The winds danced across the starstruck night, cutting through even the warmest of clothes. People hurried to and fro, hugging themselves for warmth and watching as their breath visibly danced from their lips. The moon hung high like a half filled glass, a wide crescent lighting up the ground below. Baska's village was rather bare, but it had enough lighting within the town to offer vision where people were going. The laid back and rural vibe did not equate to a lack of citizens, and the town had only grown since it hosted the first Martial Arts tournament. The town offered plenty to see in terms of hills and grass, but other than that the only real place to go was the bar.

Finn was not at all a drinker, but at the same time he needed to wet his lips with something. Ever since he had arrived he had felt at odds with himself. His mind tried to finesse through the facts, placing them in orders which made sense and dulled the ache from his heart. Events from a few nights prior rang as clearly in his mind as if it had only just happened. The harsh words between him and Jake, not at each other, but about the events that had transpired. Their previous time together had gone so quickly that he hadn't been able to ask any questions. Perhaps that was for the best.

What if he had reached such conclusions on his own, and had begun asking them  in person? There would have been no time to formulate his thoughts. No time to calm himself before he dove right in. Their last encounter wasn't exactly the smoothest of their meetings, and even then that was not saying much. Half of their meetings now had contained at least some sort of issue to work through, and there was only two meetings total. Such a thing could be expected when love struck like lightning and when distance played such a major role, but it still was proof that the two had plenty to work through before any sort of smooth sailing could be established.

Bringing his hands to his lips and cupping them, he blew warm air and brought his palms together. He was not as cold as he likely should have been. His clothes were not necessarily stopping this cutting gale, but the scarf that hugged his throat and draped over his chest worked wonders. He felt his chin rustle into the fabric and a smile meld onto his face. He was overthinking things surely. There was not a chance in hell of anything that Jake said being true. He didn't have the pleasure of spending as much time with her, so he wouldn't know. She was just as into him as he was into her though, that much he was certain of. Besides, they had not been dating until their last time together. What she did or did not do before that was not his concern, nor was it his right to know.

Turning down a long street that would lead him to the bar, Finn's hands found themselves in his pockets. His shirt, a long sleeve and snug fitting sweater, was of the same blue as his scarf. His black jean-like pants were made of flexible fabric that did not restrict movement in the slightest, similar to his shirt. On his back, despite not having any armor, was proof that he was prepared for the unknown. Over one shoulder was the hilt to his Finn sword, the blade of which he had already fully accustomed to. Over his other shoulder was Durendal, the newest addition to his arsenal.

The two blades crossed over one another, though neither one spanned further than his shoulder. They were made to be conveniently retrieved, a unique cross hilt that contained them both and kept them easily accessible. The design was unique, ensuring that drawing them would lead to no snagging or catching. It was also a bluff, one that Finn would not admit to. The sight of him would insinuate that he could wield both swords simultaneously, but only he and Jake knew that Durendal was not so easily tamed. He could still only use one sword at a time, and even then the ancient blade offered resistance.

As he further approached the bar, one of the nearby alley's caught his attention. It was the shock of a random noise, as well as the grunting of a male. Finn's head turned, his left leg pivoting around so that he was facing the alley with his left leg leading despite it having been on his right. His right leg slid back ever so slightly, bending inwards as his hand rose to the hilt of his Finn sword. There had been no signs of aggression, but it was still best for him to be prepared. Besides, on a night so near Halloween and in an alley so near the bar, it would be wise of him to investigate.

Slowly entering, his feet placed themselves nimbly as to avoid creating any sound. Even his pivot only moments prior had been in near silence, disguised by the sound of partying arising from the bar. As walls surrounded him and he entered further into the enclosed space, the darkened alley became easier to see in. As his eyes adjusted, the sight that formed before him was taken in all at once.

Sitting with his front facing the entrance was a man, neck tilted to the side. His cheeks were tinted red, despite his slightly pale face, and his eyes were closed. The grunts coming from his mouth, despite an undertone of discomfort, did not sound at all displeased. It was almost as if he were enjoying it. His lips were stained red, and while it could have been wine, the smear from his lips to his neck hinted that the color was of lipstick. The source of that lipstick, though face was hidden by ivory hair, was at his neck.

Her weight was practically on his lap, though it was possible that was just the angle. His shirt was partially unbuttoned, her hand part was under his shirt and on his neck and shoulder area while her other hand was no where to be seen. Likewise, one of his hands was firmly on her waist, closer to her back than her front. Finn stared in disbelief, as the entire night shot through his eyes in the blink of an eye.

"Then when your guard is down, they'll drain you." His hand dropped from his hilt to his side.

"How was your first night with her spent again? Before you went back to the apartment?" His chest became tight, causing his breath to falter. In that moment, a noise akin to a gasp escaped his lips, just barely loud enough to be audible. Depending on how inter her task she was, she may not have even heard it.

"Dude she's probably flirted with other guys. She might have even kissed them or gone all th-" "You're wrong." He glanced from the slit in her dress, revealing much of her leg, and knew instantly what sort of dress she was wearing. After all, she wore as similar dress the same night she met him. The same night she put his name in the book. A similar night as tonight. That mans name was in her book too, now. It would be. Would it be crossed out?

"Seira?" This time for sure, if she had not already heard him, his voice would carry over to her. It held no strength to it. His eyes were wide, but they practically stared through her. His lips were not parted, but tightly pursed as if he thought he could swallow back the lump in his throat. Even his voice cracked, though that was due to disbelief as there were no tears coming from his eyes. Even without them, he looked completely pathetic. He looked broken.

"You're wrong."

Was he?

Was Finn still standing on that alleyway floor? The cobbled street was still securely supporting him, he was certain of it. So why did it feel so wrong? He felt as if the ground below had opened up, and the feeling in his stomach made him feel as if he had suddenly been lurched away from his standing position. The lump in his throat overpowered and words he could make, and as his mind went blank his vision became tunneled. He knew that there had been buildings on either side of him, and yet he could not see them. His vision had fully focused on Seira, whose gaze had shifted to him after a quick wiping of her mouth.

As she turned to look towards him, he felt his limited vision blur. The normal feeling in his heart was there. A flutter, an uplift that hoped to allow him to soar. So why then did her gaze feel so unwanted? He felt out of place, as if her presence was foreign and dangerous. He felt exposed and vulnerable, and where he once saw her as one capable of protecting that feeling he now felt as if he had a knife to his throat. It may have been enough to force him into readiness for battle, had he not felt that way. As if he had been slain; As if it had been her who slayed him.

Finn could have blinked in the time that it took her to close the distance to him, and yet her movements seemed slow and sluggish. The entire world had slowed around him, and the things he had stood on felt as if they were about to crumble. He knew she had said his name, but the sound was muffled and difficult to understand. His brain was aflutter with noise and angst, and try as he might to calm his nerves, he could not.

As she quickly grabbed his hand into hers and placed her lips upon him, his eyes winced with each peck. He felt discomfort, a sense of disdain towards the feeling on his hand. Everything about her felt foreign once more. Her hair, her body, her voice, even her touch. It felt uneasy with her being so close, as if she had never closed the metaphorical distance to begin with. As her hand reached towards his face, he recoiled at first. Only slightly wincing away from her touch, his expression pained as if she had struck him before it came to rest on his cheek. As much as he hated to admit it, he still craved her reassurance.

She was still his weakness.

As she spoke and pushed herself against him, as if she hoped that he would embrace her, he stood down at her. His eyes had dried once more, not allowing any of their contents to be spilled just yet. His hand finally pulled away from hers, a quick tug to ensure that her grip did not follow his own. As her words finished, he let silence create a space between them. Regardless of if she stayed against him, or stepped away, it felt as if any closeness between them was currently at risk.

"You..." His voice cut off, as if maintaining the volume of his voice was enough to break down the facade that was so fragile now. Despite no tears yet, it was obvious that he was teetering on the verge. "You're mine?" His voice came out as hardly a whisper, but he continued. "Your feeding doesn't scare me, or upset me. I understood that much when you told me you were a Vampire. I accepted that completely. I even understood that the time would come where you would needed to feed, and that I would be able to step forward and be there for you when you did..."

If she was still against him, at this moment, he would reach down and put his hands on her shoulders. It was not an act of comfort, for him nor her. If it had come to that point, he would pull her off him and hold her at arms length. His face, at this point, held a mix of emotions that all came together dreadfully. Confusion, disbelief, dismay, fear, and desperation all portrayed themselves quite clearly and yet all seemed to blend into one and the same. As he finally could see her face again, he realized that he couldn't make it through. A single droplet made its way from his left eye, beginning to fall down his cheek.

"Did you need to kiss him all over to feed?" As his words came out a second droplet, from the other eye, cascaded down his face. "Did he need to caress you, or you him?" The single drops seemed to multiply, and before long the tears were pouring down his face. "You were strong enough to throw me into a wall, and I'm one of the strongest people I've ever met. Was this the only way you could get your nourishment?"

He was lost. The feeling of falling was long gone. He was simply there now. He felt as if he were in an abyss, and that every direction simply led to the same. It was as though the world would soon lose its color, and he couldn't think of a way to stop it. He didn't want her to answer those questions. He didn't want her to speak yet. They were rhetorical, a way to ramble off his fears. Now though he needed to address her, and he needed to understand.

"How many others have you fed on this way since we've been together?" He didn't mean in general, and he knew she'd understand that. He needed to know how many times she had created intimate moments with others between the two times in which they met. He needed to understand the reason he was put here. Had he done something wrong? Had he driven her away? How could he have prevented this? From Lance to Seira, he was beginning to acclimate to the feeling of not being enough. All he wanted to do was understand. All he needed was to find a way back.

As if to damage him again, she withdrew from him as if she had been the one hurt. Finn felt himself long to reach out for her, but he would not move. His feet had melded with the Earth, and his eyes stared at her as if she was an entirely new entity. As she responded to him, her answer felt like it was targeted directly at him. Only a few, as if that was the way to mend the damage. To mitigate it as if the favor done was keeping the number to four or five people. A new emotion got added to the swirling thoughts inside of him.

Rage.

Part of him was beginning to get angry. As if he needed to turn his emotions elsewhere, to prevent himself from suffocating upon them. Her words confused him, and his mind immediately tried applying reasoning to everything she said. With each new statement his anger compounded, though the swelling wave offered no hints of its existence. His face did not look as though he felt such anger, nor did his body language seem aggressive. It was like a storm brewing just out of sight, ready to unleash upon the shores at a moments notice.

Did she need to persuade people like that? Certainly if one mark was not working out she could move onto another. Who was this her that she was speaking of? A member of Phantom Lord, which explained the map, but who? It was her next words that truly got to him. With all the battles he had been in, it was incredible that the most pain he ever felt was in this discussion. She felt she had to give something back? That's what this all was to her? A bargaining chip?

At that point her words seemed so much quieter, his mind running in circles around this single point. His chest ached and his mind burned with questions, and slowly these thoughts started to bubble to the surface, escaping through his lips. "Who is 'Her'? A member of Phantom Lord? What is significant about her?" The question was quiet, his eyes having finally met her and allowing eye contact to sustain. She perhaps did so for comfort, a chance to still feel connected. For him though, it was to see her face as she answered. He needed to know the truth about all of this after all.

"And that's how you had to persuade people? When they seemed like they were going to be uninterested and that you couldn't feed off them, did you ever try just going to a different target?" It was a seemingly obvious idea, but in the moment it was likely Seira had genuinely never even considered that. To Finn though it seemed so obvious that what she was doing was a line that shouldn't have been crossed. Part of his outburst lay in the fact he didn't realize this sense of thinking was not common sense, but merely the way he was raised. To piece the two things together in a moment such as this though was neigh impossible.

"You have to give back to them and this is what they wanted?" At that, his voice took on the disbelief that he had worn so openly just moments before. He stepped back once as if he was reeling, his eyes tearing from hers as he looked down and to the corner of where the nearby building met the earth. His hands raised to his hips as his head slowly shook, the sheer incredulous nature of that statement shook him. "Is that all this is to you? A bargaining chip to give out when you need to thank someone? How far were things going to go tonight, Seira? How far have they gone?" His words were quiet, and yet each syllable swung home like a hammer striking an anvil. They held power, authority, and disappointment.

Yet as painful as they were to hear, they needed to be spoken. For his moment of weakness, of anger and confusion, he needed to resolve all this. He needed to ask the questions, and she needed to answer. If this was something they were going to work through, then the bridge built by this interrogation had to hold strong. "Was that what I was suppose to be in the beginning? Was that what our first day together was suppose to be? A token of gratitude?"

As much as his words stung, and they certainly did, that hadn't been their intent. It was not as though he now set off to strike at her, to make her feel low or angry. This was something he needed. He had to get through this, and these questions were not ones that he could merely push to the back of his head anymore. The seed of doubt that Jake had planted had been given all it needed to sprout and begin taking root, and there was only a short amount of time to weed it out before it may blossom.

The blows rained down from the heavens that were her lips, and with each syllable that formed itself around his ears he felt himself crack. This was a lesson in itself, regardless of how things progressed from here. He was one who had made himself reliant on others. An entire life with only his adoptive parents and Jake had made him painfully starved from interaction. It was a realization he never had the reason to make until now. First with Lance, the loss of whom had put Finn into an immensely dark place. Now with the chapter of Seira that was seemingly reaching its end, the ember of understanding lit deep within his subconscious.

He held himself at a relative distance to most. They could become friends quickly, and he was well refined when it came to becoming close to their hearts. But what of his own? He seemed to have a tendency to link people to him, so when they were yanked away he felt the pain as if it were hell's torture. It was spawned of his inexperience, and it was the testament of his weakness. He had thought himself strong, a resilient wall that would be broken down by none. In the end he merely proved that he was weak, a helpless individual against the torrent of life.

Some of what she said, though it was designed to hurt, was understood. She spoke of the maker, whoever that was, and her importance. Of course you have people more important to you. I didn't want to take over your life, just become a part of it. His response was reasonable, and yet it never escaped his lips. Echoing inside the confines of his mind, escaping into the darkness that he found himself in. Why couldn't he speak? The words flowed so effortlessly when he tore her down, so why couldn't they come out now?

She spoke of her treatment for other men, and how it related to her feeding. Again the answer came to him. I know you need to feed, and you don't want to resort to violence. What I don't want is you kissing them, caressing their bodies while they explore yours. You sink your teeth into them to drain their blood, what extra effort would it be to do so suddenly without the acts of sensuality? When he tried to voice it only a near silent choke came out. It felt as if the words never even made it to formation, falling short in the pit of his stomach.

More and more of her words found themselves to her, and through it all Finn felt conflict. On one end he felt as if she had completely shut down and evicted him from his place in her heart as if it were nothing. On the other, it felt as though she had completely broken due to his words. Through it all, he never once regretted his words. They may have had different ideals of where they were in their relationship, but the fact of the matter was that they were something. Together they had made something, no matter how few times they met or how little they knew about each other. He may have been dense, but his mother and father taught him enough about what that meant for him to know he was in the right.

And yet, how was it that she didn't feel to be entirely wrong? Her words, painful as they were, made sense. No matter how much he wished to just be able to shove them to the side, a piece of him knew that she needed to be heard out too. In making everything about him, they would never make progress. As she began to walk and brushed past him, he knew he had to grab her. If he let her pass at this moment, if he let her get beyond him, she would be lost to him forever. He couldn't let that happen. He wouldn't let that happen.

Yet, as he blinked and stared ahead, not even glancing in her direction, she was beyond him. Her back to his, and his to hers. She had made the decision, and he was tired. So very, very tired. He didn't know that he was necessarily right, or wrong. Only that he wasn't going to fight. The timing was so awful. The loss of Lance, and spirits, his discussion with Jake... He was done. He couldn't force life where there was death, as the seed of doubt blossomed, he knew it.

Seira and Finn would part here. If they ever met again, it would be as strangers.

"Finnly!" The words were harsh, and yet a bit of amusement could be heard. Tiny eyes and chubby cheeks turned themselves to face the source of the words, seeing a sentient bulldog on her hind legs, wearing a red hat with a bow in it. Her ears held rings of pearl and gold, though whether they were truly pierced remained a mystery. At making eye contact, Finn crossed his arms and stomped his foot, huffing out a sigh of annoyance. "My name is Finn! Just Finn!" Approaching him and giving him gentle pats on his cheeks with both her hands, she smiled.

"You can't be Finn. Finn is happy, loving, and understanding! And yet here you are throwing a temper tantrum!" Finn sat down, as if that would make him an unmovable force. The child was no older than eight, his long blond hair and ocean blue eyes giving him an almost angelic and innocent look. No trace of the future furiosity was there.

"It's Jake's fault. He knew it was mine, and he broke it anyways. He wasn't even sorry!" Sighing, his mother sat down next to him. She could have scolded him, or yelled, but instead she put himself at his level. "Did that make you mad?" Giving an indignant "Mhm" and looking away from his mother, she couldn't help but laugh.

"Finn baby, you're gonna get mad a lot in life. Not everyone sees the world the same way you do." "But-" "Jake was just playing, Finn. You know that he didn't mean to upset you. He might have broken it, but it wasn't intentional. He didn't break it on purpose, and he feels bad about it. He'll be willing to help you fix it if you'll let him."

Finn sat in silence for a few moments. "What if I don't want him to? Maybe I'll... I'll just hate him forever." She gave him a weak smile, hugging her son from behind. She wouldn't always be there for him, and she knew it. Both her and his father knew that their time together was coming short, and she would not leave Finn in a state where he could not deal with his own affairs. She might have been unable to give him a traditional education, but damn if she would let him be ignorant to himself or the world around him.

"That's your choice then, Finn. You have to decide what you're going to do. And how you're going to feel. If you really want to hate him forever, you can. But one day Jake will get over it. Will you?" Silence. "Sometimes, you have to be the one to take control Finn. While not everyone sees the world the way you do, you can explain that view if you're willing to try. So go ahead and decide. Do you want to be mad forever?"

A hand grabbed her elbow as she finished her last sentence. Whipping her around in her spot, his hands found their way to her face. Cupping her face in both his hands, he stood only centimeters away from her. His eyes locked with hers, and he scanned her face with a desperation. "I don't want that."

His words were cold, and yet they revealed a bit of the passion that lay beneath them. "I want you to know you hurt me. I want you to know what went through my mind when I saw you. When I saw this. How scared and hurt I am. How much I felt, and feel, wronged by this. I want you to know." His words seemed as if they were etching the familiar pattern of anger, but they continued before she had a chance to interrupt.

"But more than that I want you to know how much it means to me. How much you mean to me. I know that we've only been together a few times, maybe I'm even being unreasonable. That's just who I am though. For me, a relationship means that you and I are together, and the things couples do should only be between us. Not anyone else. I want you to know that I'm serious about us, and that as much as I know you have your own reasons, this is something I need us to find a way to agree on. Maybe not completely to one end or the other, but some sort of middle ground."

He paused for only a moment again. "If you need to feed, you can feed on me. Any time we're together you can. If I'm not around, of course I understand you need to feed on others. I just..." He didn't know what to say. There were so many things he could bring up, ways to discuss it. In the end though he was never a man of words. "I don't want to lose you."

It was a weird feeling. The feelings of falling that had long since receded were back in full force. Yet there was no darkness, but light. Several things began to fall into place, the mechanization of his mind whirling into place. There was a light at the end of the tunnel, and the adventurer was going towards it at blinding speeds. The saying was that this was the prelude to ones death, and that was okay to him. He knew, deep down, that it was true. The thought of him dying didn't feel final, though. It felt refreshing. It felt new, exciting, and as though it had so much more behind it.

His eyes gazed at her lips, the shape of desire. He had chosen to understand her, and while that was not an easy task, it was one that he would work towards. The thought of forgiveness seemed wrong in this case. While her act of feeding was in no way wrong, the way she went about it certainly was. Yet as he contemplated the idea of forgiveness, he realized that it was already there. It had been there since the moment he saw her. There was a difference between regret and authentic misunderstanding. They did not know of each others wants, and while the sight and sound of Finn had allowed something to click for her, it seemed that it most certainly had not been there before.

Whatever icy distance that remained between them dissolved. While he could not yet bring himself to travel to his desires, he found his mouth pressed to her forehead, his arms wrapping around her. It was a strange feeling. It felt as though their meetings before now had been rushed. Even now, it felt rushed. The two of them were whirling around in something far bigger than themselves, unsure of how to proceed. They had dove in much to fast, and the water was rushing in to consume them at every sign of weakness.

For now though they had breached the surface. His kissing her had caused an explosion of light, the abyss long behind him but still lingering somewhere in his heart. A flash of his parents and of Lance protruded his thoughts for only a moment, their faces smiling. He could never know that his decisions were right and wrong. He could only work to ensure that the destinations would be reached. Of all the lessons that he would someday derive from this, that was the one that immediately protruded in his mind.

Life was about consistently taking on bigger and bigger challenges, and continuing forward regardless of their outcome. He could allow himself to falter, or he could keep forward with a powerful stride. Either way, the flow of time would continue on, and it would wait for no one. Not even Finn.

"I know we can," the whisper said, pulling back from the hug and trailing his fingertips down her arms. As they reached her hands, he lifted them into his and gave a weak squeeze. He smiled at her, and for a second a glimpse of the man that Finn could become was there. Confident, assured, and understanding. The moment was quickly past though as he stepped beside her.

The ideals of the potential futures he had once thought were gone. There was no aspirations for where he and Seira would one day reach. No burning desire to reach a precipice of skill. No overwhelming drive to reach any specific point. A subtle understanding that life could only be lived in the present had dawned. One that would settle in over time. A view of life that would allow him to better handle situations, not just for himself, but for those who mattered. He had grown.

"You were going somewhere, right?" He offered her a smile, a weak laugh escaping his lips as he reached up and wiped the residue of his tears from his eyes. "Mind if I join you?"

There was a sort of calm that could only be described as the precipice of something deeper. A storm raging within Finn, though that was not necessarily a bad thing. Storms brought plenty of destruction in their wake, but they also brought life and the potential for growth. They were vital in the ecosystem, and they were vital for the evolution of man. This building change would not be used solely for destruction nor creation, but rather dependent on the events that presented themselves for release. It would be channeled fully into those things, and in the long run it would likely be a beneficial change.

This, however, was not long term.

Finn had accepted her words, nodding and smiling weakly. He was mentally exhausted from everything. He had snapped on her slightly before, letting his anger drive his comments and his thoughts. Now though he had been able to dissipate some of it. To push it away, and while that was not necessarily healthy, it was not as if he planned on ignoring it. They would deal with it together, and like iron in the forge it would be given chance to take shape and strengthen. All they had to do was make it to the hotel.

"Okay, Seira." His words were accepting, and while he did choose to stay back as she offered, he still took a step to angle himself towards her, watching carefully as she moved on the man. It was not as if he did not trust her, but at the moment his confidence in the events were shaken. He needed to over analyze. He needed to assure himself that he was right in his decision, and this was the first step in this.

As she sat the man up, Finn felt a sting in his chest. It was minor, but it was not something he'd act on or mention. She had not come here to kill the man, and regardless of the issues he had caused, he did not deserve to die. As she grabbed her purse, Finn looked back over her shoulder for a moment. The sound of the bars behind them were still in full swing, a reminder that this situation that had felt as though it took forever was in fact only a few minutes long. They would be able to deal with it all soon.

Her words of confusion and disagreement came first, causing Finn to immediately whip his head back around. The drunkard was pulling himself up using her, tearing part of her dress in the process. She yelled something about the dress being expensive, which Finn immediately brushed aside as shock. Certainly that wasn't the major issue here, and she was likely just in disbelief that this was all happening at all. Finn watched as she went to push him away, but as he pulled her in, spoke, and moved his hands, it was all too late. The man truly hadn't deserved to die. He should have just lay there.



Within a moment, faster than the man could process and before Seira had likely even looked back at Finn, the mans hand on her leg was grabbed. Yanked up so that his wrist twisted towards the inside of his body, it was twisted until it aimed towards the outside once more while also yanked downwards. The sound of bones snapping was audible almost as soon as it had begun, and as the man went to yell in surprise, a flash of white filled the area.

His good arm, which had been on her wrist, now sat on the ground. It had been separated from its own, and in Finn's mind that would be the best end that arm could face. With one arm broken and one arm missing in the blink of an eye, the backwards momentum that had been applied to the drunkard took its toll and he fell to the ground. Slicing his blade to the outside, the magical steel sending blood into the alley way, Finn returned it to its home. "You should find a doctor soon. The alcohol in your bloodstream will make you bleed out faster."

Turning his attention to Seira, Finn offered a light smile again. The situation would likely seem insane. Finn, a droplet of the mans blood on both his forehead and cheek, acted as if nothing of note had just occurred. "Don't worry, I know you did nothing wrong there. That guy was an asshole. Lets get going." If there was any fear on her face, it would take him a moment to process that emotion. After all, when he got like this, it was as though a small part of him was shut off.

It had been too soon to celebrate it seemed. As happy as he had been for them to have made up, the baited anticipation of them finally figuring things out between them, it was all for naught. He had acted not out of anger, but out of a need to protect. He knew Seira possessed immense strength, but he also knew that one could not allocate everything to their raw abilities alone. He didn't see a woman who was avoiding drastic measures, or who was still surprised and unsure of how much she should do to free herself from this situation.

What he saw was the woman whom he had just made up with, the one whom he had feelings for, being violated. Being pulled in despite her obvious attempts not to. He saw a threat to her physical and emotional well being, and a man who didn't understand the meaning of denial. His actions were extreme for some, but obvious for him. There were two states for someone to be in, predator and prey. When one acted as a predator, then they had to accept the risks that came with it. One of those risks was the potential for death, serious injury, or potentially worse.

Why was it then that when he turned his gaze to his significant other, she did not look at him as she once did? Her face was twisted with surprise, almost disgust. As he spoke, his emotions slowly coming back to him in full, he could finally see the primal look upon her face. The base emotion that had driven humanity to its peak.

Fear.

She was afraid, but not of the man who had put his hands on her. She was afraid of the one she was staring at, as if he were not even there. As if he were a beast. "Seira..?" His words were slow, confused, and a bit too late. She quickly picked up her purse, and she bolted from him. The confusion turned to shock, and the shock settled into a state of disbelief. Why was tonight happening? None of this was suppose to go this way, and yet it was being confirmed time and time again that they were two completely different people. That idea scared him, but more than that the idea of the night ending on that note overwhelmed him with the need to change it.

As she ran, Finn looked down at his hands. He had begun to realize it before, but this was confirmation for him. He wasn't normal. Who he was, designed to be by the environment in which he had grown, defied the logic and reason that fit this world. He sighed, and a light smile befell his face. It contrasted the events that had just taken place, and it seemed completely unfitting for the situation, and yet he couldn't help but find some humor in it. Things couldn't be simple, right? That's not what made them worth fighting for.

He looked up, and his gaze was fixated ahead. Only a few moments ago, if this had happened, he'd have let himself be overtaken by his own wild mind and emotions. Whatever it was that had fixated itself within him at that moment though was different. Finn had the potential to be the man he needed to be, and this was one of the first steps to doing that. Making his way out of the alley and looking both ways, he knew that there was no way to find Seira if she didn't want to be found. She had a head start, and she was quick. Still, he chose a random direction and began walking.

Before long, the sound of quieted sobs and gasps for breath filled the night. He recognized the voice, the sound of an angel in distress, and knew to follow it. As he came across another alleyway, he turned the corner and saw her. Face buried away in a poor attempt to hide the cascading waterfalls from her eyes, she was likely as confused now as he was earlier. How could he have claimed to forgive her if he was not willing to do at least this much? Relationships, as he had been taught, were not a half and half thing. They were two people putting in their all, however much that was.

"Seira?" His voice was quiet, and it held on it tones of comfort. He said her name with an inflection that acted as though it posed a question, making sure he was allowed to get close to her. Assuming she had not yanked herself away at the sound of his voice, he'd slowly walk over and lean down. Reaching one arm forward, it would find its way to her shoulder with a timid touch.

His hand would slowly find its way to her head, putting his finger to her chin and, though not if she fought against it, tilt her head to face him. His hand moved to her cheek, wiping away the tears that had formed, and a smile formed on his lips. The blood that had been on his face had been wiped away in transit. "I found you." Leaning forward, he'd pull her into a warm hug again.

"I'll never let anything or anyone hurt you. Lets go to wherever you're staying, and you can ask me anything you need to. Okay babe?" It was not her name, but he had learned from his parents that sometimes titles of affection could do more than anything else.

She had conceded to his attempts again. It brought a smile to his face, but it did not feel like a victory. It felt as though most of their time recently had been spent fighting. The decisions they had rushed, the choices they forced, were now starting to burn them. They had played with fire, and it had been only a matter of time before the flames licked back. It was important that they face their problems now, together. Better to deal with such issues at the start, to secure the foundation moving forward, than to wait for months or years to come by. Only now did they have a real chance in fixing these issues.

What were their issues though? It was not infidelity, despite what he had witnessed. It was not insanity, regardless of what she thought. It was the lack of understanding that they possessed about one another. Finn had stumbled into a woman lost in the forest and found himself lost in her. She, for whatever reason, had found it easy to fall for a man like him. Together they had dove far deeper into this unplanned and unprepared relationship than what was safe, and now they both paid the price for it.

As she released his hand, the spaces between his fingers felt abnormally empty. She unlocked her door and led him inside, but her lack of attention towards him did not go unnoticed. She was afraid, either for him or of him, perhaps both in a strange way. As he trailed her into the building, he looked around. It seemed slightly more basic than her home in Hargeon, but not at all wanting for the cosmetic things that would make her feel at home. She certainly had expensive tastes, and he assumed that would have to follow her regardless of where she set up her base of operations.

Her request broke the awkward silence that had followed them from the alley to the home. It was something that could have inspired any sort of emotions within Finn. Surprisingly enough though, they didn't. His voice came out, reassuring and understanding despite the unchanging expression upon his face. "I understand, take your time." He flashed her a smile, but knew that it wouldn't be reciprocated. How could she look at him the same way that made him fall for her when she couldn't even look in his direction?

As she tiptoed with a bottle of wine, effortlessly silent, Finn noticed the glint of the bottle. He didn't say a word, and instead slowly took off his gear. His two swords, each in a sheath of their own, unstrapped from his back. They were approximately the same length, and both leaned in the corner. His backpack was removed, containing its usual things as well as the note she had left him in Worth Woodsea. Inside the same envelope with the note was a picture from his childhood of his mother holding a wrapped up, one year old Finn with a grumpy Jake standing next to her. He was smaller back then, practically a puppy. He had wanted to show her a piece of his past, but now seemed so painfully wrong for such a thing.

Finally he removed the scarf from his neck and folded it. It hadn't been sullied with blood, so that much was good. Placing it upon the table, he looked around the room. It was immaculate, one could hardly guess that someone was living there. He looked at her bedside table, and on it he witness the book that had started all of this. How many names had been added to that book? How many of them were like tonight, were like that man? He didn't know her stopping point for such things, but honestly he didn't wish to.

Instead, a sigh escaped his lips. Looking out the window, he followed the white light that reflected through the panes of glass and followed it to the moon. It reminded him of Seira, and even though she was only a room away, it felt like a reprieve from the night. Their first time meeting each other replayed in his mind for a moment, and finally he lost the battle against himself and let a smile crack. Things would be fine. They were both strong, after all.

A melody from his childhood found itself in his mind, and he found himself humming the beginning parts of it. Only the chorus was able to mold itself into words, sung quietly under his breath with a surprisingly sweet voice. "Everything stays, right where you left it. Everything stays, but it still changes. Ever so slightly. Daily and nightly. In little ways. When everything stays..." As his tune reached its conclusion, he heard the sound of the door opening behind him.

Turning to face it, he saw Seira. For a moment he forgot the night, lost in the sight of her in her nightgown, her hair nicely brushed and wet. It was a look that not many got to see her in, and regardless of if that was fact or not, he allowed himself to believe so. It felt intimate, and yet it quickly made him feel out of place when he noticed her gaze still refused to fall on him. As she spoke to him, he stood in silence for a few moments. He accepted the towels, and then let out his breath silently. "Yeah..."

Stepping into the bathroom, he showered himself off. He was as quick as possible, but thorough. Spare clothes he had brought with him had been removed from his bag and brought in, and after his cleaning he stepped out with his sleeping pants on, though no shirt. Seira had retired to the bed, but was not yet asleep. He walked over to her, and any sort of playful pretext he would normally have was lost on the situation. Climbing in under the covers, he scooted himself close to her and pulled her into his embrace. It was not a rough or forceful grab, simply something to try and erase the distance between them.

At that moment, he had nothing to say. No words of comfort or consolation, and no questions to ask. He simply hugged her, letting silence sit, and slowly began to melt away the icy feel that had overcome their meeting. It was a small and simple act, but for Finn at least, it was exactly what he needed right now.

The air between them was stiff as the drink she'd taken into the bath with her. The air between them had settled, and he didn't think that there was any way for them to have more problems arise. Not at the moment, when both of them feared the breaking of silence. The fear went beyond emotional repercussion. It was as though each of them feared physical recourse, like the shattered pieces of what little peace had befallen them would cut them both to shreds. Rather than risk the pain, they sat there in a slow suffocation that neither fixed the problem nor addressed it.

It was Seira who took the lead, as things seemed to play out often. She had rolled over, and while he had realized it, he kept his eyes shut. Truth be told he was afraid. If he opened his eyes and she looked at him the same way she did in the alley, he would have no way of responding. He wouldn't be able to leave or respond at that point. It would crush him, and rather than face the risk, he let his eyes remain shut. She would not allow that though, and her way of grabbing his attention relieved him. The feeling of her nose, nudging his, and his name escaping her lips made him feel as if he need not hide.

Opening his eyes and locking gazes with her, everything he wished to say screamed itself in his mind. He wanted immediately to begin venting his thoughts to her. His concerns, his assurances, his questions, and his answers. Rather than do any of that though, he tried to take what he could from her gaze. She seemed so sad, exhausted from the events of the day. Her next few words made his heart still for a moment, and in the moment in which his heart refused to beat he felt completely overwhelmed.

That was what she thought? After all this, that was what had been on her mind? Staring at her for a few moments in silence, Finn closed the distance and pressed his forehead against hers, his eyes closing. More than the wine could have done for him, being with her was truly an intoxicating feeling. Finn proceeded to tilt his face and, for the first time of the night, kissed Seira. Looking her in the eye immediately after, he smiled. "That's a silly question, don't you think? Of course I do. You're gonna have a pretty hard time getting rid of me." Squeezing her once reassuringly, he closed his eyes again. "I love you, Seira."