His laughter was infectious, and despite my attempt to hide under the blanket, I couldn't help but peek out, a faint smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
"You know, Fiery," he said, his voice tinged with warmth, and mischief, "I can't help but wonder if there's another reason behind your fiery attitude."
I slowly lowered the blanket, my eyes meeting his gaze.
He leaned in closer, his breath tickling my ear as he whispered, "Could it be that you secretly enjoy my company, despite your protests?"
"Don't flatter yourself, Azriel. I tolerate you, that's all." I spoke, a blush creeping up my cheeks.
His eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaned back, a playful grin stretching across his face. "Tolerate me, huh? Well, I must say, you have a funny way of showing it."
I narrowed my eyes at him, I wasn't going to let him win, "Don't let your ego get too inflated. It's not like spending time with you is the highlight of my day."
He chuckled, his laughter filling the room. "Of course not, Fiery. I know deep down you're just waiting for the moment you can escape my presence and breathe a sigh of relief."
"Exactly! You're catching on." I retorted, crossing my arms and trying to maintain a serious expression.
But he wasn't about to back down. He wagged a finger at me mockingly. "Ah, Fiery, you can deny it all you want, but your eyes betray you. I see that hidden blush whenever we banter."
My cheeks flushed, and I looked away, attempting to hide my amusement. "You must be imagining things or You get me so angry that I redden. I'm just tolerating you, remember?"
"Sure, sure," he replied, his tone dripping with faux disbelief.
I rolled my eyes, feigning annoyance. "I tolerate you because I have no other choice. It's a matter of survival."
He gasped loudly, pretending to be offended. "Survival, huh? Well, I guess I should feel honored to be a part of your survival strategy."
I couldn't help but giggle, his playfulness lifting my spirits. "Oh yes, you're absolutely essential. Like oxygen. Can't live without you."
He smirked, playing along. "Ah, so I'm your personal oxygen tank now. Good to know. Just don't forget to breathe when I'm not around."
I playfully shoved him, pretending to be exasperated. "Ugh, you're insufferable. How do I even put up with you?"
He smiled, so sweetly that my heart did a somersault in my chest. "Like I put up with you."
I huffed, pouting slightly.
"Now, now jokes aside, let me see your injuries."
"You won't laugh, will you?" I whispered, unsure. Everyone did laugh. You're not the victim. Your parents are. You killed them, and you're crying over a few wounds. "Well, they're not much wounds," I hurriedly said, "They'll probably heal themselves." That was not entirely a lie. Grace had checked on me as much as I hated it, she told my injuries were okay and they would heal.
"Fiery, look at me." He cupped my chin gently and made me look at him.
"Yeah?" I spoke as casually as possible.
With a tender gaze, Azriel held mine and spoke, "You really think I'll laugh?"
I didn't. I slowly shook my head, annoyed by how exposed I felt with him.
"Good. Then, let me take care of you."
His words caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond. The vulnerability in his eyes, the genuine concern etched on his face, made it difficult for me to maintain my usual defensive stance.
"I... I don't need anyone to take care of me," I mumbled, my voice betraying the uncertainty within me.
Azriel's grip on my chin tightened ever so slightly, his gaze stern, "We're not arguing over this, Selene."
His words struck me with a mix of surprise and frustration. I wanted someone to say that to me for so long. Let me take care of you. We're not arguing over this, Selene. It felt new, and good, and so frustrating. I wasn't use to people helping me or being dependent on people, but since he came, I was nothing but that which made me feel weak.
I looked into his eyes, searching for any hint of deceit or judgment, but all I found was sincerity. There was a genuine concern on his face, a desire to be there for me in my moments of weakness. And for the first time, I allowed myself to believe that it was okay to lean on someone else, even if it went against everything I had known. Just this one time.
I sighed, relenting, "Fine, but don't expect me to be all grateful and mushy about it." I grumbled, just to seem tough.
A twinkle sparked in Azriel's eyes, and a playful smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Oh, don't worry, Fiery. I'm not expecting any mushiness. Just complete obedience and adoration. Also, I can heal them in a second."
I rolled my eyes, unable to hide a small smile. Leave it to Azriel to tease me even in serious moments. "How can you heal them in a second? Magic?"
"Magic." He grinned, and suddenly picked me up effortlessly and put me on his laps, my legs on each of his side. "I was unsure of this before, but now I'm not. I just need to touch your bruises and amaze you of what a good healer I am."
I blushed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and warmth as he held me in his lap. His playful nature was both infuriating and endearing. Despite my resistance, there was a part of me that secretly enjoyed his teasing. I obviously hated to admit it.
He started with my face, the cut my cheek. I winced, shutting my eyes, and in a second the large cut was gone as I watched a light emerge through my closed eyes. I opened them, and saw him looking at my forehead, wearing a serious expression as he gently touched it. I saw white shiny particles evaporating, and then the pain was gone.
"Waah..." I blurted out, amazed.
He looked into my eyes, and smirked. "Amazed, huh?"
"Just a tiny bit, don't let it get to your head."
"Too late, Fiery. My head is already too big to contain all my greatness."
I couldn't help but giggle, my cheeks blushing, as he too smiled. This moment felt special.
He moved his eyes to my chest to the hem of my oversized top and held it, glancing up at me, "May I?"
I hesitated for a moment. But the way he looked at me, like no other ever had made my heart skip a beat, as I nodded, giving him permission to lift the hem of my top and expose the bruises on my abdomen.
His eyes darkened. Yeah, they were bad, I knew, but not that much.
"Good, I killed him." He spoke, venomous, eying the large cuts and purplish bruises. He touched them, it was electric, and this time I felt so little pain, and so much pleasure, seeing the sparks fly up and touch my face, in the dim light of the room. The sparkles danced in the air, casting a soft, ethereal glow around us.
As the bruises faded and the cuts closed up, I couldn't help but be captivated by the sight. It was as if Azriel possessed a power beyond the realms of ordinary healing.
Once he finished, he pulled his hands back, breaking the connection between us. The room returned to its normal state, the sparkles dissipating into thin air. I looked down at my abdomen, amazed at the transformation.
He looked up at me, his eyes serious.
"What?" I asked.
"I fucking left you alone. It was my fault it happened-"
"No, No," I shook my head, interrupting, "We were...uh-both at fault so we're even."
"He hurt you." His gaze darkened more, and softened instantly when he gazed at me with his amber eyes. My heart fluttered. "I have to protect you and it's the one thing-"
"Because it's your job," I cut him off, already I
knowing what he would say.
He stared at me for a second, and I hoped to universe that I didn't look affected by it. "Actually it's become more of a choice, Fiery."
I stared at Azriel, his words sinking in. A choice? My heart raced for what seemed like forever. My cheeks warmed up and they stayed like that.
"Now, now don't let it get to your head." He smirked, picking me up, and laying me down.
I just stared at him, my mouth open, until he chuckled, "Moths are attracted to flame, Fiery. Close your mouth."
I snapped my mouth shut, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and amusement. Azriel always knew how to catch me off guard, turning serious moments into playful banter. My cheeks flushed even more, and I couldn't help but smile.
"You're ugh!," I teased, trying to regain my composure. "But I suppose I should thank you for choosing to tolerate me. And for healing..."
He smirked, his fingers gently brushing against mine. "Tolerating you is the least I can do, Fiery. But trust me, it's much more than that." He booped my nose with his finger and it felt so familiar that I wasn't even surprised.
He blew the candle out, walking to my bed again just to brush a strand of hair against my ear. The moonlight reflected on his amber eyes as he leaned down, making my heart fill with butterflies, "Goodnight, Fiery." He whispered in my ear, brushing his lips there. "You have a long day of training tomorrow."
I didn't realize I was holding my breath until he was out of my sight.
Oh, no.
This was the moment where I was hit by brick of my feelings. I felt for him. And this was no joke. And it was all this fault for making me feel that way.
Asshole.
That night I couldn't sleep. And also, I didn't catch the last of his words, because all i could think about was: was there even a possibility of us ?