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[capturedevotion]

"You've reached Dave Finch. I'm unavailable at the moment, but leave me your name and number, and I'll return your call. Thank you."

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[onlyhisdreams]

[Lorna hesitates, pursing her lips and wrinkling her forehead. Then she decides to push forward. One of her hands goes to his shoulder, the other up to his cheek.]

Why do you refuse to let me in?

[capturedevotion]

[He makes no move to reciprocate or flee from her touches. His gaze is still fixed on a distance point beyond the lake, face darkening.]

You have other things to concern yourself with, not with my petty life.

[onlyhisdreams]

[Those words hit her, right in the gut. Recently, Emily had spoken that way to her. Such a young, beautiful, innocent girl thinking she was below everyone else. Seeing the same behavior from Dave? Well, it hurts. She brings her other hand to his face as well, trying to get him to look at her.]

Enough. [She speaks it like an order.] These burdens should not be yours alone. I am your friend. I care for you so deeply. Allow me to discover you.

Please.

[capturedevotion]

[It takes him a moment, but he finally tears his eyes away from that faraway spot and looks down at her, at dear, sweet Lorna. Lorna who has so many burdens to shoulder and shouldn't have to shoulder one more.

Thinking about she must be going through makes his own problems feel so petty, but they're still his. He sighs, resigned.]

If I tell you, you must swear never to tell anyone else.

[onlyhisdreams]

[He was going to open up to her. It takes all of her will power not to look happy about that. Even still, she looks almost relieved. She removes her hands from his face.]

First, you must come with me. [She takes his hand and tugs at it, becoming him to follow.] I know where there are no cameras.

[What cameras? All that new security Xavier's been installing. They're hard to spot, but she can feel every one.]

[capturedevotion]

[Dave's been sussing out the new security as well (part of his job, after all,) but he's sure she would know better with her powers. Really, she'd make a wonderful asset if he didn't prefer working solo.

With a nod, he follows after her, choosing not to ask where they're going. If the cameras have mics? Eh. Not something he wants to deal with.]

[onlyhisdreams]

[With her cloak flowing behind her as she walks, Lorna leads Dave away from their path and directly into the woods. She navigates through the night like she's done it a thousand times. It probably has something to do with that internal compass of hers, among other things.

They come out of the trees and onto another path. Like magic, she still looks absolutely pristine. A big further down the path, they come upon a familiar place: the lake house. Remember that party of hers? As she takes Dave up the steps, the front door opens itself.]

Voilà. There are no cameras here, and we can get warm.

[capturedevotion]

[There's a part of Dave that wonders if he's dreaming. Her cloak, the moonlight... None of these things help to dissuade him from that. It almost makes him feel like a kid again, hearing a story from his mother.

As he climbs the steps after her, he laughs a little.]

You would think this would be the first place the cameras would be installed, considering that party you had thrown.

[onlyhisdreams]

[That gets a giggle out of her. She steps inside and removes her hood. It's another few seconds before a dim light comes on and she leads him to the parlor.]

I beg your pardon, my shindig was not a security risk, Mason.

[It's about as cold inside as it is outside, so she goes to the fireplace.]

[capturedevotion]

Oh, it was a very clever disguise. Do not give me that.

[He draws his coat tighter around himself and takes a seat on the couch, wondering if he should be more concerned that there is no cloud of dust that rises as he sits.

Who knows how many countless teenagers have snuck out to this very spot to make out. Gross.]

[onlyhisdreams]

[Hopefully not as many as one would think. The doors and windows are kept locked. Locks just don't really matter to Lorna.]

Clever? You only fooled me because I was so intoxicated I offered Scott Summers a drink.

[Carefully, she moves a few logs into the fireplace. Thankfully, there were matches and newspaper nearby. She wads up some of the paper and sticks it between the pieces of wood.]

Mason was also dreadfully boring. [A pause, then she lights a match.] Not to mention unattractive and dimwitted.

[capturedevotion]

[Considering how many of his students he teaches to overcome obstacles like locks...]

Oh, now I wish I had stayed around to see that! I was too busy helping one of the littler ones back to the school. I don't think I've ever seen someone lose that much lunch before in my life. [He laughs. Bitterly.

The shoes he had been wearing that night had been ruined because of that kid. Damn you, random intoxicated child.]

He was a disguise, nothing more, and he served his purpose well.

[onlyhisdreams]

[God, was he helping Margot back or something? She was about that crunk.]

It was horrible! The man came in, turned off the music, began yelling, and I thought the best idea in the world was to loosen him up with liquor. [She laughed as she lit the paper in several places. This is obviously not the first time she's done this, despite being a princess.]

Your purpose should have been to stop me from doing that, hmm? Instead, you chose to spy on me.

[capturedevotion]

[No or else that one wouldn't have gotten lost in the woods. Logan got that fun job. Sorry bro.]

While I agree with you, that's almost about as safe as poking a bear with a stick. No wonder he was so mad.

[He crosses his arms with a little 'hmph.'] I was only making sure you didn't get hurt, nothing more. Cleaning is not such a terrible thing.

[onlyhisdreams]

The man already loathes my very existence. If I am involved, it takes little else to make him furious.

[Once the logs start catching, she goes to turn off the lights. No need attracting any unwanted attention now. They were sharing secrets. It was exhilarating. She came to sit down on the couch beside him.]

That was very sweet of you. [She told him softly, then added very quickly:] Even though you did a horrible job.

[capturedevotion]

[Dave is almost hoping that Lorna would forget why they here in the lake house in the first place. Her trying to kiss him again would actually be preferable to the conversation they're about to have.]

I tried. It was really all I could do. [He chuckles, shifting uncomfortably.] You cannot blame a man for trying.

[onlyhisdreams]

[The princess removes her boots and curls her legs up underneath her body. The fire is steadily growing, shedding more light on their faces with every passing moment. Soon, they'll actually begin to feel the warmth. For now, she rubs her hands together.]

Oh, I can blame a man for many things. [She gives him a look that could almost be described a sly before giggling it off.] All right, no. I cannot. Not for that.

However, it would have been more effective if you came as yourself. Or at least informed me you were in disguise.

[capturedevotion]

Oh, I'm sure you can. [There's a roll of his eyes, but it's soon followed by a little smirk.]

Your peers were more likely to trust me as Mason, sad to say. Who would ever suspect the -- how did you phrase it? Ah, yes -- dimwitted, boring boy?

[onlyhisdreams]

[She gives him a look, but it only lasts for a moment. She soon chuckles and shakes her head. The real reason why they sneaked away comes back to her.]

Speaking of trust...

[She lifts her hand and balls it into a fist, all but her pinky, then she holds it out to him.]

I swear in the presence of the Lord that I will not share your secrets with a single soul.

[capturedevotion]

[A pinky promise.

It's something Dave can't help but laugh at, even as he hooks his little finer with hers.]

Thank you.

[He clears his throat, gathering his thoughts on where to begin. May as well get the most dramatic part out of the way first.]

I didn't come here for my parents. I haven't spoken to them directly in years, actually.

I came here to hide.

[onlyhisdreams]

[Pinky promises are serious business, okay. Once that's all done with, she makes herself more comfortable on the couch and closely watches the man. They have know each other long enough that she doesn't entirely trust he won't lie to her.

Surprisingly enough, he doesn't.

However, the princess doesn't look too shocked by this news. Come to think of it, this doesn't even faze her.]

Well. That explains a great deal. [Just letting him take that as he will.]

[capturedevotion]

[Way to take the drama out of his story, Lorna.

Dave actually looks a little disappointed.]

I came here to hide because someone is out to kill me.

[onlyhisdreams]

[Your story isn't dramatic unless it's an epic tale of love and betrayal. And that part about someone out to kill Dave? She brings in her eyebrows and wrinkles her forehead.]

What on Earth did you do?

[She knows you too well, bro. B|]

[capturedevotion]

[Such a spoilsport, Lorna. Dave drops the dramatics. No one understands how hard his life is, okay.]

I took something that wasn't mine. or tried to. Apparently that constitutes murder nowadays.

[onlyhisdreams]

[Lorna's eyes go wide. She looks around them, like she's making sure they're still alone. Then she leans in closer.]

Oh my Lord, David! Did you try to steal from a mafioso? [The girl's almost laughing with disbelief that this, of all things, is his big secret.] Or Victor von Doom?