it was the fact he wouldn’t lie to her , no empty little words to make her feel better , that made her sure in this . made her sure in them . because what was anything that was built on a lie , even if the lie was beautiful or meant to comfort , nothing but false . nothing that wasn’t about ready to crumble when the winds picked up . a final echo of ❝ almost ❞ gracing her lips one final time , the fifth time the word was spoken , as she sighed and nestled in against him . it was a thought as scary as the realisation from the start of the summer , that she loved him , that she was facing up to now : that she felt safe here . safe with him . such a wild , floating and reckless thing as she was , she still found safety in someone’s arms . but it was still so much to say it . still felt like it could almost be too much . one word . one little question . but such a large weight for just two syllables to hold . again . a - gain . he was asking , he wanted to know . but he wasn’t pushing . and so ellie found the truth eking free . ❝ the imperius curse , barty . she and i are old friends . far too old friends ❞ because that was the truth , wasn’t it ? because even if there had been some justification behind what her mother had done , in just what she’d sunk too , ten had been much too young for what ellie had gone through . ten had been much too young for what she’d gone through to be ignored . and for once she let things die , for one she wasn’t the bitch who wouldn’t give up a bone . she could move past the fight they’d had , move past and learn . there had been a problem then but wasn’t now proof they were moving past it ? eyes continuing to hold his gaze as his hand came to settle on her face , glancing down before they fell shut , feeling almost whole in that moment . ❝ why am i worth it ? ❞ she had so much now , so much with him . and she couldn’t quite believe it .
𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑠 barty imagines have ellie feeling puppeteered , he’ll admit to the shock of it being so literal . he forgoes the subtlety then , tensing to wait on more , ❛ from who , ❜ it’s barely posed like a question ; the words grating through his frown , imposed in the narrowing of his eyes . it implodes in something that retracts quickly in his chest , a not - too - unfamiliar emotion boiling red in him . it isn’t too difficult to press past it to further answer her . he’s only surprised to feel it simmer as he goes on , unwithstanding his usual asphyxiation , despite the gentleness he exudes in bringing a hand under ellie’s jaw after he thinks it over , trying to coax her over for the answer , ❛ you’re unyielding , ❜ he explains . ❛ unapologetically whatever you decide . ❜ because it’s different from unapologetically one’s self . he knows ellie does too much in nothing more than the name of pettiness . of proof . coercion . and likely more . ❛ i can’t say it’s common to find that , let alone where it would turn an interest to me , as well . most would read disinterest on my part . but you didn’t . i’m fairly sure the only consensus i’ve gotten is that we’re not the same . nearly opposites , ❜ a foil to myself , his mind supplies . without the clash that should usually come with it , on spectrums much like the parts he plays himself . smoke to his mirror , as if pushing all that he isn’t to the forefront would hide much of what he is . but how does he say that there's the mirror of it in her without revealing too much ? that she chases , knowingly or not , for every aspect of him , relishes in it — without confirming it outright . it’s all another game to play , but a new one . a breath from the boredom , without having to forgo any of it . ❛ but i don’t think you got that from me at all , ❜ he settles on the hint of it instead , eyes fully boring into hers for it , before softening again . ❛ and i’m more than interested in seeing how you came to that conclusion . just as i am interested in every conclusion you come to , should it be grating my nerves or not . ❜ he supplies with an added gleam in his eye . it’s true , in the end , that he’s only ever so easy on the forgiving end of ellie by way of her mind . what she chooses to latch to surprising him to no end , and honestly — it’s refreshing , to be so abruptly taken aback without it necessarily being entirely inane .
annaxmalina
2087
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