Oh god, she was just going to break down again. She could feel her bottom lip begin to tremble as he spoke to her and said such things. He wanted to stand up for her and in all honesty she wasn’t sure if she was worth it. Not sure if the effort was even worth it.
The situation was already a mess, he didn’t need to get tangled up in it. However, with each of his words she seemed to wonder if his heart could get any bigger or if she could love him even more… even with her emotions as tumultuous as they were.
"This person… believes me to be a bother. I’m always around when they don’t want me around and… well… I-I don’t want that to happen with you. This isn’t the first person I’ve pushed away like that."
Henrietta sighed, looking up at him seriously. “J-Just… please tell me that I’m not going to push you away like that?” It was less of a question and more of a plea… something she needed to hear to keep going. In her most vulnerable moment she needed to be sure he wouldn’t leave.
He paused, listened attentively, and felt the fury in him rise. He was shaking now, questioning just what kind of monster was capable of reducing such a strong girl into her current state.
And to learn that it wasn't the first? Well... it wasn't something he was going to let go anytime soon...
...Until she looked at him with such desperation, such need to just... stay, that for a moment he forgot his blinding fury, felt empathy well up inside and held her tight. He was still shaking, that was a given but... at the moment, anger will have to be put to one side. He bit down on his lip, probably drew blood at a point, and shook his head.
"I could never... ever, leave you. You're no bother to me and I can assure you will never become one. I won't push you away, or drive you away, or hurt you. If we ever... ever part ways or this doesn't work out, I can assure you that you're not the one who will be at fault. I love you too much to leave you, Hen... that's the truth."
He held her tighter and laid his head against her shoulder, repeating the words "I love you" over and over again.












