It's Not Magic

Twenty-Eight

Kane

I don't get it, I told myself for about the millionth time today. Why hadn't I seen Matthews yet? There was under an hour left until I was done patrolling, or whatever this is supposed to be, and I still hadn't seen her.

I'd wandered back over towards the hall, but I hadn't seen the three standing on the steps. I wasn't sure why I was expecting to.

Sighing, I kept walking around the streets, pretending to be doing my job, but really keeping an eye out for Matthews.

"Mr. Knox!" I heard a voice call. Shaking my head, I looked around, searching for the source.

"Mrs. LaRue," I greeted, seeing the woman in front of me. "How are you?"

"I'm okay," she replied, looking around. "I noticed that yesterday you were with Lilia. Have you happened to see her at all today?" The woman was fidgeting with some of her bracelets, seeming nervous.

"Last I saw, she was talking with Hain," I told her. "Is everything alright?"

She shook her head, her hands absentmindedly fidgeting with the jewelry in her hands. "I just have a very bad feeling, Mr. Knox, and I was hoping she wouldn't be wrapped up in it."

"You and I both then," I told her, crossing my arms across my chest.

Mrs. LaRue nodded. "If you see her, tell her to come talk to me, okay? She knows where to find me."

"At your stand over there, right? The one that has the sign, 'Vivian's Jewelry?'"

She nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Knox." She turned around and shuffled away, seeing she had left a waiting customer.

I watched her walk away, fighting the emotions that threatened to show on my face. If she had a bad feeling about Matthews, than that wasn't a good sign. I checked my watch, and seeing that there was only about two minutes left before I could be done, I walked towards home. Right now, I wanted to see if Matthews was okay.

I kept looking around as I walked the path, searching for any sign of her. I had to know she was okay. I had to know Hain hadn't harmed her.

Pushing open my front door, I silently hoped she was on the other side.

~•~•~

I ran down the streets, running towards his house. When I'd left, he'd had five minutes left. Sprinting, I could make it there in three. Despite being somewhat out of shape, I managed to sprint most of the way there, but by the time I made it to the front door.

I stood there for a moment, catching my breath, my forehead resting against the door. Taking a deep breath, I reminded myself that I had to be strong, I had to be confident. I couldn't let him know I was terrified, otherwise he'd never let me go. Pushing open the door, I straightened myself, putting on a brave face.

Gently closing the door behind me, I was expecting the house to be empty, but what I saw was Kane standing worriedly in the middle of the room, his hands on the back of his head. But when he heard the door close, he spun around, and seeing it was me, I watched him visibly relax.

"Matthews," he said, taking a step towards me. "I'm glad to see you're in one piece."

I smiled, but it felt forced. "Yeah, me too." I stood by the door, not sure what to do.

Kane stared at me, as if trying to read my thoughts. "Is everything okay?"

I nodded, still forcing the smile. "Everything's good."

His eyes seemed like they were trying to see my soul. "What happened when you were talking to her?"

I shrugged. "She just wanted to reschedule some of my patrols."

"So we aren't patrolling together then?" He tensed up, as if he was ready to go knock down Braelyn's door.

"Only one or two times," I told him, taking a step towards him. "You can survive that long, right?" I smirked, seeing how offended he looked. "I need to learn how to do this on my own; I can't have you holding my hand every step of the way."

Kane looked taken aback, and I fought the urge to laugh. My smile became genuine as I walked past him, going to sit on the couch.

"I have not been holding your hand every step of the way," he shot back, turning towards me. "You've been doing stuff on your own."

My eyebrow rose, questioning that statement. After a second, I patted the spot next to me on the couch. "Come on, let's watch TV."

Kane came and sat next to me, grabbing the remote off the coffee table. Pulling my feet up onto the cushion next to me, I leaned my head against him as he turned on the TV. At first he seemed surprised, but I smiled as he relaxed, his arm going around my shoulders, pulling me closer.

He turned on something random, a comedy, I think, but I stopped paying attention to it, instead, closing my eyes as I took in his warmth. The smile wouldn't leave my face, not even as he pulled me even closer. We sat like that for the rest of what was playing, and even partway through the next one, not talking, just sitting there together. I felt safe here, not worrying about what was outside those doors, or what had happened earlier that day. I just wanted to stay here, in this moment.

After a while, I looked up at Kane, to see if he was still paying attention to what it was he turned on, and it seemed he was, until he looked down at me. Our eyes met, and I swore he smiled an actual smile, and I couldn't help but smile back. Even after he looked away, I could still see the smile on his face. Leaning my head back into him, I smiled too.

We sat like that for a while longer, and I eventually glanced at his watch. It was almost 9:00. Glancing up at Kane, I forced a smile back on my face. Now for the hard part. I pushed myself so I was sitting up, surprising Kane.

"Where're you going?" He asked, looking somewhat confused.

I smiled at him. "I just had a thought. I'm going to go see Ralph and get us some pastries."

He just looked at me after glancing at his watch. "Wouldn't his store be closed by now?"

Still smiling, I shrugged. "Not for me, it isn't."

Kane just gave me a sideways glance. "Okay then. I'll walk you to the door." He stood up, and offered me a hand. Taking it, I let him pull me to my feet.

We walked to the door together, and as I pulled open the door, Kane stopped me. "Just be back soon, okay?"

I smiled up at him, but it was getting harder to do. "I'll be back before you can miss me."

Kane pulled me into him, and I wrapped my arms around him. Before I could pull away completely, he planted a quick kiss on my forehead. I stopped, staring up at him. His eyes widened slightly, and I felt him push me towards the door. "Just be back soon, okay?" He said, closing the door behind me.

I stood there for a second, trying to comprehend what just happened. He'd kissed my forehead. And then thought it was a mistake. I was tempted to run back in and tell him it wasn't, but I couldn't. I wanted to break down that door and tell him how I felt, that he didn't make a mistake, but now that I'd left, I couldn't go back in. That was part of the deal that I'd made with Braelyn.

As I turned and walked away, I felt the tears streaming down my face. My walk picked up into a jog, and then a run, my hands wiping the tears from my face.

~•~•~
Kane

I slid down the door until I was sitting, my hands covering my face. Why did I do that? Why on Earth did I do that? But I don't regret it, I realized as my cheeks burned my hands. Even if she looked surprised.

That doesn't matter, I told myself. It doesn't matter. She'll be back. She always comes back.

I sat on the floor, with my head in my hands. Matthews knew now, or at least she had a good idea. And as my face burned, I realized I was okay with this. I was okay waiting for her to come back, with knowing that she always did.

I was okay with her knowing. And when she came back, I'd find out if she felt the same way.