24-Crow
1175 Words
For a moment, we just stood there, the quiet of the room interrupted only by the soft ticking of the clock on the wall. Then she looked away. "What happens now?"
I took a step closer, my hand reaching out to brush a lock of hair from her face. "Now," I said softly, "we regroup, we heal, and we prepare."
The silence between us grew heavier, charged with a tension that had nothing to do with the events of the night. It was the kind of tension that comes from two people who know they shouldn't want each other but can't seem to ignore the pull.
"Thank you," she whispered, her eyes meeting mine again. "For everything."
"No thanks needed," I replied, my voice gruff.
And with that, the moment broke, and we turned our attention back to the matter at hand.
"You guys need to get some rest," Mel said, her voice strained from the night's events.
I grunted in acknowledgment, knowing she was right. We couldn't keep pushing ourselves to the brink without breaking. But the thought of rest was a luxury that felt foreign.
"We're not out of the woods yet," I said. "But we're closer than we were."
I could tell exhaustion was taking its toll on Oceano as standing, she wobbled a little on her feet, "I'm putting Lep to bed," she murmured. "I'll see you guys in the morning."
I watched as she walked out of the kitchen, and Mel asked, "You okay, Dad?"
I cleared my throat and turned away, avoiding her gaze. "Yeah," I said gruffly. "Just tired."
"Sure," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. But she didn't push it. She knew better.
As the house settled into a tense quiet, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were all just biding our time for the next storm to hit
The chords of "The River" by JJ Grey played softly in the background. The lyrics spoke to me, echoing the tumultuous journey my life had taken. The song was about finding peace in the chaos, about letting go of what you couldn't change and embracing the flow of life—something I hadn't managed to do in years.
But then Oceano came into the bar with her fiery spirit and eyes that held the same stormy depths as her dad's. She'd walked into the Murder of Crows, and into my heart, without even realizing what she’d done—she'd become my river, my sanctuary in the storm that was my life.
Her voice was music to my ears, a sweet melody that cut through the harsh realities of the world outside. We talked about Leo, about the future, about the past. The way she spoke about her brother, with such fierce love and protectiveness, it was a reminder of what I'd lost, what I'd given up for the patch on my back. But with her, there was a glimmer of hope, a chance to find redemption in the eyes of the woman who held a piece of my soul.
The song grew louder in my head, the words taking on a new meaning as I watched her. JJ’s words resonated within my head, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I believed everything would be okay. Oceano was the current that could carry me to calmer waters, if only I had the courage to let go of the guilt that had been pulling me under.
But the Serpents, they were the storm clouds on the horizon, threatening to wash away everything I'd built. And with Snake's vendetta against the Renegades, against me, it was only a matter of time before the skies opened up and the flood came. I had to keep Oceano safe. I had to protect her from the wrath that was bound to come. I had to protect her from the secrets I carried. I could never let her be mine. But the more time we spent together, the more I wanted to claim her as just that.
As the day grew late, the bar became quieter as the regulars trickled out, and it was just us, the music, and the shadows that danced on the walls.
I was turning off the open sign when Oceano came out of the back. Leaning against the counter, her eyes searched mine.
"You okay?" she asked softly.
"Yeah," I lied. But I knew she wasn't fooled.
"You don't have to protect me, you know," she said, her eyes filled with a fierce determination that mirrored my own. “You’re not obligated to do so just because you were dad’s friend.”
If she only knew the truth.
Taking a breath, I simply stated, “Let’s call it a night.”
~OCEANO~
I stirred from my slumber to the tantalizing scent of freshly brewed coffee. Throwing aside the blanket, I swung my legs over the side of the bed. The house was quiet, the darkness a comforting embrace around me. My bladder's insistent reminder led me to the bathroom, the quietness of the house echoing my solitude.
After washing my face and hands, I checked in on Leo, finding him sleeping peacefully. I was relieved that he was resting easily, the little guy had been through so much.
After easing the door to Leo’s room back closed, I made my way down the stairs and into the living room. Pausing, at seeing the time, I slowly shook my head, surprised I’d managed to gain a few hours of sleep.
Continuing on my way, the coffee calling to me, I poured a cup, cradling it in my hands. Its warmth spread through me, a small comfort against the chill of the house’s air conditioning. The quiet of the house was deceptive, a thin veil over the tumult of my thoughts.
The clinking of the spoon against the cup seemed to echo through the room as I stirred sugar into the coffee’s darkness, my eyes wandering to the backyard through the window above the sink.
The moonlight played over the surface of the pool’s smooth surface, the water only broken by Crow’s strong body slicing through it with the grace of a predator. He was a vision of power and beauty, and I couldn't tear my eyes away.
With a boldness I didn't recognize, I set my cup aside and approached the glass door. Each step felt like a silent declaration, my heart hammering in my chest. I watched him, his muscles rippling with every stroke, and I knew I had to be closer.
Without a second thought of my actions, I slipped out of my clothes and into the pool, my movements as fluid as the water itself.
Crow's sharp intake of breath told me he'd noticed my presence. But he didn't stop, didn't acknowledge me until I was right behind him. And when he did, his eyes burned with a passion that made me tremble. He whispered something, but I didn't dare speak, didn't dare break the spell. I knew what I wanted.
- Writer
