Sky silently observes Cloud as he stares up at the large tapestry-like painting sitting on the wall in between two dusty pillars.
She smiles at how captivated he appears to be; with his head tilted back, mouth wide open, hands tucked safely away in pocket whilst rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet.
No sight as precious as seeing the joys of discovery.
Initially she chooses to simply remain quiet by his side but then he notices her and his face lights up so fast that she finds herself smiling back in the same goofy manner.
"Good morning princess."
"Call me that again and I'll-"
"-you'll what?" he inquires, taking his hands and crossing them behind his back as he turns towards her. "Please, I'm dying to know what my punishment is."
"You're cute, but not that cute."
"Ouch," Cloud utters, feigning injury by grasping at his shirt, leaning in just close enough to catch her by surprise. "You know, for a second, I almost believe you."
"You're insufferable."
"So I've been told."
Sky rolls her eyes and together they look back at the artwork on the wall, stealing glances from one another when the other isn't looking until eventually their fingers brush.
She should have pulled away, folded her arms or something, brushed her hair out of the way, that is exactly what she would have done up until a few days ago.
But those days are dead.
Sky grabs his hand before he can flinch away, pretending to not care if anyone else sees them when truly those worries still linger at the back of her mind.
He lifts his eyes after looking at their intertwining fingers, initially shocked that she would instigate something as simple as this is broad daylight where there are a lot of eyes around but she simply raises an eyebrow in defiance, almost daring him to question her motives.
When he realises that she has no intention of letting go, he squeezes her hand back tighter, tucking his left hand back into his pocket.
"So, what do you think?"
"About the ugly painting?"
Sky gasps in utter shock. "Ugly?"
"I can't lie, it's real ugly and a little boring."
"Boring?"
"I said it was a little boring, not a complete and utter waste of space." he replies. "Why do you look like I just stepped on your favourite pet?"
Sky smiles through the burning passion of rage bubbling in her chest, her grin growing larger by the second as she summons all of her willpower not to leap on him.
"This painting is the story retelling the tragedy of two of our greatest heroes, Azariah and Antalya."
"Antalya?" Cloud repeats, casting his eyes back upon the woman in the painting. "Are you sure?"
"You've heard of her?"
"No, not really, I just...I think I've heard the name before."
Sky eagerly hovers her hand over the painting; never being one to shy away from dishing out entire treasure troves of information regarding the ancient history of the Initials.
The image melts away and the story starts from the beginning, revealing a man made of golden ink holding onto a woman made of blue ink.
Cloud watches carefully, secretly impressed by the process and finds it oddly satisfying to see the ink drawings move on their own. "Who were they?"
YOU ARE READING
The Initials | Nanowrimo 2023
Fantasy[Book 1 in the Displaced Angels Series] "You took the life of my best friend, made her life a living hell...so I took your building and everything inside, and turned it into ash." °°° Being abducted the first time was already crazy enough, but twice...
