Fire On Fire

I let out a tiny breath as he moved his face even closer. His lips, inches away from mine. He grunted.

"Are you hurt too...?" I asked softly. He cleared his throat and moved back. I was disappointed by the lack of warmth when he moved further away.

"It's just a scratch" He said as he walked over to clean out the bowl and re-fill it with warm water.

"Well let me return the favor" I said standing up. What? It's a one time thing I swear!

He stared at me for a moment, then sighed and handed me the cloth, oil and water bowl.

I watched as he removed his boots and unclasped the straps of his armor.

He pulled off all the pieces one by one. As each of them fell to the ground I could properly see his body.

He was...ripped. Like seriously Ripped. He pulled his shirt over his head, his muscles rippled with every movement. He looked like he had been trained to fight.

I gasped.

He was covered in cuts and bruises.

"More like a 100 cuts" I scolded as I got down on my knees and got to work on his wounds, trying to be as gentle as possible.

He didn't so much as flinch.

"So..." I said as I applied some of the oil.

"How'd you end up like this" I continued, concentrating on his wound rather than his abs. Good girl Ava. I congratulated myself.

He chuckled, a deep low rumble that vibrated through my whole body.

"I stole something" He said simply.

"So you're a thief ?"

"Eh"

"Eh?"

"Mm"

"Well what'd you steal?"

"A map"

"To where exactly ?"

"A place" agh why is he being so cryptic ???

"Listen, Ace, I'm not your enemy here" He scoffed.

"No, you're just very nosy"

What? I'm just curious! Not NOSY...

"It's a map that'll lead me to where I need to be, out of this hell-hole" Immediately my ears perked up, he can get me back...

"But the real question is" he leaned in "How'd YOU get here" I breathed in.

"Something pulled me through a mirror" I held out my wrist, he held it in his big rough hand, examining it.

"Did whatever that pulled you here say anything ?"

"Nothing, just my name"

"Not good" he frowned "So you're not familiar with this place I'm assuming ?"

I shook my head.

He sighed and all of a sudden he looked really serious.

"There are two worlds, yours and this one. This one where creatures of the night and beasts like the one you saw earlier today, roam free. The one where you come from nothing like that exists, obviously.

There's a thin line keeping these worlds apart, sometimes there can be a rip where someone can be pulled through.

But it still wouldn't explain why YOU managed to slip through"

I breathed in trying to wrap my head around everything he just said. His eyes softened.

"I know its hard to believe, but you're not supposed to be here"

"Ya think ?" I retorted.

"You're human. You shouldn't even know about this place"

"And yet, Here I am , in all my glory" I said.

"Unless...." he muttered.

"Unless what?"

"No. Nothing" he shook his head.

I sighed as I remembered the home I left behind. It was dull sure, but it was safe.

Ace got up and pulled his shirt back on muttering to himself in some foreign language.

"Look, Ace, I just wanna get back" Ace turned around, considering me.

"Fine" he sighed "But it's back the way we came, if you wanna survive you're gonna listen to everything I say"

He said finally as he plopped down on the bed.

"But for now, we should get some rest and regain some strength" he said resting his head on his arms behind it. He was right though, we couldn't go now, it was dark and I'll admit I was tired as hell.

Just then a thought struck me.

There's only one single bed.

"Uh...where am I going to sleep ?" I asked, turning my head from side to side looking for another bed I might've missed.

Ace smirked and patted the tiny space beside him. I scowled.

No way.

I walked over to the one seater and plopped down, making it a point to look him in the eye as I did.

He lifted a thick dark brow, then went back to resting comfortably.

Jerk.

Meanwhile I was getting comfortable on the couch, or trying to at least. God damn when last was this thing cleaned ?? it reeked.

"Oh and I hope you like fleas, that thing hasn't been cleaned in years"

He called out from the bed. YEARS!?. AND WHAT PERSON IN THEIR RIGHT MIND LIKES FLEAS??? Because to me it seems like he does, if he hasn't cleaned it in YEARS!

Wait... Was this place even HIS!?