15
1218 Words
The rest of dinner passed in a surprisingly comfortable atmosphere.
Most of the conversation came from Aurora.
Lucas answered when necessary, while Cassian only spoke whenever someone addressed him directly.
Aurora eventually gave up trying to make him talk more.
“You know what?” she said, setting down her fork. “I don’t think I’ll ever win against the two of you.”
Lucas looked at her.
“Why?”
“You both talk like every word costs money.”
Lucas shrugged.
“It saves time.”
Aurora pointed at him.
“See? Exactly my point.”
Cassian calmly reached for his glass.
“You’ve made your point.”
She sighed dramatically.
“I don’t know how either of you have friends.”
Lucas looked at her without missing a beat.
“I have you.”
Aurora paused before smiling.
“…Fair enough.”
Not long after, the three finished eating.
Lucas gathered the empty plates and carried them into the kitchen.
When he returned a few minutes later, he was holding a dark bottle of red wine and three crystal glasses.
Aurora looked up.
“Wine?”
Lucas placed the bottle on the coffee table.
“It was a gift.”
“Must be expensive.”
“It is.”
“Then why are you opening it?”
Lucas uncorked the bottle with ease.
“No point keeping good wine forever.”
He poured a little into each glass before handing one to Aurora.
She accepted it without hesitation.
Cassian quietly took his own.
The three moved into the living room.
Conversation came and went between small moments of silence.
Aurora slowly emptied her first glass.
Lucas filled it again.
She didn’t notice.
A story turned into another story.
A memory led to another.
Without realizing it, Aurora had finished a second glass…
Then most of a third.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks.
She leaned comfortably against the sofa.
“You know…”
Lucas glanced at her.
“Hm?”
“This wine isn’t bad anymore.”
“It took three glasses.”
“I was letting it introduce itself.”
Lucas shook his head faintly.
Just then, his phone vibrated on the coffee table.
The screen lit up.
Ethan Calling.
Lucas answered.
“Uncle.”
“Is Aurora with you.”
“Yeah, she’s here.”
“Ohh that’s fine then.”
“Make sure she doesn’t come home late.”
“Yes Uncle.”
His eyes briefly landed on Aurora, who was quietly staring at the ceiling.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
“I’ll bring her home.”
“Thank you Lucas.”
“Give me ten minutes.”
The call ended.
Lucas slipped the phone back into his pocket.
“I should get changed.”
Aurora lazily waved a hand.
“I’m perfectly capable of going home.”
“You can barely sit straight.”
“I am sitting straight.”
Lucas looked at Cassian.
“Keep an eye on her.”
Cassian gave a small nod.
Lucas headed upstairs.
The sound of his footsteps gradually disappeared.
Silence settled over the living room.
Aurora slowly turned her head.
Her grey eyes landed on Cassian.
Cassian met her gaze but said nothing.
Aurora tilted her head.
“You’re really quiet.”
“Hm.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“I don’t believe you.”
Cassian looked at her.
“About?”
“I think you’re pretending.”
“Pretending?”
“To be cold.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“What makes you think that?”
She pointed at him triumphantly.
“There.”
“What?”
“You asked me a question.”
Cassian rested his arm on the back of the sofa.
“I’ve asked you questions before.”
“But not because you wanted to.”
“And now?”
Aurora nodded confidently.
“You wanted to.”
Cassian didn’t bother denying it.
Instead, he reached for his glass and took another sip.
Aurora slowly stood from the sofa.
The moment she took a step, the room spun slightly beneath her feet.
She frowned.
“…The floor moved.”
“It didn’t.”
“It definitely did.”
She took another step anyway.
Then another.
Until she was standing directly in front of him.
Cassian looked up at her.
Aurora leaned down.
Closer…
Closer…
Until only a few inches separated their faces.
She stared at him with complete concentration.
Cassian remained perfectly still.
A few silent seconds passed.
Then Aurora’s eyes suddenly widened.
“Ah…”
“I know now.”
Cassian waited.
“You’re a black panther.”
The faint trace of amusement on his face disappeared.
His expression flattened immediately.
Aurora smiled proudly, clearly pleased with her conclusion.
“I knew there was something familiar about you.”
“And that is?”
She gently cupped his face with both hands.
“You’re beautiful.”
Cassian’s eyes remained fixed on hers.
“So beautiful.”
Her thumbs lightly brushed against his cheeks.
“You have really pretty eyes.”
She studied him as though she were admiring a painting.
“I’ve never seen eyes like yours before.”
Her hands slowly slid away from his face…
Landing on his shoulders instead.
Her eyes widened in amazement.
“Wow…”
She squeezed one shoulder.
Then the other.
“They’re so big.”
Another gentle squeeze.
“And wide.”
She looked genuinely fascinated.
“Do you work out every day?”
Cassian caught both of her wrists before she could continue.
His grip wasn’t rough.
Only enough to stop her wandering hands.
“I think that’s enough.”
Aurora pouted.
“I wasn’t done.”
She tried to move closer again.
Instead…
Her foot caught the edge of the rug.
Her balance disappeared instantly.
Before she could fall
Cassian stood and caught her effortlessly.
One arm wrapped securely around her waist while the other steadied her back.
He had caught her effortlessly.
He carried her across the room.
Aurora looked up at him in surprise.
“Oh…”
“You can carry people.”
He lowered her onto the armchair.
“This chair is safer.”
Aurora crossed her arms.
“I liked the other one better.”
“I know.”
Just then…
Footsteps echoed from upstairs.
Lucas walked back into the living room, now dressed to leave.
His gaze immediately landed on Aurora sitting obediently in the armchair.
Then on Cassian standing beside her.
“It’s time to go.”
Aurora nodded before standing.
This time, Lucas was quick to steady her.
As he guided her toward the front door, Aurora suddenly stopped.
She turned around and smiled brightly at Cassian.
“Byeee…”
“My beautiful black panther.”
Lucas’s hand tightened almost imperceptibly around her wrist.
For the briefest moment…
His expression darkened.
It disappeared just as quickly.
He opened the front door.
“Come on.”
Aurora gave Cassian one last cheerful wave before allowing Lucas to lead her outside.
The door clicked shut.
Silence filled the house once again.
Cassian stood where he was, his gaze lingering on the closed door.
Several moments passed.
Then…
A slow smirk formed on his lips.
“…Black panther.”
He murmured to himself.
For reasons he couldn’t explain…
He didn’t dislike the nickname.
- Writer
