Inner Demons, Outer Shadows (Lynn)

[Dusk]

((Continued from If You Can't Stand the Heat...))

It was pitch dark inside the shadow, but Dusk--well, Bastian, knew where they were going. With Lynn in tow, the symbiote knew this would be the perfect time to straighten things out.

What are we doing?

I want to talk to her. Just the two of us. I promise not to hurt her. I want to make this right. This...this isn't you.

Whatever.

My kind may mostly be heartless bastards, but I've learned a lot from you. You're more like a brother than a host.

I know...

Dusk sighed mentally and emerged from the shadow in a secluded area of Central Park. He turned to Lynn, releasing her.

"I don't wanna hurt you. Just talk. Alone. Take my hand." He held out his black and purple hand.

[Shifter]

As soon as Aislynn was out of the shadows, and Dusk had released her, she stumbled away. By now the tears she had struggled to hide were falling freely down her face; her blue eyes were wide with fear. "Don't," she pleaded. She had heard stories of what the symbiotes could do to people. She didn't want to become another one of their victims.

But then he held out a hand, and she stared at it. She wasn't sure what to do then. She didn't want to risk getting hurt, or becoming trapped in the shadows again. That... that had been absolutely terrifying. But it wasn't like she had a choice.

Closing her eyes, Aislynn placed her hand in his.

[Dusk]

He gently held onto her hand, and the symbiote detached itself from Bastian and had soon bonded with Lynn. Bastian released the hand and walked away, leaning against a tree and closing his eyes; his mere appearance was only a shell of his former self.

He'd have done anything for you. You could have just told him you didn't agree and he'd have changed his mind without batting an eyelash. You stabbed him in the heart. He's not himself. Why swap sides like that? You didn't think THAT would hurt him? His voice was stern, even mentally.

[Shifter]

Aislynn shied away from the voice, wrapping her arms around herself. She shut her eyes tightly, fighting back another round of tears.

Do you think I wanted to hurt him? Do you think I wanted to do this to him? I love him, Dusk - even if you don't think so. But he left, and I... I thought he was gone. I thought I had been abandoned again. Like a child, I clung to the first person to come by and show me some affection. It wasn't my fault he ended up being in charge of the resistance.

She bit her lip hard, so hard she nearly drew blood, I never wanted this. I never wanted to hurt him, or... Or any of this. I would have died for him... I still would, if it would make him happy. I'd do anything for him.

[Dusk]

He didn't leave...I drug him. It's my fault, not his. He loves you too. ...There's someone else then...I won't tell him. I'll leave that to you, if it's all the same. This is my fault, but I can't make it right. This is between you two. Bastian is...well, before him, I hated all humans. I didn't understand. But even in hardship, he's an honorable man. He'll fight for the few he's close to. His kind is hard to come by. Hang onto him.

Then, he showed her something. Only minutes before, when they had entered the scene to make arrests. When Bastian's eyes locked on Lynn.

{What about her?

No, that's Lynn.

NO, she's got one of them on her back. She's a traitor.

No.

She stabbed you in the back. DO IT.

NO!

Hell, I'll do it.}

"See? Even then, he trusted you. Even now. You know how many people he's ever told 'I love you?' One.

[Shifter]

Aislynn listened to the memory, feeling worse and worse as the seconds ticked by. She knew this was all her fault, no matter what Dusk said. She had been the one to cling to someone she barely knew. She had been the one to switch sides. It wasn't like the two of them had any control over her heart.

No, that was a lie.

Bastian held her heart in the palm of his hand, even if he didn't realize it.

I... I love him, Dusk. I never wanted to hurt him. He's the only person I've loved, the first true friend I've ever had. I'm sorry. I truly am. For a moment, she had to choke back the burn of tears in her throat, I don't know how to make this right. I... I'm just so, so very sorry.

[Dusk]

I know you are. I can feel it all over you. But I'm not the one that needs to know. You want to make this right? The start of your answer is propped up against a tree about thirty feet in front of you.

He smiled to himself. Besides, to give me back, you have to go over there, anyway. And physical contact would help so I don't have to go very far.

[Shifter]

Aislynn's head jerked up, and she just stared at Bastian. For a moment, she didn't move. For a moment, she really didn't want to. After all she had done to him, there was no way he was going to let her close to him again, or even let her touch him. But she had to give Dusk back.

It's been...odd having you in my head. Odd, but nice.

She made her way over to him slowly, her feet making no noise as she strode across the soft grass and fallen leaves. There were some feline features she kept as a cat, and this was one of them. It helped when one was sneaking up on another - or trying to give a symbiote back.

Goodbye?

She touched her hand to Bastian's shoulder.

[Dusk]

You too. Nice bein' in your head. Bye.

He merged with Bastian again. Bastian flinched at the familiar hand on his shoulder and turned to look at her. He didn't know what to say, so he just stared, his once strong eyes seeming lost, defeated.

He folded his arms across his chest, something he did when he was unsure. So he let her have the chance to talk first.

[Shifter]

Aislynn saw the look in his eyes - and it nearly killed her. She turned her head away, so she wouldn't have to look at him. She didn't want to see him like that. She didn't want to see what she had done to him. It was just... It was too much for her.

She warpped her arms around herself, as if the self-hug was going to bring her some hollow sense of comfort.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. Her voice held the hurt and the shame that her torn-away eyes could not, "I never meant to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you. I love you, Bastian, and I... I'm just so sorry." Her nails dug into her flesh, almost to the point of drawing blood. She seemed to be doing that a lot lately.

For a moment, Aislynn didn't say anything. She just sort of stood there awkwardly, but defeated. Then, she closed her eyes and turned away.

"I just... I hope maybe, one day... I can re-earn the love you trusted me with..."

She started to walk away.

[Dusk]

He put a hand on her shoulder, spinning her to look her in the eye gently. "Don't worry about it. You thought I was gone. You didn't know..." His eyes softened.

"Lynn. You did something very few people are able to do. You earned my trust. It's even harder for you to lose it. I love you too. I still do. Always will. And Dusk and I may have unofficially left the SSA."

He pulled her into a hug. "Don't leave."

[Shifter]

He touched her shoulder, and Aislynn tensed, as if she was preparing for the worst. But then he spun her around, and began to speak. For a moment, she just listened, unsure of what to think. She was so sure that he was going to cast her out and away, that this... this was something she just had not been prepared for.

But then he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her close, and Aislynn let out a soft noise, almost like a mewl. She buried her face into his chest, trembling. "I'm sorry," she repeated yet again, "I just... I love you. That's all I can say. I don't want to lose you. I don't want you to leave me. Please... don't."

[Dusk]

He kissed her gently, then pulled back, the look of strength returning to his eyes. "Lynn, I'd be a fool to leave you...again. I know you felt abandoned. It was out of my control, but I'll face any consequences I have to."

"For you, I'd do anything. I'd look eternity in the eye and bitchslap it if I have to."

[Shifter]

Aislynn reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her eyes were bright with hope, and love. As much of a feline as she was, she was also human, and female. She knew when she had something good, and she wasn't going to risk losing him simply because she had let one date lead to another...

She loved him, after all.

"Don't bitchslap eternity, Bastian. That wouldn't be very nice." She murmured, before standing on her tiptoes so she could press her lips to his in a real kiss. Her eyes fluttered close.

[Dusk]

"I'll only do it if Eternity tries to separate us." He smiled, getting lost in her eyes. And then she kissed him. He held her close as their lips met. He closed his eyes, loving this.

He pulled back, smiling and leaning back against the tree. "I'm glad this is all settled. Remember, though. You can tell me anything."