Lucien found himself lying awake yet again. Except this time things were different. For starters, he wasn't alone. Her head lay on his chest, sleeping so peacefully. He knew of her dreams, and strangely, he found himself wishing tonight one would not come to disturb her. The serene rhythm of her breathing as her chest expanded and contracted simply. Oblivious to all that was around, unknowing to the grand scheme that she played a part of. If even for a moment, Lucien found himself grateful that she was unaware of it all.

The remnants of moonlight breaking into the room coating her in an almost ethereal glow. Her skin was so soft. He ran a finger down her cheek, leading down her neck, and stopping only when he'd claimed ever inch of her shoulder.

Truth be told, he felt strange. This was part of his plan, no? To get close to the girl, make her trust him, make her need him and only him. Yet why did his chest feel heavier? Why did shivers run up his spine now that her warmth had gone to rest?

She was so simple, so foolish even. Letting someone like him walk into her life. Being so willing to allow him into her world and even now. He thought back to her nerves, admitting this was new to her. Scared even. He'd assured her it would be fine. And he'd meant it. That part panged at his heartstrings. If this was only a task, he didn't need to feel bad for ensuring he gained her trust in this, the most intimate of ways. Yet here he lay, the most fragile, perfect little pawn resting beautifully at his side.

Was she a pawn though?

He thought back to the moments they'd shared, the movies, the conversations. All the times he'd 'coincidently' been at the right place, at the right time. Known 'just' the words to say, or known just the place to go. A part of an act. Needed to be done. Right?

His hands went back to her skin. Tracing figures absentmindedly on her body. A body he'd explored thoroughly not too long before. Back when she made the greatest of noises. Called his name out even. Lucien. Had he ever enjoyed hearing his name called out?

He was broken, had been for a while. Finding a means to an end, yet here, right now, he couldn't help but feel... happy? Was this happy? He couldn't recall. Was this what being a functioning human was like? Was it meant to be this, warm? Was it warm?

Temperatures had seldom ever bothered him, yet here, he felt a calming comfort. The body at his side snuggled in closer. A complacent sigh escaping her lips as she found refuge in the crook under his arm and in his chest.

He continued to linger his fingers down her body. Slowly, savoring almost. A prey well caught, right? He felt the smoothness of her hips, going to her thighs. A tell-tale red mark on one as he remembered how he'd grabbed her, almost roughly. Pulling her tightly down onto him. Watching as her eyes closed and she leaned her head back. Silent, yet screaming loudly into his very being.  She was so warm.  She hadn't complained, and he'd been greedy. She gave him everything. Her innocence. Her vulnerabilities. Yet, here he lay, a villain in a story she yet could not read. A danger she refused to see even if he'd screamed it into her face.

He thought back to his own skin. She'd bitten him. She had been embarrassed. Made a comment she'd heard somewhere that it would feel 'good'. Had it? Thinking on it now, it reminded him of a small kitten, biting a feeding hand, foolish. Yet it wasn't, foolish. Was it? He'd enjoyed it. Even he'd found himself making noises he'd never made before. He would have to return the favor and bite her next time.

Next time?

Would there be a next time?

Did he want there to be?

When had things become so messy? He'd received a task. A simple one at that. Find the girl. Get close to the girl. Follow orders. And for the first time, he didn't want it anymore.

She wasn't just 'the girl'. She was something more. She was his warmth. His own little sun when he'd grown accustomed to the cold rain. She was so fragile. So easy to break. And he found himself being the one who would maybe break her. He found himself wrapping his arm around her and pulling her nude frame tight against his chest. He was so cold, but for a second, this second, he wasn't as much.

How foolish. How had he fallen to this? How could he find himself at the mercy of a girl who fell asleep with the door wide open? At first, it made his job easy. Now, not so much.

"Lucien...." He heard her breathe softly against his chest. It tickled.

"Yes?" he asked cautiously. She seemed to still be asleep, but she was speaking. Was this a habit of hers? He wanted to know more. Know every bit of her soul just as he'd become familiar with every bit of her body.

No response came. Sleeping. His free hand came to her face. The back of his fingers caressing her soft cheek gently. She was dreaming of him? He thought almost giddily. There went his stupid wounded heart again. Being hopeful. She was precious. She was his. She was in danger.

He thought back to his situation. For the first time worried. How had his task become such a valuable treasure to him? What was this? He looked at her face slowly. The feeling in his chest heavier now than before. She trusted him. Needed him. Not Ares, not the perfect follower. Him.

He'd have to do something.

'I'm sorry.' He found himself whispering to the quiet room. Almost praying that maybe she'd hear it too. 'It's going to hurt. I'm going to hurt you, but... I need to. I'll fix this. I'll protect you. Trust me. I'm sorry.'

The girl shifted again. Another satisfied sigh from her perfect lips.

Lucien brought his head in closer to lay the softest gossamer of a kiss on her hair.

He would. He'd protect her. He had to. He'd protect this warmth. No matter what it cost.

He closed his eyes. Once again tightening his hold on the girl.

And another first, he fell asleep. None of the demons that usually plagued him in his dreams to be found.

How could they. The one he needed most of all was there to chase the darkness away.