♦ Where the Shadows Hide ♦

                             Just close your eyes ,

                                               And say your goodbyes

        disbelief clothes her eyes. not once did anyone            became dubious with her warning. once she let            the threat out, they comply, but him—he’s always            too stubborn, too prideful.                    ” Yes, yes I would. You know me too well.                       I do as I say. Now, leave at once or I                        swear to god I will blow your brain off. “            she pulled the gun out of her back and pointed            right on his forehead. her hand were trembling,            afraid to pull the trigger, such a foreign feeling.

Even with the threat lingering between them, Nero didn't flinch--Not even when the blonde pressed the cold barrel of the gun against his head. The tremble was felt against it and Nero slowly reached up to wrap his hand around hers to steady it for her.     "Do it then, Ryder. If you want me gone so badly, do it." He egged her on, his voice oddly calm given the situation. But he knew even if she pulled the trigger that he would be fine. It was a perk of already being dead. All the while, his dark eyes were locked on her icy once, waiting for her to either pull the trigger, or back down.

She finds herself giggling when Nero finally pulls away- a small smile on her lips. Everything had been so heavy— moments before and now it’s like she can breathe again, like she can let it go for now. She wraps her arm around his waist, and presses a soft kiss to his cheek, unable to find anything to say. She was so naked now—devoid of baggage—  and her mind was oddly blank. All she could focus on was the man next to her. “Nero…” She mumbled his name into his chest— she didn’t have to tell him how good she felt it was rolling off her in waves. And her own perceptiveness caused her to notice that he wasn’t as free as she was— there was still something on his mind. “Whatever your big secret is— you should just tell me.” She smirked slightly—half joking—but watching for his reaction. “C’mere— is— I know I’ve been ranting but are you okay— i mean not just with everything but— in general?”

Even with the physical bliss lingering inside of him, Nero's smile didn't come close to reaching his eyes as his arms encircled Andie as she placed her light, delicate kiss to his cheek. It wasn't that he wasn't happy—He was happier than he could even properly express. But it was the guilt that kept his smile from being genuine—The guilt that had him feeling like nothing more than a liar. His fingers traced light circles upon Andie's bare back, simply soaking up the skin that he had feverishly claimed for himself moments before. However, Andie's words brought him out of his own thoughts and his eyes went slightly wider than he had initially planned. She caught him off guard—He needed to give her more credit for her observant nature. With his mind in a momentary panic, Nero gave her a weak smile while his fingers moved up to toy with her curls. "I don't think you'd believe my secret if I told you, Andie," He breathed out slowly, his smile falling into a shallow frown. Did he dare tell her? The guilt was surely eating him up inside, especially after the emotional revelation that had taken place not long before. "—Or if you'd even want to stick around once you know."

Leigh-Anne at the beach in Barbados

     pushing the only person she cares about        hurts her more than it hurts the other. the        way the other made her feel can never be        compared to anything.                  ” If you don’t get out of here,                    I will kill you myself. “

"No—you won't."     His reply was stern, his voice as serious as     ever as he stood his ground. He wasn't going     to walk out and leave her in that state of mind.     Not now, or ever. "You couldn't if you tried."

                                     Los Angeles. The City of Angels. The City of Chaos.

four lyrics