Willa sighs happily, leaning her head forwards to rest her forehead on his chest.

"I enjoy it, too." She can feel his heartbeat. "Nervous?" Her hands curl into his shirt.


_{Rory Faust}

His hand is so gentle, and her heart pounds harder as he leans in to kiss her. She can’t help but smile against his lips as she’s kisses him back, standing a bit taller so he doesn’t have to bend as much.

Their first, but not their last; when they pull away to breathe, she peppers smaller, softer kisses on his lips. Promises of many more to come.


_{Rory Faust}

Willa swallows, her hand sliding from his shoulder up to his neck, thumb smoothing along bone under the skin of his jaw.

"I wish you would." Her breath is short, excited.


_{Rory Faust}

The music stops, and so does time; Rory standing there with her, not drawing away. Her, feeling strong enough to be vulnerable just this once.

"Thank you for the date." Willa doesn’t pull away from him, her hands still resting in his and onto his shoulder. She laces their fingers together.


_{Rory Faust}

And there it was; the affirmation she had needed, possibly her entire life.

"Thank you." She whispers back, looking up at him through her lashes. Bashful; shier than her normal, step-on-someone's-throat-if-she-has-to attitude.

"I appreciate that."


_{Rory Faust}

Her heart flutters a bit harder at the thought of him caring for Wyatt; who enjoyed Rory as a person aleready based on their minimal interaction.

"I had him quite young, you know." She whispers, a bit ashamed. "Is that alright?" Some partners she's had ditched her when they found out how old he was; what had happened to her.

Damaged goods.


_{Rory Faust}

Willa smiles up at Rory and bites her lip. "What if one of them was adopted, then?" She asks quietly, her heart pounding softly.

She didn't see the point in beating around the bush at all, if they were interested in one another.


_{Rory Faust}

Her heart slips a bit, falling out of the chains shes kept it so tightly locked in for so many years — all because of his grin.

And his kindness.

Being easy on the eyes helped, too.

"They sound… nice. Normal, even. Supportive." She smiles softly. "Have you ever wanted a little mind to mold of your own?" Might as well ask the hard hitters.


_{Rory Faust}

"That's good." Willa smiles and nods, having watched him while he answered. Her eyes slide closed and she licks her lips, staring at nothing and infinity all at once.

The water gurgles as it trickles down a rock wall a little ways off.

Honestly, she was glad he was out. If she could risk it all and still have the luxuries she was able to provide to her son, she'd get out of the business too.

That, and she just loved making money.

"You have someone... Son? Nephew? He's a little younger than my son. Right?"

aaOSGeYL

_{boruta maher
heat points: 780/1000}

Willa smiles back at him and tilts her head. "Oh? Just one dance with me and you're so sure?" She grins and licks her lips, before lifting her hand to brush some hair over her shoulder.

"What are your parents like?" She asks curiously. Anyone who made their son take dancing lessons could go either way on the parenting scale.


_{Rory Faust}

As they dance, Willa smiles up at him, tilting her head. Especially at his comment.

"Thanks, you're alright, too." She winks and grins, before casting her eyes down. "I suppose your lessons came with your upbringing, and not of your own volition?" The question is innocent enough.

Willa had clawed and scratched her way to her riches, she had been born poor, and had been kicked out on her own when her parents found out she was pregnant.

You're already too many mouths to feed, we don't want another.

So Willa had made sure Wyatt would never want or need for anything.


_{Rory Faust}

"Well then." Willa holds out her hand and smirks at her new partner.

"We have ourselves a deal, Theo."

_ccXF2F|

885/1000

THEO BECKETT

Well, this was something she hadn’t expected in the least. But she smiles regardless, extending her hand to place into his.

When she stands, she straightens out her pants and blouse with her free hand and swallows thickly. "I suppose you’ve taken lessons?" She smirks as she rests her other hand on his shoulder.


_{Rory Faust}