The usual sound of the metal door creaking open could be heard down the corridor. Heavy footsteps sounded from the hallway before a guard stood in front of Neo's cell, where he was laying on his back by the wall, his hands folded behind his head and eyes closed. The guard sighed, a rather bored look on his face as he opened the cell door.
"Hey," He called to him. "Nathan. Wake up. You get to walk out free and return to your usual duties. The doctors recommend you see her majesty, though."
"Funny how you think I'm sleeping," Neo said, opening his eyes. He sat up slowly, tightening his gloves. "Do I get my clothes back or am I still going to fuck up your pretty hardwood?"
"Yes, yes, here they are," He threw the plaid button up with socks and boots on the ground. "I have your little friend, too. He's healed up."
A small pixie flew up to Neo, fluttering about as he peered at his chest. "What happened?"
"Chris-the-ass happened," Neo replied, grabbing his socks and shoes, slipping them on.
"He's not very nice," Daileth sighed, watching him slip on his jacket.
"Join the club," He hissed before his voice softened. "How do you feel?"
"I'm okay," He turned in a circle. "My wing is better."
"Good," He nodded, standing up and walking over to the gate, Daileth fluttering behind.
"Hm," The guard looked him up and down. "Now come on. She's not in the hospital section for now, but she did agree to have the medical equipment moved to her room."
He motioned with his spear for Neo to follow before he moved on forward, back towards the metal door. Neo didn't say anything, following the probably demonic guard down the hall. He glanced at the four well spaced out cells, and as they passed the last one, he set his gaze forward again.
The guard pushed the metal door open once more, leading Neo and Daileth out of the underground levels before bringing him to the upstairs where Quilliene's room was on. The guard dropped his spear behind him and onto the holder in his back as he came to a room, paintings of a regal couple near the entrance.
"She's in there," He pointed to the door.
Neo glanced at him for a moment before stepping inside, closing the door behind him. He looked around before his eyes settled on Quilliene, where she was laying down in her bed, her eyelids closed to signal that she was asleep. Her hair, as usual, had drawn itself over her face like each time she had allowed herself to sleep in the open. She inhaled and exhaled softly, the presence of him making her stir slightly.
Neo walked over to the bed, sliding his hand on the end of the frame as he passed it. He sat himself down on a white floral designed couch, glancing at the window. Daileth flew to it, sitting down on the back. Quilliene sighed, exhaling as her breathing calmed before it quickened slightly to signal she had just awoken. She could not stretch, so she simply yawned and writhed a bit in bed. Her soft brown eyes glanced at him, and a small smile came across her lips.
"You came," She said lightly.
"...Yeah," He answered, eyes shifting to her.
"I'm pleased, but…" She started to sit up a little. "I can see blood on you from a mile away. What happened, Neo?"
"Your, ah… brother got a little over-protective," Neo sighed, covering the wound with his red button-up.
"Christopher… Dammit," Quilliene had slight concern in her voice. "Show me it. How bad is the wound?"
"It's fine, Liene. It doesn't hurt," His hand moved up to the holes in his chest, healed as scabs.
"What specifically did you say to make him mad?" She shot him a look, scowling from Neo's stubbornness.
"It wasn't what I said to him that pissed him off, it was what I said to you," He sighed, putting his hand back in his lap. "Everyone left the room and they turned the audio on the camera off. He told me to tell him what I said, and I answered with the oh so famous quote, abra cadabra. I guess he doesn't have a good sense of humour."
"I swear, I am going to kill you with the smart comments you make daily," Quilliene said and mustered a small chuckle. "It's average to see you teasing these things, though… But, why is it that they want you to talk to me throughout the day? I didn't think they would put me in the same room as you without seeing some tension. I appreciate the help, but I don't like offering company one does not wish to have."
"I'm perfectly fine staying here with you," Neo looked out the window. "I don't exactly know what else I would do if I didn't, really, but I doubt your brother is happy with this arrangement."
"Indeed," She sighed, staring at the sheets and blankets spread out in front of her.
Neo's eyes danced over to her, scanning Quilliene with an unreadable gaze. His inspection passed over her, from the bright gleam in her stare to the slightly uneven cut of her braids. She was somehow flawless yet imperfect, the bundle of emotions in his chest stirring together inside of him. His feelings grew stronger as the moment of silence passed by, wanting to release and explode outwards. Yet, he held himself back, refusing to accept it as his aching heart begged to understand. His mind shifted to Fleur, the images of the memories he had with her tearing him apart as he forced himself to look away from Quilliene.
I can't.
"I assume he told you about the wedding that he is planning for me?" Quilliene's voice interrupted his thoughts. "He has not really decided who I should marry yet. Well, to be honest… I would rather not marry at all if it is not love. I would rather undo all the penalties listed for marrying out of royalty, as well."
"Go ahead," Neo answered, shrugging. "He shouldn't be deciding for you anyway. He's not in charge, even if he is sort of a regent for now."
"Oh, no, he's not my regent," She corrected. "He is simply a royal advisor. Even so, you are right… I should tell him to stop, but I do not really care. I will deny them when whatever royal comes, anyway."
When Neo didn't answer her, she looked up at him. He was sitting on the couch, arms crossed, glaring at the floor to the side. Then she returned her gaze to the sheets and blankets spread in front of her, sighing. All that had happened in the past couple of months made her wonder, and she looked at him.
"Neo," She said suddenly, gripping the sheets. "What do you usually like talking about?"
He glanced up, surprised by the question. "Uh… I don't know. I have a habit of talking to myself, so I guess you could say I'm not sure how to have a normal conversation."
"Well, that makes sense," She hummed. "You were by yourself for a fairly long time. What about food? What is your favourite thing to eat?"
"Don't really have one," Neo sighed, leaning forward. "Everything I eat gets burnt or gross except water, so I guess water."
"Really?" Quilliene narrowed her brows. "What about chocolate? Have you ever tried it?"
"No, actually," He sighed. "I tried vanilla cake once. Never again. It really isn't good burnt, but I don't think I've had chocolate."
She brushed her chin for a moment, then looked at her drawer. "I have some Danish chocolate that was shipped to me a while ago. It's pretty refined, but not bad. How about you have some?"
As she dug in the side table, Neo narrowed his eyebrows. He got up, picking one of the chairs in the room and dragging it over to her bedside. Sitting down as she pulled out a box of chocolates, she opened it and took a thin chocolate bat out that had a piece broken off. She handed it to him.
"I took a bite, but… Try it." Quilliene almost half smiled.
Neo eyed the chocolate before taking it in his gloved hand and breaking off a piece of the wing. Carefully, he dropped it in his mouth, the satisfying taste melting along his tongue before he chewed. A few seconds later, it turned bitter, sizzling in his mouth as he swallowed.
"I could taste it for a moment," He sighed, frowning at the partially eaten bat. "Then it got bitter."
"Bitter?" She repeated. "What do you mean? What happened to it?"
"Probably decayed or something," Neo replied. "Melted too fast for me to completely ruin it."
Quilliene hummed. "It was affected by your abilities, then. Why not…?" She started to say something but stopped, reaching forward and touching the bat. It shimmered purple, then faded. However, it still looked normal. "I do not know if that will work, but… Try it again."
Neo carelessly licked the chocolate again, expecting it to turn bitter as he seemed to not pay attention. However, as he waited, he narrowed his eyebrows when nothing happened for a long moment. Even more strange, the taste on his tongue stayed, and he relished the sudden sweetness like a child who ate cake for the first time.
"How did you do that?" He looked up at the queen, utterly confused.
"I just… Thought about it, really," She shrugged weakly. "I remembered how it tasted when I ate it, and I just tried to preserve the sweetness. How is it?"
"It's… Good?" Neo said it like a question - he had never actually been able to taste food before. "Just the fact that you can create a barrier through something to deflect my abilities is surprising enough," He chuckled, biting off the head.
"Yeah, I did not know I could…" Quilliene scoffed a little before a thought popped into her mind. "I have an idea. Take off your glove."
He stopped chewing for a moment, looking at her sharply. He swallowed the chocolate and sighed, putting down the rest. "I think that's a little too far, Liene… You still haven't completely healed yet."
"I know, but I still want to try and see," She bit her lower lip. "You held my hand the other day. You had gloves on, like always, but I want to know if it works this time without them. I've only touched you once, and it was…" She trailed off.
Neo looked at her, a worrisome expression in his eyes. He sighed - he didn't want to hurt her again, and yet, he began to take off his glove anyway. He put it in his lap, warily laying his hand with the backside on the bed. She touched his hand, letting her fingers run slightly against his palm and sliding down to his wrist before clasping their hands together. She felt her skin burn and moult with bubbles, starting to turn pale as she groaned. Neo almost pulled away when he saw it, but he convinced himself she could do it.
Then as she thought about it, thinking of how she wanted to hold his hand at least one time, before it all stopped. Her hand felt warm, sparkling with purple energy before fading. The bubbles dispersed, the burning sensation falling away, and her grip loosened. She let out a breath, and looked up at Neo.
He was staring at their hands, the softness of her skin surprising him. Never before had he felt someone like such, even for a moment. His fingers relaxed, brushing along the back of her hand. The breath he held in fear of hurting her was let out, the terror fading away as he breathed.
"…It worked," Neo murmured.
"Yeah," Quilliene sighed. "It did."
That feeling inside of butterflies fluttered in her stomach once more as she felt him exploring the creases of her palm. The padding of his fingers as he touched hers and the eagerness of them as he realised he could do so without hurting her. It surprised her for a moment before she sighed softly. The single embrace felt… Strangely nice.
Neo stared at their intertwined fingers, a soft and confused smile forming across his lips. He leaned on the bed, his face in the crease of his arms. Quilliene laid her head back and sighed peacefully as she closed her eyes. Her head was by his, and he was a little hesitant before letting his eyes close as well. Comforted by each other's warmth, they delved off into sleep together.