Fear the Night

Chapter 8: The Confession

“And you think she’s trustworthy?” Maverick asked as the three sat in a small circle in the ‘bedroom’ and Yukio stared wide eyes at the other man.

“Why wouldn’t she be?” he questioned back, defensively.

“It just seems odd that she was so generous to you,” Maverick replied.

“Does that mean we’re untrustworthy because we were generous and helped you?!” Yukio shot back.

“That’s different,” Maverick argued. “I’m good at reading people. I knew you two weren’t a threat to me.”

“What makes you think I’m not good at reading people?!” Yukio snapped.

“Look at you!” Maverick snickered. “You’re angry because of one reasonable question about her! You can’t read a person very well when you’re attracted to them!”

Though Isabella hadn’t said a word, and didn’t say anything then either, but she’d been listening, and hearing Maverick say that made her cringe inwardly. Yukio stared at Maverick with wide eyes then looked to Isabella for a reaction. Maverick frowned then looked at her as well, but in confusion.

“What?” he finally asked, glancing between them but stopping on Isabella when she bowed her head slightly, then silently stood and walked out into the main room as both men watched her, one confused the other in awe that she said nothing. Maverick turned back to Yukio and asked again, “What the hell just happened?”

Yukio sighed and leaned toward Maverick to bop him on the forehead with the heel of his hand. Maverick was too shocked by the action to even be angry and instead stared at Yukio with wide, surprised eyes.

“You’re an idiot,” Yukio said, then sat back against the wall behind him. That brought Maverick back to reality and made him angry.

“What’s that?” he asked through clenched teeth.

“You. Are. An. Idiot,” Yukio repeated, slowly and Maverick glared at him. “You’re blind, too. Then again, with what you just said, maybe that’s a good thing.”

“What’s a good thing?” Maverick asked, still glaring at the other man.

“She likes you, dumbass,” Yukio snickered and Maverick’s glare turned to wide-eyed wonder. “And that little comment probably made her think you’re not even attracted to her since you’ve seen fit to trust us and let us live with you.”

Actually, you guys forced your way in, practically, Maverick thought but said nothing.

He had to admit, he had been attracted to her, but he had set it aside so he could ‘read’ her. He guessed he was and idiot. But, he had kissed her. Impulsively and without warning, even on his part, but he had. Surely that would have told her he was attracted to her?

“If I were you, I’d go apologize,” Yukio said, breaking through Maverick’s thoughts. He looked up at Yukio with wide eyes again.

“For what?!” he hissed. “I didn’t even know what was going on!”

“You kissed her, then you said you weren’t attracted to her,” Yukio explained.

“That’s not what I said!” Maverick argued, still.

“That’s what she heard, though,” Yukio replied and Maverick sighed, rubbing his eyes to ward off the headache threatening to attack. “I can tell you haven’t been around many girls. Just take my advice.”

“Yeah,” Maverick groaned.

“I need a walk,” Yukio lied through a smirk, standing and heading out and around the corner to the stairs.

“Where are you going?” Maverick heard Isabella ask Yukio as he thought of how he would approach her.

“Stretch me legs, Izzy,” Yukio replied.

“Be careful,” Isabella requested.

“Sure thing,” Yukio answered and Maverick heard him head up the stairs then the open and shut of the door.

With a sigh he stood and headed toward the corner. He rounded into the main room to find Isabella bustling around, putting things in different places, what few places there were, then heading to her box to unpack it. He leaned on the stone and watched her for a moment before clearing his throat to get her attention. Only when Isabella looked back at him did he smile slightly then stand tall. She only turned back to what she was doing but Maverick started walking toward her anyway.

“So…” he hummed, “about what I said about…reading people you’re attracted to, that was…stupid.”

“How is it stupid?” Isabella wondered, her tone emotionless and she didn’t look at him.

“Yukio told me,” replied and hid his smirk of amusement when she froze in her tracks.

“T-Told you what?” she sputtered and Maverick came up directly behind her.

“That you like me, Bell,” he whispered and she jumped, whirling around to face him.

“W-What?!” she gasped. “H-He said that?!”

“You’re blushing, Bell,” Maverick smirked and she place her hands over her cheeks as she still stared at him. “I’m sorry about what I said. Truth is…” He trailed off, trying to word it just right in his head before it came out of his mouth. He couldn’t let himself put his foot in his mouth again. “Truth is…I thought you were drop dead gorgeous the first time I saw you,” he finally blurted with a smirk. “I just had to put that aside so I could…”

“‘Read’ me?” she finished for him when he trailed off, her hands sliding from her face.

“But, if you still don’t believe I was attracted to you before, maybe this’ll convince you…”

He cupped her face in his hands and gently pulled her toward him, their lips meeting and Isabella gave a startled squeak, her eyes wide in surprise. For whatever reason, he had to kiss her. He didn’t know why, and he didn’t really care. He started panicking when she didn’t move, but when he thought to pull away he felt her hands on his chest and slid his arms around her to hug her close.

A moment later they both moved away and Maverick watched her carefully as she stared back at him. She suddenly threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close as he stared ahead in wonder but he also felt that unknown feeling he’d felt the first time he’d heard her laugh. He hadn’t tried to figure it out then, and he wouldn’t now. Now, he would just enjoy her being in his arms as he slid them around her.

“I believe you,” she smiled in a whisper.

“You didn’t believe me earlier with the more…awkward kiss before?” he chuckled back and she pulled away to see his face as she smiled.

“That one left me a bit confused,” she admitted, “and Yukio ruined the moment rather abruptly.”

“I should have just let you move in instead of him.”

“We’re rather inseparable, I’m afraid,” Isabella smiled then giggled and closed in slowly toward him, making him smile and close in as well. They were close to kissing again when a low growl erupted from the cell against the wall. They both froze and looked to see Faye, awake and baring her teeth through the bars, her yellow eyes glaring at the couple.

“Mine,” she growled and Maverick frowned at the Drone as Isabella trembled in fear at the creature. He slowly moved her behind him, both still staring at the creature in the cage and Maverick slowly approached the bars.

“What’s yours, babe?” he asked, stepping to the bars, Isabella unmoving, seemingly nailed to the floor.

“You,” Faye growled again and Isabella gripped his hand before he was out of her reach. He stopped and glanced back at her giving her a reassuring wink. Faye snarled behind the bars, thrusting her arm from the cell to reach for him and Isabella and Maverick both looked at her again.

“Ok, sweetheart, ok,” Maverick crooned to her, soothingly. He moved a bit closer to the cell and Isabella reluctantly let him go as Faye pulled hand back into her cell as he got close enough to kneel right in front of her.

“Isabella,” he called, not looking away from Faye. “Go look for Yukio. I need some time alone with Faye.”

“Maverick, I don’t think that’s---”

“I’ll be fine,” he interrupted, knowing why she was worried. Isabella swallowed but headed to the stairs.

“H-How long should I look for him?” she shuddered, heading up the stairs.

“Give us an hour, Bell,” he replied and she said nothing more as she headed up the stairs.

Maverick heard the door open and shut from above, never taking his eyes off of Faye. He sighed and stood then stepped toward the safe he kept his notebook in. He opened it and pulled out a key then headed toward the other side closer to the freezer. Faye stayed in the corner where she had put the lamp she had torn from the ceiling as Maverick opened the door to the cell, slipped in then closed the door behind him and slid the key into his pocket.

“Alright, honey,” he said, leaning back on the far wall and crossing his arms over his chest. “It’s just you and me. No bars, no notebook. Just us.”

He watched carefully as Faye slowly grinned and supported herself against the wall to stand then growled, “Good.”