The streets of Antiva City were as familiar to Zevran as the back of his hand. He had walked them countless times, his boots pressing into the same cobblestones that had witnessed his many exploits and escapes. But tonight, there was something different in the air, a sense of purpose that had been absent for far too long. He had stayed away from Maika and their child for years, always keeping a safe distance, always ensuring they were out of harm's way. But now, with the Talon House demolished and the threats that once loomed over them scattered to the winds, it was time to reunite with the family he had left behind.
Zevran’s steps were quick and sure as he approached Lux, the nightspot that had become known as a place where desires were fulfilled and secrets kept. It wasn’t the sort of place he’d imagined Maika would end up, but then again, life had a way of surprising even him. The thought of her working here sent a pang of something—regret? guilt?—through him, but he pushed it aside. What mattered now was that he find her, that he see her and their child, and that he finally stop hiding in the shadows.
The entrance to Lux was as busy as ever, with people coming and going, laughter and music spilling out into the night air. Zevran made his way through the crowd, his gaze locking onto the bouncer standing guard at the door. The man was built like a fortress, his expression unreadable as he scanned the faces of those approaching.
Zevran flashed his usual disarming smile as he approached, slipping easily into the charm that had served him so well over the years. Good evening, my friend, he began, his tone friendly but with a hint of the urgency he felt. I’m looking for someone—Maika. I heard she’s been working here. Could you tell me where I might find her?
He watched the bouncer carefully, hoping for a sign of recognition, anything that would confirm she was here. The anticipation was almost unbearable, but Zevran kept his cool, his easy smile never wavering. After all these years of watching from afar, of keeping his distance to keep them safe, he was finally ready to close that distance. He just hoped that when he did, Maika would be there, waiting.
Maika was definitely too tired to do anything but collapse in her bed once she arrived home. The shift had been a bit of a killer, plenty of customers who asked drinks non stop with Maika not having five minutes to sit down.
She had believed that what awaited her was rest but a familiar voice pulled her out of her thoughts. Maika's mind broke, not a coherent thought in her brain as she stared for a whole minute at Zevran, her mouth open.
And her instinct told her to run because too much had happened, so little that she could explain without reviving terrible memories.
So she ran and sprinted out of the Lux; she had always been par to par with Zevran at running. She was tired but well trained as she started to zig zag among the streets, trying to get lost in the night.
Zevran's heart skipped a beat when he saw Maika, standing just a few feet away. It had been years since he had been this close to her, and for a moment, he was frozen, drinking in the sight of her. But that moment of reunion was shattered when she turned and bolted out of Lux, leaving him standing there in shock.
For the briefest of moments, he considered letting her go—respecting the distance she clearly wanted to maintain. But then his instincts kicked in, and he was off, sprinting after her. Zevran had always been quick on his feet, and though Maika was fast, he knew these streets like the back of his hand. If she thought she could lose him in the maze of Antiva City, she was sorely mistaken.
He kept his eyes on her, weaving through the crowd with practiced ease, his movements fluid and graceful. But as he chased her, a pang of guilt twisted in his chest. He hadn't wanted their reunion to be like this—filled with fear and panic. But he needed to understand why she had run, why she had reacted the way she did.
Zevran picked up the pace, zigzagging through the narrow alleys, matching her every move. He knew that catching up to her physically was only part of the challenge—he also needed to reach her emotionally, to explain why he had stayed away for so long, and why he was here now.
Finally, as they reached a quieter part of the city, away from the crowds, Zevran saw his chance. With a burst of speed, he closed the gap between them, his hand reaching out to gently catch her wrist.
Maika, please! he called out, his voice breathless but filled with urgency. I’m not here to hurt you, I swear. I just need to talk—to explain.
He kept his grip light, careful not to hold her too tightly, giving her the chance to pull away if she needed to. The last thing he wanted was to make her feel trapped, but he couldn’t let her run without at least trying to make things right.
I know I don’t deserve your trust, not after everything. But I’m here now, and I need you to know that I never stopped thinking about you—about us. Please, Maika, just give me a chance to explain.
His voice softened, the usual playful lilt replaced by a sincerity that was rarely seen in the charming assassin. Zevran had faced countless dangers in his life, but nothing terrified him more than the thought of losing Maika for good, especially now that he was finally ready to be part of her life again.
Maika was fast but her speciality was stealth and not running which showed in the fact that Zevran started to get closer and closer to her. Besides, despite of the fact that Maika had kept herself active, admittedly she wasn’t as active as her ex lover which explained why he likely has kept himself in better shape than Maika when it came to physical exertion.
Maika was breathless, her pupils dilated when she felt the touch of his hand, a familiar warmth despite of the time apart. “I know you’d never hurt me” she said instinctively at his words. It was true if she had believed that she was in danger she would have fought instead of running away. Her flight instinct had been triggered due to how unexpected the situation had been.
“I…it’s been a long time Zevran” she just said, he didn’t need explanation for being away, she had known that the promises of a new meeting so long ago in a Antivan roof had been wishful thinking. The only one that had failed had been her, at her promise to keep Arissa safe.
There was a moment of hesitation “What do you need of me?” she asked, uncertainly clear in her words.
Zevran’s heart ached at the sight of Maika’s breathless, wide-eyed expression, her words cutting through the noise in his mind like a blade. She had every right to be shocked, to feel the urge to run—he had been gone for so long, after all. But hearing her say that she knew he’d never hurt her eased a part of his soul that had been knotted with fear and regret.
He released her wrist gently, his touch lingering for just a moment before he let his hand drop to his side. He could see the uncertainty in her eyes, the years that had passed weighing heavily on both of them. The playful smile that usually graced his lips was nowhere to be seen—instead, there was a look of deep sincerity, something that rarely surfaced in the charming rogue.
I don’t need anything from you, Maika, Zevran said softly, his voice still breathless from the chase but filled with earnestness. I’m not here to take or demand anything. I’m here because I couldn’t stay away any longer. The Talon House is gone, the Crows who once hunted us are scattered... and I wanted—no, *needed*—to see you again. To know you’re safe, to see our child, if that’s even possible...
His words trailed off as he studied her, searching her face for any sign of what she might be feeling. Zevran was a master at reading people, but with Maika, it had always been different. She was someone he could never quite predict, and that was part of what had drawn him to her in the first place.
It has been a long time, he admitted, a touch of sadness creeping into his voice. And I know I have no right to ask anything of you. But, Maika... I never stopped caring about you, about us. I had to stay away to keep you safe, but now that the danger is gone... I want to try to be a part of your life again, if you’ll let me. If there’s still a place for me in it.
He took a small step back, giving her space, showing her that he wasn’t there to force anything, that he respected whatever decision she might make.
But if you don’t want that, if you’d rather I leave you in peace... He hesitated, the words tasting bitter on his tongue, but he forced them out anyway. Then I will respect that too. Just say the word, and I’ll disappear again, as if I’d never come back.
Zevran’s gaze was steady, his golden eyes locked onto hers, waiting for her response. This wasn’t a battle he could fight with blades or charm—this was something far more delicate, something that required him to be more vulnerable than he had been in years. And that terrified him, but for her, he was willing to take the risk.
“What the fuck did you expected me to believe with you appearing out of nowhere after so long? Maker I almost had a heart attack” she said still breathless as she looked at Zevran “I heard rumors but as you can guess I tried to stay as away as I could from crow business” she said with a sigh. Maika’s face was struck with grief at the mention of the child, despite of the fact that she had managed to “get over” it there was still a wound and Zevran had just ripped the stitches open with a sentence.
“I…if you are here to meet your child I am bearer of bad news. Arissa died years ago while I was still in the Marches” she said, her voice way more composed than what she felt at the moment. “I never stopped caring about you too Zevran but I fear that the life you would come to is not the one you probably imagined. Arissa is gone and the woman I am now is a memory of the one you once knew. Grief changes people”
“I haven’t been in peace in years and I will gladly be back with you but I think that before you decide to come to me you should know that, I am no longer the warm and lightheaded woman you once knew.”
Zevran’s expression shattered at her words, the easy charm replaced by a grief so raw it felt like a physical blow. The world around them seemed to narrow, all the noise of the city fading into a hollow silence as he took in the weight of her news. For a moment, he could only stare at her, the grief in her eyes a mirror of his own, and he felt the ground shift beneath him, as if the very foundation of his being had cracked.
Arissa... he whispered, her name catching in his throat. The daughter he had never met, the child he had dreamed of protecting from afar, was gone. It was a sorrow he’d never prepared himself for, a wound he didn’t know how to bear. Zevran had always lived a life on the edge, flirting with danger and death, but he’d never imagined that loss would cut so deeply, nor that it would come in this form.
Taking a slow, steadying breath, he forced himself to focus on Maika, who had borne this grief alone all these years. The change in her, the shadows in her eyes, the strength she wore like armor—it was all painfully clear to him now. And in that moment, he realized how much he had missed, how much he had failed to protect by staying away. The warmth that had once defined her was still there, but it had been forged into something stronger, something hardened by sorrow.
Stepping closer, he reached out, his hand hovering just inches from her cheek, hesitant, as if afraid she might pull away. Maika... I can’t imagine the pain you’ve carried, losing her and facing that without me. I wish I had been there—I wish I had done things differently. But I’m here now. Not to fix what can’t be fixed... but to stand with you, to be whatever you need, however you need it.
Maika remained in silence as she saw her former lover went through all the stages of grief that she had gone many years ago. She didn’t talk nor touch him, waiting for him to digest the news that she had needed years to process in minutes. It was hard to see someone as strong as Zevran crumble for a moment in front of her eyes, and when his hand reached her face she didn’t deny him, letting him caress her cheek.
“If it helps there was a time in which I was angry with you but now I made peace with the pace and I don’t blame you for anything. The only thing I mourn is to have failed my promise of protecting her” she said quietly “Past is past and now I have…managed to come to terms with the past, mostly” there was a part that would always hurt but there wasn’t anything that Zev could do about that “The same goes to you, this new…is hard to process, you can count on me for anything” she said putting her hand on top of his “like the old times”.
Zevran let out a soft, shaky breath as Maika’s hand settled over his, grounding him in a moment that was both devastating and tender. Her words struck deep—an absolution he felt he didn’t deserve, paired with a grief he couldn’t begin to undo. Yet, in her touch and her voice, there was still something familiar: the strength that had drawn him to her, the unspoken understanding they had always shared.
He gave a faint, bittersweet smile, his thumb brushing lightly over her cheek as he searched her face. Ah, Maika... even after all this time, you still find a way to be the stronger one between us. Always carrying the weight, always finding a way forward. His voice was softer now, tinged with a melancholy he couldn’t mask, but there was a flicker of his usual warmth beneath it. You never failed her. Not once. The Crows, the world—they stacked the odds against you from the start. But you? You gave her what time she had, and I can’t imagine a better mother than you.
He stepped back slightly, giving her space while his hand reluctantly fell away. His gaze lingered, studying her with a newfound depth, as if trying to commit every detail of this moment to memory. The weight of their shared grief hung heavily in the air, but it wasn’t the only thing between them. There was still that connection, that thread of understanding that had always tied them together.
You say you’ve changed, Maika, he said, his voice quiet but steady, and I believe you. But so have I. The years, the losses, the choices I’ve made—they’ve left their mark on me too. But if you’ll have me, I’d like to start again, not as the man I was, but as the one I am now. Flaws, regrets, and all.
He tilted his head slightly, his lips curving into a faint, rueful smile. And perhaps, together, we can figure out what it means to keep moving forward. Not as the people we used to be, but as the ones we’ve become.
For a moment, Zevran’s golden eyes searched hers, waiting for her response. The uncertainty in his posture was a rare thing, a vulnerability he rarely showed. But he knew this moment wasn’t about him. It was about her, about whether she was willing to let him back into her life—not as the roguish assassin she’d once loved, but as the man who stood before her now, stripped of his masks.
The night around them was quiet, the distant hum of the city fading into the background. It felt as though the world had narrowed to just the two of them, standing at the crossroads of what could be and what had been. Whatever came next, Zevran was ready to face it—with her, if she would let him.
