Lacuna ¹

15

Benedict had been standing outside the Swan residents for fifteen minutes now. Trying to build up the confidence to knock on the little white door. He wore a simple tan jeans with a white dress shirt and a cream coloured cardigan - it made him look smart and respectable. He also had a simple forest green scarf wrapped around his neck and draping over his back. It was a bit chilly outside but of course it didn't affect him for obvious reasons. It did not go with his outfit as he had no green in his outfit but Alice had wrapped it around his neck before he had left their house, not saying a word other than 'you will need it!'

Benedict blew out a breath of unneeded air. His muscles relaxed and his frame became less ridged and uptight. Taking a gulp, he raised his marbled hand to the marbled door before it finally collided with its painted wood. He knocked twice, one right after the other, afraid they didn't hear the first one. He rocked back and forth on his feet almost like a boat as he waited for the door to be opened. Hearing the large footsteps coming from inside the house towards the door Benedict began to straighten himself, patting himself down, making himself look presentable.

It didn't take long for the small white of the Swan residents door to swing open and to be greeted with the main resident, Charlie Swan. Charlie had little to no reaction at first. His eyes were squinted as he looked at the man before him, up and down, his lips turned into a small frown - which made Benedict panic slightly - before Charlie waved his hand, inviting him inside. Benedict followed the man. They weren't far off in height, a mere few inches but although the small height difference Charlie had a sharp glare that he had sent to Benedict the moment he opened the door, as sharp as a knife, it was intimidating to say the least.

Charlie had brought Benedict into the kitchen, both sitting down in a chair that were placed around the kitchen table. Both ending up opposite each other. The kitchen table had been messy as Charlie was cleaning his shotgun as that was routine but had chosen this day specially to do it so he could really see if the boy Amélie spoke so highly about would be able to handle his overprotectiveness of his niece. Charlie continued with the cleaning of his gun as Benedict sat their and watched, both in silence, waiting for the other to speak.

"So you are Benedict Cullen?" Charle asked as he ran the dirty cloth over the gun. Benedict noticed his twinge of an accent although he couldn't identify where.

"Yes, that is me, a pleasure to meet you officially officer Charlie Swan," Benedict spoke smoothly, afraid if he said something wrong it would ruin all his chances with the beautiful Amélie Archambeau. Benedict was slightly buttering up Charlie by using his official name and status. "Amélie speaks very highly of you."

"Well I love that girl like my own daughter," Charlie only raised his eyes from the gun and stared at Benedict. "And I expect everyone to treat her that way."

"Of course, nothing less." Benedict agreed. The two fell into silence once again but it was tense, you could cut it with a knife. Benedict knew he had to get onto Charlie's good side no or there would be no hope. Taking in a small breath for the speech he knew he was going to have to provide, just to prove himself. "Mr Swan?"

"Hm?" The man hummed as he raised his head to address the man this time as he waited for Benedict to speak.

"Amélie is an absolutely amazing woman, that deserves the absolute world and nothing less, I want to be able to give her all that she ever wants and need in life. I want to see her eyes sparkle like gems with every new book I get her and I want to see her smile with every flower she gets from me. I want to give her the simplest things such as books or flowers to the most expensive things like diamonds and jewels. But for that to happen I want your approval, I want you to trust me being around Amélie, I want you to trust me protecting Amélie but most importantly I want you to trust me being with Amélie because I know I could never make her choose between family and me." Benedict would have been completely out of breath if he actually needed to breathe. The two sat in another silence although this time Benedict waited anxiously.