Chapter Text
I should have taken my chances with the redhead, he thought morosely.
It wasn’t fair really. He just needed a moment. Between avoiding a certain tall beauty to his friends actively pushing him towards a certain tall beauty (how they figured out his interest he would never know), it all became too much. So he headed out back to take a break.
But of course, he wouldn’t get one. At this point Andrico was convinced that he was hellion in a past life because peace evaded him like the plague. So honestly, really, he shouldn’t have been surprised to see his ex waiting patiently in his favorite corner of the garden. Sitting on his favorite porch swing, coffee black eyes shimmering in the low light of the fire pit.
(Peace evaded him like the plague and all it left behind was heartache)
He took a deep breath before speaking.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
He meant it to sound more forceful, more angry. However he ended up sounding as hurt and defeated as he suddenly felt. He really should have taken his chances with the redhead.
“I just- I just wanted to talk to you,” Madeleine said quietly.
“About what?”
“I don’t know, anything, everything. Andrico I miss you.”
I miss you I miss you I miss you
The words rang through his ears and settled heavily in his gut. Knees suddenly less stable than he remembered, Andrico sat down on the opposite side of the seat. Despite the distance, her hand easily found his. He tried not to notice but it soon was all he could think about. Had her hands always been so warm? So small? And her skin, had it always been that lovely shade of brown?
In their time a part he began to imagine her as a looming phantom hellbent on his destruction. His own personal djab. But there, under the forgiving light of the moon, he saw her for what she was, who she had always been. The tiny, beautiful woman who owned his heart. The tiny, beautiful woman who always seemed to break it.
His eyes began to sting.
“I didn’t come here to upset you,” she said after a pregnant pause.
Too late for that.
“I just wanted to see you. I know you don’t feel the same after everything that’s happened and I can’t fault you for that. But things haven’t been the same without you.”
He felt Madeleine settle by his side. And despite his common sense telling him not to, he wrapped his arms around her.
He hated how his heart leapt as he felt her snuggle in closer. Was that really all it took? A few soft words and some unshed tears and he’s putty in her hands? Was he really that pathetic? All signs were pointing to yes.
Andrico sighed as he brought her in closer. He might as well enjoy it while it lasts.