CHAPTER 19 : BENEATH THE NOISE
1739 Words
Belle’s POV
He still wouldn’t look at me.
Orion sat against the tree trunk, knuckles bruised, his jaw tight as if any movement would make him shatter. My hand still rested on his, and though I was prepared to let go, he hadn’t pulled away.
“Just tell me why did you do that?” I asked again, gentler now, almost a whisper.
He exhaled slowly, tilting his head back against the bark. His eyes, though no longer glowing red, still carried remnants of that storm.
“You shouldn’t have gotten involved,” he muttered again.
I blinked. “And just let you kill someone?”
He didn’t answer right away. But then he turned toward me, his lips curving into a slow, arrogant smile.
“Hmph. Maybe you just didn’t want to see me get hurt,” he said, c*****g a brow. “Or maybe… you actually like me. Is that it, Belle? You’ve been pining in silence?”
My eyes narrowed instantly. “Excuse me?”
“You ran to me like some heroic damsel,” he teased, voice low and infuriatingly smug. “You stopped me, held my face like I was about to collapse. You’re not very subtle, you know.”
“You’re insufferable,” I growled, standing up and brushing my skirt off. “I should’ve let you punch him again.”
I turned to leave.
But before I could take another step, something tugged hard at my wrist.
In one smooth motion, he pulled me back with enough force to unbalance me.
“Orion—!”
I stumbled, lost my footing, and landed awkwardly—right on his lap.
Heat shot to my face.
“Let go!” I hissed, squirming instinctively.
“No,” he said simply.
“I’m serious, Orion. Let. Me. Go.”
“You ran from me for weeks,” he said, locking one arm gently around my waist. Not tight. Not forceful. Just enough to hold me in place. “You’re staying this time.”
I stared at him, breath caught in my throat. His face was close—so close—and yet his expression wasn’t smug anymore.
It was tired. Heavy. Soft around the edges.
I didn’t answer.
Didn’t struggle again.
And somehow, my body relaxed.
We stayed like that in silence. The sound of the waterfall filled the space between us, soothing like rain against glass.
Then, without warning, Orion lowered his head and rested it on my shoulder.
“Don’t go,” he murmured.
I blinked. “I wasn’t planning to.”
He didn’t respond.
Just stayed there, breathing slow and steady.
After a while, the silence started feeling too thick.
So I spoke.
“Do you like peaches?”
He lifted his head slightly. “What?”
“Peaches. The fruit. Do you like them?” I asked, trying to ease the air around us.
Orion gave me a slow, puzzled look. “Where did that come from?”
“I’m trying to distract us,” I said. “Unless you want me to keep asking you about your emotional damage.”
He let out a short laugh. An actual laugh. “Fair enough. Yeah. I like peaches.”
“Figures,” I muttered.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Peach boy behavior,” I said matter-of-factly.
“You’re ridiculous.”
I smiled faintly. “Do you like spicy food?”
“Only if it doesn’t make my ears ring.”
“That sounds oddly specific.”
“Because it is,” he said. “My friend dared me to eat a fire pepper when we were thirteen. I couldn’t hear properly for a full day.”
I snorted.
“What about you?” he asked. “What’s your weird food thing?”
“I hate mushrooms. They remind me of damp basements.”
He chuckled. “That’s... specific.”
“Told you. Fair trade.”
We kept going like that. Stupid questions. Random facts. I told him I once thought the moon was a dying star. He told me he once punched a tree thinking it was a person during a nightmare.
He laughed more than I’d heard in weeks. Not loud laughs. Just soft, sudden bursts.
I didn’t even realize I’d relaxed so much.
Didn’t notice the way my body leaned into his.
Until my eyelids began to drift shut.
And sleep pulled me under.
My last thought was how warm he was.
How quiet the world felt.
And how safe, somehow, despite everything
Even after everything.
I fell asleep in Orion’s lap.
And for once, he didn’t push me away.
He just stayed.
---
I don’t remember when exactly I fell asleep.
But when I opened my eyes, the sun was lower in the sky—casting a faint orange glow through the trees, painting the forest in fading light.
And Orion… was still there.
His head rested against the tree trunk, eyes closed, his expression finally at peace. The harsh lines in his face were gone. He looked younger like this. Softer. Human.
I stayed still for a moment, watching him.
There was something painfully beautiful about seeing him like this—unarmed, unguarded.
If only you were always like this, I thought. If only you weren’t so cruel. So unpredictable. So... broken.
Maybe then, I wouldn’t be fighting so hard to keep my heart steady.
Maybe I wouldn’t be trying so hard not to fall.
His lashes fluttered slightly.
Then his eyes opened.
I startled and sat up quickly. “You’re awake.”
He smirked lazily. “So are you. Enjoy the view while it lasted?”
I flushed and looked away. “Shut up.”
He chuckled, voice husky from sleep. “You drooled on my coat.”
“I did not!” I gasped, checking my mouth.
He shrugged, teasing. “Too late. Evidence destroyed.”
“You’re impossible,” I muttered, pushing myself to my feet.
I glanced around and realized how low the sun had dipped. “It’s getting dark. We should head back before someone notices we’re gone.”
Orion stood with a stretch, tall and languid. He didn’t argue.
We walked together, side by side down the path through the woods. The silence between us was no longer heavy—just quiet. Simple.
That was, until I felt a hand graze the small of my back.
I stiffened.
His hand stayed there, not quite possessive, but firm. Guiding.
I quickened my steps.
He matched my pace with ease. Of course. With those long legs, he could outrun me in two strides.
I huffed, but eventually stopped resisting and let him walk beside me with his hand gently at my waist.
We reached the academy grounds just as lanterns began to glow along the corridors.
To my surprise, Orion steered us toward the cafeteria.
“Wait, what are you doing?” I asked.
“Dinner,” he said simply.
“But I was going to eat with Lira—”
He stopped and turned to me.
His expression was suddenly serious, unreadable. “You’re with me.”
I blinked. “Orion—”
“Sit with me,” he said, softer now, but no less firm.
I didn’t respond. Just followed him.
As we entered the cafeteria, the room quieted.
Dozens of students turned to stare. Conversations paused mid-sentence. Forks stopped mid-air.
I could feel their eyes crawling all over me.
I kept my gaze low.
Then I saw them.
Genevieve and Clarisse, sitting near the center.
Their eyes locked on me.
Their gazes were venomous.
I looked away quickly, shoulders stiff.
Then I felt it again.
Orion leaned closer, his mouth brushing near my ear.
“Relax, lumi” he murmured. “Let them look.”
A shiver ran down my spine. That nickname again.
We reached a table near the back. He motioned for me to sit. I hesitated.
“I really think I should go find Lira,” I said.
His jaw ticked.
“Belle,” he said, voice quiet but firm, “stay.”
I opened my mouth to protest again—
But then he raised a hand.
And to my utter confusion, a man in a formal black vest approached us from the side.
“Sir?”
My eyes widened.
“Wait… is that a waiter?” I whispered.
“There are no waiters in the cafeteria,” I added, alarmed.
Orion smirked.
“There are now.”
The man nodded, clearly briefed. “What may I bring you, Lord Leonhart?”
“Everything from the premium menu. And peach juice.”
“At once.”
I sat there, stunned. “There is no premium menu!”
“There is if you pay for it,” Orion replied casually.
Within minutes, the table was being set with silverware and linen. Dishes started to arrive—sizzling meats, steaming bread, glazed vegetables, even desserts.
My stomach growled before I could stop it.
Orion noticed. He picked up a spoon.
“No,” I said quickly, seeing the glint in his eye.
“What?” he asked innocently, holding a piece of roasted pumpkin. “You look like you haven’t eaten properly in days.”
“I can feed myself,” I muttered.
He gave me a knowing look but didn’t argue.
Instead, he began filling my plate silently.
To distract myself, I reached for conversation.
“So,” I said slowly, “what exactly is your magic?”
He blinked. “That came out of nowhere.”
“Call it curiosity.”
He leaned back slightly, resting his elbow on the back of the chair. “Elemental control. Mostly fire and pressure. And yours?”
“Still figuring it out,” I said. “But I’m told it’s memory-based. I see things. Echoes.”
He nodded. “That’s rare.”
I toyed with a piece of bread. “Have you been anywhere outside of Velmire?”
He tilted his head. “Why?”
“Just wondering.”
“Once in Nuester. When I was younger. It was... cold. Beautiful. The skies there are endless.”
I smiled a little. “I’ve only ever seen pictures in books.”
“You’d hate it. They don’t serve peach juice.”
I laughed under my breath.
He looked at me then, really looked. And for the first time, he wasn’t teasing.
Just... quiet. Content.
And I didn’t mind staying.
- Writer
