Exchanging Smiles

When Tony finished telling her this short poem Zetian still had that startled expression on her face. With eyes deeply fixated on him unmoving.

Her cheeks turned a little flushed from that romantic poetry that strikes into her heart. Holding onto him with her hand just a little closer than before.

Then a small impish smile crept on her face as she giggles to herself a little snickering at him. "I knew you're going to say something corny along those lines," she joked with him covering her snickering with her hand.

Tony smiles with her founding his mood uplifted in her presence. He finds it actually quite fun this way laughing and having a great fun playing around with her telling each other stories, teasing, and sharing playful jokes.

"Don't lie you little imp," he pulls on her cheek affectionately with light strength, "you can't hide the fact that you were touched by my poem. Don't even lie."

She feints nonchalance by shifting her eyes away from that daring smile that humors her. "Well even though it is corny, it is still a little romantic I guess." Her lips pursed a bit acting all Tsundere in front of him.

"Alright it's getting really late. I really have to bring you back this time," Tony said taking a glance at the dark surrounding that clouds all around them. With mountains in the far-off distance that lines together by each other side by side.

With a graceful ease Tony swept her into his arms again. Finding herself carried into his arms Zetian touch her chest to the area where she finds her heart beating like it is in a race.

There's something so mesmerizing about this man that carries her, the serious expression that makes her willing to bestow her trust upon him. Bestowing her life, heart, all her youthful love.

Seeing that constant observation of his facial features Tony glanced into her eyes for a moment with a simple smile. With effortlessness like that of a free-flowing bird he used his toes to launch himself high above the sky.

If Zetian was a person from the modern world she would say this experience is even more fun than going on the best roller-coaster. Everything is so new to her, the way the wind blows to her face drawing her hair weightlessly in the air, the freedom like she's a bird away from gravity's hold on her mortal body.

She lifts her eyes upward as he holds her in the mid-air to the starlight above them. The millions of stars that accompanies this moment with her, all twinkling at the same time as though for the two of them in this second.

"Zhidu," catching Tony's attention as he sees her leaning against his chest without the slightest anxiety or worry. "I love you." she whispers to him lightly with a crescent smile that contains unhidden warmth more beautiful than any drawing that he could create, "…thank you for everything tonight."

He didn't say anything in respond to her words except a simple smile. An understanding smile that she gets, and the two lover matches their eyes in electrical communication.

In that midnight Tony skipped through the rooftops with such an efficient speed that his toes barely even touch the tiles of the rooftop. It is like he is simply leaping through the air, with wings behind his back.

Time seems to be largely forgotten in this youthful night. In his arms Zetian gradually loosen herself into a dreamful sleep. Forgetting all about tomorrow. Forgetting all about all her pain and her troubles.

She didn't hear the wind nor the chilling sounds that disturb the streets. Only the sound of his heartbeat inside his chest, that strong rhythm that gives her safety.

In less than a minute he already arrived back at the pavilion from before. Seeing the sleeping girl in his arms Tony smiled warmly to himself. Admiring the way her face seems finally so relaxed and feeling calmed down.

Opening the wooden doors to her room then closes them from behind, he softly and slowly walked to her bed. Placing her light body on the bed that has her arms around his neck.

Her bed has a large red warm quilt that's off to the side. With red blanket to cover the wooden bedding below.

Placing her on the wooden bed he unlocks the arms that closes off on his neck putting it by her waist side. As vulnerable as she is now, he didn't want to take liberty of her.

Covering her body with the large red quilt that's like a layer of beach sand over her, keeping her safe. He gently brushes off the tingles of soft hair on her forehead. Bending down his head to kiss her lightly on her forehead, "Goodnight my love."

As he turned around to leave, he finds a hand grabbed out from the blanket holding him around the wrist. Turning around he notices the half-asleep girl with her eyes watching him dreamily.

"Don't leave," she whispers under her breath to him still holding tightly to his wrist. "Stay for tonight." Slowly pushing herself up to a sitting position as the quilt falls off her shoulder.

He sits by the wooden bedside combing back those few tinges of hair that lightly draws those on her forehead like a bang, "I don't know if I can control myself so close to you." He holds her hand while their body draws closer.

"I believe you can," she smiles while holding him by the waist with a sweet affectionate love. Seeing those twinkling little stars that looks back at him Tony holds her hand closely as the both of them put their sleepy heads onto the large pillow.

For a while Zetian's heavy eyelids comes to a close almost drifting off to sleep. But would open up again just to make sure that he hasn't left her side. That all of this is not just another beautiful dream. A dream where she would have to then wake up to a dreadful reality without him.