"I'm not gonna hurt you."
( THE HEART is not so easily convinced. )
something about this rings SERIOUS, rings danger. this was a path for skilled travelers, ones with set destinations. hinrik had a getaway car, and elsa was good at slamming doors. there was no PLAN, no direction. they held hands in the dark and still couldn’t share a bed without someone complaining and bumped noses when they kissed.
HURT was never supposed to be a factor. after all, if they were NOTHING, how could it hurt? but elsa is lying to herself, knows the ache she feels ALREADY, when his mouth turns sweeter and his hands softer. the problem is, it already hurts.
but he wasn’t supposed to bring it up. it implied he didn’t want to hurt her, would care if he did. implied he wanted to be something that–––they weren’t. not OUT LOUD. courage was fickle. it was quiet. not yet, not yet.
but he opens his mouth, counteracts with right now, right now.
it leaves her with trembling kneecaps, wrists clinking like silverware as fingers knot into her hair, nervous. I DON’T BELIEVE YOU sits heavy on her tongue, weighs her body down like an anchor. I DON’T BELIEVE YOU.
that’s how these always play out, doesn’t he see? elsa was meant to be alone.
he catches her hands before they do anymore damage to knotty hair, untangles her fingers and waits.
she has nothing to say. i don’t want to hurt you is the closes she could give, because there’s no such thing as fairytales. he’ll HURT HER. she’ll hurt him. but she doesn’t want to. isn’t that enough? it’s not. but she’s trying. does this hurt him, right now?
instead, she places intertwined palms over her waist, kisses him until his cheeks are flushed, eyelids heavy. he has nothing to say, either. uses his hands instead.
maybe it’s for the better.