What's meant to be will always find a way

Michael was standing in a small convenience store by the self-service coffee machine. Once it stopped filling his cup with the dark liquid, he secured it with a plastic lid. And just as he was about to walk up to the cash register with it, his eyes caught a glimpse of someone. He stopped at this. Seeing someone he hadn't seen in a while. Right there on the cover of a magazine. And for a moment he just stared at the image, processing the strange emotions that had occurred the moment he’d laid his eyes on her. Michael had seen his fair share of things during his existence, he knew what to appreciate and like, even if some doubted he did in the first place. And her beauty was indeed something unique. But more than that, she had made him feel something he hadn’t in years. Something he yearned to feel again. But it was something he couldn’t have. Not from her. Perhaps not from anyone. He had reminded himself many times why this was. And the reasons were plenty. It only distracted him from his constant obligations, inevitably making him fail more people than he already did. Yet, he couldn’t explain why he still felt this way. Even after he'd gotten rid of his addiction to her. He reached for the glossy paper before taking it off its place on the shelf. He wondered if this meant she had changed her career, although she could of course work multiple jobs. He walked the last few steps to the cash register to pay for the coffee and magazine before he continued to the street outside. The sun was setting, giving the sky an orange and warm tint in contrast to the seven degrees that could be felt. He walked down the sidewalk to stop by his parked car. He took a sip of the coffee as he lifted the magazine to look at again, not helping but wonder what she was doing now.

He looked up from the magazine cover as he heard her voice. At first thinking that it was his imagination running wild with him. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d heard her melodic voice in the back of his mind. Ultimately, it was why he’d decided to seek help. To get rid of the obsession he’d developed as it had gotten to an unbearable point. However, he quickly realized that it wasn’t his imagination as he turned his gaze and saw her standing right there on the street. His heart skipped a beat the moment her piercing brown eyes met his. In the same moment, he felt the familiar emotions he’d experienced near her before, making him take a step back. As much as he was tempted to get closer to her, he couldn’t allow himself to fall into the addiction again.

“Yes,” he paused as he looked at the magazine in his hand again. It was like a one in a million chance. For her to find him at that moment. And if she had observed the way he’d looked at her picture, it was clear to tell that she was the reason he’d bought the magazine in the first place. “What a coincidence meeting you here just as I was-” he broke off the sentence, lifting the magazine slightly as to hint to what he’d just been doing when she’d arrived. He returned his eyes to her with a smile on his lips. He felt genuinely happy to see her. He couldn’t exactly explain why this was. After all, he’d told himself time and time again to forget about her and to never see her again. And it had seemed to work. But now that he stood in front of her, it was like those thoughts evaporated. “How are you?” he asked before he opened the car door to the backseat, placing the magazine inside a duffel bag. Michael knew that they hadn’t left on the best terms. With him telling her that they couldn’t continue seeing each other. And even though she’d seemed nothing but understanding of this, he knew that it was something that would hurt most people. With the magazine tucked away, he closed the car door again and returned his attention to her.

He glanced at her lips as she smiled. It was the type of devastating smile that could knock the toughest men to their knees. He raised his green eyes to hers as she said that things could be better. The thought of her having a bad day made him want to make it better. She then said that she’d quit her old job. “You did?” he asked, slightly surprised to hear this. He remembered her talking about how sex wasn’t looked down upon in her world, and considering her programming, it only made sense that she wouldn’t mind working there. However, he also remembered that she’d started to doubt her world’s ways. Something Michael had thought she’d only said to keep him as a client. At least, this was what he'd tried to convince himself of. The part that denied his feelings for her and reminded him that it would never work out between them. But still, despite his attempt to control or remove said feelings, he felt them strongly now that he was with her again.

He looked into her eyes for a moment as she admitted to missing him, feeling his heart rate increase at the thought of her feeling something for him. Despite how he'd ended things. Michael wanted to tell her that he’d missed her too. Because he did miss the way she’d made him feel and he longed to feel it again. But his instinct was to resist and fight those feelings. So, he couldn’t get himself to admit this. However, he couldn’t exactly get himself to leave either. “Would you like to go with me somewhere?” he asked, wanting them to have a chance to talk more than a few sentences on a sidewalk. “Like a restaurant or a bar?” he added, in case she wondered what he’d meant by going somewhere. Although he didn’t really care where they went or what they did. “Or any particular place you’ve always wanted to go.” He would easily teleport them halfway across the world if that would amaze her and make him see more of that smile of hers.

Michael’s smile widened as she accepted his invitation. Taking up his offer to go further than a bar or restaurant. And although he probably shouldn’t have offered it to begin with, because it meant that he was going to touch her and risk falling into the same addiction he'd tried so hard to get out of, he had the feeling that it was going to happen either way. “Perfect. That's where we'll go then,” he said, locking the car with his car keys before he crossed the small sidewalk to throw the coffee in the trash. He then returned to her, taking her hand in his before he led her down a smaller side road to get away from the many pedestrians, not wanting any humans to witness them disappearing into thin air. He then stopped and turned to face her again. “Ready?” he asked as he looked into her eyes. He didn’t know whether it was the effect of her touch or his feelings, but he was genuinely excited about this small escape to Italy with her. And without her getting much time to say that she was or wasn't ready he teleported them to Italy.

They arrived on a boardwalk in Salerno with the beach on one side and the street with residential buildings and shops on the other side. In the distance, they could see the lights of the marina, and how the town stretched further down the coast. He turned his gaze to look at her, watching her reaction to it all. The moonlight glistening in the ocean and the idyllic Italian architecture. He still held her hand in his as he couldn’t quite get himself to let go of it. “I know we should have probably done this a long time ago… but I am happy that we are doing this now,” he said as he looked at her. They hadn't really been on a date before, which was what he viewed this as. He couldn't keep denying that he had romantic feelings for her and that the circumstances surrounding those feelings felt destined more than anything.

Her eyes shone like diamonds as she looked at their surroundings, and despite how beautiful it all was, it didn’t compare to how beautiful she was to him. As she then stepped closer to him and placed a hand against his chest, her touch sent sparks and filled him with emotions of euphoria. And he wondered how he’d been able to live without that for the past months. He smiled softly as she said some things were worth waiting for, and perhaps it wouldn’t have made much of a difference if they’d waited months or even years before meeting again. Because if they were meant to be with each other, there was only so much they could do to prevent that.

Michael thought about her question for a moment. Again, he didn’t care much for what they did. He just wanted to spend as much time as he could with her. “We can do anything you want,” he said, most of all caring about her happiness. Besides, he didn’t know if she had anything specific in mind in terms of what she wanted to see in Italy except the ocean, but if she didn’t, he would easily show her whatever he deemed noteworthy. However, it was usually easier to do that in the daytime. He then turned his gaze to the ocean, listening to the sound of the waves crashing ashore. “We could sit and talk by the ocean, or we could check into a hotel and order room service,” he suggested, as he returned his eyes to her. Thinking that it would give them a chance to get to know each other more.

He nodded to her notion about them going to the beach first. He arched a brow as she then said that they had to do something important, only for her to ask him to kiss her. And she didn't have to ask because every bone inside of him wanted to kiss her. But at the same time, he didn't want to rush into things as he had in the past. To rashly step into the passion and love that he strongly felt. Not wanting to suffer the same consequences. But standing here with her, with his feelings not having deteriorated the slightest, he didn't want to back out. He slowly moved his hand up to her neck, looking fondly into her eyes as he felt his heart beat both slower and faster at the same time. He then leaned in with his eyes closed and kissed her. It was not the gentle kiss of a couple on a first date, nor was it the kiss of a man driven by simple lust. He kissed her with the desperation of a dying man who believed the magic of eternal life was in that kiss. It was a rare feeling, and at this point, he didn’t care whether it was wrong or right. He just knew that he needed her.

He broke the kiss, her sweet taste lingering on his lips as he opened his eyes and looked at her again. A moment later he leaned back and removed his hands from her. “So, the beach…” he said, stopping his mind from wandering in a different direction as he turned his gaze towards the ocean. He then kneeled to untie his shoes and take off his socks, so they wouldn’t get sand in them. Hoping that the distraction would help him calm down from the kiss. He then got back to his feet and looked at her. “What other countries have you traveled to while you've lived on Earth?”

He could tell that she craved the feeling he gave her by the way she returned the kiss, and with how love had been forbidden in her own world, he could only imagine she’d never been kissed like that before. He felt himself fall further in love as they stood there, kissing by the ocean in Southern Italy. That’s why he was quick to distract his mind when it was over. Because he knew that it wouldn’t be wise to rush into feelings like these, at least not until he knew that she felt the same way. And more importantly, that she'd be willing to be in a monogamous relationship.
He nodded as she mentioned the countries she’d been to. Revealing that she still had much left to see of Earth. “Perhaps one day I'll get a chance to see your world,” he said as he looked at her. Although the more he thought about it, he wasn’t so sure just how good of an idea it was. But nevertheless, if their relationship got more serious, it was only fair of him to get to learn more of her by doing this. He started to walk towards the sand of the beach as she asked him what he thought to be the most beautiful place. At this point in his life, he felt like he'd seen it all. And although he found great satisfaction in admiring this beauty, there were many things that surpassed the beauty of a place. “You know, I’ve seen many beautiful places in my life... but nothing that can be seen will ever compare to the beauty that can be felt. Whether that is love, happiness, or a willingness to care and help others,” he said as he turned his eyes from the ocean to her. It was the things that really mattered. “It's moments like this... I could be looking at the most breathtaking view, and it would never compare to how I feel right here looking at you.”

He sent her a smile as she said she couldn’t imagine anything more perfect than this. And as she took his hand, he turned his body to face her. His heart rate increased in his chest as he looked into her eyes and listened to her talk about her feelings. Because it was almost too good to be true. And at that moment he knew that she’d fallen for him. The mere thought of them being something more made him incredibly happy, but he also knew better than to hope for this. He rarely allowed himself to get this close to anyone, and he had tried to resist this for a long time. But perhaps it didn’t have to be that way. He entangled their fingers before he placed his other hand around her waist, pulling her slightly closer to him. “In the beginning, I tried to convince myself that it was your ability that made me feel all these things, and perhaps part of it was, but I can’t keep denying that it’s beyond that. And I don’t want to anymore. All I want is to be right here with you,” he admitted. He wanted her to be there when he came home and hold her in his arms at night. And being here, he couldn’t imagine ever being without these feelings. “But I need to know whether you're willing to be in a relationship, knowing that it's against the rules of your world,” he said, feeling like she ought to have an idea of this by now - whether she still felt the need to be with others after their moments together. Naturally, this was rather important for him to know because he couldn't be dating her if she wasn't. And it was better to know now than later when he'd fallen further in love.

All he needed to know was whether she could see herself committing to a relationship, but what she said far exceeded that. He hadn’t dared to dream of her feeling that way towards him. And he couldn’t help but smile as she elaborated on the things she wanted. He thought to himself that perhaps God had meant for her to be with him, for him to find love in this time. Where everything seemed to fall apart around him. Even if this still felt like some surreal dream. One of those he’d had when he’d constantly been thinking about her. “I want all of those things too because when I’m with you, I don't know how to explain it, but something happens... And I feel as if I'm not truly complete without you, and that as long as I have you, nothing could ever be that bad... And I know it's because I've fallen in love with you... But it's all still so surreal to me.” he admitted, wanting to be equally as honest about how he felt. Even if that meant admitting to being in love with her. He broke their eye contact to glance at her lips before he leaned in to kiss her. It felt like fireworks went off inside him as he finally allowed himself to feel everything and not hold back. Knowing that he had found true love with her. And he felt like it’d only be foolish to keep resisting something that rare. As he broke the kiss to inhale a breath, he looked into her eyes. The corner of his lips turning into a faint smile at the happiness she gave him. “So, tell me… Before I get a chance to hold you all night, is there something else you want to do?” he asked, leaning slightly back as he wondered if she wanted to continue their walk by the ocean or if she wanted to explore more of the city as well.

He felt mesmerized looking into her eyes, and for a moment he just caressed the bare skin on her lower back as he was reluctant to let go. Afraid that it meant he’d wake up from this dream. And although he wanted to hold her every single night, tonight was one of the rare times he would put everything aside and allow it. Because it usually wasn’t like him to rest for long or take time off, not helping to think of all the evil that happened while he did so, but if anyone could distract his mind just a little from that, it was her. He then removed his hands from her and bend down to pick up his shoes as he’d dropped them to be able to hold her. He continued walking alongside the beach, mostly staring at her as she was far more beautiful than anything around them. “Do you have religion in your world?” he asked her, of course being curious of this as it was yet another important topic to him. He’d dedicated his whole life to his father and lived by his laws. He needed anyone he was with to be okay with that and to live by those same ideals. So, if she worshipped some other gods, or couldn't see herself as religious, it would complicate things further.

He noticed a grand hotel further up the beach with detailed architecture that he started to walk towards, and as he reached the street, he brushed the sand off his feet before putting his shoes back on. “Let’s go check in,” he said before walking through their entrance and to the reception. There were already a few people in the restaurant and bar area next to the lobby, but other than that there was only a couple sitting on one of the couches looking at a tourist brochure. “Buonasera, vorrei prenotare una suite per una notte, per favore,” he said, requesting a suite from the receptionist in Italian. They kept talking for a while before Michael filled out one of their forms and got a key card. He turned his gaze to Lenina with a smile on his lips, grabbing her hand as he led her to the elevator. “Will you be required to travel more with your new modeling job?” he asked, wondering if he wouldn’t be the only one needing to go away for longer periods at a time. As they then reached their floor he looked around at the numbers to find their room. He swiped the key card before he opened the door to their suite and held it open for her. It had a large seating area in front of a fireplace, a balcony with an ocean view, and a king-size bed. He closed the door behind them and took a few steps inside, taking off his suit jacket that he hung up in the closet by the entrance. He then walked over to the minibar where a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine was placed in the fridge alongside other drinks. “Would you like some wine?” he asked as he took the bottle out and opened it to pour himself a glass.

He had hoped that she’d tell him more about her thoughts on religion. But he figured that such a conversation could wait, as he could talk a long talk about it, and since she, for the time being, didn’t seem interested in it, he’d rather talk about something else. Besides, he was sure she knew that it was important to him and that if she wanted to be with him, she’d have to accept that.
As he asked her about her travels, she replied with a simple yes, making him start to wonder if her thoughts were someplace else. But again he figured he could ask more about her upcoming travels at a later time. “That is going to be exciting,” he commented with a smile as he walked down the hallway towards the room. “But you know, I was wondering... since you did work there for some time, have any other clients showed the same... Have they become addicted to you like I was?” he asked. It was something he'd wondered about a lot ever since he'd fallen for her ability and had to have a witch ruin the roots of the supernatural power she'd planted in him. And seeing that they might become something more, the last thing he wanted was for other men to  crave the same fix that he had.

Inside of the suite, he placed the bottle back on the table as she said she had another idea, he turned around with an attentive expression, looking at her as she walked closer to him. As much as he loved her idea of them taking a bath together, he also knew that it would make it near impossible for him to resist her like he ought to. But as her scent enveloped him and she started to unbutton his shirt, he fell short of reasons not to. “No, I do,” he said, breaking their eye contact to lower his gaze to her hands before he returned them to her face. His heart was pounding in his chest as he looked at her, taking in her beauty, and thinking that he was incredibly lucky to be here with her. And to feel as he did at this moment. He raised his hand to her face, running his fingers over her cheek and tracing the line of her cheekbone. “Why don't you go ahead and get started while I pour the wine?”

He narrowed his eyes for a moment as she said most of the men in the fashion industry were gay, still worried about all the other people she’d encountered. And if they’d feel anywhere near what he had back then. He didn’t want her to have that effect on others, to make them chase after her because they needed their next fix. However, as she said that she hadn’t been at Devil’s Point since the night they had sex, he looked at her with a surprised expression. He felt his love for her grow at the thought of that night meaning more to her. Thinking that it had to mean they were destined to fall in love. And to then hear that she’d been in touch with people who could help her suppress her powers. It made it easier to forget the worst of his concerns. “I’m really glad to hear that,” he admitted as he looked at her. As much as he wanted to be the only man that could have her, it wasn’t only that. He also didn’t want people to harass her because of a power that she had little control over, so if she could suppress that or even control it completely, that was great news.

He leaned closer to her as she kissed him, keeping his eyes closed for a moment as it was over far too quick, then opening them again as she asked if she could be the one to undress him. His lips pulling into a faint smile as he looked at her. He loved the feeling of her touch, so she hadn't even needed to ask, let alone be nervous of sounding like a fool. He quickly grabbed her wrist as she stepped back, in one swift move he had her pressed flush against him, his other hand finding the small of her back. He then leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I can’t get enough of your touch... But I guess was scared back then… of what I felt and what it would mean for me.” He moved his hand up her back as he pressed his lips against the soft spot under her jaw. “But that was then. Now… I'm not going to fight those feelings... I'm not going to let you go again,” he admitted before he leaned away from her, slowly removing his hands from her body to let her go into the bathroom and turn on the water. He understood why she'd be worried about him doubting their relationship, and leave as he had in the past. But now, being here with her, he didn't feel those same doubts.

Her sentence tempted him to reach his arms around her again, but if he did, they wouldn't get to enjoy a glass of wine in the bath for a while. And regarding not letting her go. He’d be a fool for making that mistake twice. “Shame on me for doing so in the first place,” he said with a teasing spark in his eyes as he returned her soft smile, watching her as she walked away and towards the bathroom. And when she was out of sight, he breathed out, although it did short of nothing to calm the nerves or emotions that swirled around inside him. He turned around to pour a second glass of the wine before he closed off the bottle and placed it back in the fridge. And as she was gone, a few concerns did reach his mind, but he was sure it was just his nerves. That, and his constant worries to always do right by his father. But if God was against this - him getting into a relationship with Lenina - he should have given him a sign by now. At least, this was what he had to tell himself.

He grabbed each glass by the stem as he joined her in the bathroom, standing in the doorway for a moment. He wetted his lips as his eyes roamed her figure. It was something he'd never get tired of admiring, and if he'd missed it for those few moments, he could only imagine how much he'd miss it once they were apart. He stepped closer to place the wine on a marble stand next to the bathtub before he turned his body to face her. “I haven’t felt this kind of love in what feels like centuries,” he admitted as his hand found her hip and he leaned in to kiss her lips tenderly. If he followed his heart, he knew that wherever she was would be where he’d end up. And he supposed that was why he’d teleported to her that night of his injury. He broke the kiss and opened his eyes again, reaching his other hand in front of her to open the belt to her trousers so they would fall to the floor. Leaving the hand on her hip to touch her bare skin and the thin fabric of her underwear. His gaze stayed with her eyes as he trailed his hand up her side, while the other hand tucked a strand of her away from her face.