6 Chapter 6

They stood side by side, doing the dishes in a comfortable silence. They cleaned up where they had cooked and ate before washing up to head to bed.

" Good night, Scar."

Theo was heading towards the couch, when Scarlet pulled on his shirt.

" Where are you going? The bed's over there."

" Ah- no need, I have no problem sleeping on the couch." Theo hurriedly spoke, blushing beet red as his thoughts started to wander. He fanned his face, feeling the heat. This new body of his blushed too easily.

" It's not like we've never shared a bed, why are you acting shy now?" Scarlet asked, genuinely confused.

" That's, um, different from right now. We should maintain a proper distance as the opposite genders- Stop pushing me when I'm talking Scar." They've slept near each other before but only in the few times where the situation demanded it; like when Scarlet got abducted a few times and he had sneak in to retrieve her only to end up lost in the forest, or when they had spend the night in a desert to hide from her enemies chasing after them.

" Continue lecturing me in bed. I like the sound of your voice, it hasn't changed from before, still soothing and a nice husky undertone."

" Thanks I guess, but you should seriously listen to me. You can't just let anyone sleep next to you, what if they have bad intentions?" Theo turns his head to at Scarlet behind him as they entered her bedroom.

" Do you?"

" Huh?"

" Have bad intentions?"

" Yes? I mean NO, no I do not… I'm talking about other people…" Theo stares at the ceiling, covering his face with hands in embarrassment.

" Then it's fine, you're the only one I've invited to bed, past and future. Now hop in." Scar nonchalantly pats the space next her as she made her self comfortable.

Theo stood in place until Scarlet narrowed her eyes and beckoned him over with her finger.

" … Yes, ma'am." He sighs but still does as told.

Theo squeezes him self to the edge of the bed, squeezing his eyes shut as he held onto the corner of the blanket.

" You're gonna catch a cold." Scarlet leans over to cover him.

" Thank you." Theo quickly accepts and plops back to the same position of being a statue.

Right when he started to relax and feel drowsy, a warmth crept on to his side. Even more rigid now, Theo stiffly turned his head to the side.

" … What are you doing, boss?"

" Talk."

" You wanna talk? Right now?" Theo raises an eyebrow at her.

" You talk, I listen." Scarlet had her eyes closed as she grasped Theo's hand tightly. "… It's too quiet. Just like that place." She mumbled incoherently.

Where no one could help them or hear no matter how much they screamed in agony as their souls were being torn apart by cosmic time.

" … I see." Theo took a deep breath and exhale heavily as he too recalled that darkness. " Hmm, what should I talk about?" He spoke his thoughts out loud. " How I'm disappointed my hard worked muscles disappeared?"

" Haha, the up side is we have our youth back." Scarlet chuckled as she continued to bury her self into Theo's side.

" I guess so, but…"

Theo glanced at the window beside, watching wearily as the darkness seeped into the room. As it was currently summer in Japan, the sunset appeared quite late, around 9:00 pm.

Theo turned around abruptly, pulling Scarlet into his embrace as he wrapped his arms around her.

" Eh?" Scarlet blinking open her eyes in confusion.

" … It's too dark. Ehem, anyway, what do mean getting our youth back? We weren't that old, I was a young bachelor, only 27 years old!" He grumbled.

" Hmm you're right, but it's good we get to start this life at thirteen." Scarlet rubs Theo's back and shoulders to calm his subtle shacking as she calmly continued the conversation rather than question him.

" Not too old or too young I guess, ha ha ha." Theo shakily spoke.

Scarlet sits up and reaches for her phone. She opens up the flash light to the lowest setting and leaves it face down on the nightstand.

" I can't see you when your talking." Is all she says before lying back in his arms.

Theo stayed silent, but a gentle smile appeared on his face. He never had to say anything because she always knew. 'She pays attention to me. She watches me just as much as I watch her.' Theo thought inwardly.

Just like how Scarlet realized Theo was afraid of the dark, Theo figured out Scarlet was scared of silence.

That's why he continued to speak about random things until Scarlet feel into a deep sleep, one much needed after staying up last night to investigate.

" Goodnight, Love."

Theo whispered out loud the nickname he only ever dared to utter far from her presence.

But now, there was no need to desperately hold back. This was a fresh start with no obligations demanding the attention of either of them.