For the damned | ✓

21

This was not the moment to talk about something private like that though. Tonight Delilah would bring it up, when it was simply the two of them. Her mind had been so chaotic lately that she had been a bad friend. It was hard sometimes to differentiate between the dead and the living, it always had been. She supposed it was no wonder her only close friends were Roshan, James and a ghost.

"You'll get wrinkles like that," Theresa said, smoothing out Delilah's frown with her fingers.

"I didn't realize," Delilah said, not needing to elaborate for it to be clear that she was talking about her expression.

"I am really okay," Theresa reassured her, her dark hair cascading down as she took out her hairtie," you worry too much for others, Delilah, I notice it in everything you do. When was the last time you did something for yourself?"

"When was yours?" Delilah asked back.

"I do something selfish every day," Theresa chuckled," hell, all day even. I am not a nice person, but that's fine."

"You are in my eyes," Delilah said simply.

That caught Theresa off-guard, her lips parting but no words leaving them. She didn't need to say anything though for Delilah to hear what she wanted to say. When the professor entered Theresa quickly turned towards him, fishing her notes from the previous lesson out of her bag and placing them in front of her, pen already in hand. Their conversation lingered on Delilah's mind, the question Theresa had asked her echoing.

Normally she couldn't have thought of a lot of moments where she had been selfish, but she had been the past few weeks. Every encounter she had had with Helio she had allowed herself to be selfish for some reason. Normally she would have never chased, would have never let herself think of only one person when she could help so many others. And yet, when she was with him all of that faded to the background for a moment. It was a weird feeling, to choose for herself at times.

"So, today we will continue about about the exploration of exoplanets," her professor said, grabbing a marker and turning towards the large whiteboard," we'll start -"

"This is the classroom for astrophysics, right?"

The professor turned towards the two guys standing in the door, raising his eyebrow, but it was Delilah who was most surprised of all. Niccolo was grinning widely, shoulder leaning against the wall as he lazily waved, his voice alluring like a siren's call. He had switched his beautifully woven clothes for a red shirt, his pants patterned with crimson lightning and his hands decorated with chunky rings, all donning the same rubies which dangled on his ears.

Beside him stood Helio, back straight and face neutral, clad in a black blouse and matching pants, seeming like he came straight from an office job. The ink visible on his neck and hands contrasted that however, hair combed back and a single onyx ring on his finger, something misty coloring the stone which told her he had found a way to keep his scythe closeby. His moonsoaked eyes flicked towards her, almost silver in the morning light. When he spoke, his voice commanded attention, her professor's annoyance seeming to fade into faint surprise.

"I apologize for my tardiness," he said," it was not my intention."

"It was mine," Niccolo smirked," not all of us are blessed with the ability to know everything and be able to find it, you see, so I had to guide this poor soul."

Helio didn't bother glancing at him, instead waiting until the professor nodded, gesturing for him to be seated. He walked straight towards Delilah, Theresa staring wide-eyed as he took a seat, hand grazing past hers. She was about to say something, but Niccolo sat down beside Theresa then, smiling widely at her in that way of his which looked almost manic, like he knew his words were gasoline and he could burn this whole place down if he liked.

"What are you two doing here?" Delilah said warmly, gaze lingering on Helio a little longer," I am happy to see you."

"How are you?" he asked, gently tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear," hopefully you haven't been overdoing yourself."

"I can return the remark to you," she smiled, nudging him playfully with her shoulder," you are the one with a demanding job, after all. I wasn't sure when you'd be able to take a break again."

"What's this?" Niccolo said, leaning his chin on his hand as he looked at them," surely you haven't missed only him, Delilah?"

"You too, Nico," she chuckled," though you two still haven't told me why you came."

Helio froze almost imperceptibly, not seeming to have heard the second part at all as he glanced at her and then back at Niccolo.

"Nico?" he said.

It seemed like he wanted to say more, Niccolo's smirk only deepening his frown, but right at that moment the professor continued speaking, drawing their attention to the front.

"I'm looking forward to this," Niccolo whispered," I haven't made mortals cry in a very long time now."