"He had been surprised to discover she actually slept."

Did I mention that you're really, really good at this? Lovely. I really have nothing to say.

I am LOVING these Sark/Irina stories of yours! There's a wonderful quietness in all of them that is very reminiscent of the two characters. And you have a really nice handle on them, especially how they need each other for so much and yet are also afraid of displaying this need to each other. For me, this next passage spoke multitudes about their relationship:

"Then he would roll over, lay flat on his back in the dark, feeling fresh bruises throb here and there, tasting copper inside his mouth where she'd left yet more evidence of her presence. He was always tempted to wake her, leave a few more marks on her body to remember him by the next day, but it would be probably a futile process (how could she tell the new from the old?) and it seemed overly cruel to deprive her of rest."

Oh, definite chills from how Irina and Sark are using each other to show "evidence" of their existence. :) Fabulous job on this fic, as well as on "Andante" and "Adagio"! I really hope to see more from you soon, whether it be more Sark/Irina or another 'ship (or gen) fic altogether.

I am so loving these little peeks in to Sark's and Irina's lives. Little gems of stories, thoughtful, insightful, emotional. Beautifully told.

//And she never asked about his past, because she already knew the objective facts, and didn't care to know the subjective details. Maybe she simply felt obligated to give him something in return in order to make the playing field slightly less of a steep incline.//
God, those are beautiful words. Such honesty and truth held in two simple sentences. I love that about getting into his mind... Not that he beats himself up, or anything, just seeing what is so close to how I've come eo believe he operates. Not to mention the obvious intrigue with the thought that she feels the need to even out the playing field with him, rather than constantly remind him who's in power... Another powerful and gorgeous story.