Have You Been Up to the Roof?
[I track the tag gravelyeverett]
Semi-Hiatus
“For fuck sake. Do you really think me to be that ruthless? That heartless and soulless?” What had she done to make him think in such a way about her? Oh right, well, that question answered itself. Why did it hurt every time he alluded to her massacring the people closest to him? Never ever would she strip him of the good things in his life. Seraphina would more or less protect them with all her power and energy. She had a lot of blood on her hands but Everett or anyone close to him would not be part of said blood. Never in a million years. Then the flurry of questions started. If I let him walk out of that door, will I ever see him again? Will he ever want to see me? What was he thinking? What was he feeling? Why can’t I know? Gods, I would kill for Loki’s telepathic abilities. Instead, all I can do it play with fire. Ugh. Will I ever see him again? Will the Everett I know, the one I fell head-over-heels for come back? What if he doesn’t, what am I going to do then? Look for him? Search for him? Call out to him? Sing a siren song? Anything. I am quite sure I would do anything.
“I have already fallen and gotten hurt once.” Her shoulders shrugged absently, snickering humorlessly before her eyes turned back to window, leaning against its frame. “I am sure falling a second time would lessen the sting. Perhaps I will become immune to it.” Sera obviously was not talking about falling out windows anymore. She was agile and quick enough on her feet that the fall would be a breeze to her. After sliding the window open, she perched herself on the window sill allowing her leg to dangle out of it. “I always land on my feet. There is nothing to worry about. This would be the time for you to stop caring. It would make this so much easier.” She kept her eyes on the scenery outside the window, avoiding the blooming feelings in her chest that arose each and every time she looked into his eyes.
“I say it not because I don’t trust you but because I love them. It matters not who it is you are, whether you are my oldest friend, worst enemy, lover or otherwise.” he snapped. “I will fight to the death for them, regardless of whether or not I sense a direct or imminent threat.” Set aside the brief moments his memories of her had been hijacked and contorted to grotesque, horrid things, he was sure he never thought her as such. But love her or not, his mafia— his family came first. Their safety, their well being, their happiness. And maybe it was best that he stay out of romantic affairs for some time. Maybe it was time he started refocusing his attention on his business, on the poorly stitched and woven together people he claimed to be of his own bloodline, even if it wasn’t directly. He’d experienced enough emotions for a lifetime.
Maybe there was nothing wrong with avoiding those emotions for the rest of it.
“Yeah, you and me both, sugar.” he replied vacantly. “Funny thing about falling. You don’t become immune to it. No matter how many times you fall. You either stay down or you get back up. And the longer you stay down, the harder you’ll hit the floor the next time you fall.” They called that shame and humility.Something he was uncomfortably familiar with, and would continue to grow familiar with as the years passed. “Cats always land on their feet. Until they don’t. I’d be careful in making those types of claims if I were you.”
