He lay there, next to her. She could hear his breathing as he slept. She gently traced the contours of his chest as she watched him in the darkness of her room. His question from earlier that night was still echoing in her mind, over and over.
"Tell me Kitty...how do you feel about me?..out of curiosity?"
She managed to fumble her way out of answering it. It was a good question. Especially since she wasn't sure about the answer. How *did* she feel about him? She had certainly grown attached to him. That much was obvious when she thought him to be seriously hurt. The fact that his touch made her feel... sedate, weighed heavily on her answer. She had sworn to herself that she would never feel certain things for another being again. The pain that could often be the result was too difficult for her to deal with. Was she breaking that vow? Perhaps. But could she admit it? Would she admit it?
Vrastiel... Wind of Force. At least, that was the best translation for it. It brought about mental images of the harsh winds that whipped through the mountains of her home during the winter months. They could knock a person off their feet if they weren't careful. When his mask was officially gone, and he no longer had his namesake, she offered the moredhel name as his new moniker. Why he was so willing to accept the name she suggested, she did not know. He even stated that he was honored by it. Just thinking about that conversation made her stomach feel as if butterflies were rampaging about inside of it.
But then there was last night. She had been talking to her family of the Blood House Onyx, Fiona and Luse. She barely knew Fiona. After all, the woman still called Kitty "MiLady Kitty". A title she honestly believed she didn't deserve. Luse had always been something of a brother to her. She looked up to him, but would never admit it even if tortured. He never sought to protect her, but occasionally did show worry if she proved to be in over her head. But most importantly, he wasn't afraid to speak his mind to her. He was as blunt with her as she was with the world in general. He had absolutely no problem with telling her she was being a dumbass when he felt it to be so.
Vrastiel had obviously grown accustomed to Kitty's normal behavior. It was filled with innuendo and sexual tension more often than not. Larook would be proud. But she curbed that behavior when another Blood was around. It wasn't because she was trying to hide who she was. They knew. After all, she wore her Helston name like a badge of honor. No, it was more because she didn't wish to make them uncomfortable. They were her family too, and she was making the effort so they would not shy away from interacting with her. But poor Vrastiel wasn't aware of it at that point. He expected her to react as normal. She never got the chance to warn him.
Even now she winced as she thought back on Luse's yell at her to get a room. Funny how he was the only one to actually say that to her. Others had made vague complaints, but never had the guts to actually directly approach her about it. A few even seemed to find it entertaining, if not amusing. Occasionally she would curb it for the sake of others, but only because they blatantly showed their discomfort. But not once had anyone spoken up and told her she was going too far.
Of course, there was Vrastiel himself to consider. A few months ago, he wasn't even a He. He was simply "The Mask". A four foot, unisexual being that was void of emotion, and had little knowledge of most socially acceptable behaviors. Somehow, she had fallen into the role of being his tutor. She was gently trying to coach him through learning the new emotions he was experiencing. Of course he preferred the pleasant ones. Who didn't? She hadn't quite gotten around to teaching him the socially acceptable behaviors yet. She was most certainly not an ideal role model for such things.
She traced the line of his jaw with the tip of her finger as she wrestled with her thoughts and emotions. Of course, the hardest part was admitting what the emotions were. She was fighting it so hard, but losing all the same. She swallowed hard at the realization.
Finally she leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek before faintly whispering in his ear.
"I love you."
"Tell me Kitty...how do you feel about me?..out of curiosity?"
She managed to fumble her way out of answering it. It was a good question. Especially since she wasn't sure about the answer. How *did* she feel about him? She had certainly grown attached to him. That much was obvious when she thought him to be seriously hurt. The fact that his touch made her feel... sedate, weighed heavily on her answer. She had sworn to herself that she would never feel certain things for another being again. The pain that could often be the result was too difficult for her to deal with. Was she breaking that vow? Perhaps. But could she admit it? Would she admit it?
Vrastiel... Wind of Force. At least, that was the best translation for it. It brought about mental images of the harsh winds that whipped through the mountains of her home during the winter months. They could knock a person off their feet if they weren't careful. When his mask was officially gone, and he no longer had his namesake, she offered the moredhel name as his new moniker. Why he was so willing to accept the name she suggested, she did not know. He even stated that he was honored by it. Just thinking about that conversation made her stomach feel as if butterflies were rampaging about inside of it.
But then there was last night. She had been talking to her family of the Blood House Onyx, Fiona and Luse. She barely knew Fiona. After all, the woman still called Kitty "MiLady Kitty". A title she honestly believed she didn't deserve. Luse had always been something of a brother to her. She looked up to him, but would never admit it even if tortured. He never sought to protect her, but occasionally did show worry if she proved to be in over her head. But most importantly, he wasn't afraid to speak his mind to her. He was as blunt with her as she was with the world in general. He had absolutely no problem with telling her she was being a dumbass when he felt it to be so.
Vrastiel had obviously grown accustomed to Kitty's normal behavior. It was filled with innuendo and sexual tension more often than not. Larook would be proud. But she curbed that behavior when another Blood was around. It wasn't because she was trying to hide who she was. They knew. After all, she wore her Helston name like a badge of honor. No, it was more because she didn't wish to make them uncomfortable. They were her family too, and she was making the effort so they would not shy away from interacting with her. But poor Vrastiel wasn't aware of it at that point. He expected her to react as normal. She never got the chance to warn him.
Even now she winced as she thought back on Luse's yell at her to get a room. Funny how he was the only one to actually say that to her. Others had made vague complaints, but never had the guts to actually directly approach her about it. A few even seemed to find it entertaining, if not amusing. Occasionally she would curb it for the sake of others, but only because they blatantly showed their discomfort. But not once had anyone spoken up and told her she was going too far.
Of course, there was Vrastiel himself to consider. A few months ago, he wasn't even a He. He was simply "The Mask". A four foot, unisexual being that was void of emotion, and had little knowledge of most socially acceptable behaviors. Somehow, she had fallen into the role of being his tutor. She was gently trying to coach him through learning the new emotions he was experiencing. Of course he preferred the pleasant ones. Who didn't? She hadn't quite gotten around to teaching him the socially acceptable behaviors yet. She was most certainly not an ideal role model for such things.
She traced the line of his jaw with the tip of her finger as she wrestled with her thoughts and emotions. Of course, the hardest part was admitting what the emotions were. She was fighting it so hard, but losing all the same. She swallowed hard at the realization.
Finally she leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek before faintly whispering in his ear.
"I love you."