Nightfall ✓

Pas de deux

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P a s d e d e u x

[FRN]: a dance for two.

IT WAS LONELINESS that made her visit him again. The hospital was too bright, too scary, too empty and lifeless to be alone in. Amara had not visited her in the weeks she'd been here – not that she cared. It was better if she stayed away instead of demanding more things.

Clo made full use of the ballet room that had been customised for her. Her instructor, now member of Varjot, had been a principal dancer at the Crawford Institute of Performing Arts three decades ago. Clo had, of course, fallen in love with the woman after her first practice. Even during times when it seemed like nothing was real, she managed to latch on to the hope that she'd be like her ballet mistress one day.

That is, if Amara didn't demand her heart next.

Clo scoffed and threw open Alec Daichi's door before barging in. "Get up, stupid."

Tonight, instead of looking out the window, he was sitting on his bed. Just like before, a smile came across his lips as he looked up and saw Clo standing by the door.

"I though I'd upset you," he murmured, getting up nonetheless and putting on a cardigan that lay on the sofa in the far right corner of the room. Next he picked up the lightsaber from his bedside and grinned shyly at Clo. "I'm getting better but..." he trailed off, shrugging his shoulders as if he was embarrassed.

It seemed like Clo never knew what to say in his presence. It was those damned eyes. So bright and... sad. "I won't catch you if you fall so might as well bring it along." She turned around before he could witness her bright red cheeks.

Of course, I'll steady you if you fall.

Of course. No one wanted to get on the bad side of Amara. Not if they valued their life.

But perhaps she'd catch him despite all that.

They walked side by side in the long hallway. It's a good thing Amara had the whole place heated or they'd freeze to death.

Clo looked sideways to get a glance at the boy who was soundlessly following her with the help of his lightsaber. He looked paler than he did last time. She felt a twinge of pain in her chest before her eyes caught something.

"Do you have a rash?" She blurted out, clamping her mouth shut afterwards and just pointing to his pale neck where a bluish spot stood. "You need to tell the doctor–"

"It's not a rash," he interrupted softly before Clo could continue her lecture.

She tilted her head to one side, peeking at the mark once more before she gasped and turned beetroot red. If it was possible, the boy turned even paler, clutching his lightsaber tighter.

Amara had been coming to the hospital.

Just to visit Alec.

She turned away to start walking again, not even bothering to see if the pet was following her or not. He could fall dead for all she cared.

Varjot queen had been coming here all this time and she couldn't stop by her room to say thank you? Clo was saving her pet's life.

"Clo – I–" she slowed down, pushing down guilt that came as the boy panted behind her. "I got you something." She turned around, choosing to ignore his upper body and instead focusing on his hands. "Matias said it was your birthday."

She blinked, shocked.

She'd forgotten about it completely.

Fifteen years alive.