Traveler (22 page)

Alexander crouched down beside the couch, long fingers grasping her arm gently.  He looked at the bruises for a moment before looking into her eyes.  “...you know that we will need to talk about these, don’t you?”

“I’d rather not,” she said softly.  “Sorry...it’s just...not something I want to talk about.”  She blushed a little bit, gently pulling her arm away and making the sleeves more firmly stay where they were supposed to.  “I just...I’m not ready, Alexander.”  She glanced at him, begging him to understand with her glance.  “I just want to forget it...”

He nodded slowly, letting her pull her arm away.  “That is fine...I won’t push you to talk about it before you’re ready.  However...if I see that the memories are causing you problems, then I might have to make you quite angry at me.  Not much different from the usual, right?” The last part was said a bit teasingly as he stood, offering her a hand.  “Come on...dinner is ready, and I’m sure that you’re starving...”

“Starving, yes,” she answered, taking the hand he offered her, entwining her fingers in his without thinking about it.  “And you know...I know you went into my room.  Maybe one day I should show you the matching panties to the bra that you saw last night.”  She winked at him.  Now that she was more awake, she was feeling feisty.  And, by feeling feisty, she was able to forget about the Harbormaster.  “And I’m not always angry at you...you just have a knack for pushing my buttons.  Or driving me up a wall.  Or being adorably, and frustratingly, ignorant to what’s going on around you.”  She smiled sweetly, though her eyes shown mischievously.

Alexander stiffened slightly, looking away from her.  “I only saw your bra because it was hanging from your boyfriend’s shirt buttons.  The only time I’ve been in your room without you there was you to put the pendant I promised you on your dresser.”  He led her over to the table before drawing his hand away.  “I’m perfectly aware that you are only not angry with me while you’re asleep.  I know that I’m hardly what you expected to have as a guardian.  But don’t worry...I am sure that the monks will find a better choice for you soon.  Enjoy your dinner.”  He nodded towards her before leaving the kitchen and heading into his bedroom, needing some alone time to come to terms with all of his failings.

The reaction that Aislin got was certainly not the one she was expecting.  If anything, it was the exact opposite.  A frown crossed her features.  “Wait, what are you...?” he had already walked away, and Aislin had no choice but to follow him.  She couldn’t let him be miserable on his own.  The door had been left ajar, and Aislin took a deep breath, making up her mind. She was not going to let him wallow in his own misery.  She pushed open the door quietly, standing in the doorway for a moment, wanting to make sure he was all right.

Sprawled across his bed, he had an arm over his eyes, making a valiant attempt at relaxing.  The past few days had been a literal kick to the groin for him, and he was tired...tired of listening to how horrible he was at this.  In the morning he would see about contacting the head of the order.  It was the least he could do.  There were other monks available, less distracted by trivial things.  Now if only he could just be left alone for a bit...but apparently that was not to be, as he heard his roommate come into his room.  “I would prefer to be alone, thank you.”

“And at the moment, I don’t care what you would prefer,” Aislin said, not unkindly.  She padded over to his bed, sitting down on the edge of it.  She looked over at him, a worried expression on her face.  “Now what’s going on that’s got you so down?  Was it what that pirate Captain said?  You shouldn’t listen to him, Alexander.  He is a pirate, after all.  I think you’re a great guardian...and I can’t think of anyone I would want doing the job more than you,” she answered honestly.

He sighed audibly before replying.  “You can only say that because you don’t know anyone else, Aislin.  I have already failed in my duty more than once.  After I report to the order, it is out of my hands and yours.  I can already guess what the decision will be.  You will have a new guardian by the end of the week.”

Aislin scowled.  “No.  I won’t accept that, Alexander Bookman.  Ghost.  Whoever you are.”  She climbed fully onto the bed so she was kneeling beside him, trying to move his arm so he would look at her.  “And how have you failed in your duty?  I’m still alive, aren’t I?  I’m living with you so you know where I am.  And you’re...a monk?  Is that why you stopped the other night? Because of your...vows?  Because if it’s that, I totally understand and apologize...and I’ll stop wearing provocative clothing around the house so it’s easier on you...”  She was genuinely concerned; she was nearly ready to cry, truth be told.  What would happen if she lost him?  Some random stranger would take over her life?  Not on her watch!

Alexander allowed her to pull his arm away, another sigh escaping him.  He stared up at her, visibly torn with indecision.  “Aislin, just...stop...please.”  He sat up, shifting so his back was against the headboard...making certain there was some space between them.  “I’m not a monk...though I do work for them.  But the other night...I shouldn’t have done that.  I am supposed to be your teacher, your guide in all this craziness.  Not some terrible lecher who takes advantage of young girls.  Just as my teacher had to me, I have a duty to uphold.  Allowing...such desires to affect that duty...I have dishonored both of us.”  The back of his head hit the headboard as he closed his eyes, muttering softly.  “And if I do not have my honor...I have nothing.  I’ve been nothing before.  I won’t go back to that...”

Aislin’s hands trembled a little as she watched his internal struggle.  This was Alexander...the man who was always so cool and calm, who always knew what do when they were in a sticky situation...the man who had saved her life multiple times now.  He sat up and she was disappointed to see that he moved further away from her.  “So all of this...you think you took advantage of me?  Lost some honor because you think you took advantage of me, is that it?”  She shook her head.  “Your honor is still very much intact, Alexander.  You have saved my life multiple times...rescued an innocent girl today...what could be more honorable than that?”

She sat up more, looking at him, her bright green eyes meeting his blue ones.  “Well, let me tell you something, Alexander Bookman.  You didn’t take advantage of me the other night.”  She took a deep breath, a blush staining her cheeks.  “I wanted it just as much as you did, Alex...maybe more.”  Her blush deepened.  “So if anything...it was I who took advantage of you, knowing how on edge you were around me because of the way I dress and the way I act.  So if anyone is not fit for your teachings...it’s me, not you.”

His head snapped up in surprise as he heard her speak, his eyes widening in surprise.  “Aislin...it is not as if you threw yourself at me.  I am supposed to have self-control...especially considering my place in your life.  Not to mention the fact that I’m older than you.  No...I am not about to allow you to blame yourself for my failings.”  He sighed, running a hand through his hair.  “Do not misunderstand me...I think you are one of the most beautiful girls I’ve ever seen.  But...I can’t...betray my duties as your guardian.  I need to protect you...and Light knows that I’ve already screwed that up.”

Aislin narrowed her eyes again.  “And how old are you, exactly, Alexander?  22?  23?  I’m 18, so you cannot be that much older than me.   And age doesn’t matter that much, not in this day and age.  And you are not betraying anything, Alexander.  How many times do I have to tell you that?  And you think that a good way to protect me is to abandon me...and leave me high and dry, with a complete stranger I don’t know?”   She crossed her arms under her breasts, sitting practically between his legs so he had no choice but to look at her.

“Not that it makes much of a difference...but I’m 24.” He replied, just watching her for a moment.  “You can say what you like...and perhaps in this world, you would be right.  But according to the rules I was trained under...I am right.  And you know what...no, I wouldn’t just abandon you to some random stranger.  But I will do what is necessary to protect you and keep you happy, and if that calls for me to be replaced, then I will do that.”

Bingo.
“To keep me happy...?” she asked, her expression deadly calm.  “To keep me happy...?  You think that removing the one man from my life who hasn’t abandoned me will make me happy?  That’s where you’re wrong...very very wrong.”  She leaned up and moved her face close to his.  “You know what I think will solve all of this?” She asked him softly, her eyes locked with his.

Alexander swallowed lightly, his eyes meeting hers.  Why in the Gods’ names was she doing this to him?!  “What is that, Aislin?”

“This,” she answered, and leaned in to kiss him softly, her lips barely brushing his, lingering for a moment.  His lips were soft, as soft as she had hoped they’d be...but she was afraid how he would receive it...afraid he wouldn’t kiss her back.

The kiss took him by surprise, and for a moment, he wondered if he was dreaming.  A hand lifted to gently caress her cheek as he finally gave in just a little and kissed her back softly.

Aislin withdrew her lips for a moment, a small smile crossing her face as she pulled back just enough to see his expression, still allowing his hand to remain on her cheek, leaning her jaw into it.  “Now was that so bad...?” she whispered, searching his face for...anything.  A sign, that it made a difference.  Something.

He smiled back, fingers lightly running along her jaw.  “No...of course it wasn’t bad at all.  In fact...it was very very nice.” Shifting slightly, he took a chance to slip his arms around her and hug her lightly.

Aislin felt his arms wrap around her and she sighed contentedly, leaning against his chest and looking up at him.  “I’m glad...that you found it to be very nice,” she murmured softly.  “I just...I needed to show you that you weren’t taking advantage.  I made the first move here, Alexander...and I don’t regret it at all.”  She shook her head, wincing a little as one of the bruises on her neck protested at the movement.  “And I’m sorry....I’m sorry I’ve made you worry so much...I really should work on being more careful...”

He placed a finger against her lips to silence her.  “Hush...you don’t have to apologize.  I swear this day has been filled with misunderstandings.”  He smiled gently.  “We both need to work on being more...communicative.  As for being careful...you really can’t control what is happening...not yet at least.  It’s my job to help you with that...”

Aislin kissed his finger softly as he placed it against her lips, smiling impishly at him.  “You could say that again,” she sighed softly.  “We need to have...100% honesty with each other, especially if we’re going to keep each other alive.  Wherever this goes...it goes,” she shrugged a little bit, cuddling close to him.  “But I’m willing to play it by ear...”

Alexander chuckled softly, hugging her tighter for a moment.  “I agree.  There is so much we don’t know about each other.”  One of his hands blindly rubbed her back as he shifted just enough for the two of them to be comfortable.  For several moments, he allowed her some time to think before he finally broke the silence, his deep voice low and just loud enough for her to hear. “Alexion.”

Aislin frowned, looking up at him from where she had been beginning to doze off on his chest.  “Alexion...?” she asked softly.  “Alexander...what’s Alexion...?”

He chuckled softly, pulling a blanket up and tucking it around her.  “You asked what my real name was, Aislin.”

She looked at him in surprise.  “O-oh....then...should I start calling you Alexion?” she asked, looking at him in a little bit of confusion.  “Or..should I call you Alexander?  Or Ghost?”  She frowned and wrapped her arms around his waist, cuddling in closer so she could look up at him from her perchpoint on his chest.  “I don’t think I’ll be able to move after laying here like this for a time,” she commented.  “Not with as stiff as I’m getting.”

“Well, Ghost is simply the name I am known by in the other world.  You know my true name and the alias I use here.  You can use whichever one you feel comfortable with...or perhaps just call me Alex.  I don’t mind.”  Alex held her close, making sure she was completely covered by the blanket.  “You don’t have to move.  Not if you don’t want to.  My bed is big enough for the two of us.”

Aislin smiled and nuzzled into his chest a little with her nose.  “Is it selfish of me to say I don’t want to?” she asked softly.  “Not with just discovering...this?”  She winced a little though.  “Unfortunately, though...I left out the Chinese on the counter in the kitchen....”

“Not at all.  I rather like the idea of you staying in here...” He murmured softly, smiling at the feel of her nuzzling his chest.  It was nice to simply lay here with her, and not have to worry about anything for the time being.  “As for the food...it’s not important.  I’ll throw it out in the morning.”

Aislin chuckled.  “I see...well, that sounds like a plan.  Alex...are you still leaving me in the morning?” she asked, trying to keep the slight tremor of fear out of her voice.

Calloused fingertips lightly brushed crimson locks of hair from her face as he gazed down at her, a serious expression on his face.  “Do you wish for me to stay with you tomorrow?  I can tell them that I’m still sick if you need me to.”

She shook her head vehemently.  “No...I didn’t mean work.  That’s up to you, whether or not you want to go.  The only reason you got the job in the first place was to keep an eye on me, wasn’t it?”  she smiled a little.  “No...what I meant, was....are you still going to the...the monks...tomorrow...?”  she blushed a little and couldn’t look at him, burying her face in his chest.

Alex sighed softly, gently rubbing her back.  “No...no...it seems like you would be happier if I stayed.  And I would not deliberately make you unhappy.  The only one who could keep me away from you is you.  Just put it out of your mind, Aislin.  You’re stuck with me now.”

Aislin grinned at him, finally looking up at him from his chest, leaning up to kiss him again softly.  “Good...I like the idea of being stuck with you...It just will make torturing you all the more fun.”  A mischievous evil grin spread across her face.  “And I think I will enjoy that entirely too much.”