𝔩𝔬𝔯𝔫𝔢 & 𝔥𝔬𝔭𝔢 𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔲𝔢𝔡 𝔣𝔯𝔬𝔪 𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔴𝔦𝔱𝔥 @sacredslaycd.
lorne was nervous where he sat. he and hope had a growing friendship that he come to cherish so, he had believed she had a good reason for hiding this huge secret from him, from everyone. he nodded at her words, grabbing her hand and squeezing it reassuringly briefly before returning her hand, ❛ i'm all ears, pumpkin. you can be honest with me ❜ he told her with a comforting tone, offering a gentle smile. he wanted her to feel comfortable enough to open up to him and feel secure in their friendship. he would never judge. lorne was a demon that looked for the constant good in others; he believed everyone had a good side until they didn't. he just couldn't picture hope doing anything that would bring harm to anyone.
lorne sat attentively as she begins to fidget and find the words to explain whatever secret she's been hiding from them. he's still reeling from the fact that he hadn't seen this coming before; either from angel or just from her. either way, he trusted her. she had to have had a good reason for hiding something seemingly dangerous, right? as she begins to tell her story, his eyes grow slightly in surprise when she drops the fact that she had blood on her hands; from a best friend, no less. he couldn't believe she was capable of doing something so heinous. but, she continues to explain, and it seemed like she had no other choice but to do something regrettable. his eyes begin to glisten with sorrow, sympathetic towards her because he knew hope didn't deserve to be feeling this way, go through something so horrible. he didn't interrupt her as she continued. he wasn't surprised that sahjhan was somehow in the midst of all this. they've already heard of him before, but have no idea of his connection with angel and his past. she could change her path. she didn't have to do what she made promised to the demon. she could help them stop him and keep connor safe.
she gets up suddenly, and lorne mirrors her, frantically wanting to stop her before she leaves. ❛ wait, sweetheart, you don't have to go. wait, wait !! ❜ he urgently calls out to her, running after her and meeting her in the hallway. he rushes in front of her to stop her in her tracks by placing his hands up as a makeshift barrier. ❛ now, hold on just a minute. you can't drop a crazy story like that on me without letting me get in my two cents. that doesn't seem fair, does it? ❜ he starts out. he places one hand on his hip, tilting his head slightly as he sees the tears staining her cheeks. his free hand reaches out to comfortingly wipe away those tears. it saddens him to see her so broken, and he's disappointed in himself that he hadn't been there for her the way she needed him to be. ❛ it sounds like you're putting all this blame on yourself, hope. that's not fair to you, and it's certainly not fair to your friend jo. you had no choice, sweetie, you can't keep beating yourself up ❜ he starts. he caresses her cheek caringly, ❛ and if you left now, how would that make angel feel? you have a chance to change things, darlin', to do some good. it's called redemption. ask your papa about it, he practically wrote the book himself ❜ he chuckled, returning his hands to his side. ❛ screw sahjhan. you've had the most contact with him out of us. you can protect your baby brother ❜ he reassured her, placing both hands on her shoulders and offered a small smile. ❛ the others don't have to know ... not yet. we can keep it between us girls until after that walking eyesore is dead. deal? ❜
