Bruno snuck into the prison once more. He wished that the guards were cat shifters, for then he could have distracted them with catnip, but he guessed he would have to do it the old-fashioned way. Sneaking up behind them, he easily knocked them out, catching the body before it fell to the ground, alerting others that something may be underfoot. He made his way downstairs, the stale air even more noticeable after being out. He headed straight to Candice's cell, his heart pounding, concerned that she was not moved while he was out. He sighed in relief when he saw her curled up on the mattress, her back to him. He could tell that she was crying by the way her shoulders were shaking silently. He came near, calling her name. She stilled, hands quickly wiping the tears from her cheeks, before she turned to look at her visitor. When she saw that it was him, she sat up, a hand reaching to her hair, but falling back in defeat. Her eyes filled with fresh tears as the loneliness filled her.
Bruno sensed that something was off. She was not this dispondent when he left. He knew that she was not in the best position, but she still had a spark, some life in her. Stubbornness that told him she would be okay for the short time that he would leave her, but it was clear that something had happened. His mind went back to the two guards he subdued, his mind racing with the desire to wake them up and ask if they had done something to her. His hand grew tight on the bars, his teeth clenched as his mind slowly sank into darker thoughts. Candice noticed the look in his eyes, and she didn't like what she saw. Standing, she walked over to him, placing her hand on his, hoping to calm him. Her touch worked, bringing Bruno out of the destructive maze that appeared in his mind, one that usually only appeared when his sister was in trouble. He looked down at her, wishing that he could hold her in his arms, keep her safe from the world. A small smile tilted up on the side of her lips, and to Bruno, it was like the sun peeking out from behind storm clouds. He shifted, wanting to cup her face, his movement making the white bag in his other hand crinkle. Her eyes went to it, curiosity replacing the defeat.
"What's that?" she asked, as Bruno pulled it behind his back. He felt so sure when he bought it, but now he felt shy. What the hell. Why was he feeling shy? He was an adult, and adults can answer simple questions. He held the bag to her, a slight blush creeping up his tanned neck even as he spoke like it was no big deal. "You said you haven't eaten, so when I went out to grab something, I got you this." He shoved the bag through the space for meal trays. Candice took it, the warmth of the boxes in the bag, making her realise that he had brought her something to eat. She frowned, wondering what he wanted, but Bruno, seeing it, thought she was displeased. "Um... I didn't ask if you wanted anything. Shoot, maybe they fed you already and you're not hungry? If not, I can take it back." He reached through the slot, but Candice's grip tightened on it. She kept her eyes on the box. "You don't have to worry, the guards haven't fed me, so I am very happy that you brought me this." She tugged, and he let it go. She turned, walked back to the bed and sat. Opening the bag, her nose was assaulted with the very meal she said she wanted. She couldn't believe it, but opening the box, it was confirmed. The clear smaller box on top has her chocolate cake. Tears came again, this time of gratitude. She felt like it had been so long since someone did something for her without wanting something in return, whether it was her body, information, or anything else they could get.
She began to eat, slowly, savouring every bite, unsure if she would ever get another meal like this. Bruno sat on the ground, not minding the dirt and mould beneath him. He looked at her, his mind filled with satisfaction, as she ate. He was sure she had no idea of how many times her eyes closed in delight or she hummed in pleasure as the flavours danced across her tongue. She looked up at him, then at the corridor, a bit confused. He smiled, "Don't worry. I made sure that you can eat in peace, so take your time." Candice shrugged one shoulder and went back to her meal. She had no intention of stopping even if James barged in; besides, she had a feeling that this strange man seated before her would not let anyone in until she had every last bite, and she was going to. Soon, the main meal was done, and she turned her attention to the cake. The frosting was so rich that she couldn't resist, and using her finger, she swiped up some, placing it in her mouth. Her eyes closed as she hummed at the delicious, rich cocoa flavour that coated every corner of her mouth. A sound coming from the man made her eyes flash open. She looked at him, looking at her, a pained, hungry expression on his face. His gaze was laser-focused on her mouth, and she licked her lips self-consciously. His eyes blazed, a fire in them that sparked a heat in her lower belly. It felt good, but she frowned, not sure what it could mean as she had never experienced it before. Sure, if they had met out there, she definitely would have slept with him; she knew what lust felt like, but this, this was different. She wasn't quite sure how, but she knew that a night with this man would be explosive, and one night would not be enough.
Candice lowered her eyes back to her cake, but it lost some of its flavour. Her mind tried to figure out why she felt the way she did whenever this man was around. She racked her brain for his name; he said it earlier, Bruno. That was his name. It definitely suited his physique, but his actions, his touch, warm, gentle. His hands felt more like a Brain, the good guy that marries his high school crush and goes on to have the perfect family. Would she ever have that? She shook her head. No, she was damaged goods for too long to even think of having a happy ever after. She should be thankful for Bruno's care while she was in here, but she steeled her heart against hoping that he would want anything after this. Maybe that guy, the reason why she was not considered a traitor was right. She was just good to scratch an itch. These thoughts were nothing new to her, but why did it sting so much? Every time Bruno came around, she felt different, like there was a world where her life was so much different from the daily hell she knew, yet why would she deserve it? Candice bit her lip, her mind racing as voices from the past began to war with a new voice in her head, one that told her she deserved more, to be happy, to simply be.
Bruno looked at Candice, his desire for her growing. He didn't like the way her eyes grew dim again. What was she thinking? What thoughts swirled through her mind, stealing the simple joy of having a good meal? His mind drifted back to what some of the men at the garage shared earlier about her. It seems like she had a crappy childhood, but how bad was it? His frustration was growing as everything in him wanted to bend the bars and steal her away from this place, as if removing her body from here would remove the memories. Damn, he was getting emotional about her, and that would not help her right now. What he needed was facts, logic, and several plans to get her out. He had money, quite a lot, enough that they could move to a quiet town halfway around the world and live a simple and fulfilling life. He would pick somewhere with not too many people or shifters, yet next to a forest or woods so she could shift if needed. Bruno shook his head; there he was fantasising again.
His loud, frustrated sigh brought Candice out of her musings to look at him. When he caught her gaze, he smiled sheepishly at her. "Sorry, just trying not to let my mind drift." Candice was glad to talk about somebody else's thoughts. "Where did your mind go?" She resumed eating her remaining cake, the flavour returning. Bruno thought of lying, but would it really be so bad to share his dreams with her? He opted for somewhere in between.
"I was thinking how nice it would be to live somewhere peaceful. I have lived in the city with my sister since we were young. It has always been my job to protect her, but now that she has found someone who gladly takes that role, I can now focus on what I want." Their gazes locked, Candice's heart began to pound as she thought of how nice it would be if she could only disappear with him. "What do you want?" she asked, licking her lips. You. The word almost slipped out of his mouth, but he caught it in time. He couldn't be foolish and promise her anything when he was so powerless. One word from James and her life could end before the stars came out tonight. Besides, he saw the hope in her eyes, but it was surrounded by defeat. The sassy woman who claimed her right to be the Luna was now defeated, and he didn't like it one bit.
Bruno cleared his throat, looking away. Candice felt like she was rejected, and her lips twisted in self-deprecation. Of course, he would want to leave now that his sister was settled. Heck, she wants to leave, too, but she had to be a fool if she actually thought for one minute that this tall stranger would want her with him. He probably felt pity for her, maybe something about her pathetic situation aroused the big-brother protector in him. She chuckled, but the sound had not a shred of joy. "I hope you get what you want, Bruno." She shoved the last remaining cake in her mouth and dusted off the few crumbs. She wouldn't be surprised if this place had roaches as well. She really should stop hoping that someone was going to care. Her friends visited earlier, but it was just to mock her. Laugh at how disgusting she looked and smelled. To boast on how they all knew she would come to ruin, and they even began discussing who was to get what of her belongings. That made her realise that even if she got out, she had nowhere to go.
Bruno looked at her as she stood, walking towards him, bringing the now-empty boxes. She kept her eyes on the floor. "Thank you for the meal. It was most delicious." He reached for it, hoping to at least be able to make contact, but she kept her body well away from his reach. Her distance felt cold, and he wanted to bridge the gap, but he could feel that she had closed herself off. He wanted to stroke her cheek, yet she took a step back, almost as if she felt his desire and she didn't want anything to do with it. Bruno pulled back his hand, the white plastic bag rustling as it scraped the bars. He whispered her name, hoping to see her eyes, but she stared at his chin instead. "I am glad that I got to eat something decent. I haven't had chocolate in years, trying to keep in shape. No wolf meant low metabolism, so I was always on a diet. Thank you for feeding me, but I don't want to be the reason you got in trouble with either James or Bradley, so I think you shouldn't come here anymore." With that, she turned and walked to her bare mattress, lay down, turning her back to him.
Bruno felt the rejection all the way to his bones. He was sure that if he had a wolf, it would be howling in pain. His hands tightened on the bars, but there was nothing he could do right now. He hoped that she would feel better tomorrow, and he had a sneaky feeling that something had happened today, and he was going to find out just what it was.