Achieving Heaven Through Hell Part 3: Only the Results

Chapter 21: Daimon

Chapter 21: Daimon

The room was dark. The bed creaked as they fell atop it. Hands wandered, explored, breathing grew heavy, wanting. Need suffused the air, scents mingling as they went.

"Ah, Moonie..."

"Via, I..."

Hands fumbled with belts and zippers, latches and buttons were undone with passioned abandon. Hands searched, found what they sought, their pants and gasps and breathless encouragements drowned out by the heady drubbing of their hearts in their ears. Warmth blossomed, crested, surged and... and... the spell broke.

Moonchild growled in frustration, kicking his legs over the side of the bed, his head in his hands, his breathing ragged. "God... damnit!"

"Moonie..." Octavia sat up, reaching out for his rippling should. "It's okay."

"Via, I–This never happens, I can usually–" He said, his voice strangely choked. "Why can't I–?!"

"Moonie, it's fine," she cooed, pressing herself against his back. "This was a lot all at once. I pushed things too far, too fast. Let's take it slow, okay?"

"I don't want to take it slow!" Moonchild cried, getting to his feet, illuminated by the lurid red light of the city as it poured in through the window. "It has to be tonight! T-tomorrow, we'll be... I'm so sorry, Via! I wanted to do this one little thing for you and this happens!"

She saw the tears of frustration and shame spilling down his cheeks, Octavia reached up and grabbed his wrist, pulling him back down to the bed and into a warm embrace, her head on his shoulder as she whispered: "It's okay... All I need is you here with me. Stay with me, Moonie... please?"

Moonchild returned the embrace, casting an arm over her shoulder, resting his cheek atop her head. "Why can't I...? Why now, when I'm with the woman I love? Why not–"

He cut himself off, exhaling in a hissing growl. She could hear his heartbeat spike as what he was going to say rang loud and clear in his mind: 'Why didn't this happen with her? Why not then? She might have left me alone if it did!'

Octavia wrapped her arms around his chest and squeezed. "You're with me now, that's all that matters. Come on, it's not the end of the world."

"But–"

"Shh..." Octavia soothed, stroking his chest. "We could have five minutes before the armies of Heaven break down the door, but if I'm with you for that five minutes, it's all the time I need."

"Via..."

She scooted back on the bed, arms still wrapped around him. She guided him down to the soft linens, their heads on the pillow, her chest against his back. They were silent, the only sounds the ambiance of the chaos outside. She pressed her ear against his back, the beat of his heart a fast, hard, angry beat.

"This isn't going to work out."

She felt him deflate, shy away. "It's not?"

"No," she said as she clambered over him, pressing her rump into his lap and her head under his chin. "I'm a shit big spoon."

A beat passed before Moonchild loosed a hearty, genuine chuckle, gingerly wrapping his arm around her. "You're the best, Via."

"I know." She swiveled her head all the way around and kissed his jaw. "Now, get some sleep."