Angels and Devils XIX

Temerity sighed as the door closed, looking at the broken glass on the floor. She needed to clean that up, but there were other things that were more important. If she was dreaming that...
She stood up and pulled a robe on over her usual sleeping clothes, then peeked out the door. Satisfied that no one was around, she started toward the upper floors. Before she got far, she stopped, thought for a moment, then went down instead, slipping out the front door and going outside to watch the sky.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before a shape in the sky came into view, moving quickly toward her. It moved to go around the building, but she called out to it and it veered toward her. Hummingbird landed next to her and Eisna dropped down from their back.
"What are you doing here?" Temerity asked.
"I came to see you," Eisna said. "I've been busy lately and I probably won't be able to get away for a while, but it's not exactly a long flight... How did you know I was coming?"
Temerity looked away. "... Bad dream. I don't have them unless you're close."
Eisna looked guilty. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." She smiled. "So I suppose even emperor's sneak out at night."
"I suppose so," Eisna said. "Care to go for a walk?" Temerity gave him a look and he laughed. "Or a fly."
"That's more like it," Temerity said. Eisna climbed back up on Hummingbird and held his hand out to her. She took it and pulled herself up with him.
"Hold on," Eisna said.
"I know." Temerity held tightly to him as Hummingbird shot into the air, speeding away from the Order of Brim headquarters.
Once they were a ways away, Hummingbird slowed down, eventually landing by a lake. Eisna dismissed them and the disappeared into the night.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to that view," Temerity said quietly.
"It is beautiful," Eisna agreed. He looked at Temerity and saw the distant loom in her eyes. "Do you want to talk about it?"
There was silence for a moment before Temerity spoke.
"I'm getting worse," she said. "I don't know how long it was tonight. Longer. And when Lukan woke me up-"
"Lukan knows?" Eisna interrupted, then looked apologetic. "No, you continue."
Temerity hesitated. "I almost hurt him. I don't know what would have happened if it was you."
"But it wasn't," Eisna objected. "I know not to wake you."
Temerity looked unconvinced, but nodded. "... Lukan didn't know before. He must have heard something. I didn't tell him everything."
"I see." Eisna looked a bit uncomfortable.
"What is it?"
"... I... A while back, I may have asked Hummingbird to investigate him. When we first met."
Temerity blinked, then took a deep breath. "And?"
"They found... Nothing. No records of him or his family..." Eisna trailed off. "Like he just appeared one day."
Temerity looked concerned. "Do you think he might be..."
"I don't know." Eisna looked at her. "But he's not a threat right now, and I know you care for him. I'm not going to do anything rash."
"Eisna." Temerity reached out and took his hands. "You are the emperor. Whatever you need to do, do it. You don't have to worry about me. If you need to execute him, then... That's what you need to do."
Eisna was quiet for a while, the. he shook his head. "He's not a threat. There's no reason to execute him."
Temerity dropped his hands. "As you say."
"You think I'm wrong?"
She sighed. "I don't know. I just don't want anything to happen to you. You're in enough danger as it is, being with me."
"Some risks are worth it," Eisna said. "And this..." He raised her hands and kissed them. "This is the future I care about. You and me."
"What if that future doesn't exist?" Temerity whispered.
Eisna blinked. "I'm not giving up on it."
"He wants me to kill you, Eisna."
"But you won't," Eisna said. "I know you won't. You're stronger than him."
Temerity shook her head disbelievingly. "How are you so confident?"
"Because I know whatever he wants is so much less than what we have."
Temerity stared at him for a moment, then stepped close to him and hugged him.
"I want that future too," she said quietly. "If it's possible."
Eisna said nothing, and soon enough, Hummingbird returned for them. Eisna brought Temerity to her room and kissed her cheek.
"Goodnight, Tem," he said.
"Goodnight," Temerity replied. "Thank you for tonight."
"I'll come see you again soon, I promise."
Temerity smiled. "I'll hold you to that."
Eisna bowed, then closed the door as he left.