Answer the question.
He tilts his head, pretending to think. “Maybe I’m just gifted. Or cursed. Depends on the day. I just notice things that people think I don’t. You know, the little details they all try to hide.” His eyes flick over me briefly before he adds, “You, for example, you wear this mask of perfect indifference, although inside you’re anything but indifferent.”
I arch a brow.Think what you want. You’re not getting away from my question by being annoying and diverting it towards me. You hide behind that stupid humour, but I know it’s just that. A front to hide the reality you feel. The ones who joke the most usually hurt the most. Are you hurting, Theo?
Something flickers in his eyes, but it’s gone before I can place it. He groans, running a hand through his white hair – that actually suits him pretty well. “Bloody hell, you’re relentless. What are you, my therapist?”
I don’t move, waiting blandly for him to stop trying to hide. Keeping my eyes fixed unblinking on him. Suddenly, he sits up, in one quick sweep, one elbow on his knee, closing the distance between us until I can feel his breath ghost against my cheek.
“I’m not hiding,” he says huskily, in a way that makes my heart rate quicken. “But since you’re so keen on peeling people open, tell me this… what about you, Blondie? You play the calm,collected one. The strong one. Trying to be perfect. But I bet that’s just your armour, isn’t it? You’d rather break quietly than ever let someone see you bleed.”
The words sink deep, and I can’t quite breathe. Not only is he too close, his knee almost brushing mine, but those words just hit the nail on the head. He has one hand on the ground just beside me, the space between us shrinking until the scent of him fills my head. He’s watching me, not with mockery this time, but with something far more dangerous. It’s like a predator trying to force his prey to yield beneath his gaze.
I look down, tracing words into my open palm,And if I tell you whether you’re right or wrong, will you tell me what’s really going through your mind?
His gaze drops to my hand, following the faint glow of the letters before flicking back up to my eyes. That smirk returns slowly. “Sure. But only if it stays between us.” His tone drops to barely above a whisper, although no one can hear us, and I know he sensed my magic earlier. “Call it… repayment for helping you reach Hades.”
I roll my eyes, though it’s mostly to hide the way my stomach feels all weird right now…Deal.
Theo leans back a fraction, but not enough, his smirk curling mockingly. “Good. Now, stop looking at me like that, Blondie, or I’ll start thinking you fancy me,” he says sarcastically, combing his fingers through his hair.
I open my mouth to shoot back a retort, but nothing comes, making him snicker. I glare at him just as his kneebrushes mine. My pulse kicks hard, and I look away before he notices any change in me.
He chuckles under his breath. “So, start talking; we don’t have anything better to do.” He leans back, propping himself up on one elbow, those annoying abs catching my attention again. I look away and take a deep breath.
Maybe you’re right.
“Maybe?”
Ok, you’re right, for the most part, except one thing, I don’t want to be perfect. I am perfect,I state, writing the words clearly as I stare at him pointedly.
“Oh yeah? And there’s that cockiness.”
Your turn,I write, crossing my arms under my bust.
Theo’s eyes flick over me once, slow enough to make my skin prickle, before locking on mine.
“What do you want to know about how this amazing mind works?” he drawls. He’s just sitting back like he’s on a throne.
What’s your greatest fear?I ask quickly, before he can derail it with one of his quips.
He tilts his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Who says I have one?”
Everyone does.
For a heartbeat, he’s still, all mockery stripped away. Just when I think he won’t answer, his gaze shifts to the sky, the moonlight cutting sharp lines across his half-shadowed face, and he says, “That I don’t know what limits I’d go to protect the ones I care for.”
My heart skips a beat. His words slice deeper than I expect.
Meaning you’d do anything for them.
He shrugs, the motion casual, and his eyes return to mine. “Yeah. But I also know that just saying that out loud would make my father keel over.” His lips curl in a faint smile. “So, let’s call this our little secret, although maybe stressing Dad out might just be the very reason why I should start mentioning it more often.”
There it is again; he’s hiding behind the humour.
Well, your father follows the rules A to Z. You’re a bit like my mama, you know. She’d do anything for the people she loves. I admire her.
Theo chuckles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Does that mean you admire me then?” He winks, and the glimpse into his soul from moments ago is gone, buried under his usual cocky mask.
