Heart of Ashes

Heated

He could feel the warmth radiating from her every time she reached out to add a new pin, her fingers quick to pull away as soon as she finished slipping the tiny piece of metal into the fabric. He couldn't quite decide if he wanted to back away from her or move closer as he felt the warmth increase each time she grew closer before stepping back to take a look at how the shirt hung on his body with each adjustment she made.

It was almost like torture, if not for the undeniable fact that he found himself longing for it, that constantly shifting warmth she held within her. It was almost like how felines seemed attracted to the nearest path of sunlight, seeking out that gentle warmth as they settled themselves into the spot. Except, the warmth wasn't steady, instead slowly building until eventually, her touch was almost like reaching into a fire. One that didn't burn him so much as it simply began, over the course of the following hour, to flicker within his own chest. From there, it grew into a small flame, not strong but still burning softly.

And when he left, it remained there for hours afterward, burning away until eventually, it merely smoldered for a time until it finally vanished. But the memory of it continued to burn within his mind long after it was gone, a constant reminder of what he'd once had. Of what he could, perhaps, have again if he so desired.

"I need to see her again. To feel that warmth once more," he whispered to himself, the shadows within the room shifting and weaving about as he moved away from the desk, leaving behind a piece of paper with carefully drawn lines curving to make the beginning of a face.

~~~~~~~~

I'd just finished the last stitch for the dress shirt when I realized I wouldn't be able to start the slacks to go with it, having forgotten to take the rest of Ashe's measurements when he was here the other day. Sighing, I put the fabric away and decided to start a second shirt while I had the first one to compare it to. Once that was done, I would start work on the jacket to go with them and then the slacks once I had his full measurements.

Next time I saw him, I would definitely need to get his phone number so I could call him for stuff like fittings and questions on if he would prefer one fabric over another since he had left too quickly the first time to give his preferences and the second time I hadn't thought to ask. After all, I had been far too excited to be able to get his fitting done while he seemed to be in such a good mood. That and how he didn't seem to mind my touch as much as when I had taken those initial measurements.

The sudden knock on my door had me beyond thankful that I hadn't begun cutting the fabric yet, as I knew I would have messed up the cut if I had scissors in hand. Setting the length of deep grey fabric aside, I hurried to the door as I heard the person on the other side begin knocking again.

"I'm coming, I'm coming! Keep your shirt on!" I shouted moments before peering through the peek-hole and then wrenching the door open. "Ahh, you must have read my mind! I was just thinking about you this morning! It's ready for you to try on!"

Stepping back, I let them inside and closed the door behind them, quickly locking it and hurrying back into my craft room. I could hear a sigh behind me as I rushed about the room, grabbing items from various places before turning around with a smile.

"Well? What do you think?" I asked with a smile as I held up the hanger holding the layered green skirt, delicate gold chains wrapping around the waist loosely while my other hand held up a matching gold necklace with a green jade pendant.

"Oh, sweetie! It's lovely! I think this might be your best one yet! You've definitely outdone yourself," Rae said excitedly, their eyes wide with delight. "Wait, isn't this that lace you were saving for something special?"

Rae's fingers trailed over the lace running along the bottom of the skirt, the almost marbled gold and green of the delicately handwoven threads reflecting in their dark eyes. Setting the necklace carefully down on the coffee table, I took Rae's hand and curled their fingers around the hook of the hanger.

"I would say this would qualify as something special, wouldn't you? I mean, I got to make a lovely one-of-a-kind skirt for the most amazing friend in the world. Besides, we both know that you're gonna look amazing in this. Now go try it on so I can prove myself right!" I gave them a playful shove toward the room so they could get changed, turning around to go get some coffee started. "Hey, Rae... When did you change your mind and tell Ashe where I lived?"

The sudden clatter of the hanger and chains hitting the floor had me turning quickly, seeing the shocked look, their dark skin a shade paler than usual as the blood drained from their face. Without even a moment of care for the skirt laying on the floor, they took a step toward me and reached out their hands, as if trying to grab my shoulders from halfway across the room.

"What did you just say?"

~~~~~~~~

He stood outside her apartment door, listening to the conversation happening inside before giving a sigh and turning back down the hallway. It seems it was not a good time to visit, Azrael already here and having just learned about Ashe's own visit just the other day. Well, it was bound to happen at some point, but he'd hoped he could see her again before the Fallen Angel found out and decided to make things... difficult.

At least he could honestly tell them that he hadn't broken their agreement, having found out who she was when he'd simply tried to visit Azrael themself and she'd been standing beside them. It was her own voice and warmth that had given him the knowledge of who was beside them, not the use of his own shadows to search her out.

The Fallen Angel could shout and argue all they wanted, but Ashe had not broken his agreement, just as he'd never broken any of the other agreements he'd made over the eons he'd existed. Just as he would always hold to any agreements he made, so long as the other party met their own part of the deal. Most understood that breaking their word with Death was... not a wise thing to do.

So far, only one had done so and it had cost them far more than they had understood it would. Sadly, it had also ended up costing Ashe in an unexpected way, but he'd been able to adjust to the loss. After all, he'd been Death long before he'd had an Angel helping him with his duties. He would continue to be Death long after even Azrael no longer existed and this Universe was barely even a memory.

So why did that thought made his chest ache?