Hunters and the Hunted

Jess snuggled up to him and she rested her head on his lap. "Please stay." She whispered, and in truth the thought of being in this room in Death's place on her own scared her.

Being mindful of her head on his lap, Death swung his legs around so they were on the bed. "If that is your wish, then I will stay. Should I not be here in the morning, do not leave the room before my return. Many of my angels will not know of your presence here and will attack you on the basis of believing you to be an intruder. Should they find you in this room, they will know you are mine." His free hand moved to her wrist, where her faded mark was, and he brushed his thumb over it, briefly filling it in with colour, though when his thumb passed it by, it faded out again.

"Why do you keep doing that?" She asked him.

"Do what?" Death didn't know what she was talking about, because the motion was subconscious to him.

"Making my mark light up."

Death dropped his eyes to where his hand was, repeating the motion once again. "My angels are absolute. They are born with their duty and stay with me until it ends. Near on a century ago now, on the day of your birth, I felt the birth of an angel, for the first time in four hundred years. I was joyous. I was happy. And then the light I felt from the birth was snuffed out like a candle. That darkness, that stain, has stayed with me and, despite having you here with me, it will stay until the day comes that I am no longer required." He brought her wrist to his mouth and kissed the mark. "My angels are precious. The are few in number. Every one of them is like a child to me. Losing you shortly after your birth was something I found difficult to get over. Though, I may have to thank your family for hiding your existence, or we wouldn't have this." Slowly, as if afraid she would move away from him, Death moved his hand from her hair to cup her face and, because of how her head was on his lap, gave the corner of her mouth a kiss since he couldn't kiss her straight on.

"It wasn't my parents who hid me." She managed to kiss him back. "I'm thankful that I was hid though, but I'm sort of not glad if you get my meaning."

"Would you prefer to be one of my angels?" He pressed his thumb to her mark. "How are you not glad?"

"Beause I know what it would mean, but it would have meant that I met you sooner and not tried to hide from you for so long."

"If I had met you sooner, this may not have happened." Death's hand on her wrist tightened. "I would have treated you as one of my children. What we have is far more precious than what could have been."

"I now, and I like things the way they are now."

"As do I." Death moved his hands to her shoulders and gently pulled her from his lap into a sitting position. "I apologise for taking one before without permission, but may I kiss you now?"

"Yes you may."

Death moved his hands to cup her face, one of his thumbs brushing across her cheek as he pressed his mouth gently to hers in a very soft, chaste kiss, only the barest brush of lips.

She kissed to kiss him a tiny bit more forcefully.

Death kept the kiss for a moment longer before leaning back again, thumb tracing her cheekbone again.

She smied oftly when he pulled away.

"I'm not sure how you would work this relationship, but I hope it will not try your patience that I wish to take this at its proper pace."

"Take it as slow or as quick as you want, I won't mind."

"I've already told you I want to court you the proper way." Death cupped her jaw and dragged his thumb across her bottom lip, his eyes dropping to watch her mouth absently before he leaned forward and kissed her nose. "If you are tired, you should sleep."

"Promise me that you will tay with me until I fall asleep?"

"I will most likely be here until dawn." Death nodded. "Staying with you until then shan't be a problem."

She smiled. "Good." She yawned.

"I'm going to leave shortly now, but I shouldn't be long. You can wait up for me of you wish. I won't be much longer than a handful of minutes."

"I'll wait here, but I might be asleep by the time you get back."