Lightning and Starlight

Tattoos

Vincent's sword clashed with Hayes's. Neera and Sydney watched as Hayes slowly wore Vincent down until he was too tired to block a certain maneuver that Hayes pulled to disarm Vincent.

Vincent sighed in defeat and collapsed onto the ground. "Thou hast beaten me, foul villain. The hand of the fairest maiden shall be thine forever. Oh, woe is me!"

Neera laughed and Sydney took both of the swords over to clean them from the sweat of the two boys.

Vincent laid on the ground for a while longer while Hayes started playing around with his abilities, pulling weapons from other dimensions and testing the blades.

"Sydney? Do you want to fight?" Neera asked.

Sydney nodded hesitantly, glancing at Hayes. "Yep. I'm still not great at this stuff, but..."

Neera laughed. "It's okay. I'll go easy on you."

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"You did not go easy on me," Sydney complained, getting into the shower in Neera's room. "You're so mean to me."

Neera laughed and started washing her face. "Syd, I think I didn't go too hard on you. You're really improving."

Sydney popped her head out of the shower curtain, her mouth open as if to complain, but she shut it when she saw Neera's face in the mirror. "Are you okay, Neera?"

Neera sighed, thankful that she'd already filled Sydney in on her love life. "I'm okay, I just...Vincent's got a job spying on the new villain, and it's pretty hands on. I'm kind of scared for him."

Sydney was quiet for a moment. "Well...Have you told him that you're nervous?"

Neera nodded. "I don't want to keep bringing it up to him, but it's bothering me."

"On another note," Sydney started. "I got you guys to finally admit you liked each other. I'm pretty proud of that."

Neera rolled her eyes, but she laughed. "Syd, he showed up at my door with the dinner you were supposed to bring me and started yelling at me for avoiding him."

"Well, it worked out, didn't it? Come on, Neera. Admit it. I work miracles."

Neera threw her wash cloth at the shower curtain and Sydney shrieked.

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"Okay, who gave Sydney the remote?" Selah demanded, pushing the blanket off of him, revealing cartoon character pajama pants. "I cannot—I repeat, I cannot watch another stupid princess movie!"

Badiah wacked his arm. Selah gasped and looked at her like she doesn't hit him every day. Badiah sat on the bed with Sydney and Hayes while Selah sat at the foot of the bed, swinging his legs like a child.

That left Neera and Vincent on a pallet on the floor. Vincent had smirked when he saw how Sydney had set things up. Neera had smiled.

Now they were waiting for Sydney to pick a movie. And, of course, it was a princess one. The movie continued, and Neera began to feel sleepy. She glanced at Vincent who was watching the movie with a concentrated face. Neera smiled. She slowly laid her head on his shoulder. His arms came around her. She looked up to see him smiling softly down at her.

Vincent slowly leaned down and lightly kissed the top of her head. Neera beamed. Her heart rate has spiked just by the little kiss. She watched as Vincent turned his focus back to the movie. When his face turned, she saw the shadows draped over his face, highlighting his jawline perfectly. That glance only made her heart beat faster.