Every Story Starts Somewhere.

Dustfinger had forgotten how cold his own world could be. The bite in the air made it almost difficult to enjoy the silence of freshly fallen snow that glistened in the first rays of the morning light.

The peace was interrupted by a single set of footprints, somebody who had braved the cold even earlier than Dustfinger, while everybody reasonable was still tucked warmly in bed. Or, at least, those who had beds were.

Dustfinger's toes and fingers had gone numb hours ago, so he simply ignored them as he followed the trail of prints along the narrow path which served as the town's main street.

He wasn't far behind the person who had made the tracks, and he soon caught up with her, though he immediately wished he hadn't let his curiosity get the better of him.

He hadn't been trying to mask the sound of his footfalls, so when she turned to see who was following him and he recognized her face, it was too late to turn around and act as if he'd never been there.

"Ah. It's you. I wondered who was..."

He trailed off. There was no use justifying why he'd been following her.

"Is that how life works for you?"

Her voice is.. firm. Firm and indignant, but not angry- not in the way she likely should be, considering.

"Do you get to just.. do as you please, and think apologizing just erases any harm done! Whoosh- your slate wiped clean?"

"Sometimes your choices are going to affect other people. People who don't have the luxury of just wiping away the debts still tied to them."

"You deserve better than me."

"I don't know how to be loved."

"You're not… going to hurt me?"

"Why do you want to be around me?"

"Why would you choose to stay near me?"

"I can't believe you're still sticking around."

"No one's ever cared about me like you do."

"You… actually want to know how I'm doing?"

"You're too nice. You shouldn't be nice to me. "

"Why aren't you scared of me? Everyone else is."

"You're the only person who gave me a chance, so thanks."

"I've done a lot of bad things… why don't you care about that?"

"You shouldn't love me. Bad things happen to people who love me."

"No, there's nothing I need from you. There's nothing In need from anyone!"

"Nobody's ever treated me this nicely before. It's weird. What do you want?"

"I'm just gonna hurt you eventually. I hurt everyone. That's what they told me."

"This is all really new to me. So, just give me some time to get used to being cared for, okay?"

This is an oc x canon safe zone.

"I'm glad I know you too..."

When his lips met hers, it was electricity.

Months of lingering longing and need bubbling to the surface, his warmth on hers, here in the cold winter air. A fog started to form around them as the two lingered on one another, the heat of their breath hitting the icy breeze like a storm.

Her arms slinked slowly round his neck, Lizzie finding herself too red for words as she parted from his kiss- and somehow still craving that taste as soon as she did.

"Oh, Xaos, it's perfect!" She clutched the book to her chest, taking in the scent of old paper and ink. Carefully tucking it into the inner pocket of her coat, Lizzie stood to tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"I have something for you too, actually. Had to travel quite a long way to find it too."

A small gasp left his lips when her own lips met his cheek. Of course he was soon distracted from his burning cheeks by the gift, which he took from her hands. "Hey... You have no idea how useful this will be, how many people have eyes on me." Mercenaries from Nariko, keeping eyes from Novis' men. He eyed the item for a moment.

Lizzie tucked herself into his arms, her head under his chin. It was like a piece had just.. clicked into place. As easy as breathing. That's how she always felt with him, easy. Simple. Safe.

This was a place she felt like she could be forever.

"Oh, Xaos, it's perfect!" She clutched the book to her chest, taking in the scent of old paper and ink. Carefully tucking it into the inner pocket of her coat, Lizzie stood to tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"I have something for you too, actually. Had to travel quite a long way to find it too."