Silver Argent

He closed his eyes and allowed himself to r e s t as her fingers traced his eyes gingerly, leaning into her touch as if he had yearned for it for days. And he had as they had shared such a small space and yet the distance was so massive and growing by the day almost. One again he was grateful for his heightened hearing as her words were sure but very soft. He had longed to hear these very words from her, that she didn’t see him as the monster that she once did, but the following words of warning quickly ruined it.

His eyes snapped opened once she warned him he wasn’t safe with her, his clear blue eyes studying her quizzically. He seized her hand once it was free on her lap, holding onto it in case she suddenly decided to leave. “What are you talking about? Where is this coming from Allison?”

Allison’s skin f e l t raw to the touch. Every nerve received the jolting relief of his energy to only take fire from her defense. Love. Hope. Desire. All inflammatory emotions that eroded the base of her teachings. She wasn’t allowed to feel these things when she went out destroying it for others. No matter how convoluted the circumstance, the binds of her oath strangled out the moral questionability that hung between the paces of each draw of her bow. Staring out onto the rippling sky, she felt herself spiraling back to earth with such a furious intent. Fate and the universe had plans for the young huntress; the folly of love wasn’t strong enough to persuade her to change her colors.

Her thoughts raced back to the image that stared back at her. She had lost count for the moment that she stood there staring at her gaunt image in the mirror. The blood that smelt of rust and regret had been wiped away after the first good pass of her fingers but she just kept scrubbing to rid herself of the heaviness. With an exhausted sigh, she embraced the chillness of her recourse; and the repercussions that would soon follow. “I can’t live in this beautiful lie anymore, Isaac. I thought that if I pretended hard enough that the things asked of me would get easier. That I could come here and lay down my issues for us but I can’t.” 

Allison untangled her hand from his grips, the low thud of her heart raced at the secrets that bared weight on her soul. “I killed people, Isaac. I took their lives because it’s either them or the people in this city. You were never the monster.”

“I was and still am.” 

“I come back from the dead and you suddenly think so highly of me? Allison, I have these eyes for a reason.” he reminded her quietly, blinking a couple of times to readjust his sight before looking back over to her.

Even in his darkest moments, Isaac rose like the brightest star. The unfortunate thread that unraveled the solid path beneath his feet never soured his vision. He lead with his heart; all ill will and malice washed from his skin with the glamorous golden hue of the rising sun. God, or whomever was up there, knew that he deserved a second chance. 

Yellowed eyes or not. 

Allison leaned forward, her callused fingertips gently brushed over his beautiful eyes. She never believed that they were the gateway to the soul; yet in the brisk twilight she swore she could see him to the very core. “Isaac Lahey,” her voice timid but sure. “You are not the monster they believe you to be. You are good.  Golden eyes couldn’t tell me otherwise nor should they tell you.” Allison sucked in a breath. “You’re not safe here. Not with me,” her fingers lingered along his jaw before falling back to the curve of her knee. 

“I’m not good and nothing’s ever going to change that.” 

“May be a good one?” Isaac repeated, finally turning his gaze back to her as she moved over to make room for him. He did his best to fit his tall frame into the space without overcrowding her. “I dunno about that. I think I’ve gotten a chance to start fresh,” he grinned.

There was something about the bursts of colored flashes from the firework and the closeness of their skin that felt magical. Allison firmly stopped believing in fate and fairytales. All the twisted creatures that plagued the little prince and princess were real and there was no happy ending at the end of the strife. All that was left after the carnage was death and darkness. Yet, here she was feeling like she’d been touched by some potent fairy dust. The hours that spanned between his reentry into her life backfilled the voids in her with rekindled hope. In the same breath, her defense worked feveriously to stomp out the flames. She wished selfishly that she could wrap up in him and fade into the sunset.

“It’s a big maybe. I don’t be in definite anything except my aim.” Allison released a humorless chuckle.  Her training had completed at the mid of the year. An unending arsenal of trades coiled into the grooves of her marksmanship. It was the only sure fire thing in her life. “Because you’re good, Isaac.” Allison placed her mug on the sill to allow her hands to hang limp in her lap. 

“A fresh start is something you’ve been owed. Some of us aren’t as lucky or deserving and that’s okay.”

Was he ready for the new year? It felt like a very complicated question that needed more than a simple yes or no answer. Since almost half the year had been stolen from him and the rest was hiding as a fugitive…he felt like this new year he could actually breathe. He didn’t have to constantly look over his shoulder, he had a place to call his own, not to mention Allison.. “Yes. I’ve been more than ready,” Isaac murmured, leaning against the window frame and gazing out the window at the view that had captivated her gaze just a bit ago. “You?”

Allison wondered when it all shifted. When had she morphed into slayer of the innocent. Darkness crowded over her shoulders to consume the light that cast off the people she cared about. It’s why she moved so far from those who tethered her to brighter side of things. The shattered pieces of her former self splintered deeper into her armor, hardening the new warrior that stepped into her shoes. Yet, beneath the obsidian sky with him in tow, she felt more and more like the curious girl who just wanted to be strong and go to prom. She watched him from beneath her lashes, stealing lingering glances before peering back out into the darkness. 

He didn’t think he imagined the sparks between them all this time, the tension, but maybe…? Regardless, he loved being around her and he didn’t want to do anything that would disrupt it - they even shared the bedroom unless one of them fell asleep on the couch. Nothing except sleeping of course. He waited a moment, watching her silhouette in the window for a moment before walking over to her.

“I can heat that up for you…?” he asked softly so not to startle her, his hand brushing hers as he reached for her mug.

Distance.

 A numerical concept that mapped the radial space between two objects. Allison grew to adapt to the spatial distance between her and the rest of the world. Emotions and their implications offered the sweetest incentive for her to hold everyone at arm’s length. That included Isaac; no matter how deeply her heart yearned for the walls to dissipate. Although, she comfortably accepted the silence between them, so long as she could see him alive. Protecting him from the outside forces that wished to bring nothing but harm to him was enough to sate the huntress’s desire for closeness. 

There were moments that Allison craved to peel back the film of her apprehension and wrap her arms around him. To remember the sweeping feeling that rushed her that night in the club. His lips were a gateway to the imagined garden of Eden. Hope was a dangerous thing for a women like her. Too much time spent dreaming meant there were spaces for the world to erode her what was left of her faith. Allison peeled her gaze from the window, taking in the man who stood before her. Isaac stood there like some perfectly chiseled Adonis. It was like he wasn’t real. No flaws and a kind heart; that wasn’t normal. 

A shiver ran down her spine at the pass of his fingers that lingered as he reached for her mug. Her other hand curled around his wrist to still him. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “I’m finished with it anyway,” her gaze wandered down to his lips before meeting his eyes curiously. “So, are you ready for the new year?” Allison squeezed gently before curling her fingers around the mug. 

He didn’t put up much of a fight or argument as she ordered him to take the bed instead. Sleep was sleep and while he typically like a good verbal spar with her, he figured it was alright to let her win this one. He winced as he finally let his body relax and rest, the first that he felt he could after he woke up back in his body. Letting out a long sigh, his hand lingered on her arm as she began to pull away. “Can you stay? Just for a moment…”

Her heart beat wildly at the t u g g i n g need that ebbed from him. Isaac didn’t ask much from anyone; all that the man needed was for someone to support him. Allison wished that she had been able to better at supporting the people she loved before they fled from her. Served the wicked huntress right. Cruelty wouldn’t change the scars nor would it dull the pain that rattled up in her chest. Allison was just a collection of marred scars and doubt. Yet, in this light, she felt redeemable. His forgiveness for her transgressions were enough to clip her shackles. 

He shuffled inside, taking the tidy and well put together place she called home. Not too much clutter or extra things. His eyes closed momentarily as she placed a hand on his chest, breathing deeply and relishing her touch. “I think I just need sleep. I can take the couch if you prefer…”

The crimson blush settled on her cheeks at his admission. Allison didn’t really have any confirmation that her forbidden feelings for him were reciprocated. They were hot blooded teenagers tangled up in the tragedies of their fate and the burden of choice. There wasn’t much downtime between each horrible event; it was hard to miss the innocence of true connection. “You’re right partly. Just like you didn’t have a choice in my assertiveness, I didn’t have a choice in your charm.” Allison allowed one single glimpse at the crack he’d created in her air tight defense. He’d seen the ugly pieces of her and didn’t turn away in disgust. Isaac didn’t leave her for her violence or lack of faith. 

For that, she was grateful. 

“No. The couch isn’t as comfortable as it is stylish. You will be sleeping in my bed while I work on some stuff.” Allison had a paper due and knives to be sharpened. Her gaze lingered on his features, taking in the sleeplessness that lied there. Despite being “dead”, it must have been one hell of a fight to regain control of his body. Allison guided him to the lavender colored duvet, laying him back into the pillows. 

“You’re safe here, Isaac. I won’t let anything happen to you.”