Corazon 8: Moments In Between

---

Previous | Chapter Listing | Next

---

“L might have threatened violence a few times,” Morgyn said, settling down on the couch with a book. “But the worst she’ll do is turn me into a frog for a bit.”

Lilith, running on the treadmill not far away, snorted softly. “Isn’t that a bad thing?” Lilith asked. “You don’t seem like you’d appreciate being a frog very much.”

Morgyn laughed quietly. “Most think not,” the blond answered. “But actually it’s useful for getting around unnoticed. No one thinks much of a frog. And fortunately, I make a very green, normal-looking frog.”

Lilith was curious how Morgyn was aware of this, but naturally, the sage would’ve gotten on L’s bad side before and ended up mutated into a frog. That sounded like the dork alright.

Morgyn didn’t come by a lot. Caleb never seemed terribly pleased to see the untamed sage, though nothing was ever said, likely for her benefit. She and Morgyn had been dating for some time now, but they were just convenient for each other at the moment, that was all. It wasn’t like Lilith believed she’d be able to get the untamed sage to settle down or anything.

If she did, she might wonder what stars aligned weird.

“Caleb found Ezio, by the way,” Lilith said.

“Did he?” Morgyn asked. The tone made it sound like the blond wasn’t interested, but Lilith knew better. Lilith knew Morgyn better. Of course, she always wondered why Morgyn never seemed to know where Ezio was. Where you lived and maybe your phone number felt like things you’d tell your sibling. Lilith would always tell Caleb that sort of thing.

Of course, Morgyn and Ezio were not Lilith and Caleb.

“Yeah, he lives in San Myshuno somewhere I guess,” Lilith answered. “Caleb gushing about him is eventually going to grate my nerves.”

“No it won’t,” Morgyn said with a smile. “You’ll be too busy being happy that he’s happy.”

“Yeah, most likely,” Lilith admitted. After so long of Caleb being unendingly depressed, it sure was nice to see him happy. It wouldn’t last, his good moods never did, but in the meantime, she was going to enjoy it while it lasted.

She wanted to ask why Morgyn didn’t know where Ezio was. It wasn’t any of her business.

“I said something stupid,” Morgyn said, setting the book down on the coffee table.

“Did you?” Lilith asked.

“That’s why Ezio wasn’t talking to me,” Morgyn went on.

“Oh,” Lilith said. “I wasn’t going to ask-“

“I know,” Morgyn said. “But that’s why I decided to tell you. I said something stupid, and Ezio’s not forgiven me for it. I don’t know if he ever will.”

Lilith sighed. “Sure he will,” she said. “Assuming you’ve apologised at least. You did apologise, right?”

“Of course I did,” Morgyn said.

“Is Ezio aware of that?” she asked.

Morgyn frowned. “That’s an odd question, of course he is.”

Something told Lilith, no he wasn’t, but it wasn’t her place to argue with Morgyn about the blond’s relationship with Ezio. “Then just give it some time,” she said. “I don’t imagine Ezio can stay mad at you forever.”

“It’s been five years,” Morgyn said.

Yeah, Ezio didn’t know Morgyn apologised. Lilith didn’t say that, instead giving an encouraging smile. “These things take time,” she said, “and you know five years isn’t anything when you can count your age in centuries, plural.” That much was true.

“I guess so,” Morgyn said. “How are they doing?”

She was waiting for that question. “Very well,” she said, smiling. “I haven’t seen Caleb so happy in a long time. The only thing he talks about is Ezio, they’re always talking on the phone or exchanging texts. He even applied to university. I never thought I’d see him do that.” She hadn’t asked what he’d applied for, or even which one he wanted to get into. Caleb would tell her that when he was ready.

“I see,” Morgyn said, but the blond seemed to shrink into the couch.

“Hey,” Lilith said, reaching up to turn the treadmill off and stepping onto the floor. “He’ll forgive you eventually. It just takes some time for bad feelings to blow over. And maybe apologising again wouldn’t run amiss.”

In thinking of it, Lilith was willing to bet that was what Ezio was waiting for. That is, a proper apology. Morgyn was terrible at them. The blond tended to go in circles, explaining why certain things had happened, the reasoning behind the blond’s logic, but none of that was an apology, nor a promise to do better in future.

When you felt invalidated and hurt, it stood to reason what you wanted was an apology and the assurance the person would try not to do it again in future. But of course, admitting fault would be too much for Morgyn. The blond was often a bit too prideful. Understandably so, but in situations like this one, it was more trouble than it was worth.

Now, Lilith supposed, Morgyn had to decide which was more important, that pride, or Ezio.

“I guess you’re right,” Morgyn said after a long moment.

Of course she was. But Morgyn had to figure that out without her help. Really accept it, not just go through the motions of accepting it. Ezio wouldn’t accept anything less, and really, Lilith couldn’t blame him.

It was interesting to her, though, that Morgyn seemed somehow upset at the news that Caleb and Ezio were doing well. It could be simply her thinking about things too deeply, but she knew Morgyn well enough to recognise that look in those green eyes. Morgyn was jealous, but that begged the question of what, exactly, Morgyn was jealous of. That, Lilith didn’t know.

For his sake, she did hope Morgyn hadn’t gone and gotten himself a crush on Caleb or something similar. She didn’t know Ezio very well, but what she did know about him (and if he was anything like Morgyn, like he was in France) led her to believe that would be the worst possible mistake Morgyn could make here, and trying to separate them would not end in Morgyn’s favour, to say the very least of it.

She wasn’t sure if she wanted to see that, or if she hoped it never happened.

~*~

Lilith came out into the hallway, one hand idly rubbing a towel into her hair. She’d had a shower earlier, rummaged through the fridge to make sure nothing had gone bad, flicked through the television channels. Somewhere between the news channel and sports, the door opened and Caleb came in.

He had a notable spring in his step anymore. Lilith wasn’t surprised by that-of course he did, this was Caleb she was thinking of, and he’d found the person he’d spent his whole life wishing would come back. She’d say he was looking for Ezio, but that wasn’t quite accurate. It was more like, Caleb was hoping beyond hope to come across him, and also hoped he didn’t, because he didn’t think Ezio deserved to be subjected to a horrible creature like he was.

That was bullocks, but Caleb never did take being a vampire very well. Jean shouldn’t have ever pissed off Vladislaus and his brood. None of this would’ve happened if he hadn’t. Then, Lilith was quite sure they’d all be dead, instead. Jean would’ve killed Ezio, likely, Caleb would’ve done something stupid, and then Lilith probably would’ve too because Caleb was all she had.

Besides, Caleb was about the least monstrous vampire Lilith had ever met. Lilith herself was more monstrous than he was. Getting him to believe that was a whole other story.

Lilith looked over at him, and smiled. “How’d it go?” she asked. If she remembered right, Caleb had gone out to meet Ezio somewhere. He was always meeting Ezio somewhere, or talking to him on the phone, texting…

If it wasn’t cute, it’d likely be very annoying. Fortunately for them both, it was cute.

“Fine enough,” Caleb said. He set his jacket on the hook in the entryway, kicked his shoes off, and then sat down on the couch next to her. “He’s a little different, but, it just takes some time to find him in there.”

“He’s the same?” Lilith asked.

“Not exactly,” Caleb answered. “There are some notable differences, it’s obvious some time has passed since France, it’s just that, in all the little ways, he’s still the same Ezio I remember. Like how, when he’s nervous, his nose will twitch, and he doesn’t look right into your eyes when he lies, and he looks at his feet if you back him into a logic corner. He’s the same. But he’s not.”

Right. Lilith was quite sure these were contradictory statements, but then, who knew how Caleb’s mind worked? After this long, she didn’t even get it, but then maybe she wasn’t meant to. The point wasn’t anything Caleb said making sense. He could contradict himself all he wanted. The point was that what he said was what he believed. And all she had to do was believe in him.

“You two are getting along then?” Lilith asked. That was the next important thing. Ezio was an especially dangerous person, because Caleb at least believed he loved him so much he’d likely tolerate anything if it meant Ezio stayed. It’d be Lilith’s job to make sure he didn’t.

Caleb smiled that dopey smile that was frequently on his face nowadays. “Yeah,” he said. “We talk about some really dumb stuff, but I think maybe that’s okay.”

“If it makes you two happy,” Lilith said, “that’s the important part.” If nothing else, they were probably well past social expectations. “And you do seem happy.”

“Yeah,” Caleb said. “I am. Thanks Lil.”

“For what?” It wasn’t like Lilith had done anything in this situation, it was all him.

“For being here even when I’m a pain,” Caleb said. “And putting up with my depression and that thing I did where I’d talk in circles.”

Lilith snorted. “That’s what siblings are supposed to do.” Supposed to. It didn’t mean they would, if Morgyn and Ezio were anything to go by. Lilith had asked once, and Morgyn had simply said they weren’t on good terms. That was hard to believe, but maybe Morgyn and Ezio just weren’t as close as she and Caleb were.

It wasn’t any of her business why they weren’t on good terms, but she couldn’t help the thought that maybe they just needed a neutral third party to help them work things out. And maybe that counted as meddling. It wasn’t like she could help it. Lilith couldn’t imagine not having Caleb.

Well, she could. It wasn’t pleasant.

“I guess,” Caleb said, “but it still has to be a pain in the butt, even if it’s what siblings are supposed to do.”

Well, of course it was. But that was kind of in the rulebook of siblings, wasn’t it? Driving each other nuts? That was what Lilith had always figured. If they didn’t drive each other a little nuts, they weren’t doing this sibling thing right, or something like that. (Mostly, she tried not to think about it.)

“It’s fine, Caleb,” Lilith said. “I’m sure I’m a bit of a pain in the butt, too.”

“Yeah,” Caleb answered.

Lilith went quiet for a moment, and then tilted her head at him slightly. “Are you going to tell him?” she asked.

“Tell him what?” Caleb asked in return, standing up and heading to the fridge.

“How you feel, duh,” Lilith answered. She stood up and followed him, reaching over to pick up the remote and turn the television off.

Caleb shrugged, peeking into the fridge. He eventually came out with a plasma pack. “I didn’t intend to,” he said. “It’s been so long, maybe it’d be best not to even go there, at least not right now.”

Lilith made a face. “It’s so obvious you’re both just as into each other as you were back at Mortain,” she said.

“I know,” Caleb said. “I just don’t want to rush things, you know?”

Lilith made another face. “I’m not sure it’s possible to rush things when you’ve been in love with each other for almost 300 years.” What were the rules for this sort of situation? Lilith had no idea. Caleb likely didn’t either.

“The majority of those 300 years were spent apart,” Caleb said, sitting down at the dining table. “It’s probably best to err on the side of caution.”

“You? Caution in love?” Lilith said. She tried not to sound so surprised, but failed miserably. “Caleb-“

“Hey,” Caleb interrupted, “it’s my love life to make massively bad decisions for, right?”

Yeah, that was true… Lilith sighed. “Okay, fine,” she said. “But I still think you should tell him.”

Caleb smiled. “I know.”

~*~

“Lilith’s out for right now,” Caleb said, adjusting the phone against his ear as he worked around the kitchen. “She goes out with her friends a lot anymore.” It was likely a side-effect of being in a place where they could go out. Caleb was never interested in such things as having a social life.

He was never as good with people as Lilith was. Or at least, as good with them as she seemed to be. It was possible she had as much trouble with other people as Caleb did, and just hid it better. Then, she hid everything better. Lilith was an emotionless rock, and Caleb was in a constant state of emotional breakdown.

That was fitting, though, wasn’t it?

“You don’t go with them?” Ezio asked. They talked on the phone more or less constantly anymore. If it bothered Ezio, he was kind enough not to say so.

“Nah,” Caleb answered. “I’ve never really been a bars and nightclubs sort of person.”

Ezio snorted. “Mmm, that sounds right,” he said. “I haven’t really been either. Don’t you work at a bar?”

“I did, yeah,” Caleb said.

“Past tense?” Ezio asked.

“I mean, I still do,” Caleb answered, “it’s just, I’m looking into some other options now.”

“Oh,” Ezio said. “Well, that’s a good thing, right?”

“I guess so,” Caleb said. “My boss and actually my sister were always on my case about wanting something better for myself than working in a bar. But I mean, it paid the bills.”

Ezio made a noise. “Well, I guess they just care about you,” he said. “They meant well.”

“I know,” Caleb said. “That’s why I eventually went along with their pestering, even if I thought it was silly. I mean, worrying about me is kind of what Lilith does, right? If there was a worrying about Caleb Olympics, Lilith would win by default.”

It was quiet, but Caleb could hear Ezio laughing on the other side of the line.

“God, it’s just so nice to hear you again,” Caleb said.

Ezio was quiet for a moment, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable. “Yeah,” Ezio said. “It’s nice to hear you too. What’re you making, anyway?”

Caleb snorted. “A mess,” he said, releasing a frustrated noise and tossing the spatula in his hand onto the counter.

“Well, maybe I can help,” Ezio said. “What are you trying to make?”

Caleb glanced at the phone, reaching up to take hold of it with his hand. The other turned the stove burner off. “Are you sure?” Caleb asked. “I don’t want to bother you.”

“If I thought it was a bother, would I ask?” Ezio asked.

Well, probably not. Reluctantly, Caleb explained what he was trying to do, and Ezio talked him through what he’d done. Then, he suggested something Caleb had never thought of, and wasn’t in the instructions.

“Of course it’s not,” Ezio said. “Most people assume if you’re making it, you know how to do that, so they leave out the instructions for it.”

“That’s dumb, isn’t it?” Caleb asked.

“Well, for a professional chef, it’s a lot faster not to have to wade through instructions on how to do something he already knows how to do,” Ezio explained. “It sounds silly, but there’s a bit of logic in it. Did you try it like I said?”

“Yeah,” Caleb answered. He’d gotten the stove fired back up, and was following the instructions Ezio had given him. So far, it seemed to be working out better. “Just have to slide this that way…”

“Careful not to rush it,” Ezio said.

Caleb made a face at the phone, but he took his time, and eventually, he got the result he was looking for. He smiled a bit to himself. “That came out perfect,” he said. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Ezio said. “Aren’t you glad you asked?”

Caleb laughed. “Yeah I wouldn’t really go that far,” he said. “But I’ll try not to be too shy about asking.”

“You shouldn’t be,” Ezio said. “I’ve spent a lot of time cooking for random humans and cats, someone may as well use that knowledge for something.”

Caleb made a face, but he didn’t ask. “I guess,” he said. “Hey though, come to think of it, I’m trying to perfect something.”

“What’s that?” Ezio asked.

“It’s a dish made with plasma fruit,” Caleb answered. “You know what that is, right?”

“Plasma fruit?” Ezio asked. “That stuff Vladislaus is annoyed even exists?”

Caleb laughed. “Yeah, that.”

“Haven’t heard of it, why?” Ezio asked.

Caleb tried not to roll his eyes. He failed a little, but there was a smile on his face, too. Trust Ezio to say something like that. “I just figured you may have a better idea of what I’m doing wrong than I do,” he said. “And if you’ve never tried it before, you can do that too, if you came by, maybe this weekend…”

Ezio was quiet a moment, and Caleb tried not to let his anxiety run away with the silence. “You mean you want an excuse for me to come over,” he said.

Caleb glanced at the phone, plating the dish he’d just made. It looked good. Smelled good, too. “Uh… am I that obvious?”

Ezio snorted. “Either that or I’m just good at seeing through you, either one.”

“I like that latter option better,” Caleb said.

“Well, I guess I’m not doing anything this weekend anyway,” Ezio said. “I could swing by. Is Lilith going to be there?”

“Probably not,” Caleb said. “She usually goes out with her friends, but I can tell her to be present. Or not, either one.”

Ezio sounded amused next he spoke. “That’s up to you,” he said.

“Maybe you two can catch up some other time,” Caleb said.

“Okay,” Ezio said. “Should I plan for Saturday then?”

“Yeah, I think that sounds right,” Caleb said.

“Maybe I should just plan for you taking up all of my Saturdays,” Ezio said.

“Uh, yeah maybe,” Caleb answered. That wasn’t in the plans, but if Ezio was just going to give him all of his Saturdays, Caleb wasn’t going to complain.

Ezio snorted. “I will, then.”

And Caleb believed it.

---

Previous | Chapter Listing | Next

---