That Saving Grace {{Open}}

[Delerium]

"I'll kill you! You little bastard...!"
The sound of air parting reached sensitive ears as a heavy set man trundled after a pre-teen squealing gleefully and holding something shiny in hand.
A flaxen brow raised in amusement; the glassy sapphire eye beneath cracking open shortly after. The rest of the words were lost even to his ears, but the dour man never failed to extract levity from the obscene exclamations of those around him. Fascinating creatures, humans; but such pointless exertion!
The energy would be better placed else where.
But where? Who knew? And more to the point, who the hell cared?
Certainly not Arkady.

The golden-haired man seated on a well-kept bench beneath the striped awning of a convenience store could only be classified as devastatingly handsome. Feathery flaxen tresses dangled elegently, reaching just under his chin - and a fine chin it was! Da Vinci himself could not have sculpted a more angular, perfectly pointed chin. And not to mention the angles of his face seemed to blend in seemlessly, making a delectably tangible transmission from cheekbone to jawbone to that masculine chin of his. Dark sapphire eyes drew a perfect curve between his eye brows and nose, which seemed to end in the perfect pointe - not too blunted, and yet not pointed like the beak of some bird. Firm, full, masculine lips were pursed in thought beneath his flared nostrils, the colour of a pale rose. His heavy overcoat hid well the lithe, athletic body beneath, but could not conceal the sinewy, well-veined hand he kept poised on one black-trousered knee. An air of dangerous calm and confidence surrounded Arkady, much like a wolf circling wounded prey; and although his tenor voice was sweet as honey, many could sense the underlying current of hostility that lay just beneath the surface.
Some found it an irresistable lure, he discovered.
Not that he truly cared.

There wasn't that many things in life Arkady truly cared about anymore.
And yet, here he was, searching subconsciously for that saving grace. Gods, it had been ten years... and Cassis had changed so much.
No, not Cassis. Dotado.
Off duty and struck with a sudden unexplainable bout of nostalgia, Arkady had packed his things and set out for the fateful city. Could the grace be found here? Who knew? But the Russian knew that he had been drawn here after all these years for a reason, and he intended to find it.

"But where to start...?" he mumbled under his breath.
For now, he was content to open his senses and take in his surroundings.

[krispey]

A three-foot silver-haired tchild ran ahead as though she were playing tag, her little arms outstretched, a wide smile playing on her baby like features. Behind her, a tall, rather slim woman chased after her.

"Darcy! Darcy," Maya shouted, laughing, but partly serious, "Get back here little munchkin!"
Of course, dealing with Darcy, there was no use shouting at her telling her to come back, you had to go and get her. Although Darcy was fast, Maya was indeed catching up with her.

"You can't catch me," Darcy began chanting. Her silvery tresses flew back, the wind from running brushing up against her rosey cheeks and nose. Blue eyes were ahead, locked on some man sitting on a bench, not even flickering over to the scene that had previously transpired between the two people.

Just as she arrived at the bench, her little hands were out, bumping right into the legs of the man that sat there. Darcy, breathing heavily from the running, smiled, "Are you big man brother? You look like big man."

Seconds later, Maya arrived at the scene, coming to an abrupt hault as she reached Darcy. Her lavender eyes had failed to even grace the features of the man that Darcy swore out was 'Big-man's' brother....But when they did...
Her heart pounded, mouth going dry, memories --the good and the bad flushing back to her mind in one big sweep. Subconciously, her brows furrowed, as the last memories she had had with this man left a bitter taste in her mouth.
"No, Darcy," Maya said, gripping the little girl's hand, "This is not 'big-man', he's far from it," she explained, "Come on, lets go in the store and get some goodies," Maya said, trying to sound as enthusiastic as possible.
She didn't want Darcy to notice the sudden altering of her mood, all because of one man, but it was becoming pretty hard to cover up.
Darcy bounced up and down, "Goodies, goodies!!" She exclaimed, looking back at Arkady as they made their way around the bench, and she waved, "Bye bye big-man brother!!"
Darcy led the way to the store's entrance, Maya looking back to Arkady, a somewhat bitter yet sad expression on her face.

[Delerium]

The blasee expression on Arkady's handsome face softened considerably at the approach of the youngster. Despite his jaded outlook on the world and humanity as a whole, the man had a soft spot for children.

"Are you big man brother? You look like big man."

A gentle smile graced Arkady's features, and he opened his mouth to refute the child's claim when the woman came running up. The child's caretaker seemed rattled by the innocent question and somewhat forcefully deflected the child's attention elsewhere.
Arkady didn't mind; he was used to it.
The unbiased view of a child could see the kindly soul beneath the facade he portrayed to the world, but anyone past the age of 18 never got past his hooded expression and unfriendly body language.
Arkady didn't even bother casting his icy gaze over the woman - that is, until he caught her scent.
His breath caught in his chest and his blood froze. It couldn't be... But it has to be!
You could fool Arkady's eyes, but never his nose, and the Russian would probably never forget that scent for as long as he lived.

He was on his feet in an instant. "Maya!" But the tell-tale jingle of the door chime told Arkady that she had already retreated into the store.
And so he just stood there, mouth slightly agape and head spinning as memories came flooding back.
His first feeling was guilt, but it was quickly replaced with a somber acceptance. Arkady and Sophie had something special, and he wouldn't trade it for anything - and the fact remained that it wouldn't have been possible if he and Maya hadn't broken off as badly as they had. And obviously Maya had something going for her too if she had a little girl... right?
Well, standing around with your stupid face hanging out isn't answering anything! Get in there Arkasha, you coward!
Galvanized into action by his own chagrin, Arkady darted into the convience store and peered down the aisles until he spotted her.
He approached her slowly, a neutral expression on his features. "Maya... uh, hi."
Ten years and you haven't changed a bit. You're still an idiot, Arkasha.

[krispey]

"Uhntie, uhntie!! I want these cereal," darcy said, wide-eyed, examaning all of the cereal boxes.
The cereal boxes were colorful, and alot of them had a well-known cartoon chaacter imprinted on it's face. Yup, targeted just at little children such as Darcy herself.
"And this one, and this one, and that one!" She exclaimed. Maya laughed abit, "Darcy, choose two, and that'll be all for now, m'kay?"
"But uhntie dere's soo many," Darcy stated as though she were in cereal wonderland.

Then, Maya's skin quivered abit, goosebumps forming on her arms as someone's warm breath reached the nape of her neck. Then, that all too familiar voice reached her ear canals, causing her to turn,
her lavender gaze taking in his wonderful features.

She didn't know what to do. She didn't know whether to smile, laugh, act all angry over osmething that happened about ten years ago, or what.
Maya opened her mouth to speak, as nervous as she was, and for what? What was there to be nervouse about?
"H-" Maya began before being cut off by Darcy.
"Uhntie, uhntie! I found 'em, I found 'em!!" She held up two boxes of cereal, one, Captian cruch(regular), and one depicting a princess holding a bowl of her own cereal in her gloved hand. Maya laughed,
"Heh, okay Darcy, we'll get those then." Darcy had forgotten all about the cereal as she was now staring up at Arkady who seemed like a giant to her.
"Uhntie, is that big man brother?" Maya shook her head. "No, his name is Arkady..." Her eyes fell to the floor, then back upat Darcy, "Uhm Darcy, why don't you go check and make sure those are the cereal you want?"
Darcy nodded, and happily skipped over to the cereal section, browsing once more.
"Uhm...Hi..."Maya said, not looking at Arkady, more like the ground, and any and everything except him.

[Delerium]

Well, at least he wasn't the only one tongue tied.
Forcing an encouraging smile, Arkady said, "Maya, it's been a while, huh? How're you doing these days? You look good." He cast a friendly glance at Darcy.

The girl had called her 'Uhntie', but still, that could be a good thing... right?
He shook his head lightly and placed a hand on his hip. "Gods, I have so many questions... What are you doing these days? I can't believe I'm meeting you here!"

((Sorry, brain-fart X.x))

[krispey]

Maya's smile was faint. She could clearly see the excitement within him.
She had to admit...Arkady not acting all mad at her and what not really did take a heavy burden off of her shoulders. As much as she wanted to jump on him and wrap her arms around him, she couldn't.

"Yeah, I'm in shock too, believe it or not," Maya laughed abit.
"Well...These days..." Her voice trailed off. Maya inhaled deeply before quickly exhaling, "These days, I'm being Darcy's gaurdian. She's my niece, and both of us are seeking the return of her father, my brother, Nashino....Darcy's the only thing I have to look forward to getting up for these days."
Her shoulders shrugged a little as she now looked at Arkady, "I'm afraid to ask, but what about you?"

[Tiff'blz]

A soft whistling waved through the street. The sound was accompanied by a blond man in a tight red shirt with no sleeves. His baggy black pants hung down low on his hips, the hem of the shirt still covering the waistband by a good four inches. His head held high, Clint walked through the city with ease, even though he was still not quite sure where everything was, he would find out eventually, that much he knew. Confidence was his middle name. A calm smile appeared at each break in his little melody and he constantly kept an eye on everyone in the crowd, scanning the faces almost non-stop. His laid back attitude betrayed only by the tenseness of his arms that hung by his sides, a lit cigarette lying loosely in his right hand, coming up only periodically to grace his lips before falling back to his side. He didnt smoke ten years ago.. But after the war, he needed something drastic to calm his wired nerves and he wouldnt resort to drinking.

His foot steps slowed as he heard a familiar voice.

"Are you big man brother? You look like big man."

Clint's head whipped around, but the bustling street blocked his view and refused him the sight of the origin of that little voice. Only one person called him big man.. Darcy. Clint frowned at the feeling of his heart lifting and his mood improving just by hearing her sweet little voice. He shook his head, but couldnt help trying to search out the little girl and hopefully Maya as well. His steps quickened and his stride lengthened as he headed toward the voice.

"Goodies, goodies!"

Clint smiled as he flicked the cigarette down and mashed it with the heel of his foot to put it out. Useless, though for it had gone out on its own just a few seconds before he heard Darcy's voice. He looked up, seeing the silver haired little girl disappear into a store with Maya in tow. He started forward but stopped immediately upon seeing that they were without a doubt being followed. He frowned and watched a blond man follow her into the store. Clint walked up slowly, seeing Darcy gape over cereal like all little kids seem to do, while Maya and the stranger, Who was obviously no stranger to her., talked.

Clint leaned up against the wall, watching Darcy hold out two cereal boxes excitedly and Clint felt a pang of jealousy. He huffed and pulled out his pack of cigarettes once more and lit one up with his butane lighter. A funny saying glinted off of the side as he held the flame under the 'cancer stick' as some had called it. SARCASM- One of the Many Services I Offer. He usually chuckled everytime he saw that, but right now he was not in the mood. He pulled up the side of his shirt and quickly shoved the lighter into his pocket. He smoothed his shirt down and took a long drag off of the cigarette, letting the smoke drift slowly out of his nose as his eyes squinted. He felt like a snoop, but what did he care? He cracked his neck and lifted a foot to rest behind him on the wall he was leaned up against. His free hand unconsciously laid on the scar that ran raggedly across his side. He did that when he got nervous. "Wonder how long it will take for them to get out of there?" He muttered, his eyes shifting to the oncoming traffic of people that were bound to block his view. He sighed and decided to wait for them to come out.

[Delerium]

"Oh..." was all Arkady could say, kinda sorry he'd asked. He hadn't mean to put her on the spot like that... "Well, you always have to hope for a better tomorrow, right? Things will look up; I know they will." He gave her an encouraging smile.

"I'm afraid to ask, but what about you?"

He looked thoughtful for a moment, his arms crossing over his chest. How much should he tell her? He couldn't tell her too much about his job, and she probably wouldn't want to hear about him and Sophie...
"I'm... doing pretty good," he finally said. "I'm... quite happy with my job; feel like I'm making a difference, you know?" He paused a moment before saying. "...And, I'm seeing someone. She's done a lot for me, and I really feel... there's a deep connection between us." He couldn't suppress a grin. "I think it's love. Ahh, what am I saying? I don't think, I know."

Arkady had been about to continue when his keen senses caught the sound of a lighter being clicked followed by the scent of butane and tobacco. He whipped around and noticed the odd man staring at him and Maya intently.
He was unsure why, but the man's glare made Scion stir within him, and Arkady had to fight the urge to growl at the interloper. That would've been bad.
Instead, pasting on a slightly miffed expression, Arkady said, "Hey, can we help you, or something?"

[krispey]

Maya shrugged, running her left hand down her right arm.

She listened to him as he spoke about his seemmingly happy-go-lucky-what-could-go-wrong-life. She didn't know whether to take his informing her as boasting or gloating, or his happy, thankful attitude as arrogant and concited.
Maya took it as a little of everything, "Arkady, it's nice to see that you have a," she paused, searching for a word that didn't make her come off as irritated and/or hateful, "fulfilling life going on. But who's your signifigant other?" She asked, knowing full well who it was.
"That Dementia, sorry, Sophie?" She asked, though apparently already knowing.

Her head turned as Arkady's did, her lavender eyes focused on that all-too familiar face, although it had been dark since the last time she'd seen him.
That didn't seem to stop Darcy who had dropped her boxes of cereal, and charged over to him, arms out, laughing, "bigman bigmaaan!!"

Clint didn't seem happy, and if Maya didn't know any better, she would've deemed him jealous.
Her expression didn'tchange much, as it stayed the same. She didn't bother to call Darcy back, for it wouldn't do any good, and besides, Clint wasn'tgoing to hurt her, and Maya was sure of this.

Maya wanted bad to say, "Clint, don't be jealous of us. We once, long ago, had something going, but now, he's turned into a seemingly cocky, self-assured, handsome, fool in love.." But instead, she spoke not...

[Tiff'blz]

Clint's eyes slitted closed, his vision blocked momentarily by a plume of smoke. He shook his head only slightly, in a silent answer to Arkady's question. He flipped the cigarette away as Darcy came running up to him. He stooped down and caught her in mid stride, lifting her up swiftly to rest comfortably on his hip. He wanted to smile reassuringly to Darcy, but figured that right now wasnt the time. So he stood there, watching the man with Maya, his face a blank mask, refusing to show what he felt. He strode forward slowly, bending down to pick up the boxes of cereal, and keeping a firm arm around Darcy so she wouldnt slip and fall. He turned to Maya, giving her that blank stare as if he wanted an explaination. He couldnt figure out the reasoning behind it. Why was he jealous of someone he didnt really know? Was it because he had grown so fond of Darcy that he was afraid that if she was seeing someone that they would try to keep him away from her? .. Possible..but probably not. He spoke, his voice low and even, " Hello Maya.. Anything I could help you with?" He asked her, flicking his eyes to her only momentarily as he asked the question, but staying trained for the most part on Arkady.

She had seemed like she wanted badly to say something to him, and he figured that there was a reason why she remained silent. Arkady practically radiated violence and tenseness. Something that Clint had perfected over the years. His silver eyes scanned over the man, quickly taking in something he thought of as a threat. Clint didnt think that he could really look all that intrusive or hostile now with a tiny girl all wrapped around his side, but he could manage all the same if he tried. He held Darcy tightly as if trying to protect her from the man, even though of course she didnt look in the least bit afraid. "Is this the guy you asked was my brother Darcy?" He asked, wanting them all to know that he had heard the conversation before they entered the store. He looked Arkady over once more. "Eh.. He has blond hair..only resemblance to me." He said shrugging.

[krispey]

Maya watched as Clint approached. The tension was building, and she could tell. The airs on the back of her neck and arms raised, goose bumps racing up and down her spine. She wasn't cold, but the attitude both Clint and Arkady secretly threw at eachother was.
Maya brushed her hair back with her hands, before removing the elastic band from her wrist, which had now made an imprint, leaving her hair up in a bun.
She then flashed a fake, yet tense smile at Clint. "Uhm...No, no there isn't anything I need help with," she said, knowing full well what he meant. When did 'happy reunions' like this one between Arkady and Maya turn into a sour and and tense one like right now?
Was that supposed to happen? Maya's lavender gaze sauntered over to Arkady, before quickly jumping back to Clint.
So he was there? Who else was there? Ashton from Punk'd?!?

"Yea, bigman! his hair justike yours!!" Darcy squeeled.

Maya smiled abit at her inquisitve, observative little niece. She was oh so smart. Maya reached her arms out to Darcy, the little silver-haired child leaning forward into her aunt's arms.
Darcy then leaned forward, getting her boxes of cereal from clint. "Tank-you bigman!" Darcy squeeled as Maya made her way through both Arkady and Clint.

[Delerium]

Damn. You could cut through the tension in the air with a knife.
It wasn't that Arkady himself was put off by the presence of the man, but Scion stirred restlessly within him, urging Arkady to either do something about the interloper or get out. The latter option was infinitely more tempting.
Besides, he was clearly the third wheel in THIS party...

His handsome face void of expression, Arkady flicked his gaze from the man to Maya, then appeared to make his decision. "Well, it was nice talking to you again Maya, even if only for a little while... Take care." He nodded respectfully at the man as he made his escape.
Arkady hadn't survived as a lone wolf this long by being unable to read the hidden meaning behind someone's words and body language; he knew when he wasn't wanted.

Ah well, he had things to do anyway...
Arkady didn't even bother looking over his shoulder as the stores chime indicated that he had left the store. Scion wouldn't let him.
Happy? he thought in irritation.
The wolf, that was very much a part of him, gave no reply but Arkady could feel him settle down. Good. If he'd wolfed out in the middle of a convenience store... Arkady didn't even want to think of the consequences.