d a r k nights |Zelphar|

[squiggle]

Zelphar allowed Azzurra to set the pace, he would adjust his stride to whatever speed she chose, although when by his lonesome, Zelphar was known to walk rather quickly, using his long legs to take large steps. At any slight notion of discomfort from his friend, Zelphar would take her hand or something, but so far, from what he could judge, Azzurra did not appear to be anxious. That was good. He felt latent anger beginning to stir in the pit of his stomach, but kept it suppressed by a cool exterior; there was no need to loose his temper.

[violethorses]

Azzurra walked slowly at first, ambling around a bit. She knew Zelphar to be a fast walker, but after watching the sun a bit, Azzurra didn't feel that walking fast really suited her at the moment. They walked in silence for a bit. "Anywhere you'd like to go?" Azzurra asked quietly.

[squiggle]

"No, I just wanted some fresh air," said Zelphar, leaving out the part that he figured it would be good for her to get outside for a little bit. He supposed they could go get an ice cream or something if Azzurra was up to it, as he did have some muggle money on him. "Unless you have someplace in mind," Zelphar added after a moment of silence between the two of them.

[violethorses]

"No, this is fine," Azzurra replied with a slight shrug as she continued to walk alongside her best friend. This was the best she had felt since the night of the dance, though it was nothing compared to her old self. Azzurra's eyes focused on the sunset in the distance once more, grateful for the last rays of warmth.

[squiggle]

Zelphar absently reached and took Azzurra's hand, if asked why he did this, he wouldn't be able to explain it. His gesture just felt right somehow. He always felt like he needed to protect his friend, now more than ever, almost like a big brother, but different. Zelphar and Azzurra had been close friends since they were kids, but now he was feeling other things about her, it confused him.

[violethorses]

Azzurra turned to look at Zelphar, a bit surprised by him taking her hand. She supposed he just felt protective over her right now, but part of her wondered if there was something more in the way he was holding her hand. But right now, Azzurra just wanted to be with her best friend. She didn't need any more confusion.

[squiggle]

As the sun began to slip beneath the horizon, Zelphar could feel the air loosing temperature quickly, but it wasn't uncomfortably cold. Just pleasantly cool. He couldn't think of anything to say, so he kept the silence going steady. It didn't feel awkward, at least not to Zelphar, for the first time in a while he was allowing himself to cool down, releasing his pent-up rage against Alec.

[violethorses]

The air grey cooler and Azzurra was well aware that the sun had slipped below the horizon. Her body tensed in the growing darkness and she held tightly to her necklace with her free hand. Increasingly nervous, Azzurra barely paid attention to where they were walking, instead turning at every noise she heard apart from the sound of their footsteps.

[squiggle]

"Did you want to head back?" Zelphar finally said after a long silence, growing tired of Azzurra jumping at every little noise; she shouldn't have to be so anxious, especially on her own street. This was quiet, virtually no-crime Swansea, not some alley in a rundown portion of London. But Zelphar wanted his frined to know that he was right there, and that there was no reason for her to be afraid of anything; that he would protect her by any means.

[violethorses]

Azzurra looked over at her long time friend and saw the concern in his eyes. She knew he had noticed how jumpy she was getting. Azzurra paused for a moment, wondering if she should tough it out for Zelphar's sake. But there really was no point in continuing on like this. "Yes please," Azzurra replied.

[squiggle]

Zelphar nodded once and then began to lead the way back. It did not seem like they had gotten very far, but the now pitch blackness around them told him otherwise. Zelphar checked his watch, it was only a quarter to nine. Normally he would not be paranoid about curfew, but his status as being a prefect would not help him if he were late getting back to his quarters. But the walk from the Cabrini home to Grant's took him at most five minutes, he wouldn't leave a second earlier than when he had to.