Radio to the heart

A night of revelation 

The torches along the hallway flickered, casting jagged shadows across the stone walls. The silence between us felt heavy, each step we took echoing in the corridor. I could feel Alistair's tension beside me, the way his shoulders were just a little too stiff, his eyes darting forward, refusing to meet mine. Something was wrong-something deeper than the usual battles we faced.

I slowed my pace, finally stopping when the weight of his silence became unbearable. "There's something you're not telling me," I said softly, my voice carrying in the stillness.

Alistair's gaze didn't waver from the ground in front of him. His jaw clenched slightly, but he didn't answer. I waited, watching him closely, feeling the space between us grow despite standing side by side. He wasn't going to just tell me, not unless I pushed.

I stepped in front of him, blocking his path, my eyes searching his face for something, anything that would give me an answer. "Alistair," I said more firmly. "What are you hiding?"

His eyes finally met mine, and for a moment, I saw the struggle behind them. But instead of words, he simply nodded toward the door leading to the parapet. Without saying a word, he walked toward it, his footsteps heavy.

I followed, the cool night air hitting my skin as we stepped outside. The wind carried the faint scent of rain, and far below, the lights of the village blinked up at us like distant stars. Alistair moved to the stone railing, leaning against it, his hands gripping the edge as he looked out over the kingdom.

I watched him, waiting, not moving from where I stood. My heart pounded in my chest, a slow, steady beat as I tried to piece together what he wasn't saying.

"It's not that simple, Tess," he said finally, his voice low and rough. He didn't look at me, just kept staring into the distance as if the horizon held all his answers.

"What isn't simple?" I asked, taking a step closer. The wind tugged at my hair, sending strands flying into my face. "You've been keeping something from me, Alistair. You can't expect me to just... ignore that."

His hands tightened on the railing, knuckles going white. "I've made mistakes," he said quietly. "Regrets... paths I shouldn't have taken. Things I can't undo."

I frowned, my mind racing, trying to connect the dots. I'd always known Alistair wasn't the man he pretended to be. Behind the charm and the confidence, there was something darker, something he kept hidden. I just hadn't realized how deeply it ran.

"Everyone makes mistakes," I said softly, stepping beside him. "But what are you really trying to tell me?"

He turned then, finally meeting my gaze, his eyes filled with a weight I hadn't seen before. Slowly, he reached out, his hand brushing against my cheek, the gesture so gentle it almost hurt.

"I wish I could tell you everything," he whispered, his voice cracking just enough for me to hear the pain underneath. "I'm not perfect, Tess. I might be the Radio Demon, but that doesn't mean I don't carry my own demons."

I felt my chest tighten

The wind whipped around us, pulling at my hair, sending strands flying into my face. I brushed them back, my eyes never leaving Alistair. He stood so still, like a statue against the night, but I could see the storm brewing beneath the surface. There was something in his gaze-something broken, something raw that I hadn't seen before.

I moved closer, my hand resting on the cold stone beside his. "We've been through too much for you to shut me out now," I said, my voice soft but firm. "If I were going to be scared of you, Alistair, I would've already been gone. I would've run the moment I realized who you are. But I didn't, and I'm still here."