The Trials of Ruin and Longing

Lys

Lys was still in the shower as she heard Revel looking through the kitchen. She heard a muffled 'fuck yeah' as he discovered what was probably her donuts. She grinned. She had forgotten about that particular love of his.

As she finished showering, the TV turned on back to that Trial talk show. She could hear them talking about how people were starting to sponsor their teams.

"YOU SERIOUSLY WATCH THIS?" Revel hollered through the wall. Lys simply rolled her eyes.

"I THINK ITS FUN TO WATCH PEOPLE DIE, YOU KNOW?" Lys hollered back to him. "YOU KNOW, THEIR LIFE'S FOR-"

"I GET IT, THANK YOU!" Lys smiled in satisfaction as she shut off the water.

Lys put on loose silk pajamas, and brushed her teeth. She looked at the pajamas, which were fashioned in a cropped tank top and shorts. The smooth maroon fabric was soft on her upper thighs as the fabric made slight swishing noises. She hadn't bothered to put on underwear. Chances were, the crop-top and pants would be on the floor within fifteen minutes anyways. Lys stared at her face. The cut had completely healed, and as she brought up her hand, she already knew that was healed. But as she wiggled the now fine finger, Lys took a deep breath. And then let it go.

Come on, I know you want out, Lys coaxed the shadows. Let me see you. Lys watched the hand in the mirror, watched as shadows began floating up like smoke from her fingertips. She had to learn somehow, if her dad was serious about doing the job with the wraith abilities. She tried to make the shadows crawl down her arm, but they refused. Shot up her arm faster than she could stop them. She watched the mirror in terror as she waited for the shadows reappear.

Stop! You're my magic! But the shadows only response was to shoot up to settle itself on her neck, where it promptly vanished. Lys loosed a long, shuddering sigh, relaxing as the panic left her body. She left the bathroom quickly after that, avoiding looking into the mirror.

•

Lys looked at Revel incredulously from across the couch. He had found a movie, a silly rom-com about a shifter whose form is a pig, which he was clearly engrossed in. A constant stream of comments flowed from his mouth while a steady stream of popcorn entered it. And not a whisper of sex.

"You know, males really need to stop writing romance plots," Revel said through a mouthful of popcorn. "Like damn, how red flags can you give a guy?" Lys fought off the laughter at that comment. She forgot this part of him sometimes. The part she had spent hours with that first year they met when she was twelve. But after her mother left, everything changed. Her father started drinking worse than Lys had ever seen, and started getting sloppy with jobs. After she saved his ass last time he was almost caught, Lys banned him from doing anymore gigs.

Revel, Lys knew, hadn't changed much. No, he simply had matured. It was the happiness she had with him that became unbearable. The happiness that had soured into guilt. Every time he had made her smile, was the when the world quieted and stilled for Lys. Were the few times the world made sense again. Lys sighed, looking Revel over once more.

Revel lounged on the couch, lazily draped over his half. His eyes gleamed a strange yellow in the TV light. He had taken off his hoodie earlier to reveal his v-neck shirt beneath. Revel's muscles curved and planed underneath the dark gray fabric. Lys tried not to notice the fabric clinging to his tan skin.

Shifting around to get a bit more comfortable, Lys refocused on the movie. They sat in silence for a long moment, Revel's whiskey and wood smoke scent drifting over her like a caress.

"So what actually happened last night. With Bakkar." Revel finally asks, turning his head to look at her. His amber eyes glowed like an owl's glare as he examined her. Lys sighed.

"The usual. Everything seemed okay, and then he just exploded." Lys looked to Revel, whose face was grim. He motioned for more, so Lys continued.

"He slapped me, which was how I got that cut." She swallowed, the words like stones in her mouth. "He then threw the detector ball at me. I caught it, but the force broke my finger."

Revel shot off the couch, turning his face away from Lys. He went to the kitchen and settled himself in front of the cabinets. Lys watched him carefully. His worn hands gripped the counter so hard his skin turned white. Lys caught the slight sound of... wood splintering? She rose of the couch and carefully tread into the kitchen, footsteps light. The sound got louder, but not because she got closer.

The counter was cracking as Revel was squeezing it harder and harder. His owl eyes were glossy with rage. Constraint lingered there, much to Lys's shock. The piece of counter Revel was holding exploded in his hands, small chunks of wood flying. He jumped back, releasing his hands with a guilty look at Lys.

Lys was stunned. Revel was only half Fae. Yes, some demi-Fae inherited the strength of their parents magic and power, but rare few. Most just had some variation of the physical abilities. She had never guessed he might have full Fae capabilities.

"I can pay for that, sorry," Revel apologized. Lys shrugged.

"I needed to upgrade anyways. Don't worry about it." Revel gave her a grateful smile, moving around her to get to a cabinet. He pulled out two glasses, placing them on the counter. He went to fridge, digging around for a second before pulling out a bottle of Attican honey-wine. He walked back over and began pouring.

"I am sorry about your counter. I didn't mean to lose control like that," Revel said, his pour steady. He filled the first cup, and moved on to the second. "I also don't normally forget my own strength." Revel chuckled, but the sound was deflated.

"I just had no idea you got more Fae strength than I realized," Lys explained, running a pale finger down the counter. She caught a slight glimmer of guilt in his eyes at that, but it was gone quickly. "Turns out you still have some secrets, Revellen."

Revel finished the second cup. Placing the bottle on the counter, he handed her a glass.

"I guess I do." Revel lifted his cup to hers. "For luck and silent feet."

Lys downed her cup, praying the toast would hold for tomorrow.