno replied with a grin, bringing his other hand up to stroke through her hair, feeling the strands slip through his fingers like silk. He stared up at the ceiling as he continued to hold her, tangling their legs absently together. “I have to pick up some of the patrol slack from your brother and Ezio being gone, so I need to get up soon,” he said softly, dancing his fingers along the ridge of her spine. “Even though I would much rather stay here with you, someone has to cover the night shift. Bayek and I are taking turns though, so tomorrow night I’m all yours, mon coeur.”

Arno let out a soft ‘oof’ of surprise when Evie suddenly landed on top of them, and after an initial moment of surprise he wrapped his arms tightly around her and kissed the top of her head, inhaling the familiar scent of the shampoo that she had just used. “Hello, mon cherie,” he said warmly, slipping a hand up underneath her shirt to caress the smooth skin of her back. He had a feeling he was never getting that particular shirt back, but he didn’t mind. It looked better on her anyway. “What brought this on suddenly?”