From the prompt: "Faces in the smoke..."
"Sides of the Coin"
Heads:
“Holly,” he whispered.
She knelt opposite him, face cast in shadow, golden eyes eerie in the glow from the candles. Smoke curled upwards from the flickering flame, and she gave him a mysterious smile.
“Keith?”
His heart was hammering so hard he was afraid it would burst through his ribcage. He shifted, and the floorboards creaked a little. He glanced down and winced. Liam, Shannon and the other lads were right below this attic doing their planning.
Keith swallowed hard. “Holly, I...”
She was gazing at him frankly. Trepidation and fear crept upon him, and he reached out, hand disturbing the wisp of smoke. His fingers sank into liquid silk, and he lowered his head, mouth closing over hers. His other hand was trembling as he reached up to cup her face, and she moved closer to him, one arm coming up to wind around his shoulders.
Her mouth was endlessly soft against his, and as he kissed her, his fears were swept away.
He pulled back, chest rising and falling with quick breaths. He smoothed a thumb across her cheek, holding her gaze.
“Holly, I love you.”
She breathed out a soft, “I love you, Keith,” before tilting her head up so their mouths met again.
Keith reined hr in close, holding her and running his fingers through her hair.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled in close with a contented sigh.
He closed his eyes, placing a tender kiss on the top of her head. His heart was whole.
Tails:
“Holly!” he screamed, bursting into the building. He coughed and choked against the smoke, eyes stinging, lungs burning. The flames lapped at his body, tugging at his mind, begging him to join I the fun. Terror flooded him.
He couldn’t put the fire out.
“Keith?” Holly asked, calling above the crackling of the flames. Doubled over and coughing, Keith squinted through the thick, cloying smoke.
“Holly, I – ” I can’t see you!
“Keith! Keith! Get out of there!” Devin’s voice pierced from the outside world, Gaelic thick in desperation.
Keith saw her face then, in the smoke, and stumbled towards her. He staggered to his knees beside her where she lay on the ground.
She gazed up at him with glassy, honey-colored eyes.
“Keith, I love you. Now get out of here.”
“No!” he shouted fiercely. He gathered her up in his arms and cradled her close, hot tears slipping down his face. She was limp in his arms, gazing up at him with sad, knowing eyes.
Fury surged through him, and he scooped her up, dodging falling debris as he ran for the door, fighting to breathe.
Out in the street, he sank down with her still in his arms. Devin and Shannon kept a respectful distance, watching anxiously.
“Holly,” Keith whispered.
She smiled faintly. “I love you, Keith.”
“I love you, Holly.”
Trembling, he leaned down and placed his lips against hers in a final kiss.
He pulled back, eyes closed, and felt her last, cool breath roll across his skin.
His heart broke.
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© Agent Duo 2004