Steven woke up. He wasn't sure what the time was but he knew something wasn't right; the other side of the bed felt cold and empty when just recently it began to occupy another person; the ever so lovely Layla El-faouly. Blinking several times, Steven searched around his flat for any sign of life. The only lights visible was the from the fish tank and the moon's bright glow coming down through the windows. Steven waited for a few minutes for Layla to return back, not thinking much of it at first but the minutes dragged on too long.
Forcing his bare feet out of the comfort of his bed, he walked quietly to the bathroom in hopes of finding her. Though to his misforture, the floor boards creeked. Steven would make a terrible spy.
Steven internally, the flour sounding his arrival. He heard movement from the bathroom. He kept going till he poked his head round the door. Steven kept his eyes closed in case he was invading her privacy.
Without seeing her, he spoke up in a whisper; "You alright there, love?"
"Steven?" Layla sniffled. "You can open your eyes." She stated.
Steven hesitated for a moment but did as he was told. He saw Layla half in the darkness of the room. Body pulled close to her. The moon shone through the small bathroom window, the light caressing down on her bare legs. She was wearing a white silk sleeping gown, which Steven very much liked but of course now wasn't the time to marvel at her beauty.
"Can't sleep, dear?" He asked as he fully entered the room and sat on the floor opposite her. Her dark untamed curls shileded parts of her face.
She shook her head. "Bad dream." Steven smiled softly in understading.
"I know that feeling all too well. Though it turned out my nightmares were actually real..." Steven stopped himself, realising he was digressing into his rambling. "What was it about? The bad dream?"
Layla smiled up to him sadly. "Doesn't matter, Steven. Wasn't real."
"Don't matter if it weren't real, love. Doesn't make it hurt any less." Steven still kept his voice delicate and low. He wasn't quite used to seeing this vulnerable side of this strong and fierce woman.
For a moment, Layla did not reply straight way, only gazed up into Steven's loving and gentle eyes. Steven could get lost in those eyes of hers too. She was a living godess in his presence.
"Marc died. Again."
Steven's heart sank in his chest, he remebered. He was not fronting at the time but he remembered the sound of the gun, the sound of their body falling into the water. He had not once thought about the pain Layla had went through loosing her husband after only reuniting with him just recently.
"Oh." Steven spoke out into the darkness. "Sorry. Seeing Marc get shot, that..that must of been hard for you to see. Yet you still carried on. Taking Harrow all on your own. Never met anyone as strong as you before." He smiled brighter.
"I lost you too, Steven."
"We came back." Steven reached out a hand to place on her bare knee. He hesitated as Layla began to straighten her back, holding her head up. Steven could see the aftermath of tears on her brave face that was she putting on. Steven discreetly hid his hand away.
"I know. It still hurt, Steven. I've always kept on moving. Never stoping.." Layla grit her teeth as her voice hitched in her throat.
"Yet you never really gave yourself time to mourn." Steven said, completing her setence. "You are bloody amazing, Layla. You really are."
Layla smiled through the pain. "Not all the time."
Without thinking, Steven reached out to take her hand into his. "Think me and Marc would highly disagree on that one. You're the best thing that's ever happened to us."
Layla looked down at their hands clasped together, she gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
"You've been through hell and back. Marc and I.. we should of been there for you more. You're always so strong that we-we never stopped to think about the pain you'd been feeling."
"No, that wasn't your fault, Steven. Marc was the one that left."
"And dear god, I never would of left you." If someone said Steven worshipped the ground she walked on, Steven would not disagree.
Layla finally smiled, a geniune one that lit up her sorrow stained face. Her eyes still shone with fresh tears that sliped down.
"The world really doesn't deserve someone as sweet as you, Steven Grant." Layla pulled herself closer to him, resting head agaist his clothed chest. Steven stood as still as stone, his mind tangled up with an abundance of thoughts. Marc and Steven both knew they didn’t deserve this wondorous women.
As if touching something fragile, Steven placed a hand on her curls.
“It’s alright, Layla, you can be vulnerable with me. God knows how many times I’ve been an absolute mess in front of you.” Steven huffed out a sigh. It was too easy for Steven to be vulnerable, it was his natural state sometimes. It was hard not for him to show his true feelings and emotions.
Layla relaxed in his cautious embrace. With his remaining free arm, he placed it around her, careful not to touch her skin as he cradled her form. He hadn’t realised how small she actually was.
Sure, they had kissed before but this felt more intimate than the kiss somehow. Had Steven often wished to kiss her again on multiple occasions? A hundred percent. He just wasn't the greatest at picking his moments.
Steven wrapped his arms around her more closely. Layla remained quiet, her hand resting above his heart.
"Your heart's racing." Layla simply noted.
Steven eyes widened. His mind was racing just as fast. "Sorry. It's just that, you know, we're..we're very close. Physically."
Layla let out a soft laught.
"God, I've made this akward now, hasn't I?" Steven muttered.
With the lightness in her voice still remaining, she pulled her head away from his chest to meet his gaze. Their faces only two inches away from one another.
"No. You haven't." Layla placed a hand on Steven's cheek. Steven swallowed down his nerves. Oh how he wished he could be more of a man for her, though he guessed Layla had Marc for that.
Layla contiuned; "Thank you. You always seem to know what to say."
Steven akwardly shrugged. "Really? Usually whatever I say gets on everyones nerves." He muttered. It was becoming increasinly hard for Steven to not let his eyes now roam at this lovely form in front of him. And Layla probably knew that due to the ever so smal smirk at the corner of her lips.
Steven decided to internally shove his damned anxiety inside a sarcophagus for a few minutes.
"Well those people were never worth your time."
His face softned, feeling the warmth from her hand on his cheek. Without another word, Steven reached up with his hand as he used his thumb to wipe away the last remaining tears.
"Je sens mon âme à la tienne attachée," Steven spoke.
I feel my soul is joined to yours
Layla smiled, she moved Steven's hand onto her cheek as she held it there.
"J'entends battre ton cœur qui m'appelle tout bas,"
I hear the beat of your heart calling me softly
And Steven's heart was definetly calling to her. He continued the next stanza;
"Heureuse, triste, et sur ton sein penchée"
Happy, sad and clasped to your breast
"Ah ! Si tu veux m'y retenir cachée," Layla replied.
Ah! If you want to keep me hidden there,
The tips of their noses were now touching. Together, in union, they whispered the final verse from the poem;
"Ne parle pas..." They breathed into each other.
Do not speak.
In an instant, Steven placed both of his hands on the side of her face and pulled her into a desperate kiss that he'd been holding back for far too long.
To Steven's suprise, Layla's weight easily overpowered him. He'd let her either way. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling herself closer, causing Steven to groan softly.
Unfortunatly, their lips had to depart but their hands and face stayed very close in place. Foreheads touching, they opened their eyes to meet on another.
"Well I weren't expecting that.." Steven grinned like a love struke fool, breathing heavy.
Layla smiled back with a chuckle. "Steven you can't just quote romatic french poetry to a lady without some hidden intention behind it."
Steven slightly panicked. "No, no, no..god no, I swear it wasn't my intention to, to.."
"To seduce me?" Layla raised a playful eyebrow. Well that was certainly not a word in Steven Grant's wide ranch of vocabulary.
Steven began to mumbled out a bunch of non coherent sounds till Layla placed a finger to his lips.
"Shh. It's fine, Steven." She removed her finger once Steven's panic had subsided. Layla unraveled herself, giving both of them some space now.
"You truly are amazing, Layla." He marveled.
Both of them smiled sweetly as they stood up off from the floor ready to head back to sleep for the night.
"Thank you. And so are you."