Your heart raced as you exited the sanctuary. After everything that night it should have run out of beats, but it managed to pound faster as the cool evening air whipped around your face and rustled the silvery leaves of your dress. Ignoring the chill, your hand dove into your pocket once more for Jacks' luckless coin.

"Y/N–" A low, achingly familiar voice, called from the base of the steps, followed by the echo of Dante's heavy footfalls.

You froze.

If you win Caraval, the first race you will see will be Legend's.

No. No. No.

You quickly shut your eyes before you could see him. Maybe if you didn't open your eyes, he'd walk away, you'd see another face, and Dante wouldn't be Legend.

You heard him climb closer. Boots heavy and eager against the stairs.

"I thought you were meeting me after midnight," you called.

"I had a feeling you'd be here early." His voice was a little closer. "You shouldn't have come."

"Y/N, look at me."

Another step.

Then you felt the heady warmth that always seemed to surround him. It pressed against your shoulders and chest, as if he were standing right in front of you.

"I can't talk to you like this."

You kept your eyes firmly closed. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. You'd suspected Dante was Legend, but you weren't supposed to be right.

"I didn't want to talk to you," you said. "I want to talk to Legend."

"Then open your eyes and speak to me."

Your legs gave out

His arms snaked around you, keeping you steady while the world you knew broke into pieces.

Dante was Legend.

Legend was Dante.

And he was still holding on to you. One hand left your waist, moving upward until his fingers gently brushed your cheek before resting beneath your chin and tilting your face towards his. You could feel his words against his lips as he spoke.

"Y/N, tell me something."

You opened your mouth to answer, but he was so close all you could feel we're his lips touching yours.

They were soft and parted and then they were pressing more fully against your mouth.