<3 Married At First Sight </3

Leonidas seemed a little uncomfortable with the elevator, standing a little closer and keeping his shoulders straight and tense.

---

"And the six weeks is mandatory right? I mean, what if it was a situation where I had to marry that bloke your friend is with and every other day I was trying to...y'know."

Seeing this she rubbed her thumb in small circles on his hand. "It's alright it's just for a moment." She soothed hurrying off when they got to their floor.


Ian wrinkled his nose at that. "I'd like to think that in a situation like that that the wedding could be annulled or something."

"Like a coffin, naught but wires stopping it from becoming a place of eternal rest. Too small." Leonidas hunched his shoulders in. Though he didn't quite say it out loud, it sounded as if he had claustrophobia.

---

"It felt like drowning," Paige muttered to herself. "When she tried to claw me aside in order to force her way in. I could breathe out but for the life of me I couldn't breathe in."

"I'm sorry...next time we can take the stairs alright?" She whispered softly.


"That's one way to describe it." He shuddered leading her into the hotel they were to stay at.

"It isnt your fault. You weren't to know. I'm no child, I'm sure I can close my eyes, count back from ten and know we have reached our destination safely. Besides, it isn't my safety and welfare in such a situation I'm scared for." Leonidas' hand tightened around hers almost absently, as if he didn't realise it.

---

"Sometimes we're one person and other times we're separate. It's a difficult concept to grasp but if she wants control she fights tooth and nail for it and isn't against dirty underhanded tactics to get what she wants."

"I'm sure I can somewhat understand what you're talking of. I deal with at times though he's not constantly at my throat for control."



Amber squeezed his fingers. "Maybe but that doesn't mean we can't go another way if we're able. You shouldn't have to be uncomfortable when there's options."

"She isn't either. You'd see it." Paige's hand fluttered quickly to her face before she forced it to drop. "The scales would be more prominent and the second eyelid would always be there if she was always struggling. She's just...watching now I suppose. Debating sleep against being defensive because she hasn't quite placed what you are to her yet."

---

"I've always been told that being afraid of confinement is an unfounded fear. It is one of few things I have kept with me since I was a young boy."

He gently reached out to brush his fingers to her hand when she went to touch the scales. "Just so he doesn't feel threatened at all then we're safe."


"No everyone fears something. I'm sure there's a good reason for your fear." She stopped at their room and unlocked the door. "You want to go in first?"

"Like a ticking time bomb," Paige said, her voice bitter and defeated. "But you can't even see the counter." The scales rippled on her face and several of them dropped off, flat little discs the colour of the ocean despite the fact that when she shifted she was white all over.

---

"Is this the threshold that as newlyweds I am to carry you over?" Leonidas asked, somewhat serious and somewhat joking. "Or shall we waif until we are truly 'home'."

Ian chewed his lip a moment just watching her with slight curiousity. "Are you alright?"


Amber blushed a light pink as she tipped her head up to see him. "Uh I I'm didn't think about that. I suppose whichever you like really though neither time is very needed."

"Hmm?" Paige briefly glanced up at him. "Yeah. I'm fine. The scales don't want to stay and now they're just dropping off and leaving a trail like Hansel and Gretel."

---

"Perhaps not here then." Leonidas shrugged a shoulder goodnaturely. "It's just something I remember growing up."

Ian chuckled lightly at her wording. "Is that bad or good?" He asked reaching out to take hold of her hand so they could go inside the hotel together.


With a small giggle she nodded and pushed the door to their room wide open so that they could both enter together.

((Sorry I didn't reply straight away I went to hospital on Friday and I just got home today!))

"I just feel sorry for the people who have to clean up after me." Paige squeezed his fingers gently. "But then again, my scales are valuable if people know what they are."

---

Leonidas peered in before her, reaching an arm up to keep the door open to let her in first.

((Oh no! Are you alright?))


"You shouldn't feel badly about something that isn't your fault nor do you have control over."


Amber smiled softly slipped through the door into the room and find a switch on the wall she clicked on the lights. Looking around she smiled setting her things on the floor.

((I had my appendix removed by keyhole surgery on Saturday - went in on Friday came home this afternoon. It was a minor surgery I'm just a bit sore is all ^_^ ))

"I just feel I should have better control. I mean, I frighten people and that's no fun. Try to be kind and something triggers me and the horns pop out, and then the scales and I look like some sort of nightmare come to life..."

---

"How long are we staying?" Leonidas asked softly, setting his case by the door and looking around the room with interest.

((Ah that stinks. At least you're doing well though ))


"I can see where that could all be a problem but to me none of it matters."


"Until we get told where our honeymoon is and we leave to go wherever that might be. So probably sometime tomorrow I think."

((I get a week from college to relax and rest up so I don't have to worry about straining myself for work or anything. And sitting/standing/lying down/getting up from bed is always an interesting challenge while waiting for the ache to go away. I'll only have tiny scars though, so that's a plus!))

"I know. It's just...disheartening sometimes." Paige's fingers loosened briefly around his as if she was going to let go to touch her face self consciously again.

---

Leonidas nodded. "So, no need to unpack at all."

((Rest always helps))


Amber shook her head. "No I don't think we really need to."


With a gentle tug of her hand he continued to the hotel and such. "Try not to focus on any of that right now. Just relax or whatever."

"I hope it does not trouble you that I do not sleep peacefully," Leonidas admitted quietly. "Some time ago I lost the ability to sleep for more than a handful of hours before being woken, either from the fear of my dreams or because my body simply decided against staying in slumber. Perhaps it thinks I sleep enough in the brief times I am...not of this world."

---

"God, you must be getting annoyed of me by now. Not even a day in and you've found yourself with a wife that does nothing but whine." Paige laughed, but it was a little weak and uncertain.

Amber gave him a warm caring smile. "That's alright. Everyone is different. Just so you're alright I shall handle each chapter of our new life just fine."


Ian chuckled shaking his head. "Not in the least. So far you're keeping things entertaining."

"It seemed prudent to warn you, lest you wake in the night and worry to not see me there."

---

"The novelty will wear off, I assure you." Paige flexed her fingers around the handle of the cage and let go of his hand so she could move the cage from one hand to the other. Because of how he was carrying the suitcases, she couldn't take his other hand and so almost absently curled her arm around her torso, as if hugging herself.

Shrugging his shoulders he glanced down at her. "Maybe or maybe not we'll just have to wait and see about that won't we?"


"I suppose that is fair enough so thank you."

"Just have to wait and see," she echoed quietly, watching her feet.

---

Leonidas smiled weakly. "I just do not wish to alarm you should I suddenly depart during the night and wake you."

Ian tipped his head to the side studying her. "Everything alright?"


She smiled sweetly.

Paige took in a slow, deliberate breath and then mumbled, "Being followed. Three..." Paige's eyes fluttered closed as she took in another breath. "No, four. I wonder how they knew I was here..."

---

"Was there anything else you wished to do before we retire for the evening?"