Assassins at Dusk (KOTLC FanFic)

Ch. 28- The Package

It was a soft and warm kiss that felt like it lasted a forever. The lights flickered, and the world soared when their lips met. It felt overdue between these two, the constant sidelong glances and admiring from a distance. Even with the chaos wreaking havoc in their lives, even the creatures and waterfall seemed to go silent as their lips moved in a quiet yet desperate need. The kiss was gone far too early if you ask Sophie. Fitz pulled away, and Sophie got down from her toes. Fitz's hand remained on Sophie's cheek, however, and Sophie leaned against it, overwhelmed in the thrill of being with him. But Sophie's adrenaline rush was over far too soon, and she stepped back. They couldn't do this, they couldn't be this. Secret stolen kisses and continually wondering if the other was going to come back alive, it would only cause rifts.

"I need to go, Fitz," Sophie stumbled over her words. Fitz faces morphed through many emotions, worry, and hurt above all else. Sophie removed his hand from her cheek and walked back into the library. She quickly put her book on the table and rushed out the door. She heard Fitz's footsteps exit from the balcony and try to catch up with her, but she crawls into the girl's dormitory before he could catch up. Sophie slid her back against the door and sighed. Sophie just saved herself and Fitz terrible amounts of pain and longing. It wouldn't work, it just couldn't. There were starting a war, and they are two of some of the most advanced soldiers in the Black Swan, romantic relationships would just get in the way and create distractions. Still, when Sophie heard him slide against the other side of the door and sigh as well, Sophie wanted to go to him so badly, her core roared and shook, wanting her to go to him. Sophie was just as confused, maybe even more than before. Sophie padded up to her room and shut the door, careful to not wake up any of the other recruits. 

Sophie collapsed onto her bed and wished her racing thoughts could just be locked away, even for one night. Sophie remembered Edaline's gift, that was sitting in her duffle bag that she still hasn't unpacked. Sophie rustled around in the bag for a while before finally finding the box of flowers. She opened them up to see the flowers still in perfect shape. Sophie smiled and silently thanked her mother. She was trying to save them for nights she really needed them, nights like this. Sophie wondered how she would use them with her new short hair, but then remembered her aunt Filomena, who would put her sometimes short hair up into a ponytail at the back of her head and create small braids in the ponytail itself. She would sometimes do it to Sophie's hair as well. Sophie closed her eyes and put her hair up and started weaving the braids in. Sophie's fingers got used to the constant rhythm of braiding her hair, finding it was one thing that would stay normal and regular no matter what changes in her life. 

Sophie did what Calla instructed and weaved all her worries and rushed thoughts into the braid for the night. Sophie then grabbed the flowers from the box and started adding them in. Each flower reminded her of someone like the dark blue ones reminded her of her Aunt Maria and Alexios, and their sea-blue eyes. The dusty pink ones reminded her of Grady and Edaline because Edaline had a dusty pink dress that she absolutely loved. After placing the flowers into her small braids into her hair, she smelt their sweet aroma will her nose, soothing her thoughts and stopping her racing mind. Sophie stumbled into her bed and had a dreamless sleep.

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~One week later~

Sophie hurried around the corner and tucked behind a statue, using her shade powers to emerge herself in the shadows. The shadows were happy to welcome her back with them and huddle around her like a thick mist.

"Sophie? How is that girl so fast?" Fitz asked, rushing down the hall. Sophie has been avoiding him like the plague after the kiss a week ago. She knew they should probably talk about it soon, but they will talk about it tomorrow!