Raizel reached out once more, pushing past his hesitance, any hesitance, and seized Frankenstein's hands himself. Frankenstein flinched, his mouth opening wide in horror, his legs moving and buckling to meet him on the floor. "…You'll do anything for me…and that terrifies me."Īnd then, without warning, Raizel dropped to his knees. "How could you still use me, have me fight your battles, have me help you! If you knew I were not just your servant?" he said. He felt tears collecting in his own eyes. Raizel, crying as if the world would end before him, and he had only this chance to weep before he tried to stop it being the Noblesse, whimpered a sound that made Frankenstein feel wounded by it.įrankenstein turned away, the image of Raizel emblazoned in his head forever. A drop of water landed on the floor between them.
"What would you give for a lover's safety and happiness?" Frankenstein whispered. " Kind, merciful Master, you threw away your life-force for nothing but a stranger and a thief, you spend your powers so extravagantly for your friends, for those you protect - what would you do for a man whom you knew loved you?" Frankenstein said, his voice pushing and pulling in all directions. Raizel's lips trembled, his aura a blank slate. "But I couldn't, because if I did, if I do - then you will no longer treat me as just a servant, would you?" He searched for the courage to continue looking him in his eyes, stricken by the fear of seeing those eyes turn on him.
Frankenstein broke his hold, dropping Raizel before his hands could betray him and start shaking. He felt as if he was coming undone from nerves. "I do not know since when," Frankenstein said, "I don't know why it took for your disappearance for me to admit to myself." "Your servant has fallen in love with you."įrankenstein felt like there was a river in his heart, enclosing his chest, pumping white water around his veins and it felt too treacherous, too hard to breathe, too numb to ignore and he couldn't shiver or shake or tremble, couldn't even fathom the strikingness of it as it slid through his body, piercing everywhere, it was too hard, too hard, too hard to bear. His grasp only tightened on Frankenstein's, not wanting to let go. Raizel's expression turned into outright hurt and confusion. "Master," Frankenstein said, willing himself to look in his eyes, "My Master…" Frankenstein's other hand flew to his as well, holding on as if otherwise he'd be swept away from him forever. Raizel reached out and grasped him tight. He didn't dare to just take Raizel's - he held out his hand and only hoped with every hope in the world Raizel would choose to take it. Then Frankenstein stood straighter, looked him in his eyes and offered his hand. His eyes were wide with an inexplicable something, his face a flat, soulless mask. Before you make your decision, please, I need to say one last thing."Īfter a short moment of consideration, Raizel nodded. "I cannot make you tie yourself to me without you knowing this. "…I must tell you something before you decide this is what you want," he said quickly, his heart unable to hold out from breaking for much longer. Standing as his companion and equal.įrankenstein started. Him, closer than Frankenstein ever had the right to be, closer than they'd ever been for the many human lifetimes already spent in each another's company.įrankenstein took a breath, stepped back so Raizel could see all of him, could judge him, and stood square and stalwart. Frankenstein looked at him as well, never once thinking he could dare look away. Raizel was paralysed, unable to speak, unable to breathe.īefore at the lakeside, Raizel had held his face in his cold hands, looking at him. The light in his eyes, the light that was present in every living being's eyes that was proof they were alive, could have gone out of Raizel. There was a reflection in the window of Frankenstein that he'd never noticed, but Raizel did.įrankenstein was looking at Raizel looking at him. There was Frankenstein who stood at the threshold of the room, watching him look at the window.
There was a man who stood in the light of the window, looking out at something special Frankenstein could not see.