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Lint! ~ Cece and Coco
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That's totally coolIts nice to have a nickname ^^
I like it on here, because people come up with nicknames for me, when in real life its pretty hard to shorten down the name Chloe. C;
Ok, so how should we start this off? Maybe its a few years later? But where do you think initially we should begin from? :)
Lol okay good XD because some people get mad and I like nicknames >_< but good ^_^ Cece and coco it is :PAgh namdbekdlsmdmdkewj I don't know DX I don't know
Like idk maybe when they kiss for the first time
Or like idk
Nicknames are awesome ^^I thought we were skipping a lot further ahead, but I would love to RP their first kiss, yes yes! Let's start from there.:)
So Kent's just has his head in her lap and he's fallen asleep and then his eyes open as she kisses his forehead and then they kiss for real.:3
Alvnellynrnrksntneny and then we can just skip around to random cute scenes just to satisfy ourselves XD And then when they actually come obviously it'll be even better
Yes that sounds perfect!Did you want me to start? C:
sureeee ^^ I'm working on a few more replies, as well as watching television, so it may be a while before I reply. if you don't mind, go ahead
Okies c:Before I start, do you think that in my post, she should just kiss him on the forehead, or on the lips as well, I don't want to godmod or anything by have his eyes open before you've had a chance to post.:o
I don't particularly care, you can have him wake up XD I don't really mind. because we already discussed that anyway :3
Ok thanks,I'll get started on it now.^^
[The cuteness is overwhelming me and you haven't even read it yet.c;]
Two years.
It had been a whole two years since she had been free. Or 1 year 8 months 2 weeks and 3 days.
Lia had slowly counted out the months, the weeks, the days, hell, even the hours. To this day though, she still didn't feel completely free of Gareth's grasp. Although she had gotten better, she still found herself glancing over her shoulder every now and then. But she wasn't as bad. She could only be thankfully that she had managed to regain her life back in some degree. And essentially, all of it, her getting better, being able to talk to others, being able to touch others. It was all down to Kent.
Kent.
She couldnt imagine where she would be without him. The little slip up in the gym that one time had spurred him into offering her his help, and although she had been reluctant at first, the desperate want to be able to touch others again without jumping out of her skin ranked above anything else. She had escaped precisely to put her old life behind her. She wouldn't have been able to do that if physical contact still remained a no no due to her ex-fiances actions. He wasn't going to hold her back any longer. So she had excepted. And it had surprised her how careful and patient Kent has been with her. He had never shouted at her, never thrown any insults or offenses her way, and most importantly, he had never raised his hand to her. That was when it really had struck her that not all men were like Gareth, and that she wasn't some hopeless case that would never be able to live life to the fullest.
Lia glanced around the empty room, chewing the inside of her cheek before glancing down at the sleeping boy before her. They were currently in living room, the fire before them lit and the pair were basking in the heat of the flames, seated on the plush couch, her legs crossed and his head in her lap. It was late, she was able to decipher. That night in the gym she'd found one of the many things her and Kent had in common; abnormal sleeping habits. It was nice, not to be completely alone whilst the rest of the institute was deathly silent. You wouldn't have thought that right now though, what with him completely out of it, however it was pretty common scene, Kent often fell asleep like this and she would end up awake until the early hours of the morning. Eventually she would drift off and would end up cosied up in her bed when she awoke, her best friend nowhere to be seen.
Best friend. The term made her stomach churn. With all the kindness Kent had showed her, it was safe to say that Lias once 'budding' crush was now a full fledged passionate one sided love affair. Her being the sufferer of a love that wasn't returned in the way she wished. Shaking her head slightly, she tenderly brushed a few of his golden locks from his forehead before gently leaning down a laying a whisper of a kiss there. And then his eyes opened. Frozen for a second, Lia met his eyes for a brief second. And then she couldn't hold back any longer. Gently, ever so gently, she pressed her lips against his.
[albenemfnnwbtbebt im gonna make some lunch and then I'll reply But just know I'm fangirling all over this]
[I know its not the best writing, but just the whole situation and everything ommgg, that sounds good, I'm aboutnto have tea, but I'm seriously looking forward to your reply and Kent's reaction ^^Who did you say Kent looked like again, FC wise? c:]
[ waiiiittt, question. has he learned her real name yet? XDand Alex Pettyfer :3 because he's hot as hell XD ]
[Um...Not sure.:o I changed how long she had been there, because I was thinking like we said in the chatroom that a significant date could role around and she could hole up in her room, obviously Kent is really worried and maybe he ends up scaling in through the window and that could be when she tells him about her past and her real name, and asks him if he will call her that? Or something? :o c:Mmm I can agree with thar .
I'd have a piece of Alex Pettyfer any day.c;]
[ alright, so she's still Emily. this is bad for relationships XD lies are bad for relationships. doesn't she know that? XD alex is my baby XD I've only ever used him like twice, and Kent is the only Alex I'll ever actually like XD the first Alex was bad. but like this is perfect. Alex isn't allowed to be anybody but Kent :P ]
If there was one thing Kent had come to realize over the last two years, it was that she wasn't worth it. The girl he'd been hung up over for the first twenty years of his life would never love him the way he loved her; not as anything more than parabatai, best friends. And even so, the years had brought them apart. She got married, and moved on. Morganne had moved away the moment she had a ring on her finger, which was absolutely no surprise to him. His best friend had never been able to stay in one place too long; just another reason he'd never had a chance. He'd never had a chance with her in the first place, not since the moment they'd gotten those runes on their arms that bound them together for life, until death. Not the way he'd wanted, and it didn't end the way he wanted, either. She'd left, just as she always did.
He wasn't even surprised, to be honest. And at this point, Kent didn't care as much as he knew he should. And besides, everyone left him in the end. Emily would leave eventually, whether it be because she got mad at him, or tired of him, or time just pulled the best friends apart. Eventually, she'd leave him too; of that he was sure. Which was why he'd always take every chance he got to make sure that was as far into the future as it could be. Despite his stony silences most of the time, Kent was much clingier than one would expect. He held on too tight, loved too hard, and fell too fast. He had lots of flaws, and eventually people managed to see that, and they left. It was the cycle of life.
Times like this, all he wanted was to be close enough to someone to realize that, while they'd leave eventually, that wasn't now. Almost every night--morning, actually, when you thought about it--he would fall asleep with his head in her lap, knowing she would follow suit eventually, and he'd wake up before her, gone for a run or something of the sort. And that was how it would be, day after day after day. Kent didn't know how long it usually took her to fall asleep, but as he felt something touch his forehead lightly, his eyes fluttered open, blue eyes meeting her's for a split second before realizing that the light tap on his forehead wasn't her fingertips, but her lips.
Once more, his eyes landed on her's, and he'd be lying if he said he had the faintest idea what he was doing. But it'd been almost two years, and he'd admit without any shame that his feelings for Emily were much more than those of friendship, and so as he saw her lips descending on his, Kent reached up and cupped her face in his hands, letting their lips meet, as both of them had clearly intended. No regrets, not now. Kent had a feeling that they'd been waiting far too long for this, that they both felt that way.
Lia didn't dare move a muscle. She was really doing it. She was taken the final step. She was holding her breath, the panic starting to flutter inside her. Then she felt him kissing back, and for the moment all of her worries simply brushed aside and she enjoyed the moment, the feel of his lips moving against hers. She felt his hand gently cup her face, and she couldn't help but briefly think that had this been Gareth, she would have flinched at the very gesture, however, with Kent his movements were compassionate and gentle, and she found herself mimicking him, one of her hands gentle tracing his jawline as they kissed. Kissed. She was really, finally kissing Kent. And he wasn't pulling back in disgust.
It was a wonder. Had this been a year and a half ago, she would have never let him anywhere near her. Would never let anybody near her. Lia thought back vaguley. She would shy away from any simple trust, and even when her and Kent had been working through her...Issues, she had had her fair share of panic attacks due to her ex fiances awful tendancies. Now she was...Here. This was the final sign. She had moved on. Gareth had been as far as her experience went with men. With the kiss she was currently on the refieving end of now she saw how much she had been missing out. There was no place she would rather be than with Kent at this precise moment. She didn't want it to end. She didn't want to feel the absence of his touch, as ironic as it sounded. She could happily sit there like this forever.
However it was at this point that those niggling doubts began to leak into her mind, ones that should be best kept away. What if he was just kissing her back so he didn't hurt her feelings? What if this was just an act. Lia knew all about the situation with Morganne, Kent had confided in her the day before the girl had left her parabatai in the dust. He still loved her, right? He couldn't possibly like her. Gareth had told her enough that no man would ever look at her in that way, and that she was lucky he was with her, that he was doing her a favour by staying with her. And although most of the memories were nownlocked firmly away in the depths of her mind, some of that verbal abuse had stuck, and it was whirling in her mind right now. Probably not the best of times.
Eventually she drew her lips away from his, almost reluctantly so. Hesitating, Lia opened her eyes to meet his, speechless for a minute, which was a feat for her considering her smartass nature. "I-I..." She managed to stutter out, the same thoughts still plauging her mind. "I have to go." She managed to form the coherent sentence, quickly siding herself out from beneath him and making a beeline for the door.
[I know I know! Secrets aren't good.;-; But she has plausible reasoning to, considering her past.:o
Aww ^^
I wasn't sure where to go with this, so it could go one of two ways, whichever you prefer
Number one is that she could leave, leaving Kent just sort of dazed on the couch wondering what the hell just happened. She could try to avoid him, but eventually he manages to corner her during the night(since that seems when the both of them get the alone time they need.c;) And confronts her about the whole deal which is where she confesses all her worries and everything.:)
Or
Basically the same thing could happen, minus the whole avoiding him for a few days, he manages to stop her before she leaves and they hash it out now.:)
Which one do you like better?]
[Okie's, sounds good.c:Kent makes me laugh with his talking incapabilities, so to speak. Its cute.^^ xD]
[He's just so awkwardly cute.^^Like...Idk, I just love him.c:]
[Kentikins.<33I love be their relationship and they're not even in one yet.:o
XD]
[Its perfect like him c;Looking forward to seeing it.^^]
[ okay I'll try but no promises this will be any good.... ]
Kent honestly knew nothing at all. He had never been the smartest kid in any way, shape, or form. He was wise, if you would take that, but not smart. It all came down to logic. You could add and subtract necessary elements, and then there was an answer. To Kent, that was just how life was. Take Morganne. The equation was simple. At first, it was just Morganne, and that equaled happiness. Then, there was Lance, he came in. Then Emily. Subtract the lovebirds, and he was left with Emily equaling happiness. Okay, maybe it didn't work that well with people, but that was how Kent thought; addition and subtraction. He'd always been taught to look at only what he had, and nothing else.
People didn't work that way, Kent knew that. That was one of the few things he actually did know. What he didn't know, though, was how to kiss someone. Kent was twenty, and yet he'd only kissed a girl--what, once? And that one had been a mistake--she'd turned out to be a vampire, and that ended rather poorly... Point being, the moment Kent felt Lia pull away, he'd instantly blamed himself. God damn him and the constant awkwardness he'd put up like the Berlin wall between the two of them.
And then she was gone, just like Morganne. Subtracted from his equation, gone. That was probably for the best; Kent usually made situations far too bad for others. He wasn't exactly the easiest, or safest person to hang around. Emily was better off fleeing, even if he didn't want the first real friend to go. She was better off that way, and despite the constant 'serve only yourself' human trait complex, Kent would rather she be safe than him be happy.
The equation was simple now, Kent realized all too suddenly as she fled, quick on her feet even by Nephilim standards. = Happiness.
There was no equation anymore.
"Emily!" Kent called, jumping to his feet and taking no time to adjust his shirt or the hair falling in his eyes. For the first time in forever, Kent could actually hear something other than his usual empty words. He could claim to be selfless all he wanted, he could claim to be better than the humans, and want nothing but for her to be happy and safe.
But in the end, he was still selfish, which was exactly why he chased after her.
[I'm so sorry, I didn't see this.;-;I'll try to get a reply up as quickly as possible, but I have my first exams this week so if it takes a few days I'm sorry.:(
But this post was beautifully amazing and I was missing Lint, so this has made me happy.^^]
[ don't worry, I'm kind of on hiatus, so I may not see it for a while. Good luck on your exams, coco bear! <3333 ]
My legs had engaged before my mind had had a chance to catch up and I found myself darting through the dimly lit corridors, the only source of light leaking in from the windows, shadows crawling up the whitewashed walls as my eyes adjusted to the darkness.
What had I done? I'd been stupid. Stupid to even think that he might possibly reciprocate any sort of feelings for me. I'd created this whole romantic love scene in my mind, had imagined endless scenarios of us being together and the reality of the situation was that he would never truly like me the way I like him. More than once I could remember Kent declaring that I was his best friend, like a sister to him. Each and every time it made bile rise in my throat, made me feel as if I were somehow betraying him by keeping my real feelings hidden. By lying to his face when I responded that he was like a brother to me too. That I didn't want things to change. Because I did. I did want things to change. At least I thought I had until I had just gone and wrecked everything.
Now I'd gone and kissed him, nothing would ever be the same again.
Gareth had been right. No guy could ever possibly be interested in me. Maybe I had been lucky to have him. Lucky that at least somebody could be interested in a person like me.
The thought of him spurred on a wave of nostalgia and home sickness that had me reaching out to the wall to steady myself as I came to a stop. I missed England. I missed London. I missed my mum and my brother and the institute and the smell of fresh bread from the bakery in the mornings and the fact that my favourite cafe was only a 5 minute walk away. I missed home.
This thought alone had my eyes stinging and welling with unshed tears. Vaguely, I heard Kent call after me, and I found myself hurrying my pace once more. I couldn't bear to listen to what he had to say. Give me a look of sympathy as if to say 'you'll get over it eventually' and 'this will pass'. Truthfully I couldn't stand the thought of him letting me down easy, so to speak.
Hastily I ducked behind the corner of a corridor, sinking into the darkness in the vain hope that he might just run past without noticing my figure in the shadows.
[AND ITS UP!
I got a B in my science exam as well btw! So thank you for the wishes of luck! I shall speak to you on chat though.^_^]
It had been three days. Three days, four hours, and maybe twenty minutes since he'd last seen Emily. Not that he was counting of course, but it wasn't hard to when all he'd ever known about the secretive midget was that she tended to avoid her problems, which was exactly what she was doing now. Kent hadn't seen her since she'd kissed him, and he'd kissed her right back. He couldn't help but wonder if that was exactly why she was avoiding him; maybe she was freaked out that he hadn't slapped her or ignored her or whatever it was that she was so damn afraid of. Clearly she'd been treated poorly by someone--Kent may not say much, but he wasn't stupid. You didn't get as paranoid as Em was by accident.
It was a little after four A.M., but Kent didn't feel the slightest bit tired as he slowly walked through the very halls he'd lost Em in a couple nights before, hoping against hope to just catch a glance of her. Even after being best friends for what was approaching a year and a half now, he still didn't quite understand the first thing about her. Well, that was a lie. Kent was no psychologist, and he never aspired to be, but it was abundantly clear to him that she was afraid of something. He just hadn't the faintest idea what it was, aside from that it had probably got something to do with her intense paranoia.
Kent found it much earlier to work with her feelings than his own, he realized as he rounded a corner and frowned at the cracked door to the brightly lit training room. Who else would be up at this hour? Em hadn't been seen around the Institute in days, so it couldn't be her.
Curious, Kent pushed the door open a few more inches, a perplexed smile on his face when he saw a familiar short figure just beyond the door. He slipped through the crack, leaning against the wall with arched eyebrows. "And where have you been?" He questioned after a moment's silence not quite sure how to start this.
Before she could reply, he couldn't help the grin that spread across his cheeks. "Leaving me here to deal with everyone else in this goddamn Institute."
The only thing he could really do was make sure she knew that nothing had changed between them. Not unless she was okay with it.
[ew look at this shit
actually no
look away]
I'd managed to worm my way into getting the next assignment on the list and had been out of the institute the day after the whole 'incident' as I was now dubbing it. This one had been in the state over, which meant endless distance between myself and Kent, which was exactly what I needed. After the kiss I hadn't been able to focus, much less actually go through just what had happened and what I was going to do about it. The mission gave me something to concentrate on, and I'd promptly taken the opportunity to bury the fact that I would have to go back to Manhattan and face him at some point.
Now I was back I realised that the attempt to forget about it had been pretty pointless and he was inevitably going to find me and we would have to talk it through. Kent wasn't a big talker but I had a horrible feeling that he would have [I]a lot[/I] to say about the whole thing.
Which really didn't soothe the anxieties that were bubbling in the pit of my stomach.
I'd gotten back about an hour ago and had hidden myself away in the training room. I guess being a night owl had its perks and I'd managed to avoid just about everybody aside from Jeffrey the cat, of whom had greeted me begrudgingly before expectantly rolling on his back to request a belly rub.
Flickering flames lit up the walls, pockets of gold breaking up the darkness that otherwise consumed the room. My skin was sweat slicked from tireless training, and my fist hit the harsh, unforgiving leather punch bag once more as I tilted my head back toward the sky, my breath coming in heavy pants as my hands shook from the strain of pushing myself just that little bit too far.
I felt his presence as he entered the room though. Despite the faint buzzing in my ear and the incessant ache in my muscles. My chest heaving, I found myself stifling my own smile as his voice filled the silent atmosphere minus the crackling of the fire torches. I whipped around to face him, my eyes resting on his slightly hunched physique leant up against the wall. I could just about make out an amused expression spread over his countenance and I rolled my eyes to myself, trust Kent to have a somewhat smug look plastered on his face.
"I was busy". I shrugged and without a second glance turned back around to steady the swinging bag. " I'm sure things didn't get too out of hand while I was gone".[/b] I offered, not daring to look at him again. To be honest, I wasn't quite sure where we stood. He seemed to be acting pretty normal. I mean, maybe he didn't think this was a big a thing as I did? Typical guy. But did that mean nothing was going to change? That things would remain the same between us?
Despite myself, at that thought I felt slightly dejected. I hadn't realised just how head over heels I was for him until now.
[No no its beaut just like you
So shh
This here is crappy but I hope you like it anyways <3]
[ let's pretend this isn't a month late ok I'll be better about replying I swear I wanna pick this up again so badly ]
Kent arched an eyebrow skeptically at her comment, though he didn't offer an answer at first. If there was one thing he knew about Em, it was that she wouldn't change her mind or tell you anything she wasn't 100% positive she didn't want you knowing. And that she'd brush off anything he asked her about anyway, so there was really no point at all. "You know," Kent started after a moment, taking a few steps in her direction, "your punches will look a lot better if you bend your knees. You can absorb more of the impact that way."
It was harmless advice, something Kent was positive that she'd heard before, but he was hoping it'd at least break the tension smothering both of them like an overprotective blanket on a hot August evening. He didn't move a step closer after that, though. She was kind of a seriously space oriented person, and after what had happened, he wouldn't be surprised if he wanted him to keep his distance.
"I missed you," Kent added bluntly, leaving it at that. He didn't need to mention what had happened before; if it was meant to happen, it would. If it wasn't, it wouldn't. It was entirely up to her. And yeah, maybe that's why he'd never had a chance with Morganne--because he didn't take chances--but eternal friend zone was better than rejection in his mind. And besides, if she was thinking the same thing as him (which was a whole bunch of jumbled-ass shit if he were being honest), then they'd both know.
The silence between them was overwhelming, though, and normally Kent didn't have a problem with silence. Actually, he rather liked silence. But this was too much for both of them. Usually, their silence was because one was falling asleep, or because they both had their big mouths full of the most disgusting foods imaginable.
"It's the institute. Things are always out of hand."
[ ew don't read it pls coco bear ]
Unable to look him in the eye, I turned my gaze away to the out the window. The trees were stark bare and washed in the moonlight, the leaves having fallen to the ground in shades of vibrant oranges and goldens. Autumn was right upon us, and admittedly it was my favourite time of year. Memories of launching myself into leaf piles and messing around in the local woodlands would always be memories I cherished and held close to my heart. Irreplaceable. And it sort of left me wondering just when I might sew my family again, if ever. I never thought I'd long for mum nagging my ear off about the dishes, or Ryan setting up one of his many notable pranks to catch me while I was off guard. But I did. I missed it so godamn much even thinking about it sent an ache through my chest.
"Don't be a smartass Kent". I instructed him rather bluntly, turning to face him once more. On countless occasions the information had been relayed to me. But I guess when you're frustrated you don't really think about technique, or what would make you better at what you're doing. Just beating the crap out of something was good enough for me, improvements came in proper training, when I didn't have all this pent up anxiety rattling around inside of me and threatening to burst at any given moment. My eyes flickered and I watched intently as he moved, my own foot poised behind me to take a step back if I were to get too close without my say so. Generally I could deal with my whole 'personal bubble' issue pretty well. As long as I was the one that was moving, it was fine. It was when other people got too close to me that it freaked me out. Not when I got closer to others, if that makes any sense whatsoever.
It shook me. His next words shook me to the core as they echoed through the otherwise silent space. Surprise masking my features, I finally worked up the courage to meet his eyes with my own, cocking my brow slightly as I did so before crossing my arms over my torso. "Is that so? I questioned, and with this, I swallowed whatever apprehension I was feeling and confidently moved a couple steps closer until we were almost toe-to-toe. My heart was in my throat and I was terrified that he might turn on me. That he might snap for not liking my tone of voice or the way I was speaking to him or whatever, and would end up throttling me or something like that. And I hated it. I hated that even with the one person I was most at ease with, I still couldn't truly let my guard down. I hated the walls that I'd built around myself. But I just couldn't bring myself to escape.
The tension was suffocating, and I knew something would eventually have to give, because if he was feeling the way I did, then this wouldn't last much longer. Although Kent wasn't a man of many words, I was well aware of just how much he despised uncomfortable situations. And on the doctor scale I'm pretty sure this one would be measuring at a ten. The close proximity we were now standing in allowed me to get a look at him up close, and I realised that we hadn't been this near each other since the kiss. The thought had my eyes flickering down to his lips before back up at his gaze once more.
"I guess you raise a pretty good point there". I murmured half heartedly.
[gosh idek if this is good or not, I'm too tired to reread it at the mind, but I hope this is ok CeCe boo/ turkey bite mmk? Yes ok.c:]
[ well I'm here to promise you it was okay you little chicken nugget okay? cool you'd better believe me because it was fab AND FUA;OISDNF; THEY'RE GONNA KISS IT'S GONNA HAPPEN ;FLAJSLOIHZ;SLHFSLDFUDOUIGU;OIGAER;YUOETROI;UTR
I am calm
what are you talkinga bout ]
Kent had just been about to open his mouth to answer Em's statements, but he couldn't quite find the words to do it. Her toes were pressed right up against his, her eyes on his. He felt his heart start to race, but the adrenaline rushing through his veins wasn't the usual anxiety over awkwardness, but something else. He could feel her breath across his shoulders--yes, she was that short. Yes, he did find it amusing in any situation other than this. (view spoiler) Right now, all Kent could think was no matter how many times he and Morganne had stood face to face, closer than he and Em were, he'd never felt like this. Kent had never felt the uncontrollable urge to grab her by the waist and maybe just feel like he wasn't so alone in this God forsaken earth they lived on.
Kent had spent so much time in the twenty one years he'd been alive sitting on the sidelines, letting other people call the shots for him. He'd let people get what they want over what he wanted, even if it wasn't the right thing to do. Kent had agreed to be his best friend's parabatai even though he knew that he was in love with her. He'd watched her get married to another man. He'd done nothing as his family was slowly wiped off the map, one by one. Kent had done nothing for twenty one years of his life. he was tired, so damn tired, of letting himself give up on what he wanted.
To hell with what had happened earlier. Em had been the one to kiss him first last time, anyway. Maybe there was a chance that she felt the same way as he did about this. Kent wasn't going to let himself think enough to talk himself out of it, not this time. Instead of just giving her the reply she surely wanted, Kent took a moment to meet Em's eyes before he rested his hands lightly on his best friend's waist and and stooped down so he could press his lips carefully against her's.
He'd regret this, if he even lived long enough for that, wouldn't he?
But that didn't matter. Because right then, all that mattered was the fact that Em was back again and that he had her here, even if only for a few seconds before things went back to the way they'd been before, if not worse. You know the saying: fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.
[ this is really bad. don't read it. it's not doing this justice. don't read it. please ]
[Hey bae, just wanted to let you know that i am replying to this later, but I cant talk to you on kik/snapchat becauze my mum hoovered up my phone charger and my phone is dead.;-; I sorta forgot my name on snapchat, but i can probs download the app onto my tablet so we can still chat through that--so if you could PM me my name that'd be super good.c:]
[omfg its finally happening its so beaut and just its so amazing nd they're meant to be and just asdgghjkl]
As we stood there, toe-to-toe, I took the opportunity to analyse his face, the way his eyebrow was quirked slightly in amusement, yet his eyes remained unreadable. That was the thing about Kent. At first glance, you'd think you'd be able to pinpoint him down to a tee, that he wears his heart on his sleeve. In reality though? He keeps his cards close to his chest, and half the time I don't even know what's going through his mind. My heart beat was thrumming in my own ears and I was almost certain that he could probably hear it as well. It occurred to me at this point how close in proximity we were, and this thought alone had my cheeks heating and skin prickling.
The fact that I hadn't seen him in a few days had my senses going into overload. I breathed in the smell of his cologne, savouring it as my eyes gazed up at him. He dwarfed me by at least a good foot maybe more, although with my height almost anybody was capable of doing that. Usually tall guys intimidated me, knowing they had the ability to overpower me. But Kent had never really...It had never really bothered me. At first I'd obviously been various. But that had been to do with the fact that I didn't know him. His towering size never affected me like it did with other people. In fact, it sort of was a comfort. Especially the nights he'd spend with his head in my lap, long body sprawled out across the rest of the couch. For so long I thought I'd never be able to have that sort of thing with anybody. Gareth had completely destroyed me, tore me down until there was nothing left. Kent had replaced that with hope. And I guess that's where my feelings for him had begun.
It was suffocating me. The utter quietness that had descended again, and I couldn't stand it. This was all my fault. Everything had been perfectly fine until I'd gone and made it unbearably awkward. I was just waiting for him to let me down gently. To tell me he would just prefer to be friends. I mean, what did I expect after all? I'd sprung this on him without so much as an indication that he might like me back. I'd brought this all upon myself. I opened my mouth to speak, unable to take the soundlessness any more. "Look, Kent-". I was promptly cut off, however, when his lips tentatively pressed against mine in a sweet-as-honey kiss. His arms, strong and comforting, laced themselves around my waist. And for once in my life I didn't shy away from the physical touch, instead I just melted into it.
I found myself kissing him back, and it took a couple seconds for my mind to engage and catch up. I'd gone so long believing that nobody would ever desire me this way again, yet maybe, just maybe, Kent was going to prove me wrong. For once in my life I hoped that's what he'd do. I was praying to be wrong--ironic really.
Our mouths moved together in perfect unison, and after a few seconds I allowed my own arms to slowly slide up and around his neck, nerves dancing in my stomach as our bodies pressed up against each other, my eyes fluttering closed. Eventually though, I had to pull away for air, and my breath came in heavy pants as our lips fell away from one another, my forehead now pressed against his, our pupils in line with one another. "Kent?" I said hoarsely as I dared to look at him directly. "I don't...I don't want you to do this because you feel sorry for me. I don't want you to make a mistake because you pity me". I spoke quietly, my tone hushed as my breath fanned out over his lips.
[ITS BEAUTIFUL, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL, THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.<33]
[ this is gonna be nowhere near as good as yours okay I'm sorry man I'm gonna try tho ]
Kent had been expecting to get slapped, if not worse, if he were being perfectly honest with himself. The thing he'd learned about girls over the last twenty some years was that most of the ones he liked tended to have a problem with being touched at all, and Em was about ten times worse. He'd noticed how she usually flinched away from a touch of any sort, how she rejected any kind of assistance she was offered, how even though they were best friends, he still barely knew her. Yeah, Kent had been expecting a slap across the face, or at least for Em to go running.
So when he felt her arms wrap around his neck, Kent couldn't help but grin in surprise, mindlessly playing with a few of the loose strands of hair that tumbled down her back when she pulled back, her forehead pressed against his. Despite the fact that both of them were surely in very good shape and could usually do physical activity without too much trouble, both of them were breathless. "Yeah?" He mumbled when he heard her ask his name, and he couldn't help but marvel at her next words.
Pity her? Where did she get that idea from? Yes, maybe Kent felt sorry because even after two years of knowing each other, she still didn't trust him. He felt sorry because he knew someone had broken her down to the very bottom, and there was very little he could do about it. But Kent didn't pity Em. Not in the slightest. He thought that while whatever had happened to her in the past, it made her stronger. It had brought her here to him, right when he'd needed a friend most.
No, Kent didn't pity her. He didn't feel sorry for her, at least not like she thought he did. Kent knew better than to feel sorry for people. No, Kent didn't think this was a mistake, he didn't regret a single thing that had happened here today. He'd been working on learning to just live and screw regrets, or at least try to.
"The only mistake I made is not doing this sooner, Em."
Kissing him this time was a lot different to kissing him last time. I mean obviously last time he hasn't been conscious and I had been running on sleep deprivation and desperation to do something to cope with the overpowering feelings that had begun to dominate my life. But last time it had been more of a shocker. A firework sensation that had set off mini fires all over my body. This time it was...I don't know, innocent. It was sweet and innocent and blissful and everything you could wish for in a first kiss that both of you were awake to experience. It was slow and joyous and I don't think I could wish for something better because right now all I could focus on was how his mouth tasted like syrup and his kisses like strawberry and how all I wanted to do was kiss that mouth again and again tirelessly.
I liked the way he played with my hair, not roughly but sort if gingerly, and that when he moved that he was tentative and gentle and not at all rash or violent. It was completely different to how my first real kiss with Gareth had been. He had been harsh and rushed and not at all had he taken the time or effort to just...To just savour it all, not to mention that first kiss had happened behind a greasy takeaways after I'd snuck out to see him and we had ended up arguing. I think I was beginning to realise what I had been missing out on. And the more that came to light, the more I wanted to cling on to what me and Kent had. Whatever it was anyway. I couldn't be sure of that just yet.
I watched his face flicker with surprise at my words, and maybe I'd been wrong to say them but it was just how I felt. I was terrified honestly. I was scared that he would agree. That he'd step back and see and nod his head and tell me that maybe this was just out of sympathy. I was also frightened of the other route he might take. That he might become angry at me. I don't think I could stand that. The idea of him raising his voice to me alone had been stiffening up in his arms, although I reminded myself that this was Kent. Kent wasn't the type of guy to get worked up like that. He was generally pretty chill and laid back and that alone was a stark contrast to how Gareth had ever been. I don't know if I can recall any point in time when Gareth had been 'chill'.
I was also scared of what was to come. If we did get together, I was scared that maybe I might disappoint him. I mean, Gareth had had all these expectations, and my dating life hasn't really expanded far from that. I mean, obviously it wasn't normal for guys to get vicious and aggressive, and i know it sounded stupid, but if that wasn't normal, then what was?
His voice pierced through my bubble of worried thoughts, and what he said had me melting all over again. He felt the same way I did. This wasn't just a one sided thing and I wasn't just being delusional. This was real, it was actually happening. That alone had the widest of grins spreading across my face until I was beaming, and I can't remember smiling like this in a long time--so much that your face begins to hurt.
"You better not be lying to me Kent Copperlight, because if you are I'm not afraid to kick your ass".
[Its beautiful man i love these two so much <33]
(view spoiler)
Kent couldn't help the smile on his lips, however faint it may be. He wasn't exactly big on outward display of emotion, but Em could always drag it out of him. "I'm well aware that you could kick my ass," Kent promised, a quiet laugh rumbling in his throat. "You've done it a couple times." Mindlessly, Kent pulled his fingers through Em's ponytail, running it between his fingers as gently as he could. He'd always been fascinated by hair, if he were being honest. Most shadowhunters kept theirs cropped short, just because it was easier to manage and less of a problem that way, and he'd never been close to anyone who kept their hair long.
Silently, he pulled his friend closer to him and rested his head on top of her's, knowing that a few moments of silence between the two of them would be nothing out of the ordinary. Kent closed his eyes, just taking a moment to catch his breath and listen to the racing of his heart that he was sure she could hear if she listened hard enough. How long had he wanted to do this? Well, he wasn't quite sure, if he were being honest. Kent couldn't remember when their friendship had turned into something a little bit more than that, at least for him. Maybe it always had been.
"So where were you?" Kent asked after a few moments of silence, pulling back from her embrace and pulling his sweatshirt over his head, leaving him in a tee shirt and pajama pants. "You don't just disappear to nowhere for three days, do you?" Shrugging, the tall blonde boy tossed his sweatshirt on the floor by the door and then proceeded to sit down with his back against the wall, gesturing for Em to sit next to him.
That was what had really been weighing on his mind, and despite what had just happened, they did have to sort out the situation from the other day; why she'd run, where she'd gone, and then he imagined they'd have to talk about their relationship and yada yada yada, the idea made Kent's head spin, if he were being honest. He wasn't one for talking things out, more just letting them be, but he wasn't going to lie when he said he was positive that he really liked Emily and he wasn't going to let himself get the wrong idea, or let miscommunication mess something up before it even happened.
A small chuckle escaped my lips at his reply, and I found myself nodding slightly. "I have, haven't I? " I mused casually with a faint smile playing on my features. The feel of his fingers tangling in my locks had a soothing effect over me, and my eyes flickered closed as I allowed him to play with my hair, a small sigh leaving my mouth. I remember that Gareth always hated it if my hair was too long. He said it made it look ratty, greasy, and often if it got longer than he'd like, he'd take it upon himself to pin me down and cut it himself, which, aside from him forcing me to do...Stuff, was probably one of the worst things he did. I mean it might seem insignificant, but I felt in some way, at the time, he was almost stealing my femininity from me. Demeaning me. Making me feel smaller and more worthless than I already did at the time.
When he pulled me in closer, I couldn't help but relax in his arms, the feel of them cradlled around me making me feel inexplicably safe. More than that, it felt like home. Like I was meant to be there. It was a feeling I'd missed for longer than I ever would have liked. But it made me realise that no matter how far away my actual family was, I still had my second family, here, with me at the institute. And that was more than I could ever ask for. The side of my head was pressed up against his chest, and the sound of his racing heart made me aware of just how much this meant to him, reminded me of how long I'd wanted this, and how good it felt to have me feelings known and reciprocated.
Finally we untangle from each other, he strips of his jumper and settles down, gesturing for me to sit beside him, and after a moment I do so, bringing my knees up to my chest and resting my chin on them."You'd be surprised" I mumbled under my breath at the latter part of his question. My eyes glanced in his direction, and I sent him a little half smile before shrugging."I sweet talked Mason into giving me his mission. I was a couple states over investigating some questionable deaths involving a lack of blood, I managed to organise a stake out for a Vampire but there's been no sign of it so far". I explained quietly.
"Other than that, I haven't really done much. I just threw myself into the work, y'know? After how everything was left I didn't want to focus on what I'd done. I didn't want to focus on the fact that I thought I'd lost you". I trailed off quietly.
That was a typical Shadowhunter relationship, though, Kent was sure the both of them knew. It consisted of friendly ass-kicking from everybody. Every friendship was centered around bettering the other, and Kent and Emily were no exception. Kent was pretty sure that if it came down to it, the two of them were pretty evenly matched in a fight; he had size and strength advantage, and she had agility and speed. But the threats to kick each other's ass were completely, entirely harmless. Kent would never dream of coming anywhere close to hurting Emily, despite the intimidating vibe he tended to give to people--which he had never figured out, honestly, it must be the fact that he rarely speaks.
Kent turned his body so his side pressed up against the cold, empty white wall and he could face Emily more directly. She sat herself down on the floor, her chin resting on top of her small knees. Curled up like this, Kent could almost believe she wasn't a shadowhunter, all her hard muscles and years of training melted away when she wrapped herself up this way. The tension left her shoulders, her face relaxed, and Kent found himself wondering if he was just imagining things, or if she looked a lot more calm than she usually did when she was around him. Without moving to push her hair behind her ears the way he would have normally, Kent arched his eyebrows at her explanation.
Honestly, he wasn't particularly surprised that Mason handed over his mission without too much of a hassle. Mason was the kind of guy who would do anything you asked him to if you gave him good enough reasoning, and didn't expect anything in return. Besides, chances were, Mason hadn't really wanted to go, anyway. (view spoiler) Kent would've bet the Institute that Mason would rather stay here with his pregnant wife than go on any mission. "Vampires are tricky," Kent answered with a shrug, as if this were the answer to all of the world's problems. And in a way, it was. Most vampires had lived a hell of a lot longer than any Nephilim, and therefore had much more experience. Catching them was always a lot more tricky than dealing with werewolves.
I just threw myself into the work, y'know? Yeah, Kent knew. After Morganne left with her husband, after he'd lost his family, after anything bad that could've happened in his life, Kent would do the exact same thing. He always had been and always would be a Nephilim before anything else, especially since the people who were important to him had shown that they weren't worth his number one priority. At the end of the day, throwing himself into his work was the one thing that kept him sane. Even when his friends, family, and relationships weren't constant, at least the need to keep danger at bay never vanished, no matter how much he tried. Maybe that was what he liked so much about his job. It kept getting harder; it was always a challenge. People tended to give up on him, ignoring his words and forgetting he existed. People would always leave, at the end of the day. But demons and downworlders didn't go away when faced with a challenge. They kept coming, stronger and stronger each time. And no matter how much his life was messed up, he would too. "Yeah," Kent sighed after a moment of heavy silence. "I know."
I didn't want to focus on the fact that I thought I'd lost you. He wouldn't lie, that send a dagger straight through his racing heart. If Emily thought that she could possibly lose him, after the wild year and half they'd had together, she was delusional. "Em," Kent answered with a quiet laugh. "You're never gonna lose me." When he loved, he loved with his whole heart, even if it wasn't returned. One look at his relationship with Morganne would confirm that. The idea that Emily thought he would be going anywhere after they'd become such good friends was both hurtful and slightly amusing, and made him wonder just how well she actually knew him. Brushing the thought away, Kent drew his eyes back up to focus on Em, the slightest of crooked smiles on his lips.
(view spoiler)
I could exactly place what it was that I liked about Kent so much. Maybe it was the fact that he was so different to Gareth, in both looks and mannerisms alike. He was light and Gareth had been dark. Kent was quiet, thoughtful, and rarely showed any sort of violence--aside from when fighting against the enemy. Gareth on the other hand? Everybody had been his enemy. He'd had a sharp tongue, and even quicker fists, and wasn't afraid to throw a punch at just about anybody. I think mainly though, the reason why I was attracted to Kent(other than the fact that he was..You know, good looking) was the fact that no matter what, he'd never given up at me. Looking back on when we had first met, back in that dingy little apartment, I'd been a complete mess. I had honestly been on the cusp of a mental, and physical breakdown.
Time and time again, no matter how bad I'd gotten, despite the fact that more often that not it was one step forward and two steps back, he'd stuck by me and he hadn't given in. And the fact that he'd been so dedicated and determined to help me. To help me rebuild the person I once was, the one that Gareth had shattered into pieces over and over again. Kent had never given up on me.
I guess in a way it had been inevitable. Damsel in distress falling for the hero.
My eyes flickered toward him as he turned on his side to face me, his face bathed by the light of the flickering pockets of fire dotted around the room, and just looking at him right there and then, I felt this intense rush of...I don't know. Adoration. I was so lucky to have him, and at times I guess I sort of forgot that and took it for granted. This place had become home, the people my family, including Kent. He meant a lot to me, more than I was willing to let on. And as I gaze at him now as he watched me, I couldn't stop myself from reaching out to trace the tips of my fingers lightly across his face. Once upon a time, I'd have flinched away from any sort of human touch. But from him? I craved it. I craved the touch of his skin against mine, completely innocent, just being together as one. "I don't know what I'd do without you". I mumbled ever so quietly, before averting my eyes away, nodding in agreement at his comment about vampires.
[I]Em, you're never going to lose me[/I]. His words struck a chord and instantly I found myself retracting back, curling in on myself as my arms tightened around my legs and I shifted ever so slightly, turning my head to the side. It wasn't because his words hurt, I knew that there was obviously no malicious intent, simply words to try and reassure my anxious mind. However they took me back. Back to when I was 14 and my life was thrown of kilter when my dad was murdered. The thought made my chest ache, made me sick to the stomach. I'd always been a daddy's girl, but he was the Consul, which meant he was rarely home. The last thing he'd said to me? The same words that Kent had just spoken a moment ago. And look how that turned out. Eventually I willed myself to look back at Kent, a fresh sheen of tears threatening to spill from my eyes."That's what my dad said before he left". I responded."He never came back".
I waited for the words to resonate. Let them sink in, for him and for me. And that's when I truly looked at him, single tear now having escaped and rolling down my cheek. "Please don't leave me Kent. Don't leave me. Don't leave". I pleaded, trying to swallow down the sobs that were trying to claw their way from my throat.
It was easy, really, to forget the year and a half of struggling that it'd taken to get her to be this comfortable around him. During this moment, with his cheek tucked carefully into the palm of Emily's small, calloused hand, Kent could forget that less than twenty months ago, she'd been threatening him outside her small, nasty apartment door. He could forget the distrust that had grown between the two of them for what seemed like months; she had been upset that he'd accidentally loosed her location to the Institute, and he'd been worried about her getting in even deeper trouble than she already had been, although he knew little of it. Kent could easily forget the years and years that he spent fruitlessly chasing after a girl he loved, who did not share the same feelings in return.
Carelessly, Kent turned his head and pressed his lips to the palm of Em's hand, watching her eyes. It was easy to get lost in the deep pools of pale blue that flickered quickly across his face, such a different shade from the pair of muddy brown eyes he'd loved for more than twenty years of his life. He watched the way her long hair fell down her shoulders and caught on her elbows and knees, just barely brushing the floor in her hunched-over position.
And then she was crying, just in a lazy blink of his eye, she was crying again. Kent's mind raced, trying to think what he could have possibly said that would cause her so much pain. Whatever it was, he wished that he could take it back, and stuff it deep down in his pocket to never be thought again.
He knew how to fight demons, but not this kind. Kent had spent years and years fighting away the kind of demons that came in the middle of the night and tried to take your children. He'd killed countless beasts with dripping teeth and bloody hands, or winged bastards with glimmering lies and deadly magic. Hell, he'd even dealt with rogue Nephilim, the kind who would break into your institute and wreak as much havoc as they could. Kent knew how to hunt down the demon who killed you family--your parents and your five siblings--until one of you was on the floor dead. He'd spent hours upon hours studying the proper way to wield a sword, how to jump higher, run faster. Kent had spent all of his life learning to kill anything that stood in his way, because that's what he was. A warrior.
But warriors didn't fight this kind of demon. A warrior didn't push away guilt and fear and pain. A warrior like Kent would stand up, toss a first aid kit at you, and tell you to suck it up. That's just how he was raised. They didn't teach you how to soothe the hole in your heart left behind by the loss of a loved one, because that loss was what gave them better, colder fighters. But that loss was also what had Emily sobbing within arm's reach, but still millions of miles away. Shadowhunting had taught him a lot of things. His time as a Nephilim had taught him that nothing lasts. It'd taught him how to destroy lives in an instant. It'd forced the idea that things were only good or bad, black or white, and nothing inbetween, straight down his throat, which was still raw from screaming his sister's name.
The one thing they'd never taught him, the thing he could never find in any book he read in any of the many Institute's vast libraries, was how to undo the damage that Shadowhunting did.
They'd never taught Kent how to fix anything.
It was because he'd never learned to fix anything that he knew he could never leave somebody he cared about, though. Twenty years of chasing after Morganne had taught him that plenty well. So that was how, with confidence, Kent could say, "I'm not going anywhere," as he gently pushed away Emily's tears with a calloused thumb and pulled her into his arms. "Nowhere at all."
It had been a good couple weeks since me and Kent had had our little heart to heart in the training room, things had been going pretty well. I was still a little unsure of where we stood with the whole relationship thing, but it had definitely been stepped up from the friendship that we had initially had. Now there was stolen kisses, hugs that lingered and twined hands underneath tabletops. And I was the happiest I'd ever been. I couldn't ever remember a time like this, where I was literally on cloud nine. Maybe a couple years before dad had passed away. But even toward the end of his life, the fact he was never home was upsetting. I'd never had my chance to be content. Right now though? I couldn't imagine things being any better.
I'd settled myself in front of the fire, and Jeffrey was sprawled out beside me, his stomach on show as he gazed up at me. I imagine he was willing me to give him a belly rub, to which I obliged after a moment or two, my fingers scratching the soft fur that made him appear a lot bigger than he already was. And trust me, Jeffery was not a small cat. Let's just say the institute had a pretty bad rodent problem, and he was the only one of us that was willing to correct the issue, so to speak.
I stared fixastedly on the dancing flames in front of me, the harsh orange hues and flashes of yellow mesmerising as I watched them leap to and fro. It was times like these, residing in the silence of the institute that I really appreciated the life I'd found here. Never would I have imagined that I'd ever be as comfortable as I was here, so relaxed. Safe. And I prized that feeling above all else, because I knew what it was like to live in constant fear. Not because I was Nephilim. Not because I'd spent a good part of my life hunting and chasing demons, knowing that there truly could be monsters hiding under the bed. No. My threat was very much human. Genuine in a sense. It wasn't something you would read in a fantasy book, it wasn't a rare tale of horror that you might hear in the depths of a prison cell. No. The fear that I had faced was something that could happen to anyone. Which simply made it all the more terrifyingly real.
My eyes flickered up as I heard the door click, my face brightening as Kent's face peered around it, followed shortly by the rest of his body. "Hey". My voice was dry as a faint smile tugged at the corner of my lips."I missed you". It was true, lately, the longer we spent apart, the more I found myself lost for things to do, as if half of me just wasn't...There. My gaze scanned over the expression written across his features, which in turn, had my own brow creasing in confusion."What's up?"
Now, to be entirely honest, Kent had never been one to get in other people's business. He knew for a fact that he hated when people pried in his life, and he often expected other people to provide the same courtesy to him in return. Nonetheless, he'd done his research after Mason had come up to him and asked about a girl who'd gone missing in England about the same time Emily had turned up around here. The articles from a London Newspaper that he'd read online were all cleared from the Internet history on his phone, forgotten, but may as well have weighed as much as a hippopotamus for the guilt that Kent was feeling.
In fact, the guilt at prying into business that was surely not his had almost had Kent closing the tabs before he'd gotten any real information; even if it had something to do with Emily, why did it matter, right? But there had been one thing to catch his eye: all of the articles reported a girl named Dahlia, a shadow hunter of Emily's age, capabilities, and accent, who had her exact face. In fact, they were exactly the same, except for their names.
Kent had then done his best to quickly remove the memory from Mason's mind to keep any rumors from spreading. He'd simply told Mason it was a mixup, and that Emily wasn't even from London. Whatever reason she had for keeping her identity secret, it had to be a good one, right?
It was that worry that had him pushing open the doors to the room he'd know Emily would be in, and maybe a bit of morbid curiosity. If she was running or hiding from somebody, Kent wanted nothing more than to help her. Besides, who better to tell than the resident mostly-mute, 'brooding and moody' blonde boy?
As he met his best friend's eyes, the usual smile that came to his rather hard face wasn't present. Kent's rare lopsided smile was hard to earn and easy to lose, and fear often stifled the brighter side of him. "Who's Dahlia Cassiano?" he asked without a moment's hesitation after closing the big doors behind him and settling himself comfortably in the chair next to her. Despite his slight worry, his demeanor was still almost entirely calm, if only because he knew after two years of friendship that Em had a tendency to run from situations instead of facing them head on like he did.
"Mason just got back from London and he saw some pictures of her there, I guess. He says she looks just like you..." this time he did pause. If his next words left his mouth, he knew there was no going back. There would be no brushing it off as a fluke, or a freak coincidence. Five words that would change the entire mood of the exchange the two had going on.
"So I did my research."
And I like how out names are the same even tho I never asked if I could call you that