A Short Story, one unreasonable long one, and a dating profile thing

Random

Skyler, a seraphic lady in the full bloom of youth, stood alone on the beach, gazing over the sapphire water with her caring cobalt depths. Her ebony hair danced lightly in the ocean breeze, tickling against one cheek as she smiled to herself with anticipation, resting her cheek on one hand as she traced a finger along her silver necklace. She wore a fair crisp blouse and a simple alabaster loincloth covered her. Her strands flowed in a pitch-dark torrent past her shoulders, complementing her sincere sepia visage. Furry ears flicked at the top of her head, and she twitched her obsidian tail. Beautiful wings sprouted from her back. She stood, awaiting her love.

It started on that day when she had found herself facing mortal danger, desperately in need of a savior. He came in the form of Cloud, who cut down what danger he could and swept her away from the rest. From then on, she cared about him with every fiber of her being, but Cloud switched from warmth to coldness in a flash, struggling with his inner anguish. But she loved him no matter how many times he pushed her away. That was how it was to this very day.

Her ears pricked at the sound of familiar footsteps. She twitched her tail happily and looked up at  Cloud before he even spoke a word. "Skyler," he said simply with eyebrows arched and no trace of emotion. His royal blue spheres complimented his honey-colored mane, belying his haunted heart. He was dressed in his usual everyday clothes. He had a toned but slender body covered with ivory, tinted with sepia, skin. As Skyler drew nearer, she caught a note of his familiar perfume: sandalwood, earthy and spicy. She smiled to herself. It always reminded her of the time they shared.

"Oh, 9! You came!" Skyler said breathlessly, reaching out to take him into an embrace. He took a half-step back, enough to remind her that he still preferred some distance. She humored him and dropped her arms without comment, still smiling. With that, they began to walk along the beach.

"Cloud," she intoned, "the sea is beautiful, isn't it? It's so royal blue and glittering." She glanced toward Cloud, who was unresponsive. "U-um... I'm really glad we can spend time together today. It's so lovely and warm."

"I don't care about the weather," Cloud snapped.

She jumped a bit and then fell silent, barely whispering, "Sorry."

Almost instantly, guilt flashed across his face, but just as quickly his cold facade returned to hide it. He looked at her, the loveliness of her atramentous strands, the hint of sadness in her innocent globes, and her beauty pierced Cloud's heart with shame. Who was he, after all, to hurt such a creature? He was to her as a devil to an angel. He summoned the strength to confess, "No." Skyler looked up at him with surprise. "Don't be... never mind." I should be the one who's sorry, Cloud thought to himself, but he couldn't work up the courage to say it.

Gently, she brought her hand toward his, whispering, "It's okay. Don't... don't worry for me." For a few moments they passed through another chilly silence. "Skyler," Cloud murmured at last. "I like these dates."