■ Note: I try not to drag things and put in unnecessary details, but my main focus is on making Ava and Xanthos understand each other in a way that atleast one person says, they were meant to be, so their conversations where they are discovering things about each other might be a little detailed. ■

● AUTHOR'S POV

"So, you're basically telling me, that we have no chance together, because one day, I might die?" Xanthos questioned, as he stood in one corner of the room, still close enough to easily hear what Ava had to say; who now sat on the bed, her hands desperately roaming about, searching for something to clutch onto, which wouldn't be her clothes, as she still had a few hours left on her shift, and she didn't want to crease her job outfit.

"Ava, I think now, it is my moral duty to inform you, obviously with a heavy heart, that immortality is a mere fairytale concept, and death is indeed inevitable, one day or another, every soul will taste it." Xanthos added, staring back at Ava, who; now quite visibly; was mentally smacking her forehead in frustration.

"God! That's not what I meant." she argued, as her shoulders slouched, with the thought of having to go on a rant to explain her point.

Her mind was already caught up by the earlier steamy events, she had to keep restraining her body, from reliving the electricity she felt, when her skin came in contact with his soft kisses, or when his breath fanned against her ears making the hair on it stand, he was sinfully sensual, and the sexual tension slowly erupting inside of her, was really taking a toll on her boundaries, boundaries she almost felt would get wrecked for good, if Xanthos had gone on any longer.

"The idea of having comfort in one's life, and having something fancy added to it once in a while, isn't bad at all. I do not say that I wouldn't want a life of ease and would like to keep living the way I do, like some female protagonist with sunshine blonde hair and ocean blue orbs, who'd very much prefer to smell like grass and cow dung, and take all the harshness of the bullies; which for her, the whole world is, except for her Prince Charming, rather than having a comfortable life being thrown at her by the very Prince, in a silver platter." Ava spat out in one breath, and Xanthos parted his lips only to close them again, as if deciding not to interfere and let her keep going, even though his expressions slightly hinted; him perhaps not understanding the point Ava was trying to make.

"For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted a happy, content life. Which, I've learned over the years, is quite a difficult thing to obtain. If you have money, you don't have the health to enjoy it, and if you have health, you might not have the money to enjoy that. Something is always lacking, true happiness is unachievable. But, that doesn't rule out the possibility, that you can have a bittersweet life, and maybe, just maybe, the sweetness would be enough to overcome some of the bitter memories, making you realize, when your time has finally come, that you did have a happy life." Ava reasoned, her voice sounded as if had gone looking for some distant memories, reminiscing and being thankful to her bittersweet life up until now.

"And hence I decided, true happiness is indeed obtainable, it is the name of the courage of having this belief, that good days will come. You can have everything what others might consider their true happiness, but if your heart's not content, if your heart does not have the faith that your better days will come, then all is meaningless. This very courage has made me stand, and keep living until now, it showed me that even though times had been rough, help always came, things did get better, good days did indeed come. Having no influential status, no contacts, nothing, yet still continuing to live, eat, and breathe just fine, amidst the loan sharks who most probably wish me nothing but harm, is what help in rough times is, when I think about how worse things could have gotten, it sends shivers up my spine. I realized this late, but, you were indeed the one who gave me hope for the good days, and I'll always be grateful for that, but being with you doesn't fit the picture of my happy life." Ava stated, capturing Xanthos' gaze.

Shifting her body towards him a little, she started again, "I've witnessed with my own eyes that you were attacked, and you could've died. You lead a life, that is far from what I want. I've never wanted anything that would catch eyes, the very idea terrifies me. Knowing, that there are people who keep track of your lives, as you have things that maybe considered as jaw dropping, or you're making enough to actually be in the spotlight because of it, is dangerous, atleast in my theory, fame of whatever kind, does infact bring hidden, and sometimes not so hidden foes. If I were to fall in love with a man, who I know has people, thinking about killing him, each day would be hell for me. No one knows when they'll die, which breath is their last one, and mostly, people don't spend their lives thinking, that I could die a second later, or these could be my last moments. But, if there's actually somebody out there, who's adamant on making you breathe your last few breaths, way too sooner than expected, and if you know they want it for the person; you love, you hold dearest in the whole world, the person you wouldn't think to go about a day without knowing they're fine, is gut wrenching. I fear that if I fall for you, and God forbid something were to happen to you, right infront of my eyes, I would die, and if I don't, I'd live each day in agony, in this never ending pain, that pierces your heart everytime you think about the love, that was forcefully snatched away from you." Ava's voice hitched a little, as her eyes shifted to her hands, that were resting in her lap, a little tear fell onto the back of her fingers, but she was quick to wipe her teary eyes clean.

Xanthos had kept silent all this time, he had let Ava speak out her heart, for one thing he was happy, that she felt secure enough around him, to actually spill out her emotions without any hesitation.

He slowly paced towards Ava, and came to crouch down infront of her. His hands slowly took that of hers, and he made her look him right into his melodious green eyes.

"I do not expect you to understand my beliefs." Ava whispered out, still audible enough for his ears to catch onto.

"Your fear is quite valid. Everything you said are the beliefs made up from your experiences. This is the very thing, that made me fall head over heels for you." Xanthos confessed, making Ava's eyes slightly widen in response.

"Ava, you feel for people, and most importantly, you feel for yourself, you want good for the people you love, and you also want, what is good for you. You have the courage to be happy, and I envy you for that. I don't have the courage, to make an effort for my happiness, the way you do for yours." he added as his eyes kept hold of hers.

"This is the first in a long time, I've held out my hand and asked for my own contentment, made an effort to have a truly happy life, and I see that with you, you're what my happiness is. You're the one who I know, will make me, be able to 'feel' for myself." Xanthos said as his hands gripped hers, even firmer, yet gentle enough to not actually hurt her in any way.

"What happened that day was plain foolishness, which is being payed for, by those people, quite a hefty payment that is. People are not waiting to kill me the way you think, there aren't any lethal mafia organisations I'm involved with; as being a part of them, neither am I in any sense a mob boss. People who have the resources, and chances, of maybe being able to lay a hand on me, know exactly what I do and how I do it, which is enough to make them keep their hands to themselves." Xanthos said reassuringly, as he stared back into the night eyes focused on him, his lips parted again, "Ava, I'm a man who knows very well how to make certain, that the ones I love, live a life they want. Despite, me being somewhat in the public eye, I promise I will still make sure you live the life you want, I will make the sweetness overcome my bitter aspects, I will bring the good days for the both of us, but for that, I need you."

"I will never force myself on you. So, I ask you to give me a chance, open up your heart to me, and if I succeed in getting my happiness, then promise me you won't try to take it away, you will let your heart be mine." Xanthos warmly squeezed Ava's hands, he had been holding all this time, as though he treasured them more than anything.

"You said I reminded you of yourself, how?" Ava questioned and Xanthos realized, that his answer to this question would ensure, if she would ever let herself be vulnerable infront of him, and let him in her life.

"Because apart from me, you're the only other person who matches." Xanthos replied, as he raised himself a little, moving closer towards her.

"Matches what? Ava asked in a voice that melted into his ears, he could feel her already leaning towards him, not alot, but there was progress, and he was more than happy.

"Matches my pace, my 'rhythm'." Xanthos replied, as his eyes kept gazing at her, the woman; who had invaded his heart, and unknowingly stolen it, and he; had no intentions of getting it back.

Author's Note
Hellooo, see what I did there?
Red Rhythm is the title.
Red was explained previously, that means love, Xanthos' Love.
Rhythm means the fact that she matches his pace, she's the one for him.
Vote and comment if you liked this chapter.
Thankyou.