𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐃𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐘 𝐈 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐌, luke castellan

𝐗𝐕𝐈𝐈.

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐗𝐕𝐈𝐈.
even if it's handcuffed i'm leaving here with you

ᯓᡣ𐭩

"𝐇𝐈," 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐄 could utter, her voice slightly breaking. She reluctantly took a step forward, not making any move to harm Luke, even though she probably should.

"Come to stop me?" Luke asked, still slightly weary, but taking a step forward too.

Maisie breathed in. "I should."

Luke tilted his head. "But?"

She looked down at her shoes, not bearing to look him in the eye anymore. She knew she was expected to do something, like fight him, or capture him, and it was killing her. She shook her head.

"Well, I... I don't know. I can't."

Luke kept his eyes on her, his meeting long forgotten. He stepped closer.

"You don't have to," he said. When Maisie looked up, he was so close to her that she could smell his perfume. The sea scent was gone, replaced by an artificial fragrance instead.

"Luke," she whispered.

They were eye to eye now. He was looking down at her with that softness he reserved only for her, and she was looking up at him with that frown that meant she couldn't stop this.

Luke reached out his hand to brush a strand of hair that came out of her ponytail behind her ear. His hand stayed there, cupping her face.

Maisie was about to give in and lean in when she heard her name being called, pulling her forcefully back to reality.

She took a step back, keeping her gaze on Luke and the moment they had almost shared.

"Maisie!" Ronan shouted again. Before Maisie had time to get to him, he found her. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Luke, drawing the dagger Maisie had given him.

"Woah, Ronan," Maisie said, at the same time Luke said "No need to be hostile." the edge returned to his voice.

"Yeah, right," Ronan said. Maisie approached him in an attempt to get him to calm down. Luke was still the strongest swordsman she knew and she didn't want him to test his skills on Ronan.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Luke sigh impatiently.

"So, who are you?" he asked Ronan, his arms crossed.

"What do you care?"

"Frankly, I don't. I'm giving you time to back down."

Ronan ignored him, his dagger still firmly held in his hand. "What do you want with her?" he asked, gesturing towards Maisie. Maisie made a face, hating where the conversation was going, especially since they were talking about her like she wasn't there.

"I don't see how that's any of your business."

"I think it's my business what you're talking to my girlfriend about."

Luke's face dropped, only for a tiny beat. His gaze instantly went dark, his eyes slightly narrowing.

Then, he smiled, that cruel smile that Maisie had gotten accustomed to. "Alright. Wanna fight? Come on," he said, drawing his sword, Backbiter.

"Luke, come on," Maisie said, trying to de-escalate the situation. He ignored her.

Ronan lunged first. He attempted to slash Luke's torso with his dagger, but Luke was faster. He blocked the blow with his sword, then slashed back. Ronan barely missed it, stepping to the side.