there is no need for words. when strelitzia comes closer, she comes to hold him by the collar of his jacket: gentle, but insistant. her eyes don't say much, not until they rest on the skin of his neck; only then, she gently parts each side of his white jacket, going in for access. black lipstick stains his fair skin, from neck to collarbone.
❝ i missed you, ❞ only now it's clear how much she's been yearning for him. the light in her eyes wavers, fingers going down his chest to peak under his shirt, caressing bare skin. ❝ missed you so much. ❞
He freezes at her touch not from fear or nerves but perhaps one could call it anticipation? Waiting to see what she would do. Would she slap him for disappearing without a word? Certainly something he'd deserve. Yell at him? Cry on him? What would he do if she did the later? Comfort her surely, but what could he say? 'Sorry the world hit me all at once and I had to disappear'. 'Sorry I'm not as strong as everyone thinks I am and I don't know how to handle reality'. In previous situations like this all he's done is freeze. No explanation given, only angered bites when demands were made to know what was happened. Defenses raised like guards around a castle. Defenses he shouldn't have with someone he trusted so well. He did trust her too. He trusted her to understand when he disappeared. He trusted her to care for Marnie, to look out for her. He trusted her more then he trusted himself. Perhaps that was why he offered no resistance against her. Even when the kisses startled him, sending shivers down his spine. Something in him told him to push her away, put those guards back up and cower in the corner like a frightened animal. But with his strength he instead grabbed onto her. Wrapping his arms around her as though she might disappear in his very grasp. Was he holding her too tight? Did he need to let her go? Was she unhappy? Did she think him pathetic? Weak? Did she hate him? All these worries raced in his mind as he held to her. Until she spoke...
As her hands traced down his bare chest his head lowered resting against the crook of her neck and shoulder. Lips brush against her skin in a kiss and nose rubs against her softer, gentler. "I'm sorry..."
It's muttered into her hair before he starts burying himself further into her neck, her shoulder, his arms holding her tighter. "I missed you too."
It's true. It was his own self imposed isolation but he did. He missed her so much. He hated how he put off their dates, said 'Now wasn't a good time' even if it was true. Hated how he pushed and pushed and pushed her away. A part of him wanted to break away, for her to get tired and leave. Let him wallow in his solitude. But a larger part of him was so scared of that. Terrified even. He didn't want her gone, he didn't want to push her away. So why did he? Why was he so willing to lose her when he was so terrified of it at the same time....