Aide Me

Chapter Twenty-Four - Remember Me (Aide's POV)

He laughed loudly at her accusation. "Old? How about yourself? You've grown quite a bit since I last saw you."

"Was that flirtatiousness I detected?" She said and rose a sassy brow. "I thought we closed that chapter years ago."

"We did. But I can't not notice you've developed," He said and eyed her up and down. She had grown into such a beautiful woman. Last time he saw her, she was still a young girl.

"Easy on the compliments there, Hero," She said, chuckling at his observant gaze. "Kai's going to kick your ass if he hears you."

"He can bring it," He chuckled. "How've you been?"

"Nah-ah," She sternly said and wiggled her finger at him. "We are not avoiding this. Tell me what's bugging you, then we do 'how've you been'."

He sighed at looked down. There was no avoiding talking about things when it came to Tessmia. She knew exactly what to do and say, and she would plague him for days if he didn't tell her.

"It's the human girl."

"What about her?"

"She's in love with me."

"I know."

He rose a brow at her. "You know?"

She shrugged casually. "We talked a little last night, while Kai was busy getting you drunk. The subject came up."

He sighed. "Yeah, well you know how I work. I've been pushing her away, and it hurts her."

"I can imagine. Have you talked to her about it?"

"Several times, but she doesn't listen. So a few hours ago, I go talk to Shea," He told while looking at the water stream. "Dom told me yesterday that she had information we needed."

"Oh," Tessmia frowned when she knew where this was going. "Did she want the usual deal?"

"Yes. I took her to the edge of the forest, to seal the deal--"

"You really know how to make love sound unattractive."

"It wasn't love, you know that," He replied. "But as we begin, Emaia showed up."

"Ouch," Tessmia carefully hissed. "She saw you?"

"Yes."

"How did she react?"

"How do you think?"

"She stormed off?"

He nodded bitterly. "Naturally I run after her, to try and explain the situation to her, but she won't let me finish."

"She slapped you?"

He rose a brow at her. "How did you know?"

Tessmia smiled and shrugged. "I know women - that, and your cheek is still slightly red. Continue."

He scoffed and then turned his attention to the water stream again. "I chase after her and grab her wrist." He held up his hand and revealed the red, burned skin on his palm. "I didn't notice she was wearing a bracelet."