Date with a Princess [Closed]

[Maddox Aquila]

Maddox ran his fingers through his bangs as he tried to figure out what to do about Syana. She no longer had a place to live and he could only imagine what she was feeling, having lost the life that she left behind in Magnolia. He doubted that she cared as much about material possessions as he did, but surely had lost things of sentimental value in the fire as well?

As if that wasn't bad enough, his silly little bird was probably still fretting over having to leave Onibas during a time of crisis. He had noticed that, ever since meeting her once more, she always seemed to be tired, strained, as though she was pushing herself just to keep moving forwards. It bothered him, kept him up at night, but he just wasn't sure what he could do to make her feel any better. The best thing that he could think to do was to help her take her mind off of things.

A date. He would take her on a date - and he already knew the perfect place to take her. 

It was evening by the time that Maddox had made all of the preparations, and the sun would soon begin to set, but this was perfect. This was what he needed. They needed to hurry, though, or it wouldn't unfold quite as perfectly as he had planned in his mind.

With a basket hooked under one arm, he returned to the place where he had left Syana, presumably the place that she was going to stay while she sorted out a new place to live, but he couldn't say that for certain.

 "Syana?" He called, looking around for her. He had asked her to stay here to wait for him, but now he was beginning to wonder if she had perhaps run off to Onibas while he wasn't looking...

[Rii <3]

Syana replayed the image in her head the recurring nights, her emerald gaze focused on the walls of her room while she sat there hugging her legs; thinking it through thoroughly and how it could have possibly happened. She looked towards the picture frames that just managed to survive, but barely. Most were covered in ashes, cinders and some looked like they had be removed shakily.
Syana held the picture close, closing her eyes and placing it down in the drawer just to close it.
As she stared at her clothes, she clasped her hands together and took a deep breath before counting to three. Once done, she took a slow deep breath and nodded to herself. Be happy and smile in the face of danger.


With the smile printed across her face, she threw on some clothes and spun around to examine them, nodding and making her way towards the window. What she saw was far from pretty. It was sunset! With that realisation, the girl had slept throughout the whole day but she felt so replenished. The headaches had finally subdued for the night and when she had fallen asleep, she must have regained a decent amount of magic power.
Syana made her way towards the exit when she came face to face with a very tall man. Standing there in surprise, she blinked for a few seconds while she processed who he is. With a warm smile on her face, she tipped her head to the man.
"Maddox" She greeted his name with a happy tone and looked towards his arm, noticing the basket and blinking.

[Maddox Aquila]

"Ah, there you are, little bird." Maddox sounded relieved as Syana approached him, greeting him by calling his name. Part of him really had expected her to run off somewhere while he was absent, but perhaps she had done a little maturing of her own while there were apart.

 Hoping Syo had nothing to do with that.

 Shaking his head to rid himself of the thought, he rose his hand to his face, pulling away the black material that covered his nose and mouth in order to flash her a gentle smile - the kind that he only showed for her. Letting his arm drop, he soon offered his large hand for her to take.

"It has been three years since we were last on a date, Syana. Would you care to accompany me for the evening?" He suggested, smiling down at her as he held his hand out expectantly. "I would like to take you to a special place that I found after I left. It is not too far from here, but we will be heading out of the city for a while." Raising the arm that had a woven basket hanging off of it, he showed it off to her.

"I prepared a lunch for us, so we can eat when we get there." He declared, sounding rather proud of himself.

[Rii <3]

"Ah, there you are, little bird." Maddox greeted and Syana gave a brief nod of her head having grown accustomed to the nickname in which Maddox seemed to have started calling her. Her green eyes watched him expectantly and she suppressed a yawn.
"It has been three years since we were last on a date, Syana. Would you care to accompany me for the evening?" A date? Syana cocked her head to the side, watching him with a curious gaze. Seconds seemed to pass and she nodded her head slowly.  Her eyes dropped to his hand and slowly she took it with her finger tips brushing his palm before holding onto it. A small smile crept across her lips and she nodded her head slowly while blinking the sleep from her eyes.


"I would like to take you to a special place that I found after I left. It is not too far from here, but we will be heading out of the city for a while." Syana processed what he was on about. They had been a part for three years and it seemed like so much had changed and yet Maddox was still warm. His hand felt warm in hers and a smile crept across her lips. He listened to her question about the basket and raised his basket. Her eyes focused on it once more and she grinned.
"I prepared a lunch for us, so we can eat when we get there." A lunch in the evening? With a quick yawn and a rub of the eyes, Syana nodded her head swiftly.

"I'd love to see the places Maddox sees." Syana spoke up quickly with a smile plastered to her face. "I'd like that very much, Maddox." That was when she paused and cleared her throat, shoving the sadness about Syo back so she didn't worry Maddox. "By the way, what's a date?"

[Maddox Aquila]

Maddox smiled as he felt her much smaller hand slip into his own, allowing his much large hand to firmly but gently wrap around her as she agreed to spend some time with him. He was elated when she agreed, but the feeling tapered out somewhat when he revelation left him aghast.

She didn't know what a date was? Hadn't he taken her on at least half a dozen before they had separated? Was it really possible that she completely misunderstood the situation each and every time.

Yes, yes it was, his mind deadpanned, causing his smiled to falter some.

Still, he didn't yet feel as though all hope was lost, since it at least meant that the munchkin hadn't explained it to her, so she was probably misunderstanding him, too. Maybe this was his chance to set himself ahead of the competition.

With new found purpose, he began to lead Syana out of the building and into the street, veering them immediately towards the forest. "My dear little bird, a date can mean many things, so I will only explain what the word means when I say it." He offered, smiling softly once more. He couldn't help but feel a little nervous, perhaps knowing that he stood on the brink of a potential rejection. Still, it wasn't like him to get so worked up over something. It felt unnatural to feel his heart hammering at his rib cage like it was trying to break free.

"A date is something that a couple partakes in because they enjoy spending time together. It is something that goes beyond friendship, because one or both parties feels a romantic interest in the other - that is to say, they are boyfriend and girlfriend." Maddox swallowed hard as his voice got slightly hoarse with emotion that he had thought died in him an eternity ago.

"I wish to take you on a date because I wish to be your boyfriend - not just a boy that is your friend, but something much more. Your one and only, your crutch and protector, whatever you need or want me to be, I will gladly be it for as long as you wish me to be - and should you grow tired of me, I will let my little bird free to find her own happiness, much as it would kill me to do so." Somehow, the usually quiet assassin found himself blurting out more words than he had wanted too, and he promptly spoke up again to try to smooth everything over.

"You need not answer me now, if you do not understand or do not know what you desire, but... This is how I feel... How I have been feeling for three years... I do not wish to let these feelings remain hidden any longer." As much as he wanted to look to her, to see her expression, he found himself walking just a step ahead of her to hide his own face - which was somewhat rosy across the cheeks.

[Rii <3]

Maddox's smile caused Syana to give him an equally warm smile as she took his hand and she watched him with a surprised gazed while looking towards the warmth in their hands and closing her eyes. The sensation felt nice and he lead her off. 
So they were going on a date, whatever the date was. Syana followed behind him obediently; her shoes tapping against the floor and her eyes looking around as she speculated the concept of a date.

When she quizzed over what the meaning of a date was, Maddox's smile faltered and Syana watched him with worry. Did she say something weird? Did she upset him.
Syana's eyes moved him over and down his frame. 
"My dear little bird, a date can mean many things, so I will only explain what the word means when I say it." Maddox perked up and Syana nodded her head slowly; watching him. 

His voice was different. Syana closed her eyes for a few seconds, relaxing her body and when she opened them; his heart and magic in his body was rapid. It was like he was scared or nervous, she looked up at him and her lips pursed. What was going on? Was he sick? Syana felt awkward. Something told her that she should react, but she didn't know how.
"A date is something that a couple partakes in because they enjoy spending time together. It is something that goes beyond friendship, because one or both parties feels a romantic interest in the other - that is to say, they are boyfriend and girlfriend." Her eyes unfocused on his body and she looked towards their hands which were linked, her heart racing slightly at the sensation of his around hers. 

"I wish to take you on a date because I wish to be your boyfriend - not just a boy that is your friend, but something much more. Your one and only, your crutch and protector, whatever you need or want me to be, I will gladly be it for as long as you wish me to be - and should you grow tired of me, I will let my little bird free to find her own happiness, much as it would kill me to do so." Wait. What? Syana tried to process what he said, her green eyes widened as she stared at him. What was he on about boyfriend and girlfriend? Weren't they already boyfriend and girlfriend? He was a boy and she was a girl... Playing his words through her head, she found her head spinning around in circles. What he said meant something else and not what she assumed? What did that make them? What did that make Syo?


"You need not answer me now, if you do not understand or do not know what you desire, but... This is how I feel... How I have been feeling for three years... I do not wish to let these feelings remain hidden any longer." Syana's eyes watched him, hand clutched together on her chest; having unknowingly left the grasp of his. Her lips were parted and small sounds escaped her lips as she tried to grasp the words she wanted to say.
Her gaze averted to the side and she found herself unsure of what to say. Her face stung red and she began to ponder.
"This date? Can we go to a book store?" She asked meekly. 

[Maddox Aquila]

Maddox's admittance failed about as spectacularly as he had hoped it would not. Not only had she withdrawn from him, going as far as to pull her hand free, her expression was a muddled mess that made it hard to read. Did she not understand him or was she simply put off by his words? He knew he was an assassin, probably unworthy of affections in general, much less from a princess, but he had thought that somehow...

Maybe, just maybe, Syana might accept his love.

It seemed that was probably wishful thinking, though. Now that he had seen her reaction it became much harder to deny the thought that Syo had already made his move. Were they together? Maybe Syana was just scared to tell him that. That would certainly explain all of the awkwardness and why she had suddenly pulled away. Maybe she viewed him as a friend, an older brother? Maybe she thought he preferred men?

Swallowing hard, it dawned on him that Syana had asked him a question, drawing him out of his thoughts. Apparently she wanted to go to a book store, which hadn't been anywhere near the place that he wanted to take her, but somehow he couldn't find it in himself to argue with her.

"Alright. Lets go to the bookstore." He quietly agreed, gesturing her in the direction of the bookstore, he chewed his bottom lip a moment as he walked, but quickly allowed his expression to become neutral.

[Rii <3]

Syana's eyes found herself holding his for a few seconds as he spoke about feelings. It threw her off guard . He seemed very disheartened by her sudden hesitation and she found the thing between them getting awkward.
Syana began to think of something when she suddenly realised what she wanted to do. She wanted to read more into the feelings of love and understand herself better.


With an awkward statement made, Maddox seemed to agree and Syana took hold of his hand - not saying anything yet as she made her way towards the library. She wanted to read the definition of love, she wanted to understand her own feelings not just to Maddox, but Syo too. She wanted to know what it felt like in the books eyes. 
Syana's eyes quickly lifted towards Maddox, her eyes not liking the expression he had. She hadn't mean to dishearten him. Giving a reassuring squeeze of his hand, she leaned close and hugged his arm. 

[Maddox Aquila]

Syana took his hand again in due time, but he wasn't sure how to process it, all thing considered. It didn't take much of a leap for him to realize that she probably didn't know what he was talking about after all.

Well, he couldn't say that he wasn't surprised by it, but he also wasn't sure how he should feel about it. She hadn't flat out rejected him, and since she didn't understand that probably meant that Syo hadn't taught her... anything. That much was good, that much he was happy with.

But dear lord, the dread that weighed down on his shoulders nearly brought him to his knees. He wasn't a man that knew much of fear, but this tiny woman gripping his arm instilled such an intense feeling of it that he soon realized his legs were numb and just barely managing to keep moving on their own.

Somehow he managed to make it all of the way to the library, and guided her into the building before coming to a halt and looking down at her. "Where do we go from here, Syana?" He softly asked, soon raising his head to look at the various sections that were labelled in the library.

[Rii <3]

Syana looked around while her mind flooded with curiosities. She looked up occasionally towards Maddox and she leaned close. She found herself smiling slightly, face stinging an ever so faint shade of red. 
Each step she took, Syana's mind grew more and more cloudy. She curled her lip and chewed on the skin while pondering what to do. The basket on his arm seemed so out of place against his usual attire and Syana found herself wondering what he would look like beneath the coats - maybe wearing something different. 

The library was closing soon so she knew to be quick on her research plus she was actually quite hungry and rather curious what Maddox had in that basket of his. (These books will go straight in my basket. Screw Meme's)
Syana swiftly made her way towards the bookshelves, examining each aisle with their titles and genres before coming towards the romance genre. Her eyes flickered across the names before she looked towards Maddox and grabbed hold of the book. 

Gliding through the pages of it, she went straight to the glossary before going towards the page she was looking for.
She wanted to understand what love meant. When she took in a lot of the information and compared it towards her own feelings, Syana began to compare the descriptions the book gave her to the real deal. Syo always told her, but she never entirely understood. It was like the feelings she had seemed to match both Maddy and Syo and she found her mind dancing around.


She put the book back and grabbed another that focused solely on relationships, going once again to the glossary and changing back towards the page she needed and reading it through thoroughly and repeatedly. 
Syana's eyes closed and she nodded her head, closing the book and placing it away. Looking towards Maddox, she turned to face him and composed herself despite the fact her heart was racing and the sweet smell of the new books mixing with the musty smell of the older ones.
She took his hand once again and held it between her own, a small smile forming on her lips with a blush. She needed just a little more time to think and she wanted Maddox to be happy.
"Your turn, thank you for being patient Maddox. Let's go where you wanted to take me..."

[Maddox Aquila]

Watching Syana wander towards the romance section, Maddox tried to hide his curiosity as he watched her picking up books and flipping through them - seeming to be looking for something in particular, judging by the way she kept skimming the first pages of the books before flipping to specific pages and getting lost in the words. Somehow he felt like this was something that she had to do on her own, she he idly wandered the library, picking up a book on occasion and examining it before setting it aside again to look in her direction.

He might have been short an eye, but his sight was sharp and when he was standing at a good angle he could see the titles of the books that she were reading - all revolving around love and relationships. Was she trying to understand what he had told her? He was curious, but again, he felt as though it was an issue that he shouldn't press right now.

When she finally returned to him, his smile was soft but genuine as he saw her cute blush. Taking her hand in his free one once more, he nodded. "Let us hurry. It is almost time." Leading her out of the library and into the streets, he walked briskly, with a clear sense of purpose, heading directly towards the forest.

Once they had entered the beginnings of the forest, filled with the scent of sweet, sleeping flowers and the sound of leaves rustling overhead, he guided her towards a cluster of trees that had grown so closely together that they looked as though they had formed a living wall. Moving around the outside, he watched the trees carefully before spying an opening in them and smiling - seeming to have found what he had been looking for.

"Just inside here." He assured, squeezing through the gap first, he eagerly led her into the enclosure, a circle of trees that formed a ring around a small pool of clear looking water with many closed flowers poking just above the surface of the water. Looking to the sky, to the raising moon, he nodded. "It is almost time." He announced, releasing her hand and kneeling in the grass to rifle through the basket. Pulling out a red and white checkered blanket, he spread it out over the grass. "Here you are, sit on this." He offered, flashing her a smile before delving into the basket again.

With this, he started pulling out the other contents - some sandwiches cut into triangles, a thermos of sweet iced tea, slices of watermelon, and a collection of somewhat oddly shaped cookies that Maddox looked at with disdain.

"I... I am not a very good cook..." He lamented, heaving a sigh.

[Rii <3]

With Syana so indulged in her reading, the pages flying past; she hadn't even realised that Maddox had left her to check elsewhere. She scanned each book thoroughly, reading as good as she could. She closed the final book and placed it on the shelf; Maddox being near her once again, she had taken his hand and the two were out of the library.
"Let us hurry. It is almost time."  Maddox urged and Syana's puzzled expression followed behind him as he guided her. Their hands were linked together and she enjoyed the sensation and warmth of his hand over hers, but the same question rang through her mind; why was the feelings she possessed for both beings warm and fuzzy?


The scenery changed between them and the area began to grow a very pretty, healthy green. The smells changed and Syana's eyes moved around the area - it felt like the place fairies would frolic.
"Just inside here." Maddox's voice caused Syana to shift her attention towards the entrance. Peering around it, she blinked her eyes and examined what Maddox had pointed out. Inside there...?  He squeezed in and due to their hands being linked, Syana gingerly followed behind him; her gaze moving around as she took in everything from the earth to the sky.
The sound of rustling filled her ears as they moved through the woodland and she found herself biting down on her tongue so she didn't giggle with the tickling sensation of the flora against her skin.


"It is almost time." Maddox's voice seemed really excited and Syana watched him carefully. Almost time for what? Her gaze moved around the area once again, looking towards Maddox with a smile.
Maddox rifled through the basket soon after and Syana watched as the typical picnic blanket came out and was laid down in front of them. "Here you are, sit on this."  with an obedient nod, Syana adjusted her dress and sat carefully down on it; placing her hands either side of her and leaning back ever so slightly to admire the view (including Maddox). She took in everything, breathless by the view.
He brought out a whole bunch of stuff and she found herself admiring it all and trying to pick what she should eat.
"I... I am not a very good cook..." Syana laughed softly, looking up at him with a warm smile.
"No, Maddox. I don't believe for a second that you're not." She looked down at the food once more; taking a sandwich and taking a bite. "You don't really need to cook for these too. It's really good!"

[Maddox Aquila]

Giving a bit of a goofy smile in response to Syana's reassurance, Maddox tried not to remember all of the food that he had failed to cook properly while preparing for the evening, instead deciding to settle down on the blanket, allowing his long legs to stretch out as he took a piece of sandwich and waited - his good eye occasionally drifting upwards, watching the full moon that shone brightly in the sky.

When the moon began to circle over them, moonlight pouring directly into the clearing that they were situated it, Maddox looked positively ecstatic as the light inched towards the pool of water - and the moment that the light touched it, his eye quickly turned towards Syana, eager to see her reaction.

All of the closed flower heads that had been poking just above the surface of the water opened in a wave - revealing a collection of pink and blue flowers that were luminous under the light of the moon. The faint light emitting from so many flowers cast a gentle purple glow through the entire clearing, a glow that moved and danced with the motions of the water in the pool. The flowers themselves were quite pretty with their yellow centers and lush petals, and had a very sweet smell, like fresh cut citrus. The refreshing smell filled the clearing as many petals from the magical flowers began to stir up, swirling across the surface of the water before a gust of wind, which seemed impossible given how closed off the area was, swept the petals towards Syana, where they danced around her several time before blowing upwards, into the sky, and raining slowly back down to earth.

Even Maddox didn't seem to have expected this part, as his eye was slightly wide as he held a hand out to catch a petal in his palm.  "They say that a unicorn died here a very long time ago, and created this pool with the last of his magic so that he could forever live on in this world." He quietly told her, as though fearing that raising his voice would ruin the moment. "I think he likes you, Syana. Unicorns are said to prefer the pure of heart, I suppose it only makes sense that someone as pure as you would cause his magic to stir." Smiling to her, he watched her carefully, gauging her reaction.

[Rii <3]

With the sandwich in hand and the occasional nibble, Syana found herself watching Maddox while his eye was elsewhere. He seemed to have his gaze towards the sky as the sun bid its final goodbye.
It was cute to see he was getting so into it, even to the point he had gotten flustered over her compliment about his cooking skills. Syana found herself watching him with a warm smile that she usually had on her face.
Syana's gaze followed his body outline and she silently marvelled just how tall he was in comparison to herself. Shuffling closer to him on the mat, she followed his gaze and looked up to the sky as the purple hues turned to a magnificent dark blue.


As if  that wasn't enough, the sky lit up with a magnificent sheet of silver as the moons rays dipped towards the ground; the puddle shimmering like it was basking in the moons rays. Syana's eyes widened and she found herself dropping the sandwich while the sight unfolded in front of her. With a slow, deep breath; she found herself leaning forward ever so slightly. A sweet scent filled her nose and she listened to the soft creaking of the plants as they awakened and danced softly in the wind that seemed to form in silver tendrils due to the moon. The whole thing felt magical and Syana inhaled the sweet scent. Vivid, soft colours cascaded the area around them and Syana's hand found its way to Maddox's; holding it tightly as she looked onward. Unable to express her awe in words.
The smell turned from a sweet scent to a citrus sensation and Syana found herself inhaling the delightful scent, biting her lower lip.
Petals began to separate from the bud of the plant and chase after the wind, dancing and twirling in the breeze as they made their way around Syana. Syana's fingers found their way to a lock of her hair on the side of her head, brushing it out of her face and lifting her head as the petals danced into the sky and take on the form of dancing stars before falling slowly down towards the ground.


Watching each one fall, Syana's gaze moved towards Maddox as he eyed a petal that had landed in his palm, completely oblivious to the ones that had landed on her head. Her mind replayed what had happened repeatedly and she still couldn't find any words to say.
"They say that a unicorn died here a very long time ago, and created this pool with the last of his magic so that he could forever live on in this world."  Maddox spoke up finally and Syana leaned back to normal, breathing slowly. "I think he likes you, Syana. Unicorns are said to prefer the pure of heart, I suppose it only makes sense that someone as pure as you would cause his magic to stir."  Syana pondered his words carefully, looking around before clasping her hands together and pressing her lips to the tip of her fingers.
"May you rest in peace, Mr. Unicorn." She stated softly, breathing each and every word. "Thank you for helping Maddox show me this beautiful display." Syana separated her hands and ran her fingers through her hair that aligned her face; turning her head towards Maddox and giving him a sidewards smile. 
"Maddox, that was truly, truly beautiful." 

[Maddox Aquila]

Smiling as Syana's response to the whole ordeal, Maddox couldn't help but feel pleased about how things had unfolded, despite any mishaps along the way. Watching as she prayed for the unicorn, his expression softened and he couldn't stop himself from reaching out, his somewhat rough fingertips lightly brushing her soft cheek.

"I am glad you enjoyed it." He assured, feeling his chest swell with pride. After a few long moments he slowly, hesitantly drew his hand back, allowing it to rest on the blanket. Before long he lay himself back, tucking an arm behind his head as a makeshift pillow while he stared into the starry sky. From where he was laying he could still see the purple glow of the flowers, still open beneath the watchful moon. It was a beautiful night, he really couldn't have asked for better conditions, but it was hard for him to pursue such practical thoughts for long.

His eye couldn't focus skyward any longer and he found himself instead watching Syana, as he often did. No matter where they were or what they were doing his attention was always drawn to her, and while it had confused him at first he was certain that what he was feeling was something more than physical attraction - he loved this woman, this was a person her cherished and wanted to protect. He had never imagined himself feeling that way about anyone, but here he was, laying on a blanket in the forest, trying his damndest to be romantic. 

 A chuckle bubbled in his throat at the thought, and it took a while for him to realize that he had been laying in silence for who knows how long. 

 Swallowing, he looked to her once more, curiously.