2 | flatline [darkling]

four

WHILE THE NURSE FINISHED cleaning her wound, Nyx had tasked Adrian to get message delivered to the Darkling to set up a private meeting. Even after they had all agreed to the plan, Adrian had tried to persuade her to not go or to at least take him with her. But she refused his request, telling him this was something she had to do alone.

It didn't take her long to mount Libitina and make her way out of camp. She hadn't bothered waiting to see if Aleksander had replied to her request, she simply left to find his camp. According to reports there was small gab where no one fought, so she used that gap to cross the frontline into the enemy camp. Crossing had been a lot easier thank expected and she had gone unnoticed. Which is how she found herself sliding down her horse and making her way to the central tent.

It was easy to recognise the tent with the symbols of the Darkling embroidered in the tent and the flags perched up. All she had to do now is get past the guards standing in front of the tent. It wouldn't be hard, keeping a safe distance from them, she slows their heartbeats to be slow enough for them the nearly fall asleep. Putting them into a state of coma would be too much and having them faint would catch too much attention. So the perfect point would be them being drowsy enough to not be able to focus.

Once she is certain they're too tired to notice her presence, she slips past them through the flaps of the tent. As she looks around, she sighs at the emptiness of the massive tent. Making her way across, she makes her way to the desk and glances down at the materials on it. She remembers the amount of times she had sat across from him to discuss strategy or any other subject.

She notices a small box on the corner of the desk and picks it up, glancing up to make sure no one is coming in. Nyx snaps the box open and smiles softly as she runs a finger over the eclipse cufflinks she had given to Aleksander as a gift a few years ago.

"Only you would sneak into the tent of the enemies' General to snoop around." She snaps the box shut and looks up with a glare.

"I'm not snooping. I was just waiting for you." She says through clenched teeth, setting the box down. He chuckles softly as he walks up to her, but she moves around the desk.

"Why are you here?" Aleksander asks as he takes a seat in his chair and nods for her to sit across him. She looks at the chair with a glare, before crossing her arms over her chest and not moving to sit.

"Why were you on the battlefield?" She ignores his question and he raises an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Worried I'll get hurt?" He asks as he raises his chin up and she scoffs, shaking her head.

"Why now? Why did you wait for so long?" She asks as she puts her hands on the desk and leans forward, right in front of him. He leans forward, barely leaving any space between them.

"Because I've let you have your fun for long enough, I'm here to take you home." He hums and she scoffs, rolling her eyes at him.

"Today is not your day, because I'm not going anywhere with you." She snarls, making him tilt his head slightly, an amused look evident in his eyes.

"I'll wait. I have my whole life in front of me. In the mean time, I'll continue to appear on the battlefield. To remind you who really is in charge here." He hums as he grabs her jaw and pulls her closer. Her breath gets caught at the back of her throat as his lips graze her own lips. "You'll come back to me eventually."

She is unable to focus and think of something to say, trying not get to flustered by the close proximity. As he spoke those last words she could feel his lips move against hers and all she wanted to do was get rid of that last space between them. He seemed to know what she's thinking of and without hesitation, he presses his lips against hers.

She lets out a whine as she kisses him back, moving closer to him. All her thoughts become blurry as she focuses only on the feeling of his lips pressing against hers. His hand slips to the back of her head and he tugs at her hairs, making her gasp, giving him the opportunity to deepen the kiss.

She pulls away, needing to catch her breath and he looks at her - with so much intensity, it gave her goosebumps - trying to figure out her thoughts. There was a certain vulnerability in his eyes, as if her next words had the power to destroy him or strengthen him.

"I won't stop until I have everything you hold dear." She says breathlessly and he smiles weakly, letting go of her. She takes a deep breath, as he falls back against the back of the chair.

"You still haven't understood have you? All I want is you. Take Ravka, the Second Army, all of it. All I want is you." He says and she bites her bottom lip, feeling her heart skip a beat.

"How am I supposed to believe you after all those lies?" She asks him and he sighs.

"I don't expect you to believe me, Nyx. I just want you to know, I'll fight until my dying breath to have you back on my side." He says firmly and she looks away, not being able to handle the intensity of his gaze. "So, go back Nyx. I won't ask you to stay, not anymore. I'll just wait for you to come back by your own will. But I won't stop fighting."