ACOTAR one shots, imagines and short stories

Echoes of a War-Torn Heart (Cassian x OC) - Part 4

Word count: 2486

Characters: Cassian and Lyra (OC)

Warning: Angst, PTSD and violence

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Weeks had passed since the city of Velaris erupted in relief and sorrow, the echoes of victory mingling with the weight of loss. The once jubilant streets had settled into a quiet routine, but for Lyra and Cassian, the world felt anything but normal. The initial wave of euphoria had faded into a harsh reality where the war's shadows continued to stretch across their lives.

Cassian had retreated further into himself, each day blending into the next with little change. He continued to train relentlessly, his frustration pouring into each punch and kick, leaving his hands bloodied and bruised. The sound of leather and wood meeting flesh and steel became a constant backdrop to his days. The training grounds had become his refuge, a place where he could channel his pain, though it never seemed to be enough.

His nights were haunted by nightmares, the kind that left him gasping for air, drenched in sweat. His dreams twisted the horrors of the battlefield into relentless scenes of terror, a relentless barrage of faces and voices that refused to be silenced. He would wake up, heart pounding, only to find himself alone in a bed that felt too large, too empty.

Lyra watched from the sidelines, her heart aching with a helplessness she could barely articulate. She tried to bridge the chasm between them, to reach out with gentle words and tender gestures, but each attempt seemed to slip through her fingers like sand. The man who had returned was not the same as the one who had left. The love they had shared, the connection they had built, seemed to be slipping away, leaving her feeling increasingly isolated.

Yet, amidst the pervasive gloom, there were rare moments that hinted at a connection they once shared. One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Cassian returned home earlier than usual. Exhausted and covered in grime from his training, he walked through the door only to be met by an unexpected sight.

Lyra was dancing in the living room, a soft, carefree hum escaping her lips as she moved gracefully to an old tune. Her movements were light and fluid, a stark contrast to the heaviness that had settled between them. Her hair swayed with her steps, and her face bore an expression of joy and freedom that Cassian hadn't seen in a long time.

For a moment, Cassian stood in the doorway, watching her with a mixture of surprise and tenderness. The sight of her so unburdened, so alive, was a rare and beautiful thing. A small, involuntary chuckle escaped his lips, the first real laugh he'd allowed himself in weeks.

Lyra turned at the sound, her eyes meeting his. The soft smile that graced her lips was like a beacon in the dark, a reminder of the connection they once had. She paused in her dance, and for a brief moment, it was as if the weight of their troubles had lifted.

Cassian's smile faltered as he saw the happiness in her eyes, a pang of longing and sorrow tightening in his chest. He wished he could fully embrace the fleeting connection, but the shadows of his past and the weight of his guilt pulled him back.

He managed a troubled smile in return, his eyes reflecting a deep, unspoken sadness. "Hey," he said softly, his voice catching slightly.

Lyra's smile faltered, the joy in her eyes dimming as she saw the troubled look on his face. She stepped towards him, reaching out with a small, hopeful gesture. "Cassian, I—"

"I can't stay. I'm meeting Azriel at the training grounds," Cassian interrupted, his voice firm but tinged with regret.

His face returned to its familiar mask of weariness, the brief moment of connection slipping away as quickly as it had come. The shadows of their reality settled back in, leaving them to navigate the chasm that remained between them.