ᴀᴄᴛ ɪ.

— Aaron Warner

sharp tongue and now he knows why she speaks perhaps what's on her mind ⸺ maybe his hypothesis is correct, maybe she's immortal, which means . . . if he channels her powers, does that mean he can use immortality to save people ( especially juliette ) in worst case scenario ? interesting thought, but what intrigues him still is her knowledge about his intentions. ❛ you seem to know a lot about me, especially for someone who just met me. ❜

an exhale of air leaves lungs when elbows land on the table and thorax leans closer towards female figure on another side ( far from intimidating, but to offer absolute attention ). ❛ are you happy ? ❜ how she knows the reason his mind was occupied only moments prior, he leaves in peace for now. wouldn't be surprised to learn the two of them share the ability to sense another's thoughts and intentions, or whatever it's called. cold green gaze meets the very corner of the room ⸺ one simple gesture to signal lieutenant to leave and the room remains quiet on his side until the two of them are the only ones occupying the place. a nod, tongue wets lower lip as features continue holding another's gaze with casual air that coats his words. ❛ i heard my father bought you a horse. do you like horses ? ❜

i can take care of myself, you know.

" aaron, " it's a small, defeated sigh, not sure she can. something feels wrong. out of sorts. something she can't put her finger on but it's very much there. leaning into his touch however, eyes close for a moment. " i don't know if time will be enough, "

he gathers all the strength and self control to find own voice, to deliver the question on the surface and leaves cracks between words buried somewhere deep inside. lips rest on top of her temple, the only thing that calms him down is the scent of her hair that penetrates nostrils - so familiar, so safe, so soft and perfect. ❛ anything. i'll do anything. ❜ anything for her, anything to paint the smile across her features, anything to bring her back. ❛ are you in pain ? ❜

there is a whole body shudder when his hand land on her chest, the smallest of nods while trying to grasp his words. " but what if i'm . . . " cut herself short, because she isn't sure how to explain it. how to word it. not without feeling like maybe she should be put back in that box. scribbling on walls and in her book. over and over and over again. " if i'm just too broken to be any of those things again ? what if i can't put myself together this time, "

❛ and if you won't be able to recover from this, then you and i will go from there. but please, love ❜ voice trembles within larynx, hand moves towards the line of her hair when soft gentle touch of fingertip removes strand of chocolate lock away from features, then second digit rests below circles of her eyes, ready to catch tears just in case they threaten to fall. ❛ stop calling yourself broken, please. you are not broken, you need time to gain your mental and physical strength back. ❜ or maybe he refuses to think about another outcome to protect own heart from exploding within chest.

she knows who she is. she do, in a sense. she knows her name and her age. she had a big sister named emmaline. she knows what her parents did to her, to them. she knows that paris anderson did to her, to aaron, to everyone. she knows all these things, yet it feels like a gap is right there, threatening to swallow it all up. SWALLOW HER UP INTO NOTHING. because she knows things are missing. gaps in her memories that won't be filled. like there is the thinnest of ice layer protecting her from simply disappearing into the darkness, into nothing. and if she fall through . . . she isn't sure what would happen. a weight sitting on her chest, growing a little heavier every day, despite trying to be okay. trying to be ella sommers. swallowing thickly as gaze shift up to him. a little wide, a little unfocused. a little blurry behind the well of tears forming. her hand is placed on his chest and fingers curl ever so little, press into his skin, feeling the rapid beat of his heart against palm of her hand. " what if i can't ? " barely a whisper as gaze fall down to their joined hands. " what if this is who i am now ? "

❛ you're mine. you're the strongest, bravest and nicest person i've ever got to meet in my life. you're determined, you're fearless and caring and you're so soft. you're extraordinary, magnificent and so insanely beautiful. 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞. you're the one person that makes me glad to be alive. anything else doesn't matter. i know you, and i know you're still in here. ❜ hand moves up towards her chest and rests upon beating muscle. and it's her heartbeat that finally steadies his breathing.

there is no getting tired of this. of him. there is simply wanting more. more and more and more. every touch, every kiss, it feels as if her body only crave more of it. more of him. fingertips threaded through his hair, nails lightly scratch against his scalp as eyes flutter closed. and for a few moments, it feel as if every limb, every muscle, all of her melt into the mattress beneath them. sparks of fire flush across her skin, creating a small inferno as lips linger across every inch of her. a smile then, as he speak, tugging at the corner of lips while siver run down the length of her spine. " mmm, that so ? " it is a low inquire as head lift from the pillow, ever so little, just enough to watch him as he moves up. because right now, it feel as if he is doing all the destroying. and she is simply letting him. smile only grows, can't quite help it while hands drift down the back of his neck and over the span of his upper back. chin lift and her head tip back ever so little as kisses trail across her neck, fingers digging into him. softly, to keep him close, just as legs wrap around him. " i do, " turning ever so little, lips brush across his shoulder.

he moves away momentarily, hardly controlling himself when upper frame rises and he stands there, emerald eyes filled with heat and desire that eat him alive. tongue wets lower lip and he lets out a desperate exhale when fingers slip beneath the hem of his boxers. slowly, the fabric is pulled down his thighs, pale diamonds of eyes remain locked with her gaze, his voice barely audible and deep with aching need that clouds his throat. ❛ i want to feel your skin on fire. i want to know you're burning beneath my touch. ❜ boxers land on the floor and slowly, he moves back down above her, in between her thights that pour heat all over his skin. thorax leans closer until his breath becomes one with hers and lips meet and he loses himself completely. and he breaks inside of her, his length hot and hungry for her insides and he breathes louder, his exhale scratches his throat when teeth sink softly into the skin of her arm and he can barely control himself from trembling with pleasure. the words are in shapes of silent moans when he looks up to meet her eyes. ❛ do you like that ? ❜

Hari Alluri, from “Ancestral Memory”, After Kwame Dawes 

" i feel like . . . sometimes, maybe i'm not just me. like maybe he broke something in my head and i'll never be able to piece it all back together. not fully. not really. "

❛ love ⸺ ❜ her words cut into dermis, her voice breaks heart apart, shatters remaining pieces on the ground and leaves them to bleed. her suffering does something to him, to his insides, something he can't explain but it coats bones with excruciating pain until suddenly lungs collapse and he can't breathe, can't even stand on two feet anymore. ❛ you are perfect. ❜ so much more than that. slowly and carefully he reaches for her hand and places it above his own rapidly beating heart. his palm lands softly on top of hers. ❛ come back to me, love, please. we will find the missing pieces, together, like we found our way back to each other. 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻. ❜

" my dog is cooler than your dog, "