He could hear her following him, so he stopped where he was, but he didn’t turn around yet. He could hear the slight edge of panic to her tone, and that made his mouth tighten into a deeper frown. It almost made him feel the tiniest bit bad for leaving her, but… “… the others, they need you.’‘ No, they didn’t. It was a flimsy excuse to get him to go back with her, and he didn’t buy it. Carlos and Evie were perfectly capable of taking care of themselves, they were perfectly capable of fighting and handling this whole thing without him. So was Ben, honestly. They didn’t need him.
‘‘I need you.’‘ But then she had to go and say that. He knew he’d probably stay if she asked, but this… This statement was enough to break tiny cracks through the walls that had quickly gone up once she’d confessed to lying. The one thing strong enough to break the walls he’d put up in his defense. If that wasn’t bad enough, he heard the tinge of panic, desperation, in her voice as she said it.
He didn’t like this situation at all–her lying, her not talking to him–but he briefly felt torn between his desire to stalk out of there and go it on his own, and the urge he was feeling to stay with her. That urge sprang up from somewhere deep down and was rising higher and higher, until it was filling his chest. The urge to help her because she was scared, because she needed him. And just like that, he knew he wouldn’t leave her. He couldn’t. He was fiercely loyal to certain people (to his family), maybe to a fault… But he couldn’t leave her hanging when she’d just admitted she needed his help.
He still wasn’t particularly happy with her, nor with this situation, but he’d do what needed to be done. He’d do what she needed him to do. But later… When it was all said and done, when this was over, he’d hold her to her promise. Not meanly… He’d just remind her of her promise to explain. His mouth still in a tight frown (but maybe not quite as tight as it was a moment ago), he turned back around to her. “Fine,” he said simply. “Let’s round up the others and figure out our next move.” By others, he met their friends, not particularly Uma or Harry or Gil. Though they’d have to do something about that at some point. He walked past her and headed back.
Arms wrap around Mal’s waist, for a moment she thinks that’s it. That’s really it, he’ll leave her here. She could just follow him patheticly but she had enough pride left to let him go if he starts moving again. Didn’t mean it wasn’t hurting her. She did this, she gets that. But- she never meant for any of this, all she did.. all she tried to do was to take care of everyone. She sucks at it, clearly. If hurting the people closest to her is the cost, maybe being a Queen really isn’t for her. They shouldn’t have asked her. Her loyalty and intentions had been conflicted from the beginning, so.. so why did they? why ask Mal? not that it matters now…
Mal wants to say something, but there was nothing left to say. Not unless she actually decides to open up about.. why she didn’t tell him, because as much as she told herself it was for the same reason as not telling Evie and Carlos, it wasn’t. Not really.
But the feeling that was weighing on her heart vanishes quickly, hope shimmers in her eyes at his words. Forcing herself out of the vulnerable emotions that were ambushing her, she blinks away the insecurity and pain that this entire ordeal brought along. She’ll panic about this later, and knowing Jay.. he won’t let her off easy. Although- easier then the others probably. It’s just.. a different kind of hurt. ‘’Alright.’’ her lips twitch slightly, but she supresses it. Smiling would give him the wrong message, wouldn’t it? but there’s no doubt about the relieve on her face.
As well as she knows him, as well as he knows her. Her fear of abandonment ( after all, if her mother couldn’t love her, why would her friends be different? why– why would jay be different? ) was bigger then trusting what she believed to be true about him, about how strong their friendship is - and always had been. He’s her ride or die, always will be. Maybe one day she’ll she’ll fully believe that enough to not let the fear get the better of her. She turns, starts moving back in the direction they came from.
She stopped at the clearing, froze, eyes locked on their friends turned in stone as her hands reach back for him - having not turned back to Jay yet, the move done so he wouldn’t bump into her but also because she just– for a moment, needed the safety he provided. Head turns, eyes searching his face. Some part of her needed to be sure he was fine, at least.. at least he isn’t turned to stone.