A broken shield cannot protect (open) - Bathtub Beach

She had told Medwyn she was going to Chase's, which had been her intention. But, the short stop by the beach had pushed that to the side as the blonde had ended up staying there. An hour, two, three... she wasn't sure how long as she sat in the sand with her back to the rocks, arms wrapped around her legs with her knees pulled to her chest and her head resting against said knees.

Teddy felt sick. Sick with worry because she felt shut out by the love of her life, left in the dark while he trained with the woman who'd hurt her, Cassiel, Alex... She didn't even know where or when, so she could offer him no protection. For while she trusted him, she didn't trust the Harpy not to somehow hurt him. And the mere thought of that made her gut twist painfully.

She'd dropped Alex with the Carnival, attacked her, stolen Diego, nearly broken Cassiel... she got to do whatever she wanted... and no one could touch her. Cassiel was going to leave because of that woman, because by rescuing Alex she felt she had condemned him to death. Teddy could barely keep it together at the thought of Medwyn being hurt. If she thought she could've cost him his life...?

The small blonde trembled, arms tightening around her knees there she sat.

She couldn't do anything...

Why did he have to learn from her of all people? Why didn't he tell her? Why didn't he trust her...
And there was the pain in her gut again.
Now she couldn't even go with him to the Regency anymore, because he and Jamie had decided that she should spend as little time around Areron as possible. So... it was back to hiding she guessed... back to being a shadow..

God she wished he would talk to her, trust her... She wished she knew what she had done to lose that... She wished he was there..

Time passed slowly as minutes dragged onto hours, the Caitiff sitting there quietly the whole time, at most only turning her head so she could look at the sea and the waves lapping against the shore.

She'd been so happy there... the first night they'd spent together. The first night he'd kissed her, held her, made love to her. If she closed her eyes she could still remember his words when he told her wanted her, needed her... She wanted so badly to be needed by him, and yet... she couldn't do a thing to help him could she? He'd even taken that woman's help because she could do what the blonde couldn't...

The tear was as quiet as she was, easing down her cheek and onto the sleeve of a dark hoodie.

It hurt...
It hurt to be useless.
It hurt to be shut out.
It hurt that he would go to her...

As time dragged on, the night passed, drawing closer to dawn. Inevitably she had to get up, although she felt as if her body was made of lead. The blonde dusting herself off before brushing her hand one more time across the warm stone surface.

She lingered there for a moment, and turned her gaze away as she move to leave.

(fade)