Dancing with the devil

Fragmented memories

(A/N I am in a little depressive spiral so apologies if it is a little emotional. TW for grief and loss of a mother! If anyone needs someone to talk to my messages are open and I hope you are okay <3 )

*Lesso's POV*

I got woken up by the feeling of someone leaving my bed, I opened my eyes to see Ignes getting dressed. ''Morning'' she says with a smile on her face, ''Morning, why are you smiling so much?'' I question her. ''This is the first night in 3 years I have slept right through the night without a nightmare'' She is practically beaming. Hearing that does break my heart, 3 years is a long time without proper rest. ''Then you're welcome'' I smirk.  

*Your POV*

I woke up to a bit of light entering the darkened room, for the first time in 3 years I had slept soundly, no nightmares, no flashbacks and no back pain. I actually had a dream, about me and my mother. Back when I was a lot younger and she was still here, we would go walking the earth and we would run into the woods to forage fruit to bake into a pie for my father. One day we stumbled upon a young girl doing the same, we couldn't be seen by people unfortunately. Just as we reached the portal to take us home I woke up. I decided to get dressed as there was a huge day ahead of us with the unity ball tonight, that's when I heard Lesso move. 

''Morning'' I say, her hair was all messy but she still looked incredible. ''Why are you smiling so much?'' I could see her brow raised through her red curls. So I told her the truth, I had slept a full night in 3 years. ''Then you're welcome'' She smirked at me. ''Well I was going to say thank you eventually, I guess when you sleep you get really cuddly cause when I woke up your arms were wraped around me'' I let out a little laugh at the sight of Lesso's embarrasment. 

''What I do in my sleep and what I do in real life is different, maybe I had a nightmare or maybe I had a dream and I simply was too cold'' She is trying to defend herself and it is hillarious to watch. ''I'm going to go and wash my face, I will be back in 2 minutes'' I smile at her but deep down I can feel that familiar sting of sadness escaping my lungs in a small exhale.

I walk into the bathroom and lock the door, I place my hands on each side of the sink, taking a few deep breaths as I feel a tear fall from my eye and into the sink. I looked into the mirror, everyone who had known my mother said we looked alike and I had never taken notice until today. The woman looking back at me looked like my mother, I- I look like my mother. ''I'm so sorry mom I just want to make you proud'' I say staring into the mirror. I can feel my breathing pick up as the wave of grief crashes down onto me, drowning me in my own tears and sobs as I turn my head towards the sink yet again. 

''You are making me so proud my little bat, Look at you, you are a grown woman, powerful, I have been watching you as you have grown up, I am so proud of you and I love you Lillith''

 (Start playing the video at the top)

''Mom?'' I looked up and my mother stood beside me, her hand gently resting on my shoulder, it was her voice, she was there and that is when grief took over. I began to cry, placing my hand on top of hers, for a moment I was reunited with my mom. ''I love you too mom, you have really been with me the whole time?'' I smile through my tears. ''Yes my darling, I have seen my baby bat grow every single day, and I have seen you fall in love, my love if you like her just tell her, she feels the same'' She winks with a small tear falling from her eye. 

I close my eyes to take a deep breath. ''I will mom, I promise'' When I open my eyes again she is gone. My smile falters and I choke on my tears for a moment. 

*knock knock* ''Ignes?'' 

*lesso's POV*

''Ignes?'' I stood outside of the door, I could hear her crying, but she said she was okay before. I was interrupted by the door opening, suddenly Ignes was a frail tiny woman infront of me, she stayed silent and just walked towards me still crying and just hugged me. I hugged her back. ''Hey, shh, shh you are okay, what has happened'' I say softly, she is broken right now and I can't help but feel my heart shatter for her. 

''I saw my mom, turns out she has been watching me as I have grown up, she has watched me lose battles, win them, fall, get back up and she has watched me fall deeply for someone. She has been here the whole time and for the first time since she died, I felt safe enough to sleep'' She sobbed even harder into my shoulder but I just tightened my hold on her so she didn't fall. 

'Her mom had been watching her grow and fall for someone, I wonder who' I think to myself. I had heard from Dovey that Ignes's mother had died in a terrible way, I couldn't imagine how she is feeling right now after seeing her. Who was she falling for? 

*Your POV*

I saw Lesso and I couldn't help but hug her, my mother was right, I was in love with Lesso. I was a total mess as I clung to Lesso who calmed me with her voice and her hold. I backed away a little ''Lesso I-I need to talk to you'' I took a deep breath and steadied myself on her shoulder. 

We walked back to the bed where Lesso sat down and I sat next to her. ''What is it Ignes? Look I am so sorry about your mother, I am glad she has seen you grow up, you have grown a lot since coming here. I am proud of you so I can only imagine how ecstatic your mother is about you'' She looked into my eyes for the last part, I feel my eyes becoming blurred with more tears. ''You have no idea how much that means to me'' I sniffled through my words. I take her hands in mine and look into her eyes, I can see the worry in her eyes for what I might say. 

''Lesso, when I saw my mother she told me to follow my heart, well, half heart, but this means saying something that has terrified me ever since that day I lost everything. Leonora Lesso, I... I am falling deeply for you, I have done since the day my eyes met yours and when I first heard your heartbeat but I don't want to give you half hearted love, quite literally. I want to give you my whole heart because that is the very least you deserve but I am terrified I can't do that without a whole heart and soul and I am terrified'' (A/N SOBBING. Also context for the next part "Umbra" refers to shadows, ghosts, and darkness, but it especially means the shadows of trees. Okay, enjoy)

I felt her hand grip mine tighter and saw a tear appearing in her eyes as she spoke again. ''Lili Umbra Ignes, you have no idea how long I have been waiting to hear you say that, I have been falling more and more for you as the days, weeks, months have passed us by. I know who you are Lili, I overheard when Rafal was talking to you and called you Lillith, it took me a while to come to terms with that but, you are not your father. I have read your mothers story, Ignes you are your mothers daughter, you look so alike and I am honored to have met you. I don't care if you have a fragment of a heart, as long as mine is beating your heart has a place in mine and as the sun comes up and then the moon, you are on my mind.'' 

''Please never forget that Lilli, don't worry I will call you Ignes around others. We have a busy day ahead but we have a break after our decorating for us to get ready, meet me back here at 4pm, the event doesn't start until 6pm.'' Lesso places another kiss onto my cheek and heads down to begin setting up, giving me a moment with myself before I head down to join them all...