[center][h1][color=red]FLASHBACK[/color][/h1]

[h2][color=6495ED]Kira[/color] [color=lightgray]&[/color] [color=#E6D8F3]Zane[/color][/h2]
[img]https://i.ibb.co/ksCpBQFG/content-11.webp[/img]
(Zane is a Black Rose NPC - [url=https://roses-and-daggers.fandom.com/wiki/Zane_Rose] Zane’s Page[/url] )
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[color=lightgray]The cool night air wrapped around Kira like a blanket. She moved softly through the woods while her footsteps barely made any noise. Her black hair was wrapped in a tight bun and her ensemble was clean-black blouse tucked into black leggings, calf-high boots, a cloak with a hood and a small satchel over her shoulder. She glanced around and paused for any noise, then continued when she didn’t hear any. At 2:00 in the morning, she doubted anyone would be awake, but she had to be sure. She clutched her necklace tightly and tucked it under her shirt. Lover’s Lake wasn’t far ahead of her, and she knew it was normally empty around this time. If not, well, the dead told no tales. 



The faintest shift in the air preceded him, and when Zane emerged from the treeline with the same muted vibe he carried everywhere. 



He did not break her space abruptly, only angled himself into view so she would not mistake him for something worse. Moonlight caught in the white of his hair and eyes as his gaze settled on her satchel, then the lake beyond, then finally her face, assessing without accusation. [color=#E6D8F3]“You shouldn’t be out here alone,”[/color] he said softly, his voice low. [color=#E6D8F3]“Not at this hour.” [/color] He paused, giving her time, not pressing closer. [color=#E6D8F3]“I saw you leave the grounds and wanted to be sure you were all right.”[/color]



The shift in the air alerted Kira far faster than footsteps would. Instinctively, she reached for a blade and allowed her hand to rest on the hilt. As Zane came into view, her shoulders relaxed, and the quickness in her heart rate slowed. She glanced over at him. While she blended into the shadows, he stood out. His ghostly pale hair and face were beautiful amongst the trees and leaves. She paused and turned to face him, and moved her hand away from the hilt to show she was unarmed.



[color=6495ED]”I could say the same to you if I hadn’t noticed you were awake.”[/color] Kira’s voice was soft. She glanced around for any sign of him being followed. Her jaw clenched and her muscles remained poised for anything. 


[color=#E6D8F3] “I prefer to be awake at night; it’s been that way since I was young.”[/color] He stepped closer to her.


[color=6495ED]”Are you alone? Did anyone see you leave?”[/color] She waited for his answer and once he confirmed it, she moved closer to him and gently took his wrist. Her topaz eyes remained vigilant, and she swallowed hard. [color=6495ED]”I have something to tell you–not here.”[/color]


[color=#E6D8F3] “I’m alone.”[/color] Zane clarified, his snow-white gaze distant.  Her last words finally shifted his eyes to her, and he tilted his head with interest. 


[color=#E6D8F3] “Where to then, love?”[/color] He softly inquired.


Love. Kira turned away before her cheeks betrayed her. It was such an unusual term to be called. She waited for him to fall into step beside her. She led them to Lover’s Lake which was thankfully deserted at this time. 


Once settled, Kira laid out a picnic blanket with snacks and a few bottles of wine. They were near the water’s edge with moonlight reflecting upon the water. Some of the willow trees hid them as well. Kira poured them a bottle of wine and took a sip. She stared at him and started to giggle. 


[color=6495ED]”So, I thought we could do something nice for ourselves cause nobody else will,”[/color] she told him with a grin. Her shoulders relaxed and her breathing was easier. [color=6495ED]”And I needed to tell you something, and I'm not sure who else will understand….”[/color] 



Kira paused and met his gaze. Her voice was barely above a whisper, and her gaze became serious. [color=6495ED]”I need your help breaking my curse. Also, I’ve dispatched a few batches of hunters the past week.”[/color]



[color=#E6D8F3]“How many? And did any of them live long enough to talk?”[/color]


[color=6495ED]”The first group was a solid 6-8 people. They actually tried shooting me for once so this group was definitely smarter, but they underestimated my ability to defend myself.”[/color] Kira replied as if it were merely a discussion regarding the weather.  [color=6495ED]”Once I dispatched the first of them, they backed off, not expecting my bloodlust.”[/color] 


He set his cup down carefully, then reached for her wrist with a gentle grip, as if he needed to confirm she was still here and still real. [color=#E6D8F3]“Six to eight is enough to make noise,”[/color] he said quietly. [color=#E6D8F3]“If any of them made it out, they will talk. Tell me where it happened and which way they ran.”[/color] His voice stayed calm, but there was a firmness beneath it that promised he would deal with the consequences before they reached her.


His gentle grip startled her out of her reverie for a moment. She nodded in agreement with a groan and shut her eyes, trying to recall. [color=6495ED]”It was near the Tough Tavern… Most made it alive, and they looked…’[/color] Kira mused for a moment and then opened her eyes. [color=6495ED]”... Alidasht slavers, they had a pendant on their outfits I recall, blood-red diamonds. I think… I think they’re called Blood Diamonds. They hunt witches, supernatural and the like and make tons of money, and use us for fuck knows what purposes,”[/color]



His brows drew together as he processed her answer, the gears of his mind turning with rapid thoughts.  For a moment, he looked angry—it was clear he had already known about the Blood Diamonds just from the expression on his face. However, eventually he seemed to put it out of his mind for the time being, and he let his gaze return to the picnic arrangement. A soft smile slowly formed the more he fixated on it. 



Kira watched him stare at the picnic arrangement, and for a moment, her heart panged. His life story had been one of the most depressing things she had ever heard. It was unusual to have so many people around that would understand the amount of trauma they had all endured. To most people, Marek’s Swords were violent and heartless criminals when in reality, they were all victims. 




[color=6495ED]”All for you, big Z.”[/color]  Kira smirked at him and toasted her wine glass and gulped it down after a moment. When silence had been enveloped by the curse inquiry, she bit her lip.



His cheeks flushed, and he looked down at the picnic again like he was trying to understand what to do with the care she’d put into it. He took another bite, then nodded once, accepting it properly. [color=#E6D8F3]“You didn’t have to,”[/color] he said, and then after a pause, [color=#E6D8F3]“I’m glad you did.”[/color] He didn’t smile, but his tone warmed in a way he didn’t allow with anyone else, and his thumb rested lightly over her pulse as if he could steady her just by being present.


Then, for a moment, Zane just looked at what she’d brought. It was so [i]ordinary[/i] it almost hurt. His gaze lingered like he didn’t quite trust that this was real.


[color=#E6D8F3]“You did all this…”[/color] he murmured. He crouched instead of standing over her, folding down beside her on the blanket. [color=#E6D8F3]“No one has… made something like this for me in a long time.”[/color]


Zane reached for one of the snacks. He then took it, biting carefully. His expression didn’t change much, but his eyes did: softening.


[color=#E6D8F3]“It’s good. Thank you.”[/color] He accepted the cup when she poured, twirling it in his hand, watching the wine move.[color=#E6D8F3]“You’re right,”[/color] he added, eyes on the moonlit water. 


He finally took a sip, and the tension in his jaw loosened. [color=#E6D8F3]“Eat. Breathe,”[/color] he said, glancing toward the trees once before looking back. [color=#E6D8F3]“Then tell me about the curse.”[/color]




[color=6495ED]”So the first born of every generation is handed down the curse. As far as I know, there’s usually only one person born to each child–except in this case, my mother had three. Wren had some genetic thing about twins in his life,”[/color] She shrugged and she humorlessly. [color=6495ED]”So lucky me, I was the first born. Maya and Talia were minutes apart from me and nearly didn’t make it. Life would have been easier without them. I don’t think I’d be in the clusterfuck I am now.”[/color]


The truth hit her like a cold plunge in winter, as if every muscle in her body was rigid from the frozen water. She took another sip of her wine and stared at the moonlight water. 


[color=6495ED]”Anyways…. Marek visited the other night, and it was…”[/color] Kira shut her eyes.  [color=6495ED]”....Unpleasant.”[/color] She summarized, and let out a dark laugh again, a slight bit of insanity rising in her voice. [color=6495ED]”I’m not doing a good enough job as his spy, turns out I’m shit at everything.”[/color] 


Kira reached down and took a bite of her food; then paused and glanced at him.  [color=6495ED]”If I break my curse, I won’t be useful to him anymore…. It’s my way out, or I die serving him. So cheers, Zane, to our allowed time together, ‘cause one way or the other, I’m getting the hell out of here. I’d love to bring you with me except I won’t ruin you.”[/color] 



Zane listened without interrupting, but the way his attention held on her made it clear he was counting every detail. As she spoke about being first born and what it cost her, Zane’s gaze stayed on her face. [color=#E6D8F3]“You were a child,”[/color] he said simply. [color=#E6D8F3]“None of that was a choice you made.”[/color] 



Kira considered his words, but they were too gentle, too sweet, much like him. How did the sweetest person end up with a monster like her? A child wasn’t an excuse. She could have better decisions.


When she mentioned Marek visiting, he tightened his grip slightly, protective without being possessive, and his eyes sharpened with a controlled anger. [color=#E6D8F3]“He shouldn’t have touched you,”[/color] he said, low enough that it was only for her, and then he added, [color=#E6D8F3]“You are not failing. You are surviving a mad-man.”[/color]


His hand tightening around hers at the smallest amount caused her to gaze at him with surprise. She couldn’t figure out how to respond. She was taken aback by his reply, and she swallowed hard and allowed herself to nod in agreement. Madman–what an understatement. 


When she raised her glass to “allowed time,” Zane did not lift his. He held her gaze instead, steady and serious. [color=#E6D8F3]“Don’t talk to me like you’re already gone,”[/color] he said. [color=#E6D8F3]“If breaking the curse makes you useless to him, then we break it. If he comes for you after, then I handle that.”[/color] He paused. [color=#E6D8F3]“... And you don’t get to decide what ruins me,”[/color] he finished, his thumb still at her pulse. [color=#E6D8F3]“I choose where I stand, and I’m not leaving you to do this alone.”[/color]


Kira’s gaze rested on Zane and how he held her gaze. She could feel the walls inside beginning to tremble and collapse, but how could she let him in? How could she believe him? How could anyone beat Marek? That sounded impossible. Still, he agreed to help break her curse if it meant she was useless. The curse breaking would relieve a great burden from her shoulders. Kira smiled genuinely for the first time. His words were like a glass of water being filled on a hot sunny day. A tear or two nearly fell from her eyes. She held his hand back more tightly now, unsure of how to respond to him. There were a few moments of stunned silence until she finally spoke.


[color=6495ED]”....Thank you, Zane.”[/color] Kira’s voice was soft as the breeze that tickled their hair. [color=6495ED]”I don’t want you in peril though if we do break it so we need to book it if we do. I want to visit the library but it’s hard with everyone and they protect it well.”[/color] She swallowed hard and wiped her eyes gently. [color=6495ED]”I don’t know how to thank you.”[/color] 


Instead of using words, she leaned into him and gave him a side hug–it was an excuse to be close to him anyway. 



Zane let her hold his hand tighter and he even returned the squeeze. When she leaned into him, he accepted the side hug with a cautiousness that was careful rather than uncertain, his arm coming around her slowly so he would not startle her. His gaze lifted once to the tree line out of habit, then returned to her, softening in a way he rarely allowed anyone to see. He tipped his head down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead—for the first time, he wasn’t hiding the feelings beginning to grow within.


Kira’s eyes widened and her cheeks burned like fire. She noticed his expression and smiled softly. The walls were crumbling between them and a weight she didn’t know she had been carrying began to slacken. Kira let out a sigh and closed her eyes. Was this a dream? If so, she didn’t want to wake up from it.



[color=#E6D8F3]“You don’t owe me thanks,”[/color] he murmured into her hair. He drew back just enough to look at her properly, his thumb brushing tears from her eyes.


Kira’s cheeks burned from the hair murmur; it was such a sweet response from him that she wasn’t quite sure how to respond. His finger brushing her tears away caused her stomach to churn with butterflies. 


[color=#E6D8F3]“You don’t have to ask me to leave with you twice.”[/color] He assured her, his cheeks flushing pink as he said it. [color=#E6D8F3]“As for the library…”[/color] he added, quieter, [color=#E6D8F3]“We can break in late at night. But don’t you go alone.”[/color]

Kira giggled and opened her eyes to look up at him. The pink flush on her cheeks was mirrored in her topaz eyes. [color=6495ED]”I will not go alone–but we need to make sure he doesn’t notice because I can’t imagine he’ll be happy we’re there.”[/color] She sighed and took a piece of pastry and offered it to him with a giggle. [color=6495ED]”Let’s enjoy the picnic though for now.”[/color] [/color]