Mending
"Did you really love me then, or did you just love the support I could give you?"
Imogen's heart breaks at the desperation in Laudna's voice. There's dread and fury mixed in with unending love, and she hates that the real answer is both. Now isn't the time to feel selfish or self-loathing, not when Laudna needs her.
"I loved you for who you were, Laudna. I loved your creepiness, I loved your little quirks, and I loved how honest you were with me no matter what." Imogen catches her breath, trying her best not to break into tears. Her hand tentatively reaches out for Laudna, lip twitching downward when the other woman flinches.
"You say you loved me then. Do you love me now?"
Imogen pauses for a moment, her soft gaze tracing over Laudna's face, cataloguing every feature before settling on her gorgeous brown eyes. "Always, honey. I'll love you no matter who you are. I know you're hurtin' right now, but even if you never get back to who you were, I'll still be here, lovin' you."
Laudna shakes her head, tears starting to pour from her eyes.
"What if you never really loved me then? What if you only love me now that I'm even more broken? What if you only love me because you think you can fix me?"
Imogen huffs out a laugh. "Darlin', I'm not the fixer here. I don't even know how to fix myself."
Laudna's eyes go wide, a flicker of true terror marring her delicate features. Imogen doesn't realize the error of her words until after Laudna starts spiraling.
"Imogen, my love for you could never be reduced to wanting to fix you, I swear I never even thought about fixing you! Because, darling, you're not broken! I'm so sorry if I ever made you think tha-"
Imogen abruptly hugs Laudna, her arms wrapping around slender shoulders and squeezing as tight as she dares. She waits a moment, taking deep breaths that she knows Laudna will mirror. After a few moments, she pulls back just enough to look at the woman before her.
"Laudna, honey. I know you didn't feel that way about me. And I'm sorry for implying that. I just," she looks down for a moment, licking her chapped lips. "We're both broken. Don't try to deny it."
Laudna's mouth snaps shit, her rebuttal quickly staved off. Imogen sighs and leans closer, her head resting on Laudna's shoulder and her face pressing into her neck.
"You're the artistic one, Laud. Can't we just try to make something beautiful out of our broken pieces? Would you trust me enough to know that I'll never try to make you something you're not?"
Imogen feels more than she hears Laudna shudder, a quiet sob wracking through her body. She shifts her arms, wrapping them around Laudna's waist and pulling the two of them even closer together. Imogen feels relief flood through her when Laudna squeezes her arms around her neck just as tightly.
"I will always trust you, Imogen Temult." Laudna presses a kiss to Imogen's head, her voice shaky and fragile. "I love you so much."
Imogen wants to press a kiss to Laudna's neck, to confess the words she's been holding in for far too long. But now isn't the time. Instead, Imogen smiles into Laudna's pulse.
"I love you too, darlin'."