Demkaih dashed out the door of his shop, slamming the door shut and locking it. He had been trying to sleep, tossing and turning all night to no avail. Eventually he had lept out of bed, run downstairs, fiddled in the icebox and now here he was, running down the street in his jodhpurs. The dark man knew his way, knew exactly where he was going. Turning the corner, he slowed to a jog and finally stopped at Fion's gate. Regarding her fence for a moment, he volted over it and walked to the door. Taking a few breaths, he knocked rather roughly.

"Fion!?" He said in a hoarse whisper.

"Poppy? Open the door, please!" The mugrobi hoped she could hear him.

Fion had made it back from work that night ready to sleep until the end of days. Sinking into oblivion was all she wanted but it seemed she could not have it. She lay awake for hours, sniffling quietly and feeling pathetic.



Fion wiped her eyes and got up to open the door before the noise woke Piran. She hated that all it took was a few plaintive words from him and it was all she could do not to run for him. Why did just a few harsh words from him cut her to pieces? She always went by around lunchtime, she didn't know why this one had been so different. Wasn't she worthy enough to be there while he dealt with important business?

"This is why you've never had a long-term, meaningful relationship." Fion whispered to herself, knowing she'd only truly been together with Lochlan for one day. "It is because you are a freak."

Fion opened the door partially, to shield against the cold and the possibility of being hurt.

"What is it?" She asked, black circles under her eyes more obvious than usual.

Even if she was the malfunctioning one, she was far too tired to make this smooth and easy like she would at any other time.

Demkaih's heart sank even more and he looked at the small package in his hands, then up at her again. He hadn't meant to hurt her, but he couldn't let her know.

"I...I...I brought this for you. I do not know what to say to you, my poppy. Yesterday was, a very bad day. There were people who were coming to my shop, and I did not want them to know there was someone I loved that they could use to hurt me. I just...I did not know how to tell you." He held the package of orange chocolate out for her.

"I am sorry, Fion Smith." His voice was very quiet, head bowed.

Fion gave Dem a fierce look.

"Hurt you? What did you do? Godsdamnit Dem, just who are you talking to?" Her voice was soft, worried and hurting. "Why didn't you just tell me you needed some space instead of ordering me out like the maid."

Fion sometimes hated what she was and how worthless it made her. That was what her issue had been, she decided, she didn't like feeling cast off.

"You're a jerk and I hate you." She said, petulantly, obviously not meaning a word. "I want a hug."

She opened the door a little more, shivering from the cold.

The blue eyed man frowned. Is that what he had done? He honestly didn't realize. All he'd thought he'd done was ask her to leave. Women! So complicated!



Demkaih stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, breathing in the lovely soft floral scent of her hair. He suddenly realized, it was clocking cold here! Very cold. It was freezing in mugroba at night, but still....he hated Anaxas.

"Hate me all you want, my beautiful, wonderful, amazing poppy. I still love you." He mumbled into her hair. How he wished he could talk to her about the Resistance.

Fion shivered from the cold, burrowing closer into his arms. It made her heart ease and hurt at the same time. She loved him so much.

"I don't hate you." She mumbled, feeling safe, finally. She'd felt as though she was being chased by something big and terrible all day.

She was so tired, so very tired. She mouthed the words "love you" with her head down, so he wouldn't see them. She let her eyes close and leant into him even more, hoping he never, ever went away. He smelt like spices and warmth.

She fell asleep standing up.

Demkaih smiled and held her close, relieved that the little wall that had been build between them had seemingly come down. He looked down at her and sighed.

"Oh poppy...poppy?" He listened carefully, her breathing had changed. She'd fallen asleep. Chuckling quietly to himself, he bent down slightly and scooped her up under the legs, holding her close. Quietly, he walked inside and looked around. Where the clock was her room? Looking up, he knew that was where Piran went, but he was pretty sure she didn't go there. Wandering further, he saw a small room with a couch. Gently, he rested the sleeping seamstress on the couch and grabbed a throw rug from the back, covering her with it. He moved a hair out of her face and smiled.

"If only I was not a fool." He said softly, turning and leaving back the way he came, putting the chocolate on the kitchen counter as he went. Locking the door, he pulled it shut as he left.