Dark Fate Ch. 04

Why not? Levy thought.

He slipped away from Aislinn and headed inside the jewelry shop, making small talk with the clerk until Aislinn realized where he'd gotten of to and followed him in.

"What size do you wear, love?" Levy asked when she hesitated just inside the door.

"Levy, no. I don't want you buying me anything."

"It's your birthday tomorrow, isn't it?"

"How?"

"Really? You really need to ask?" Levy interrupted. Of course, he wasn't about to go into all the tiny details he knew about her that no one else did.

"Are you some kind of stalker?"

Levy laughed. He was. Aislinn would be shocked when she found out just how long he'd been watching her and taking care of her from behind the scenes. He sauntered over to her and rested his head in the crook of her neck so he could whisper in her ear.

"Isn't it obvious yet? I've been interested in you long before Friday!"

He could feel the heat of the blush that crept up Aislinn's neck. She made like she was going to hit him but he caught her wrist easily. Aislinn didn't bother trying to pull away, she knew already that it was an impossible task.

"Please?"

"You're being real sneaky, you know..." Aislinn complained.

"To be honest Love, I've had something like this planned for awhile now. I wanted your nineteenth birthday to be one you'd never forget!"

After a few minutes of internal debate, Aislinn unclenched her fist and allowed him to slip off the ring that laid claim to her ring finger. Levy had the clerk put it on a silver chain so she could still wear it around her neck before he slipped the emerald snugly into place. Despite her best efforts, tears were slipping down her cheeks a few moments later. Levy held her close until she managed to reign in her emotions.

With a fond farewell to the clerk they exited the shop. Aislinn was trying her best to wipe away the remaining tears slipping down her cheeks.

"Sorry." she sniffled, noticing the wet spots on Levy's shirt.

"You apologize too much, you know. Besides, its just a shirt," Levy replied, pulling the shirt off over his head.

Aislinn's mind went instantly blank as she stood there, staring at him in his tight white tank top.

"You're staring so you must like what you see!"

Huh? What? No I'm not!"

"You're a terrible liar..."

"I wasn't staring! You were imagining it!"

"Oh, I was, was I? Okay then, how about if I do this?"

Levy quite enjoyed how Aislinn's mouth dropped open as he took off his tank top. He couldn't help but laugh.

"Jackass!" she growled, mock punching him in the stomach.

After a moment, however, she pulled away from him almost like she'd been burned by their skin-to-skin contact.

He's not human

Levy had clearly heard that thought slip though her mind. He was shocked, of course, but he pretended nothing had happened. It was suddenly obvious to him that she was closer to the truth the he'd thought possible. Perhaps he hadn't given her observational skill enough credit.

"Are you afraid to touch me out in public?" Levy asked, feigning ignorance.

"Everyone is staring at us, put your shirt back on," Aislinn lied, her face bright red. Sure some people were staring, but not nearly as many as she implied.

"Sorry, it's just too damn hot," Levy stated, wadding his shirts up and tossing them into the nearby dumpster.

Aislinn actually brought her hand up to her face in a vain attempt to hide her embarrassment.

"I'm really shocked. Here I was thinking you were some angel sent from heaven, but now I realize that you might just be the devil himself!" she chided.

Levy laughed long and hard over that comment.

"When did I ever say that I was an angel? You're delusional. It's pretty clear that I've got the whole horns and tail thing going on, if you look close enough!"

"Yeah, well, I guess I need glasses then. Maybe I didn't notice because your horns were holding up your halo..."

This time she couldn't help but laugh as well and the tension between them vanished.

"You'll never be able to stay angry at me, you know."

"We'll see about that," she challenged.

Fuck, Aislinn sure was sexy when she got feisty! Levy found it exceedingly difficult to keep himself from pouncing on her right then and whisking her away to somewhere more private.

They were just about to head back to the car when levy's cell rang. If someone had needed Levy before he'd met Aislinn they'd just form a mind link. Now however, he made everyone do their best to physically call him just in case he was with her. Really, it was just because he was lazy and didn't want to have to balance talking to her while having a conversation with multiple people in his head if he didn't really need to.

"Give me a sec, Love. Hey Ian, what's up?"

"Where have you been all day?" Ian asked, the tone of his voice expressing his worry.

"You're the second person to ask me that question in less then a week. Where do you think I've been?"

"Is she doing better?"

"Yeah, she's fine now. What's up?"

"Sorry to cut your fun short, but there is something you really need to come see. We might have a problem on our hands."

"A problem? What kind of problem?"

"Can she hear me?"

Levy glanced back at Aislinn, who was watching something on a massive TV in another window display.

"No, but keep your voice down anyway."

"There's been an attack."

"What?! An attack? Did anyone get hurt?"

"None of our people, but a few humans were caught up in it. Arthur is on his way now, but you should really get over here too."

"Alright, I'll be on my way shortly. Make sure no one touches anything."

DAMMIT! Levy cursed under his breath.

It was starting to seem like the world was really set against him trying to have a nice time out with Aislinn.

Every time, every fucking time, something always has to interrupt us...

"Levy? Who was that? Are you okay?" Aislinn asked, concern replacing the smile on her face.

"It's nothing serious. I just have to go deal with someone's complete incompetence. Looks like I'll have to take you home for now, but I promise that when I get back, I'll take you anywhere on earth that you want to go, ok?"

"Yeah, I don't want to be a bother to..."

"Don't ever think that you are a bother to me. I never want to hear that sentence escape your pretty little lips again, do you understand?" Levy demanded, pressing one finger against her lips to silence her. "Any time, day or night, it doesn't matter what I'm doing, if you need me, you call for me."

The drive back to Aislinn's house was filled with silence. She didn't want to pry, so she didn't say anything which left Levy time to think of what he needed to do. There was no way he would leave her unprotected, but also no way in hell he could bring her with him.

"I'll probably be gone for a few days, but I don't want to leave you alone. Do you mind if I call Kaia and Kayle to come spend some time with you?"

"I would like that actually, but aren't they really busy?"

"You've become their newest obsession, just so you know. You'll probably end up being more bothered by them than they'll be of you."

"Sounds like a plan then."

"Alright, I'll call them after I drop you off."

They fell back into silence until they got to her door. Aislinn turned towards Levy, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

"Um, thanks a lot for today, I really enjoyed myself."

"Anytime you want to do something, all you have to do is ask," Levy replied, caressing her cheek.

"Levy, please be careful," she pleaded, holding his hand against her cheek. Her burning skin sent a shiver through him, threatening to wake the beast inside.

"Nothing can keep me from returning to you, Csitri. Nothing."

Levy kissed her on the forehead, but that one kiss quickly led to another and another, each one more urgent then the last. He threatened to suffocate Aislinn with how tightly he held her against him. She knew he was struggling for control so she slowly pulled away from him.

Levi, Arthur is here. Where are you?

Dammit.

Levy finally backed away from Aislinn, his breath ragged at he stared at her.

"Aislinn, I love you!"

Levy's whispered confession left her in shock. She didn't have the chance to reply before he turned around and walked down the path back to his car.

Yes, things were definitely becoming more complicated.