Special

Chapter 15

     

     Lilian stared for a moment at the bandit and eyes fell down from his face and looked at the floor, she opened the door more and moved to the side, giving him space to walk in.

 

Drake walked after her and he was glad she can't see his wide eyes as he eyed everything in her room. It was something out of a fairy tale, at least for someone who grew up with nothing much. He sat on a small sofa and glanced around fast and then back at her. She sat on a chair next to the sofa and stared at him, she seemed like she was staring at a ghost rather than at a person and he thought that her expression was understandable.

 

After a moment or two she spoke softly, calmer than before. "...How did you get here?" she fixed herself on her chair and her hands were on her lap, she held them together nervously and looked down once more.

 

Drake looked at her and smiled, “I got some help from someone... He... Well, came to me to see my mistakes..."

 

Lilian's hands held each other tighter and her eyes looked away, "mistakes..." she bit her lower lip and looked up. “Like meeting me, of course..." Her face was hurt and her eyes seemed wet.

 

Drake sighed and reached for her hands, he held them in his own and smiled. Lilian looked at him and then down again as she spoke.

 

"Is us meeting a mistake or not..."

 

"It is, yet not..." he looked at her and she was confused at his answer.” I mean... It is a mistake for you to be close to a nobody... A bandit... A poor man with the worst image possible..." He held her hands tighter, "...But I don't regret them. To meet someone who's great, kind and honest like you. A person with the most beautiful image anyone could ever see..."

 

Lilian's eyes were wide for a moment but they slowly softened and warmed up, the light came back to her sun like orbs and her cheeks had pink in them once more. The bandit couldn't help but to grin at her and at the realization of how much he missed this look.

 

She was the one now to hold his hands in hers, and unlike the way he held hers in support, she held his in a calming, soothing way that was as kind and gentle as her own features. “I can't see why you hate yourself this much." She said while her eyes were glancing at his mask. She extended a hand to touch it, “Indeed, being a bandit isn't the cleanest of jobs... And even though I still don't believe the whole thing with the lady friends..." Her eyes moved away from his face and her smile grew sad. “Even if it was... I don't care... People make mistakes." She pulled both her hands back to her lap and sighed. “You’re not one... Not for me."

 

The bandit stared at her and looked down, his fists clenched and his expression darkened under his mask. "I-I didn't mean to leave you... I was going back, I was going back to you to apologize..." His body shook and he placed his hands on his face. "I just couldn't pull you down with me! I am a nothing! I should have never let you near me! I have no future! No money! No freedom! No life! Nothing!" He stood up and turned away from her. “Why couldn't I be worth being near you? Why can't I leave you to live a happy life without me in it...?” His expression became filled with pain and he turned to her, about to say his last words of farewell and run away again. But when he turned he saw his lady standing there, eyes filled with similar pain and a painful smile.

 

One of her hands reached for his face and pulled his mask up, exposing his eyes full of tears. She wiped the streaming water from his face and placed both her hands on his cheeks.

 

"You know, even if you don't believe me, you are worth it in my eyes... And that's what matter..."

 

He knew what she said was because of what he spoke moments ago to her, but he couldn't help remembering what his grandmother told him earlier.

 

You are worth it...

 

His shaking hands calmed and slowly made their way to her face, resting on her soft, pink cheeks. She smiled and giggled a little. He soon found himself smiling too and hugging her.

 

It was a long, quiet moment before any of them spoke,  Lilian wrapped her arms around Drake's body, pulling him into a hug, her small body started to tremble as she rested her head on his chest. Tears began to stream down her cheeks and her shaking, pale arms hug him tighter than before. The bandit patted her head in the same manner she did with the kids earlier and shushed her while smiling.

 

He made her look up at him to wipe her tears away.

 

"You still act like a kid..." he chuckled and kissed her forehead.

 

A smile formed on her lips and she pulled back with her hands still holding his. She made them set on the small sofa and let go of one of his hands to fix her hair a little, her cheeks turned redder and looked down.

 

“I feel stupid and bad now..." she mumbled and pouted, making Drake smile in confusion and tilted his head at her. “I mean, about the whole doubting you were going to do stuff to me like the others..."

 

Drake's face glowed red and he looked away from her eyes for a second then turned fast to her embarrassed.

 

"I really never did such kind of things... All those rumors are... Well, rumors." He shot her a serious stare with his reddish face and raised an eyebrow at her. "But tell me, why doubt it? Other than the fact of it not being true, I mean."

 

"Because..." she flushed red, looked down instantly.” You're not interested in me.... Not in that way at least..."

 

The brunet's features were emotionless, except his for his red face, and he just stared at her for a long time. Lilian's face turned away and she fought the urge to cover her face with her hands, she glanced back at Drake who didn't seem like he was breathing. The two stared at each other more until the flush escaped the bandit's face. He sighed and tried to smile at her, it made her calm down too and it pleased him.

 

"So..." she said as she bit her lower lip more, "how do you see me...? I mean, I know you said it's a rumor...." she blushed slightly and looked at their intertwined hands. “What do you think of me?" She said at the end and kept calm.

 

The bandit sighed at her and ruffled her hair, she pouted and it made him grin. “You’re special... That's all I can say..." She pouted more and he chuckled loudly, his hand patted her head slightly and then he stood up. Lilian followed his lead and stood near him. "Well... I better go now before you pass out on me..." Lilian pouted as she fought a yawn. Traitor body... She thought as she stared at the chuckling bandit.

 

She followed after him as he exited to her balcony and placed his mask on. As he placed one foot out of the balcony she placed a hand on his shoulder, making him look at her.

 

"When will I see you again...?" She asked in a low tone and Drake smiled, remembering when he asked her the same question two months ago. His hand reached up to her cheek, making her smile and placed her hand on his own.

 

"Can you leave the place anytime soon?" he tried to hide the eagerness in his voice.

 

The lady leaned closer to her bandit, making his poor heart skip loudly. She stared at his eyes for a moment then placed a soft kiss on his forehead.

 

"Would the corner be safe?" She asked and he nodded slowly, a bit dazzled and lost in her gaze. She smiled and pulled slowly back while holding on to one of his hands.

 

"Then I shall see you tomorrow... Around noon." she giggled and pulled her hand out of his. "Goodnight, Drake..."

 

He placed his other leg over the balcony and grinned. "Sweet dreams, Lilian..." And with that he jumped off into the tree near her balcony and made his way out easily.

 

Lilian watched for a moment and turned back to her room, closing the balcony door behind her. She laid on bed and giggled softly before sleep took over her body and she dreamt soundly.

 

The bandit made it to his house safe and sound around ten o'clock. He checked on his sleeping grandmother and covered her up before going to his own room and slept without bothering to take his mask off.

 

Author's Note

You can find this on Akuma-Drabbles under the same tags.

Tell me if there are mistakes~