I wonder how you're supposed to give up...?

Luke was taken by her smile. She was beautiful and skilled and that was a great combination in a woman. She also didn't seem startled at all by his his imposing stature." Nice to meet you, Ayu. You've got a lot of talent there," he remarked looking over her work.

The hardened man's welcoming smile remained, hands resting on his hips, with his enormous muscled stretched proudly." I ain't no expert on this art stuff...but from where I'm standin' looks like somethin' I could decorate with my room with." He said truthfully.

Her passion for creating things stemmed from both of her parents, who were art teachers at the same elementary school. Her mother co-taught class alongside her father before they fell in love. The redhead never tired of the times they'd reminisce as their stories were heartwarming.

"You would decorate your room with my projects?" Ayu echoed as her cheeks reddened from Luke's compliments. "Thank you! I've been crafting things out of clay since I was young. It's taken me years to improve my skill, and sometimes I still make a mess of everything." She gazed back at Cage, blinking in surprise when an idea popped into her head. "I think you should make something!"

The redhead hurriedly grabbed a slab of clay and set it down in front of Luke. "Make whatever comes to mind. I'm here to help if need be."

When she realized all bit of his hulking six-foot-six frame was hovering over her, a smile replaced the often hardened facial expression he wore.

"My bad...you looked like you was doin' somethin' special so I was just givin' it a look. Maybe you heard 'bout me. Name's Luke Cage."

— “can… can i have a hug? please?”

— “oh, sweetheart- come here.”

— “how long has it been since someone hugged you?”

— “just hold me.”

— “is this okay?”

— “we don’t have to talk, if you don’t want to. we can just sit here together until you feel up to anything else.”

— “can i hug you? you look like you could do with it.”

— “are you blushing?! that’s adorable.”

— “it’s okay, baby, just let it all out. i’ve got you, i promise.”

— “you fell asleep in my arms. it was kind of adorable.”

— “please, never apologise for wanting to be loved.”

— “you don’t need to earn my affection, not now and not ever.”

— “i’m never more at peace than i am in your arms.”

— “not that i think cuddling will fix everything, but i’m pretty sure it can’t make things worse.”