01-21-2015, 07:27 PM
Nox continued to joke but it was becoming clear to Lucas that he had been right. Joking was a way to keep things manageable for him, to keep them at arms length. He supposed that was one way of handling stress, at least for a short period of time. But in the long run, he would have to deal with it.
But even as he thought it, Nox made it clear the dangerous game he and Aria and his sister were playing. Lucas ground his teeth, a sickening dread in the pit of his stomach. It wasn't enough that Aria had her internal struggles to deal with. No, she had to part of some crazy cult that wanted her dead. That she couldn't escape from.
He continued to work, listening with half an ear. He felt powerless. What was he? What could he do? What difference could he make? Nox's words pulled him out of his thoughts. Nox was trapped too. It was clear the tattoo was not something he enjoyed. There was no cathartic release in the pain. If anything, it made the relatively minor pain worse because it was coupled with an emotional one.
Despite their beginning, Lucas found himself liking Nox. He wasn't sure why the man was so loyal to Aria so quickly. Course, they could ask that about him too. Maybe she just elicited it.
Nox wasn't a rival though. More importantly, he seemed genuinely to be genuine in looking out for Aria. She needed that. She knew her weaknesses, it seemed. Or was learning them.
That was enough for him. "I think we're on the same team Nox. Whatever team that is, anyway. I don't have much to offer. But it's yours. You just keep Aria safe. I guess that extends to your sister too."
It seemed like he was just getting into things deeper when the consequences just seemed to get worse and worse. Still, what was he going to do? Just walk out on her? Valentin hadn't walked out on him. No. That wasn't the kind of man he chose to be. More than that, though. He cared.
He stuck his hand out to shake Nox's hand. This didn't mean they were friends. Allies for now. With a common goal. That was enough for him. "Deal?"
But even as he thought it, Nox made it clear the dangerous game he and Aria and his sister were playing. Lucas ground his teeth, a sickening dread in the pit of his stomach. It wasn't enough that Aria had her internal struggles to deal with. No, she had to part of some crazy cult that wanted her dead. That she couldn't escape from.
He continued to work, listening with half an ear. He felt powerless. What was he? What could he do? What difference could he make? Nox's words pulled him out of his thoughts. Nox was trapped too. It was clear the tattoo was not something he enjoyed. There was no cathartic release in the pain. If anything, it made the relatively minor pain worse because it was coupled with an emotional one.
Despite their beginning, Lucas found himself liking Nox. He wasn't sure why the man was so loyal to Aria so quickly. Course, they could ask that about him too. Maybe she just elicited it.
Nox wasn't a rival though. More importantly, he seemed genuinely to be genuine in looking out for Aria. She needed that. She knew her weaknesses, it seemed. Or was learning them.
That was enough for him. "I think we're on the same team Nox. Whatever team that is, anyway. I don't have much to offer. But it's yours. You just keep Aria safe. I guess that extends to your sister too."
It seemed like he was just getting into things deeper when the consequences just seemed to get worse and worse. Still, what was he going to do? Just walk out on her? Valentin hadn't walked out on him. No. That wasn't the kind of man he chose to be. More than that, though. He cared.
He stuck his hand out to shake Nox's hand. This didn't mean they were friends. Allies for now. With a common goal. That was enough for him. "Deal?"