Chapter 8 - Lovely, Beautiful, Darkness, & Falling

Rachel stayed there. She loved it as a nice silence was between them now. 

She missed being close to him, truly. 

Black Hat had been missing it too, instead of asking her why she avoided him for a few days, he just enjoyed this moment with her. 

He was loving that quietness with his lover, his feelings for her getting stronger. 

Rachel felt the same way. 

-----------------------------------------------------------

It's a late afternoon. 

Black Hat decided to head over, into town, to get something he needed. 

He thought to take Rachel with him, he asked her earlier and she agreed to. 

Before they went, both of them get dressed now. 

They are in Black Hat's private room, in front of a tall mirror on the wall. 

Rachel was looking at herself in it. She was wearing an old-fashioned dress (that has a white long sleeved shirt and a black long skirt). A nice kind to wear. 

Black Hat himself had his usual suit. With his long black coat, darkened tie, red shirt under it, dark gray vest over that, black pants and shoes. 

He turned himself into his human version, a form and disguise that he uses when he goes out, with a snap of his fingers. Black smoke surrounded him as it did this. 

After it faded, it's showing what he looked like. 

Rachel turns around (only her head), staring at his appearance. 

Black Hat still had his crimson red eyes (a monocle covered the other one), with now black raven hair and pale, white skin. All made him look good in the suit (not that he didn't appear attractive before). 

He gazed over at her and just smiled silently. 

"You look nice." Rachel said, it was the only thing that she could think of. She was in a daze and wasn't thinking of it really, she's not great at compliments as well (at least she thinks so). 

Black Hat kept his smile. "Thank you." He walked over to her, making Rachel look at herself in the mirror again. "Just look at that. You're very lovely." His stare was on her. 

Rachel blushed, although she also had a smile again. "Thanks." She was turning around, facing him now. She is still staring. 

Black Hat smirked slightly, then he's smiling. In a genuine way. 

He grabbed Rachel, gently, pulling her over and into his arms. He gave a hug to her. 

Rachel didn't seem to mind, in fact she loved it. 

That coldness mixed in with this warmth. 

She wrapped her own arms around him too, still staying here. 

Black Hat also stayed there. He holds her close. He puts his fingers through her hair, as he touched it (without his claws out), with that gentleness again. 

He's loving this moment, secretly. 

Eventually, after that, they pull apart from each other and leave this mansion. 

They headed into town. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later that day, in the evening now - 

They were doing a recording, for Flug's latest invention, a new device that he made. 

Black Hat and Flug were saying stuff about it, doing their usual thing. While Rachel waited for when she was supposed to appear. That time came as she was snapping out of her thoughts, out of that thinking. 

Rachel steps into where the camera could see her now. She started to talk, to help Dr. Flug with the explanation of that device, this invention. 

Although something interrupted it, herself. 

"Villains, here you have.." Rachel got dizzy, but she remained standing and kept going, she talked again. "..with it you can..." 

At least they weren't live, she would probably be worrying that she's ruining it than of her health. Her boss does have a reputation to uphold. 

Rachel felt very light-headed, holding her head. 

"Rachel..?" Black Hat said, clearly trying to hide that concern, this worry for her, especially in his voice and on his expression. 

Rachel didn't hear him. She closed her eyes and falls down onto the ground. It felt cold under her. She fainted, falling deeply unconscious. 

'..Black Hat?' she thought, as she feels a touch, although she was out of it. Not being able to open her eyes again. 

××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××

Rachel had just fainted in front of them now. 

Black Hat had turned around, his back facing the camera. His eyes widened slightly. 

"Flug, turn off that camera! Now!" 

"Y-Yeah, will do, s-sir!" Flug was looking at the camera. "Cam-bot! Stop recording!" 

Cam-bot did as told and turned off, the light went from green to red. 

They are both by Rachel's side in seconds, Black Hat on the right and Flug on the left. They kneeled down to her. 

"..Rachel?" Flug said, worriedly, fully concerned as it filled his voice. In a quiet way. 

Black Hat reached out, down to Rachel. He puts his clawed fingers on her neck, on the skin there, with slight gentleness. Coldness against warmth again. Although he didn't pay attention to that. 

He checked her pulse, it still being there and she was breathing. Thankfully. 

Black Hat hoped that she was alright, actually okay. He stared at her, silently. 

After that, within a few seconds, he picked her up. Into his arms. He was feeling worried for her, again, secretly. 

Flug had his stare on them now. 

Black Hat saw that, quietly. "I'm gonna take her to rest and see what's going on." 

Flug was nodding to this. 

"Can you handle things here?" Black Hat asked him. 

Flug nods his head again now. "O-Of course, sir!" 

"Good. Oh and Flug, get rid of that recording. We don't need it. We will re-make it later, just us two. Understand?" 

"..yeah, I get it." Flug did understand. He felt weird about everything. But he didn't question it. 

After that, Black Hat was leaving, with Rachel in his arms again. Like days ago.