02-05-2015, 11:05 AM
Zoya's radiant smile sent a ripple through him despite the chill in the air, as did the warmth of her embrace. The cold seemed to disappear completely- along with the world- for the seconds their lips touched.
And then she was wrapping her arms around his and looking up at him playful, teasing him. He looked down at her and then cracked his knuckles in an exaggerated way. "Oh yeah. I can be crafty. You just watch."
He laughed and then his face became innocent. "After this class, I bet I could weave a nice large fan for you. I do know you like to dance."
He grinned and winked at her.
Then he laughed. Truth was, he didn't mind this at all. He really did enjoy spending time with Zoya. He knew they were both playing. It was what they did.
They headed to the door of the shop when suddenly the sense of oppressive menace surged, like he had been shoved from behind. He knew what that was and spun immediately, all sense of fun and goofing off replaced with concern for Zoya's safety, for everyone's safety.
There, bearing down on him like an avalanche was a shaved headed man, face hard with fury. The menace billowed from him in waves that buffeted him. It was only an instant, but in that instant, Ivan was aware of the sea of people around them, of Zoya next to him, and of the absolute danger those people were in. Simple determination filled him without thought. This was his job. These people his responsibility.
The light was bright around him and he seized it, filled himself with it until he felt near to bursting with it. Seconds had passed but it seemed time slowed as did his breaths and the man's steps. He stepped forward to shield Zoya, one hand raised, the other going to the gun holstered under his arm, to keep the situation from escalating.
His voice seemed to come from somewhere deep inside him. "STOP!"
Though his hand was on his gun as he was trained, that was not his first instinct. He readied a dome of air to contain the threat and protect his people.
And then she was wrapping her arms around his and looking up at him playful, teasing him. He looked down at her and then cracked his knuckles in an exaggerated way. "Oh yeah. I can be crafty. You just watch."
He laughed and then his face became innocent. "After this class, I bet I could weave a nice large fan for you. I do know you like to dance."
He grinned and winked at her.
Then he laughed. Truth was, he didn't mind this at all. He really did enjoy spending time with Zoya. He knew they were both playing. It was what they did.
They headed to the door of the shop when suddenly the sense of oppressive menace surged, like he had been shoved from behind. He knew what that was and spun immediately, all sense of fun and goofing off replaced with concern for Zoya's safety, for everyone's safety.
There, bearing down on him like an avalanche was a shaved headed man, face hard with fury. The menace billowed from him in waves that buffeted him. It was only an instant, but in that instant, Ivan was aware of the sea of people around them, of Zoya next to him, and of the absolute danger those people were in. Simple determination filled him without thought. This was his job. These people his responsibility.
The light was bright around him and he seized it, filled himself with it until he felt near to bursting with it. Seconds had passed but it seemed time slowed as did his breaths and the man's steps. He stepped forward to shield Zoya, one hand raised, the other going to the gun holstered under his arm, to keep the situation from escalating.
His voice seemed to come from somewhere deep inside him. "STOP!"
Though his hand was on his gun as he was trained, that was not his first instinct. He readied a dome of air to contain the threat and protect his people.