@hosnianleft: “ are you sure we will — ? ”
Rose didn’t even need to finish her sentence for Archex to catch onto her train of thought-- the idea brought a tinge of anxiety even to him, and yet--... he couldn’t just leave her like that. Even if, in the end, the feelings that had started to bloom inside his chest weren’t returned the least he could do was keep her safe. Especially since he understood... more than he would like to admit, and yet... he wasn’t exactly keeping his full past a secret anymore. Not from her... not after what he had done-- the man that had broken his heart, too.
“It’s going to be okay--,” Archex’s tone was soft, low... warm hands taking Rose’s into them and squeezing gently, as if in hopes the soft pressure could be reassuring, “... I am not going to stand by and let him hurt you.”
A soft breath filters out-- pained less from past injuries and more from the weight of the entire situation, “Look-- I--... I can understand if you don’t. Don’t feel the same way about me as I do you but... at least let me do that. At least let me protect you... okay?”
