Cupid Never Looked So Good

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Orchid Hill Academy seemed to be a lot more beautiful from the air.
From here, one could appreciate the intricate stonework, the lead-mullioned windows, the slopes of the rooves... the sweeping grounds, the views over the lake...
Lee held her closer, and her arms automatically tightened around him - then he stopped for a moment, hovering in mid-air.
Madeleine frowned for a second. "Where are we going?"

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Lee didn’t reply, scanning still further across the roofs… It wasn’t really about height… it was about where they could get the best view. Along the edge of one particular tower, there seemed to be some sort of gap; barred by railings… there were a couple of them, now that he looked. Almost like ready-made balconies; built all those years ago, just for them…
Yes, they would work.
But which one?
To the west of the school, the gardens stretched out behind them, a criss-crossing maze of green and plants.
The sun rises in the east, and sets in the west.
Lee smiled to himself. Looks like he already had his answer.
Spinning in mid-air, he dived towards a promising looking tower, jutting out from the side of another and casting a long dark shadow across the grassy ground beneath it. Landing lightly and easily, Lee set Maddie down and (supporting her slightly around the waist) spun her.
“Take a look,” he smiled.

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Lee landed lightly on the rooftop with an ease that she somewhat envied, before turning her to face away from him, his arms still around her waist.
"Take a look."
Madeleine took in the scene around her, eyes wide; the darkening sky, the silhouette of the forest far over there, and the gardens of the school spead out before them.
Slowly, she said, "We're... on the roof..."

[Kira & Lee Norris]

... Well, at least he'd tried.
"We are," he said, barely stifling his laugh. "Very high up, isn't it, Maddie? But don't worry," he nudged her forward slightly, "I'll be sure to catch you if you fall."
Not like she would. He held her too tightly for that. Sighing, he rested his chin on her shoulder, kissing her neck.

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine smiled as Lee's arms tightened around her, and his lips brushed her neck.
"That's good," she laughed softly. "I don't think that my Warriors would appreciate me falling to my death."
Not that that would happen; Madeleine had her own power of flight, albeit a very different one to Lee's. But she had to admit... she quite liked the idea of his rescuing her...

[Kira & Lee Norris]

"I'm sorry I didn't buy you anything," Lee said softly. "It was sort of... well, this or a box of chocolates. And since this means I get to do this-" his lips pressed slightly harder against her neck- "yeah, I think I made the right choice."
His wings twitched, and stretched. He was completely relaxed up here. It always felt good to have his wings out- to have a chance to fly and stretch. And his wings were one of his favourite things about himself... probably one of his better powers.

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine leaned back against him, closing her eyes for a moment as Lee kissed her neck again.
"I didn't want you to buy me a present," she said honestly. "And I'm off chocolate for Lent, anyway."
Opening her eyes again, she reflected once more how much more beautiful the grounds of Orchid looked from above.
"It's lovely, isn't it?" she commented.

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Too cheesy?
Awk, screw it.
"Yeah, you are." Another, more impatient kiss.

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine laughed as he kissed her again, before swivelling herself around in his arms and sliding hers around his waist.
"You just had to insert the line, didn't you?" she teased softly.
Then, she leaned forward and kissed his lips.

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Lee's wings relaxed as he leaned into Madeleine, his lips sinking into the ridges of her mouth. The same old familiar, exotic experience. Same old rush of blood to the head.
Made Valentine's Day worth it after all.
After a couple of seconds, Lee's lips left her, and kissed her forehead instead, glancing over her curls, to see the Gardens before them.
"There," he said suddenly, "the reason I brought you here. Look, Maddie. It's the sunset."

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine turned around, turning her eyes to the westward sky and the setting sun.
In the few seconds that she'd been facing Lee, the darkening blue had brightened to a kaleidoscope of colours: deep magenta, striking ochre, soft lilac, golden with a blood red sun slowly sinking below the horizon line, far off into the distance over there.
It cast gradually lengthening shadows over the gardens, and in the ever-flowing waters of the fountains, the colours of the sky were reflected in the gently rippling sheets of water in their marble bowls.
And in the sky, stars were beginning to appear, already twinkling quietly
It was beautiful.
She leaned back against him, tilting back her head to rest on his shoulder.

[Kira & Lee Norris]

Lee knew perfectly well that the reason he'd brought Maddie here was for her to see the view; so that they could watch the sun set together. It was called... being romantic, and all that. And it was nice, to just stand together and watch the sun take its sleepy course across the sky...
Nice. But Lee was far more concerned with the way her head rested on his shoulder; with the way her back pressed against his chest. His fingers found hers, and he squeezed her hand, almost impatiently again.
He didn't want the silence to last much longer.

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Lee's hand tightened on hers as they watched the sky take its colourful, fanfare-filled procession into night. It served to remind her of the heat she could feel coming from his chest, pressed up against her back, and she smiled.
It was still darkening, the magentas and lavenders already deepening into rich purples and cerises, which would eventually blacken into the midnight blue of night. The stars had become more confident now, shining ever more brightly at them.
"Thanks for bringing me here," she said softly. "It's beautiful."

[Kira & Lee Norris]

He smiled. "Cheap, too."
The best things in life are free...
Thinking that, he chuckled inwardly, clutching Maddie a little closer.

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine laughed at that, feeling Lee pull her closer to him. "Should I expect something like this every year?"
Ha, this could be the start of a tradition, or something...