You might need to turn ur brightness up a lil bit to see the picture good.

Juliette

Once Alastor and I arrived at the park, I took the lead slightly and started guiding him towards where I wanted to go.

I could see him from my peripheral glancing down at me, probably wondering what I was doing.

But, he didn't say anything and simply allowed me to be his guide.

I know this park like the back of my hand, and there's plenty of places that we haven't been to. I'm taking him to my favorite secret place from when I was a child.

It got to the point where I had to unlink my arm from his, and absentmindedly just took hold of his hand instead so I wouldn't lose him.

Finally, the suspense must have been too much for him and he spoke up.

"Where, pray tell, are you taking me?"

There was a hint of amusement in his voice and I briefly glanced back at him.

"You'll see. It's not much further."

We were no longer on a path, instead just walking through the forest and stepping over roots and rocks.

And at long last, we arrived at the entrance to my special spot. A place where no one would bother us, and I can talk to him in peace.

The entrance was a large mossy wall with Ivy hanging down over a cave.

I pulled him into it and we emerged on the other side to a hidden paradise.

A small pond, with bright flowers blooming all around and a small waterfall. I'm glad it looks the same as it did back then.

With a smile, I turned to him and took his other hand in mine, taking him over to a soft mossy spot.

"Sit, I want to talk to you about something."

He plopped down obediently, giving me that lost puppy look that he gets when he's confused.

"Should I be concerned?"

"No, I don't believe so."

I hummed and prepared myself, fidgeting slightly as a procrastination tactic.

My eyes could only stand fragments of contact with his. My heart was suddenly pounding in my ears now that the actual time to talk to him has come.

Surprisingly enough, he remained quiet and waited for what I had to say.

"I just... I wanted to bring you here because this place is special to me, and I wanted to share it with you...because you're...special...to me."

I took pauses between my words, glancing up at him to gauge his reaction. He looked at me with wide, clueless eyes.

"That's nice, dear. It's a beautiful place, one must agree."

He looked around and I wanted to smack my hand against my face. I hope he's not acting dumb because he's rejecting me.

I decided to just bite the bullet, and I reached over and put my hand over his. That brought his attention back to me quickly.

He glanced down at our hands and then back to me.

"No... I mean... I... what I'm trying to say is you mean a lot to me, Alastor... and, I was wondering if you wanted to get closer to me... I'd like to know who you are..."

He didn't move his hand away from mine, but stayed silent, so I continued.

"W-we've just known each other for a while now, and the only thing I really know about you is that you— well... you know. But I just..."

My eyes fell to the mossy ground beneath us and the smile slowly faded from my lips.

He was still silent, and I was starting to feel like a fool.

What was I thinking? The delusions I was fostering in my mind of him reciprocating my feelings gave me false confidence.

We shared a single kiss in the alley way that night, but that was just a thank you for saving my life.

My hand moved away from his and I was about to tell him never mind, but then I felt fingers against my chin and he tilted my head up, forcing me to look at him.

His eyes were very intense, giving me that same look he gave me that night in the alleyway. A raw, analytic gaze that seemed to be dissecting me.

"Is that why you sound so worried? You're afraid I don't care for you?"

His voice was soft. A gentleness I honestly didn't even know he was capable of radiated from him.

"My darling girl...Juliette..."

His thumb brushed over my cheek, and I waited anxiously for what he'd say next, but he didn't say anything.

Instead, his lips were pressed against mine before I could even react.

His technique was still a bit stiff, but the kiss itself was a lot less awkward.

After a few seconds I practically melted into him, wrapping my arms around his neck as I tilted my head, giving us both room to deepen the kiss.

I couldn't help but sigh softly, relief flooding through my veins and calming a stress I didn't realize I'd been carrying.

Once we finally separated, both of us needed a moment to catch our breath.

Still only inches apart, he held me close to him and tilted his head. The smile on his face was much softer, and was in the most relaxed state I'd ever seen it. For a second, I thought he might even stop smiling completely.

"Did that answer any concerns you may have had?"

He still spoke softly, and I couldn't help but smile like an idiot as I nodded.

Finally, I could let myself relax against him, and dissolve into his touch like foam into the sea.

~*~

Alastor and I completely lost time in the park.

We were laid down next to each other, and I was laughing at one of his classic puns. The sky above us was slowly shifting to midnight, stars beginning to show.

The air had a slight chill, and the wind was blowing gently.

I was busy looking up at the darkening sky, trying to find constellations when I looked over and caught Alastor staring at me.

My eyes widened slightly and I felt a bit of heat gather in my cheeks when he didn't look away.

We shared a silent moment before I spoke softly.

"Why do you look at me like that...?"

He blinked and tilted his head before sitting up slightly. I followed suit, sitting up as well.

"Like what?"

I couldn't help but smile and shake my head.

"Like I'm a puzzle...or an equation you've never seen before."

He seemed taken aback, as if he was surprised that I was able to see what he was thinking by the look in his eyes.

That made me snort softly and cover my mouth as I giggled.

"Alastor, I've known you more than long enough to be able to see through your smile. I don't know why you smile all the time, but after a while... it's pretty easy to tell what you're thinking. Most of the time..."

This was one of those rare moments I rendered him speechless. Though, it didn't last for long because he rolled his shoulders back and shrugged.

"Fair enough, I suppose. Sometimes when I'm looking at you I feel... I don't know. Strange? Yes, strange. I want to figure out what it is about you that makes me feel this way..."

I listened to him like he was telling the secrets of our universe. I'm not even sure if I was breathing.

He was finally letting me in, if ever so slightly...

My body shifted towards him and I reached over and very gently touched his cheek. When I felt the slight weight of his head against my hand as he relaxed against my touch, my chest swelled.

So this is who you are...

"You're so lovely, Alastor... I don't think you truly understand that I'd be lost if you hadn't walked into the diner that day..."

He smiled a bit softer and closed his eyes, putting his hand over mine before sliding it down to my wrist.

"Thank you my dear... but you're wrong."

My smile fell as he removed my hand from his face and opened his eyes, looking down at the mossy ground as the wind blew through his hair.

"I am a wicked man. Wretched and violent. There's nothing about me that you should admire..."

I frowned at him and then promptly plopped over onto the ground below him so he'd be forced to look me in the eye.

His somber expression perked up into one of surprise.

"Stop that. I like you, Alastor. I really, really like you. Perhaps that makes me wicked, too..."

I sighed softly before turning over and crawling towards him, causing him to back up slightly.

"But that's just a matter of perspective. Some people are calling you the angel of death. Others, a monster from hell... but I've only ever known you as Alastor... the man that annoys me while I work, and drinks coffee like it's water. The man that tells dumb jokes, and loves to hear himself talk..."

The more I spoke, the redder his face became.

"...and I've never once thought you were wicked... maybe annoying and loud, but never wi—"

In one smooth motion he slipped his arm around my waist and closed the space between us.

This time when he kissed me it was as if he'd been doing it his whole life. He was relaxed and passionate, not once second guessing his next move.

He didn't need to say anything, because actions speak louder than words.

My arms wrapped around his neck and I just smiled against his lips, letting the moment speak for itself.