Song: Heart by Heart by Demi Lovato
When you're one with the one you were meant to find
Everything falls in place, all the stars align
When you're touched by the cloud that has touched your soul
Don't let go
Someone comes into your life
It's like they've been in your life forever
No there's no one else's eyes
That could see into me
No one else's arms can lift
Lift me up so high
Your love lifts me out of time
And you know my heart by heart

"Come in, my dear girl." Noah beckoned, he already gave her a knowing smile even before she spoke.

Glacia was well aware that she looked and felt both like a mess. Even if she had showered, her cheeks were a bright red, evidence that all that was on her mind was the kiss she had shared. Her hair was knotted in her ponytail, her hands quivering slightly as she kept pressing the fingernails into her palms to try and compose herself.

She took a seat opposite from Noah. Noah grinned as though he knew that someone had taken that same seat. He drank his beer in a large gulp. "I would ask you if you're alright, but no. You don't look fine at all. Was it the battle?"

Glacia shook her head. "The battle was terrible, but I am slowly adapting to this dangerous environment." She bit her lip at the thought of the Energiser, and how Asher had told her that he had a plan. She wished she had known what it was. She wished she was there to share that burden...

"You're shaking. I'll get you a blanket."

"No. It doesn't help the ice. It's my damn virtus acting up again, and only Asher can heal that for me."

Noah was staring at her curiously. "The way you say his name. You've come to me to speak about him, am I right?"

Glacia was reminded of her anger. "Why had you tricked me into thinking he was Luke?"

"So you know."

"Of course I knew. You could blindfold me and drug me, but I'd always still know it was Asher in front of me. He connects with me in a way that I can't explain. It's like he's the puzzle piece I never knew I needed." She tensed at this, not meaning to have those words gushed out of her. But it had poured out of her like a river, relaxing the muscles. It felt good to say it.

Noah sat closer, as if he was watching a very entertaining show. "How did you know it was him? Was it only when I had taken the spell off you?"

Glacia thought back to the time. How her mind had told her it was Luke but her heart had screamed Asher's name.

"I knew it was Asher. It took me a while, but after I took notice of some telltale signs, my sight was clear again. The drink wore off and I only saw Asher in front of me, even before you stopped your stupid spell."

Noah raised an eyebrow. "When you rested your head on his shoulder, did you know it was Asher then?"

Glacia should have suspected something when Noah seemed to know more about her encounter with Asher than he should know. However, she was caught up with the words that it had slipped past her attention.

"No. At that point in time, I thought it was Luke. It was something I'd do to him as a friend. I could read Luke like a book when I was young. I would kiss him on the cheek, hug him, rest my head on his shoulder, joke about the past, but that was purely platonic. Luke is like a brother to me."

"That's not what Asher thinks. He gets hurt when he sees you with Luke."

Glacia widened her eyes. "If you asked anyone else, they would be able to tell that I don't look at Luke the way I look at Asher. I think of them both very differently."

A smile tugged at the corner of Noah's lips. "I do know. But amuse me, and tell me what is it you think of Asher?"

Glacia took a deep breath. She pulled out the key and twisted it, unlocking her heart. It was a lock that freed shackles she didn't know she was wearing.

"When he's there, the world fades away. Everything is black and white, but he's in front of me, bursting with color. When he smiles, it lifts me up and makes me feel like flying. When he hurts, it feels like someone has stabbed in the chest. When he is blank, wearing that mask to pretend he doesn't feel, it pains me the most to see. I know what that costs him. He feels empty. He doesn't feel loved."

For a moment, she thought she had heard a sharp intake of breath behind the shoji screen.

Noah looked at something briefly behind Glacia, but she was too transfixed on her emotions to realize. He turned back and asked the girl, "How long has it been since you feel this way?"

"I don't know. I can't pinpoint a moment that I suddenly felt like this, but it came crashing like the ocean meeting the shoreline. It rose and then slid away, but unlike the ocean it did nothing to rub away the marks Asher had left on me. Ever since, I've only paid attention to him.

At first I hated him. I was disgusted that he had the slightest thought of wanting me dead. Then he showed care for me, and I was confused. I thought if I stuck closer, maybe I could bring revenge upon him. But it never came. I began to see him for who he really is."

Asher can be a fool sometimes. He hides what he feels thinking it's for the best of everyone else. He gives so much of himself for others that he has forgotten what it feels like to smile. He holds himself up high, deceptively calm when handling people, reckless when handling himself — throwing himself into the front of battle without thinking twice sometimes. So I thought that I should be there for him. I would share his burden, since I was his socius anyway. I was blind to the fact that he had once despised me, wished me dead — maybe he still does. All I could think about was healing him. Then I began to pick up the smallest of things."

She felt movement behind her. Nonetheless, she didn't care. It was too late to stop now.

"Like the way he tucks his hands into his pockets when he walks as if he fears that they could unleash a fire at anytime. The way he exhales deeply when he thinks he's alone; finally he need not keep up with the pretense. The way he smiles lovingly at the children in this Realm, ripping off his high status and smug grin for a moment because he feels the need to protect their innocence. The way he tilts his head slightly when he looks at me, remembering something I don't know. The way he, he —"

Noah held up a hand. "Believe me, I'm an Eros Regiis, but this is the first time I have ever felt uncomfortable at something so cheesy. You should go to Asher and tell him that instead."

Glacia shook her head. "I can't. That's why I came here. You can control the heart's emotions, right? Help me. Take the feelings I have for Asher away from me."

Noah halted. "Why would you want that?"

Glacia looked at her hands, closing her eyes. "I saw the way he looked at me after we kissed. He looked like he regretted it. I know Asher. With looks, abilities and powers like that, he could have any girl he desired. Gosh, he's the Crown Prince. He would most definitely not want me—"

Warm lips pressed against the back of her neck. Glacia jumped, falling right into a pair of strong arms.

"You're an idiot for thinking I wouldn't want you."

Asher. Glacia was shivering from the shock and the closeness of him encircling behind her. He kissed the top of her head, hands clasping hers.

"Asher? How long had you been here?" The couch opposite Glacia was empty now. Noah had left the room when she wasn't looking, the door clicking behind him.

Asher spun her around so his eyes were only inches from hers. She gasped at the black and red and gray coalescence.

"Do you — do you like me?"

Glacia looked down, refusing to answer. She could feel the flush creeping up her cheeks, despite her attempts to stop it.

He moved a hand to trace her lips gently, looking down at its pink curvatures. "Don't feel embarrassed about it, because I will always like you even more."

"Glacia." He whispered her name, mystified, as if it was the only word he ever knew.

She didn't know if she had been the one to reach for him, or if he had pulled her close first. They were crashing onto each other, lips finding each other's so quickly and so intensely.

He traced the corners and edges of her lips with his. She shuddered in his arms as he held her against him, grip gentle but mouth not. Her hands found her way to his back and roamed, it was always something she had thought of doing yet did not dare to. But finally, he could be in her arms...

And he felt the same way she felt for him. That was incredible.

That thought was pulled away as he deepened the kiss. She clung onto him, trying to avoid a smooth sound of soft pleasure from escaping her lips. He was a really good kisser, and the thought made Glacia giggle nervously against his mouth.

"What's so funny?" He pulled back just enough to breathe, and to speak, giving a cheeky grin.

Glacia stilled now, holding back a little bit. When she did, he didn't push it. He always respected her decision. He never treated her anything less than equal to him.

"Does this mean that you like me?"

Asher laughed. It had touched his eyes, showing nothing but sincerity. "Is that even a question?"

"Yes, it is." The hands that were under his palms moved, she daringly placed it onto his sides. She saw what that cost him. He sucked in his breath.

Glacia flushed as she asked his next question. "Have you been practicing? Are you very experienced in — in kissing?"

Asher sighed, cupping her cheek. "Is that something you've thought about a lot? Do you feel as though I'm a player? That I've been with girls a lot?"

"I just fear it — I don't understand why you would even want to kiss someone like me, given that you look like that and would have anyone you want —"

"Stop." He took her hands and gently spun her so she was looking into a mirror. She saw herself, and him right behind her, with his arms around her collarbones, fitting her to a tee. He was disheveled, but weren't they both?

"Look at yourself, Glacia Leia Shearstone. You're beautiful. An amazing warrior that I don't deserve. Hell, I don't think there are words to describe how great you are..."

He pressed his lips to her head and ruffled her hair gently. "You are the only one that could put me in my place like that, who could see through me like that, who could make me feel things like that." He shivered. "I have lived an empty life for a long while, Glacia. But in the past months that you have come, I have felt everything. Happiness. Contentment. Anxiety. Jealousy. Desire. Gratification. Awe. Amazement — okay, my vocabulary is limiting me."

Glacia laughed, reaching up behind her absently to cradle his cheek. He was cute when he was nervous like that.

"I'm not good at confessions, Glacia. I can speak confidently in front of a crowd, but I seem to trip over my words when I'm with you. You mean too much to me, and I keep screwing it up. I'm so sorry to have made you think that you wouldn't mean much to me. I'm here to tell you you do.

Glacia, I cannot lie to you without breaking my heart. So I will not. I have been with others, yes, but not as many as you probably think and not in ways that you believe. And I know from the way you look you have been too. I'm not blind, any man would have wanted you as I do. But believe me, I have never felt anything even close to what I feel for you. I have never desired anyone as I have desired you. Believe me when I say it's beneath me to do this, but I watch you when you sleep, did you know that?"

Glacia jolted a little. "You — what? When?"

A smirk played on his lips. "Once in the infirmary, when you slept more than I did despite being unscathed; another time when you were having nightmares in your room. You were screaming —Ouch."

Glacia stepped on his foot, hard. This only made him laugh more, fingers tracing her cheek.

"I'm sorry. Hit me if you like. I couldn't help it. I wouldn't do anything, but it's just that it gave me comfort to know that you were at peace. I was so afraid of what being in the Realm would do you. But I'm so glad to see that you have never changed. I would never want you to change, because this is what I like about you. And if by the end of this speech you still think a person like me would willingly say something so deep to anyone else, then I would —"

Glacia spun around and took his face. She traced a finger along his jawline and kissed him quickly. She pulled away, and held up her finger, joking. "Ouch, I cut myself."

"Where?" Asher spoke with alarm, quickly surveying the finger. When he saw the skin intact, he eased and Glacia laughed, shaking her head.

Asher didn't understand, but he pulled her to him anyway. He kissed the feelings that he didn't know to convey. Like he said, he was very lost with words with her around.

But Glacia was a good speaker. She made up for the things he couldn't do. She cupped his cheek as he held her by the waist, against him. Glacia's eyes were bright now.

"I always thought you were untouchable. Too high up. But now you're here, in my arms..."

Asher made a low noise, only half-joking. "I could do more—"

Glacia laughed. The hair wrapped around her like a halo, she indeed looked like an angel wearing white. He trailed up to her hair and undid the rubber band.

"Gosh. Every time I tie it, you take it down." She said jokingly against his lips. "You like my hair, huh? That's strange. I thought the platinum blonde was too peculiar, like an old woman's hair."

Asher grinned. "Trust me, there's nothing you need to feel insecure about. And no, your hair isn't white like that — it's a different shade, gold mixed with titanium white mixed with flax and mellow and banana —"

"Banana?" Glacia chuckled. Still, she ruffled his hair gently, untangling the wisps. "Okay, but you know your shades of colors. I should take you to paint sometimes."

Asher shook his head, holding up his hands. "My hands aren't steady. They're calloused and scarred from too many battles. They'd be even more unsteady if you're there with me."

He closed his eyes so the eyelashes tipped his cheeks. "There's something I must admit. I've seen your sketchbook."

Glacia's eyes went to the book on the table. But she wasn't angry. Only understanding. If it were anyone else, she would be mad because it had meant so much to her. In this case, it helped bring them together.

"I was looking for it. I feared that in my delirious state of mind, I had given it to Noah. Looks like I did." She shook her head at her drunk self.

Glacia reached over him, pulling the sketchbook to her. She opened a page that was incomplete, as if she had memorized exactly where that page was. It was Asher when he was littler, standing next to her mother.

"My favorite one." She closed her eyes. "I wished she could see us now. Could see us together."

Asher interlocked their fingers. "Trust me, she's watching. Telling me in my ear that she's going to kill me if I did anything to you this late at night."

Glacia cackled. She was amazed how much he could make her laugh. Her heart never felt so full of someone before.

"I was trying to match the correct color to your eyes. But I never ever get your eyes right. They change every time I look at it. More beautiful each day." She pointed down at the small figure of Asher. "I wanted to draw how you were like when you were younger, but I didn't know how you looked."

She ran her hand along his arms, down his sides, smoothing his muscles. "Were you toned back then?"

"You're sly. You just wanted to touch me." He shook his head in mock reprimand.

Glacia chuckled, withdrawing her hands now. "Okay, you caught me."

He caught her arms. "Well, if you want to, you don't need an excuse to, you know." He broke out into a grin. "I'm all yours. My heart is all yours. Take it, take everything."

Glacia kissed his cheek, her cold meeting his warmth. It encapsulated them both. Next, she reached down and undid the necklace she was wearing. The ruby one that Luke had given to her.

"I saw the way you look at this necklace on me. I didn't know what that look meant, I'm not used to jealousy directed my way. Sorry I didn't take the hints, but I want you to know that you're all that I think about, all that I need."

His hand moved to hers, massaging the fingertips. "Glacia, you don't have to do this. Keep the necklace. I'm not asking you to stay awake from Luke. No one should have a say in what you do, okay? Not even a boyfriend. I can't demand things from you like that, because if I really cared for you, I would always want you to do what makes you happy. And I know Luke makes you happy, as a friend. Different from how I make you happy. I didn't know then, but I get it now."

Boyfriend. Glacia's lips parted. She was shaken to the core. She wanted to be closer to him, even closer —

"What did I do to deserve you?" She spoke incredulously.

He picked her up from under, carrying her. She couldn't help but giggle. He was gentle, but he could take her so easily as if she weighed nothing.

"I should be asking that. I still don't understand why you would like a person like me. But I feel that I'm starting to become a better man because of you, and I like it. Maybe someday I'd actually be deserving of you."

He brought her to her room, set her down on the bed. She scooted over, but he gave a small smile and went over to the couch instead.

She pouted, but slid under the covers nonetheless. It was good in a sense. She had changed, but Asher hadn't. Thinking about what she wore, she wished she had worn something nicer. But Asher had said that she looked good in whatever she wore, and if Asher said it, she would believe it.

"Are you going to be watching me sleep again?"

Asher went over to kiss her forehead. "Yes, unless you'd like me to leave. I'd understand if you would."

"No." Glacia sat up so quickly the bed shook. Asher's eyes widened and he laughed at her intensity. "Don't go. Stay with me."

"If you insist."

Glacia rolled her eyes, laughing. "Go to sleep too. You had a long day, you'll need the rest.

He lay down on the couch, still watching her. "Okay."

Glacia dived under the covers and wrapped it around herself like a cocoon.

"Goodnight, Asher." She yawned.

Everything was still, and for a second Asher had thought she had fallen asleep. Then she scrambled up quickly again, hyper as if she had just awoken.

"I thought you said you didn't like people."

Asher briefly recalled his words. Perplexed, he replied. "I don't."

Glacia paused for a moment, face falling. Then, he continued.

"I only ever fall hopelessly for."

She smiled, appeased with his answer. She lay back down, rolling on her side so she could see him too. Then, she closed her eyes.

"Goodnight, Glacia." He said, but she was already asleep.

Asleep. The girl who never slept well, finally slept in peace.