Word Count: 1743

~Rosie

I lie on my side, back to Time.

He stands in the doorway to the bedroom I have just been allocated, watching me. I'll admit, this lavish estate within the clouds above the city keeps getting better, starting with this room. The walls may be a powdery pink colour, with creamy white trim and furniture to match, but it's got a big bed and has a door. It's enough to keep me sated.

Time isn't going to return me. It's no use being upset over it, but it doesn't mean I have to pay him any mind. I'll spend all my time in this room until he gets bored of me and takes me back. Even if that means I have to deal with his persistent annoyance.

"If not talking to me is your strategy, I can tell you now it's not going to work very well," he announces, to which I roll my eyes. Thankfully he can't see that.

Time waits patiently for a response which doesn't come.

"We could make this a little more fun and talk," he offers. His voice is closer, suggesting he has stepped into the room. My skin prickles at the thought. He may be my mate technically, but everything about this is wrong. Fate didn't intend for this when Time and I were paired together. He is a part of his life that I shouldn't be involved in just yet.

The bed sinks down, as he sits at the end of it, compelling me to make a move, but I refrain. "Come on Rosie. I thought you weren't afraid of me."

"I'm not afraid of you. But if you're going to keep me here against my will, I'm going to be as insufferable as possible," I mutter into my pillow, refusing to face him and give him my full attention. He places his hand on my calf, making me flinch. My face flames red hot in response.

"Maybe I can change that."

"If you think you're going to kiss me, all you're going to end up with is a bruised ego and a bruised eye. The perfect match," I tell him, leaning back to look at him. He smiles softly at me, clearly amused by my retort. I'm not here to be pleasant, or kind. The moment he realises that, he will hopefully find no use for me.

"I like you a lot," he tells me. How can he like me if he doesn't even know me? Surely, he's playing with my emotions. "Actually, I was going to invite you out and show you one of my favourite eating spots. Maybe we could have a little chat about our future."

I think about that for a moment. Going out, in public, where I have the ability to get the attention of someone and hopefully get help.

It sounds exactly like what I need.

"I'll consider your offer if you stop saying our," I mumble, pulling myself up into sitting position. "And to set things straight, the only thing we are going to be talking about is you taking me back to where we came from. Got it?"

"I think we will have a lot more to discuss than just that," he tells me, giving me a wink that makes me shiver. We'll see about that.

***

I'm not displeased about where he has taken me. We are right in the middle of the city, in a small, intimate café. No one has taken a single notice of me and Time, suggesting he's using a glamour to conceal his identity. I'm not bothered though. We take a window seat, looking out onto the cobblestone streets outside, breathing in the fragrant scent of peonies in a crystal vase in front of us. I hate that I feel calm here. Safe, even.

"This is so quaint and pleasant considering who I'm here with," I murmur, looking out at the people who pass us by, all blissfully unaware of my capture. I could scream right now, and accuse Time of all sorts of crimes, but I don't need him take me somewhere else in time out of fear, or hurt anyone in this café.

"Lighten up would you," he says, sitting back in his chair. I brush a wrinkle out of the tablecloth in front of me, reigning in my anger. "We are mates."

I decide to cut right to the chase. "So, what do I have to do to get you to take me back?"

"Well, there is one thing I would like," he tells me, tapping his chin with the tip of his index finger. I sit up, interested. This is the first lead he has given me, which is strange considering we are in a social context.

"Perfect. Anything."

"I want you to change me. I want you to change me before I can do anything else to hurt anymore people," he tells me, that usual façade of indifference and amusement suddenly vanishing. I'm convinced that's messing with me like this is a joke, but never once does that seriousness alter. "I want you to show me that eternity can't be that bad."

"That's it?"

Time practically flinched. He blinks a few times, absorbing my dumbfounded tone. He can't blame me for thinking he is joking. I saw the way he acted with Thought, and took me away from where I should have been. He has many years to improve and grow in maturity, but not yet. And here I was thinking the Time from my era still has some kinks to work out.

"I know, stupid," he mutters, looking down at his hands. His brow furrows, before he kicks his chair back, getting to his feet. "I'll go get us some drinks."

He walks away to catch a waiter, while I stand here, dumbfounded. He hasn't completely left me alone, but it's enough for me to call for someone's attention. As I make eye contact with a young woman sitting at the table across from me, my stomach churns.

What if Time really meant what he said?

"Excuse me. I was wondering if you knew how to contact an immortal?" I say across the table, glancing at Time's back to make sure he isn't paying attention.

They frown. "You're insane."

"Thought, I need him. Or Fate, even. Anyone," I say quickly. Anything. Any way I can get a hold of one of them could make a difference between whether I actually get out of here, or stuck here with Time forever. Maybe the immortals of this era would think I'm crazy, but's worth the risk. If anyone can get me out of here, or even protect me, it's one of them.

"You know you can't just contact immortals, right?" they say, looking me up and down. I know I look crazy to them, but I'm desperate. I would get down on my knees and beg right now if it meant getting anywhere with them. "Especially if you're...a nobody."

Her words take me aback, but I can't reply, as Time approaches again, holding two glasses of orange choice in his hands. He takes one glance at me and the stranger and frowns slightly.

"Having a chat?"

"Making myself at home," I mutter, taking the cool glass as I turn my attention to him. He knows I was talking to them, and was probably listening, but I don't care. If he thinks I he can keep me here and not have me try to escape, he's got something wrong with him.

"Good, get used to this city, because this is where we are going to stay until we can come to an actual agreement between us," he tells me, taking a sip. My heart falls, even if I already knew this. Maybe he is right. I'm going to be stuck here until I can do what he wants me to do what he is planning. "One that you won't ridicule."

I shift uncomfortably. "I wasn't. I'm just surprised you want to feel anything other than an overwhelming willingness to make other lives hell."

"So, then it's a deal?" he questions, as if I have a choice. "No one else could be as convincing as you."

I consider this, although I don't get much more of a say. Maybe this is another form of manipulation, and this will end badly for me, but if there is a chance he will take me back, I'm going to take it. And if he is genuine, then good, although the moment we return back, Thought will promptly be taking his memories away to resolve everything and ensure future Time ends up the way he needed to.

But this gives me hope...like maybe all this time he didn't want the life imposed upon him.

"There has to be some ground rules. No touching," I tell him firmly, folding my arms across my chest. He's already been pressing with his advances, which must strictly be avoided. This is primarily to avoid the mate bond between us, and giving it any more reason to increase.

He raises rather cautious eyebrows at me. "That's fun. How else are you going to convince me?"

"No touching unless I say so, got it?" I say firmly. I want to have full control of this. I know what will happen if I let myself get invested. "And no turning around at the end. The moment it's done, you return me to Time."

"I will return you to the boring version of me, yes," he tells me.

Narrowing my eyes on him, I pray he's being honest. He has no reason to be truthful, but what choice do I have? I'm going to have to be convincing enough of

"And no expectations," I say, knowing it's more important than all. If Time expects something from me, there is no way I'll be able to live up to it. He's an immortal used to other immortal girls. I'm not used to this. "You have to trust my ideas. Okay?"

Time tilts his head. "I suppose I can agree to that."

I stick my hand out. "Then we have a deal."

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Hey guys! If you're enjoying the story, you can head over to Radish and read Time ahead of Wattpad!

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I've released Thought's own story on Radish, which is available now! I want to see by the end, which of the brothers your prefer

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~Midika 💜🐼