ENTANGLED IN MY PRIDE

            confused and concerned wash over him as he feels the whirlwind of emotions that wreck havoc on his counterpart. unsure as to how to go about this he looks back over his shoulder to where his wife and sister in law are, hoping for help. no such luck. bending down he wraps his arms around hans and HUGS him holding him several inches off the ground as he tries his best to be comforting.  “  that would be correct, you love her. more than you even realize i think.  ”  awkward silence fills the air around them before hector decides to NOT PUSH HIS LUCK and subsequently sets hans back down.  “  it’s difficult, i didn’t know what i was doing when i met genesis. but love does require you to sometimes be selfless.  all i ask, however difficult it may be, please don’t HURT her.  ”     

             rolling on his side to FACE HANS he sighs, as if it were and easy fix. or so it seemed to him.  “  forgetting it isn’t going just going to make it go away, unless you DON’T want to be with her.  ”  he stops himself, glancing at hans through his lashes before cautiously continuing.  “  you’re NOT a piece of shit. maybe if you explain why you won’t do that, i can H E L P ?  ”  

            pale fingers slide through inky hair as he lays unmoving next to hans. one eye lazily slides open to glance downwards as hans pulls the covers back to his side.  “  i’m not hogging anything, they’re my covers. you’re the one who is hogging them.  ”  moving slightly he COVERS hans, leaving himself uncovered, not that he needed them anyway.  “  so about the other day…  ”   

           it takes every ounce of his self control to reign in the wide smile that wants to spread across his face, instead a small quirk of his lips upward is all that is SEEN. inhaling deeply his focus leaves hans to glance over his shoulder towards erela. seemingly UNENDING pity and heartache for her settles heavily on his face.  “  i would expect NOTHING LESS. putting aside our differences for erela and your child seems to be best for everyone.  ”  hazel eyes return to hans unable to keep the question that was literally burning his tongue at bay any longer.  “  you LOVE her don’t you?  ” 

                  his child.           he still hadn’t gotten used to that. the idea of being a father, of having to care for something that W A S N ‘ T himself. it wasn’t in his nature to ever care for anything other than himself. HANS WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYONE, in his own opinion. but here he was. caring about HER, caring about that thing growing inside of her, allowing himself to let his MOST HATED ENEMY in his house- all because he was afraid she was going to die. 

                                                                                    he didn’t like any of this.

           a small attempt to gain control of her emotions is made as she openly sobs into his chest but her fear, exhaustion, and frustration make it nearly impossible. she hated this more than she would EVER show. long before she had been cast from heaven, when she was still an angel, she abhorred and feared ever being a mother or becoming pregnant. it was different now. she already felt some sort of strong attachment to her unborn baby. perhaps not love, at least not yet, but certainly fondness, concern, and GUILT.

           taking a few deep breaths to calm herself she is able to reduce her sobbing to just a few stray tears. the hum on his voice is comforting as she listens intently, small hands still gripping his shirt tightly. looking up as he wipes away her TEARS she gives him a soft smile, meant to be convincing but her chin quivers and it lacks its normal ease. 

             squeezing his hand softly she stays quiet a second longer before speaking.  “ you won’t let me die? ”  her question is barely louder than a whisper as she rests her head on his shoulder her face nearly buried in his neck. only seconds later a soft gasp leaves her lips and she eagerly places his hand firmly to the bump.  “ can you FEEL that? ”  excitement laces her words gently, dark eyes focused on his as the barely tangible movement is felt under his hand.

                          ❝      of course not.     ❞      he may not have mentioned it much, but he couldn’t F U N C T I O N without her. she was annoying, frustrated him daily and made him regret countless things in his life, but he loved her regardless. hans didn’t know how to express it, he didn’t know how to process the feelings without feeling like less of a person. but he did love her. and he wouldn’t let ANYTHING happen to her.

                      ❝      i’m going to be real with you, and i mean this is in the nicest of terms,      ❞      his words were spoken through gritted teeth, hesitant and restrained as his head tilted up, meeting the other’s hazel gaze,       ❝                 this doesn’t change ANYTHING between us. you and genesis staying here, this doesn’t mean we’re f r i e n d s. i don’t LIKE you, in fact I HATE YOU.      ❞      hans paused, crossing over his chest, contemplating his choice of words, red eyes glancing past the other to the blonde in the other room, PREGNANT AND IN MISERY.       ❝                     but for her, i will tolerate you. but ONLY tolerate, nothing more, nothing less.      ❞

                 nose buried in the chest of the other, he let out a content sigh, arms draped lightly across the blonde’s torso. hans was    ( somehow )    more comfortable with showing his emotions to august than he was to ERELA, the mother of his kid, that should have been easy. maybe it was her constant need for physical affection, the constant sexual remarks that turned him away. still, it was nice to have someone he could be a little more relaxed with. 

                                                ❝      you’re hogging all the covers,      ❞      painted nails dug into the fabric of the sheet, tugging it more onto him than it was before,       ❝                give em’ back.      ❞