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A simple mistake, anyone could have made it, really.
That's what Roathe insisted to himself, hands shaking, as Bird 3 helped him steady himself back onto solid ground. What was Le Cardinal thinking? Suspending such a precious bird over a gap to void-knows-where. Anyone could have lost their balance. Surely he wasn't the first.
Residual adrenaline caused his heart to pound, though it wouldn't show on his face. Eons of practice ensured that. He simply dusted himself off, easing Bird 3's squawking with non-chalant assurance. The subtle swing of the cavia's perch was the only evidence of what had transpired, and he planned to keep it that way.
Turning on his heel, Roathe stopped short. A rather annoying wrench had been thrown into his previous plan.
An expression of urgency twisted Marie's face, her eyes scanning the whole of Roathe's figure. A beat, and her face softened. Bar that, her lips pulled into a smirk.
It was a dangerous thing, the easily annoyed Marie with a smirk on her face.
Before any wit could be exchanged, a bold hand pressed against Roathe's breastplate. With the outside pressure, it became more obvious how it rattled with each thump beneath his chest.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
Very few times had the Grand Carnis been speechless, the zealots could attest to that. But he found himself frozen, a lifetime and a half passing in those few seconds. The shameful pounding of his heart only picking up its speed, as he gazed into the sister's eyes.
Then, it skipped a beat. Marie surely felt it.
A laugh.
She was laughing??
“Très mignon. Be more careful.” A pat to the armor preceded her departure, without another word.
Never had Roathe been so utterly disarmed, even the touch She would subject him to had never affected him like this. From Marie of all people? How absurd.
One clawed hand made it up to his chest, cursing in void tongue as he felt for certain how his heart had sung in Marie's presence.
Thump, thump, ba-thump, thump.
A deeper shade of blue creeped its way onto Roathe's face, he was given away by a stupid organ! He drew a deep breath, trying to calm himself, should Marie have received the gift of hearing along with flight.
Thump, thump, thump. Ba-thump, ba-thump.
With well practiced movement, Roathe straightened himself once more. He started his saunter back to the cathedral, planning to perhaps hide away and beg– convince, rather– the Drifter to reset their memories. He spared a glance over his shoulder, bidding farewell to Bird 3.
“Seeya, Mr. Kitty Kavat! Fall again soon!”