It was just another evening for Rose and Orpheus, a regular occurrence. Rose leaned back in her chair, legs crossed and her hands fiddling with a knife, flipping it over and over, like a cat playing with its toy. 

Orpheus, ever the well mannered gentleman, was sat close by, reading a newspaper. He glanced over at her, a slight chuckle escaping his lips. "I take it you're growing bored, once again?"

Rose's eyes flicked up to meet his, her sharp glance cutting through him."Bored is an understatement." she said, the knife dancing through her fingers, the steel gleaming in the dim room.

Orpheus looked up from the newspaper, his calm eyes meeting her sharp ones. A slight chuckle escaped from him as he spoke. "I take it you're getting antsy, once again?" he repeated back to her.

Rose's knife flew through the air, aimed straight for Orpheus's face. But he, being all too familiar with her antics, easily dodged the blow with a quick sidestep. With a smile, he chuckled in his usual calm manner.

"Now, now," he said, shaking his head gently, "Is there a need for the knife every time you're bored, my dear?"

"Oh, come now, don't be overdramatic," she replied, rolling her eyes. "Your face makes the perfect target, so can you really blame me for using it?"

Rose spun the knife between her fingers once more before catching it by the handle, the blade coming to rest at her side. A sly smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth.

"Though, I suppose I can use something else as a target if you're truly that concerned about your precious face.""Oh, and what is that?""Let's see..." Rose feigned thought for a moment, her smirk widening as she looked him up and down.

Her eyes trailed down from his face, over his shoulders, and across his chest, her gaze lingering for a moment longer than necessary. Then, she slowly raised her eyes back to his face, her smirk growing even more cheeky.

"How about...your legs?" she said, her voice laced with mock innocence.

"Ah, who'll gather Intel for you if I'm wounded and unable to walk, m'lady?" the other retorted with a grin on his face. 

Rose paused, her smirk faltering for a moment as she considered his words. Intel was always useful, after all. But the thought of seeing him hobble around, even for just a short while, was quite appealing.

However, she knew better to let her desires get the best of her. With a begrudging sigh, she relented.

"Fine," she said, rolling her eyes again. "Your legs are off limits, for now. But don't think I won't hesitate to target them in the future if you continue to be my favorite training dummy."

"Aw, am I actually your favorite-"

Orpheus' voice was cut off as he ducked the knife coming his way, the blade just barely missing his face. Again.

Rose rolled her eyes, a hint of annoyance in her expression. She was used to his teasing, and she knew it was all part of their usual banter.

"Don't get too comfortable," she retorted, twirling the knife between her fingers again. "You're still far from being my favorite person. You just make the perfect practice target, that's all."

"Ouch, that hit the target."

A scoff escaped Rose's lips as Orpheus feigned hurt. She twirled the knife around once more before speaking.

"Please, don't pretend like you're actually offended. You know you enjoy being my target. It's the only time you get any attention from me."

Orpheus POV

She stood up, the knife still spinning round and round about her slender fingers. Was it just me, or did the world actually revolve around her? 

I watched her get dangerously close, then met with a cold metal brushing against my skin. The knife. She pulled my head up with the tip, as if it cost her no effort. Her scent.. 

It was driving me to the brink of addiction.

"Orpheus, Orpheus. Falling in love again, huh?"

I pursed my lips, glancing away. My knees trembled, as if I'd fall in her arms right now. But,

She was too stealthy. She'd move with ease and elegance, and I'd see the galaxy of stars in broad daylight, a common result of falling face first.

My hands made their way to her waist, and I pulled her close. 

In that moment, I didn't feel nor care about the knife making a visible slit by my neck. 

"M'lady, may I?"

I asked, softening my tone for the sake of a plausible bait. 

....

No answer.

The wall clock ticked in silence. 

Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. 

Answer me, Rose. Stop making me rephrase myself. 

God, if only this was a romantic "Sleeping Beauty" fairytale.