Tick tock.

Tick tock.

Tick

Tock

That's how the mental clock in (name)'s head counted the time of silence that hung in the air of the cabin.

"What do you want to know?"

The elder spoke up first. Despite his question, he knew what needed to be said; he just didn't know where to start. "Everything." (Name) chimed without hesitation. Her (e/c) eyes were clearer than azure skies; "I want to know everything" she muttered. This was a chance that she couldn't afford to throw away. 

Taking a deep breath and throwing his mind to the past, the gray-haired man looked in the eyes of (name)'s in warning; "if the son of Alexei wasn't here then I would say this is for your ears only. But seeing how close you two were during your fight with those vampire kids, I believe you'll tell him either way" he directed his focus back and forth between (name) and Yuliy who grinned at each other.

"Well, I won't deny that" the half-vampire smiled. The air had lightened up a bit making it easier to breathe so without further ado, the former general commenced to telling the sixteen-year-old the story of her parents.

"From what your father told me, he met your mother on a hillside. He elaborated her features- pale ivory skin, lavender hair and red eyes. I knew exactly what she was the moment he said red eyes but I didn't want to tell our parents about it, too afraid what they would do to if they found out. So I kept it as our secret."

"Months passed and your father stayed out more frequently. It got to the point where our parents got worried so I came up with the excuse that he was hanging out with a new friend he's made. One night, when he came home after hanging out with your mother, he told me he planned to run away to marry her, knowing our parents would never accept her as a part of the family due to her being a vampire. For hours on end, I tried to persuade him to stay- to not elope; that it would only be more stressful..."

"No matter what I told him, he still packed his things and at that point, I knew I had lost. When the night grew old and our mother and father slept, he bidded me a sad yet determined farewell; then he was gone. He and your mother ran far away to, where I guess, you were born. He sent letters every now and then but without a return address so I was never able to return a letter. Not once."

The glint in the former general's eyes were sad. Perhaps too sad because (name) averted her gaze to the empty teapot. Something told her to ask if she could read the letters- just to see what her father wrote about while another side of her wanted tell her uncle about her torture. But seeing his sad eyes made her ex-out that option; "could I perhaps read some of the letters?" She asked in a soft tone.

The elder man nodded his head, giving the teenager each and every envelope "you can read all of them if you wish" he offered. As much as (name) wanted to do so, she didn't want to stay too much longer- she would soon be in her way to get the Ark and fight Yevgraf soon after all.

Politely turning down his offer, (name) grabbed a total of three letters, taking them out to read while letting Yuliy read over her shoulder. Time seemed to ease itself as the two read each line with easy hearts. Not one line was tense and it seemed as if fun poured out of each line.

"Never knew my father was an eloquent writer" (name) muttered to which Yuliy nodded in agreement "he must be an elegant and eloquent person" he responded. Throwing mini comments here and there, both teenagers seem to have similar thoughts about each letter; "he looks like he was having a lot of fine writing" they both said simultaneously.

(Name) handed the letters back to her elderly uncle who knew their stay was coming to an end. Both former Jaegers stood up, making their way to the door with the elder man following suite, showing them out. Turning to face him, (name) bowed "thank you for talking to both Yuliy and I. It means a lot to us- to me" she looked up with gratitude written all over her face.

The former general gave a small bow himself "thank you for allowing me to talk. If you ever see your father, will you tell him I wish him great prosperity?" He didn't know? Of course, he didn't know; nor did he need to. Handing him a mini fake smile, (name) nodded "of course" she said before walking out the door behind Yuliy.

She didn't get too far though. She turned once again to look at the elder who stood at the door. Raising a hand, (name) waved; "see you sometime in the future, uncle." And she continued walking.

Shocked for a second, the elder felt his chest warm. For a split moment, he swore he saw his brother again. Her (h/c) hair and her (e/c) eyes (with the exception of the red) were the same shade as her father's. Tears pricked his old eyes in joy.

'(D/n), your daughter's all grown up.'

"Hey, what took so long?" Bishop asked seeing the two enter the cafe, "sorry. Had to take care of some family issues" Yuliy answered taking a seat as (name) took one by his side. A sigh escaped the blonde's mouth "everyone seems to have them. Brownie here was talking her dad while you guys were gone." "B-brownie?" Ryoko question.

Suddenly, (name) was thrown into a small set of giggles at the brunette's reaction but Bishop's lingered in her head. 'Yeah, everyone really does seem to have some family issues.' She smiles to herself. Yuliy saw this and placed his hand over her's that laid on her lap underneath the table.

Glancing up at the raven-haired teen, (name) sent him a smile which he received and happy gave back. Oh, how much his smile meant to the (h/c)nette was almost incomprehensible. He meant so much to her. If only this battle wasn't going on, she would've told him weeks ago.

Dinner was satisfying. Everyone ate their full to prepare for the upcoming one that would provide no break. When they got back to the hotel, they each said their goodnights and headed off to bed.

Stripping off their shoes and coats, (name) and Yuliy strolled to different sides of the room, slipping into their sleepwear. "Hey, Yuliy," the younger teen called out as she turned around in her plain (f/c) tank top and black bottoms to see Yuliy who had only taken off his coat, scarf that was tied around his waist, and his socks and shoes. "Yeah?" He answered directing his attention towards her.

"Tonight, when we sleep, can we cuddle?"

Confused by her suggestion, Yuliy's brow arched "don't we always cuddle?" He asked thinking back to many previous nights when the two ended up cuddling because one wanted warmth (it was mostly Yuliy).

Shaking her head, (name) pouted "no, no, no. I mean really cuddle. Ya know, like you hold me. I hold you. Our legs tangle together- that stuff. I don't want it to happen after we've fallen asleep, I wanna consciously do it." She grumbled with a pink face.

She wasn't usually the one to suggest something as physical as soft cuddling but it was cute. A breathy chuckle left the Sirius' lips as he led his way to the bed, taking a seat before opening his arms up wide. Receiving it as an 'a-okay' signal, the (h/c)nette made her way to the seventeen-year-old, practically leaping into his arms.

First, they laid on their shared bed, faced each other, and engulfed one another in a warm embrace. Yuliy had his arms over (name)'s who had her over his waist. Her head buried in the older's chest, his heartbeat audible.

The mix of Yuliy's rhythmic heartbeat and the warmth of his body along with his scent eased every tension in (name)'s body better than any message. Meanwhile, Yuliy dug his face into her hair, inhaling her scent while feeling her smaller body in his stronger arms.

Honestly, it was the best feeling in the world.

The cuddling wasn't the normal "our bodies hold each other after we fell asleep" type of cuddle. It was more of a 'sensual'/deep type of contact that calmed the body, mind, and soul. Strange, I get it, but that's kind of how it felt.

And in no time at all, the two eventually fell asleep. Their heartbeats in perfect harmony as their bodies isolated them from the cold. Perhaps the reason why (name) wanted to cuddle so much was because this might be the last time they held one another like this. The future is never certain.

(੭ु˙꒳​˙)੭ु⁾⁾(੭ु˙꒳​˙)੭ु⁾⁾(੭ु˙꒳​˙)੭ु⁾⁾

Aye goobers! I updated because why not. Y A Y ! !

This chapter is more on the 'lazy yet... good job?' side of the spectrum.

The closer we get to the end, the more filler chapters we'll get because I can't end stories *sad úwù* BUT WE WILL GET THERE!

Happy ending or bad ending...? Idk. ^<

Btw, what are your thoughts of salt with watermelon and pinnaple pizza? My friend and I are having an argument about them.

Yeah... anyways, tell me your thoughts. See ya next time, goobers!!