I’m Unafraid, And I’m Mad. I Suggest You Run. @tip-top-westy - Tumblr Blog

❝You can be gentle. I know you can, I’ve seen it.❞ - Nijai (Mafia AU!)

“Have you really seen it? How do you know I wasn’t pretending? I’m a liar by trade, you know that.” Eddie was trying to drive her away, again, although he never truly meant it, and Nijai always managed to see through his bullshit.

“I’m not gentle. I never have been and I probably never will be.”

@tip-top-westy

Her comments only made him even more red, the blush spreading down his neck and to his ears. Eddie pouted at her, giving her a stern look. “The last time you did that, he complained for at least three hours, I don’t know how long he will this time,” he giggled a little.

The kiss made him gasp again, his eyes widening at the mischief in her own. “You know, love, you’re meant to be going to sleep, not causing mischief.”

“So serious,” she remarked, glancing up at him with faux innocence. “I don’t think you want me to stop now, do ya?” Her hands gently caressed the bare skin on his back. “But, if you do... there’s not much keepin’ it from you. After all, I’m right here, if you dare.”

She shrugged her shoulders when he brought up going to sleep. “Night’s still young, and I think we’ll both be tired after this...”

❝You can be gentle. I know you can, I’ve seen it.❞ - Nijai (Mafia AU!)

“Have you really seen it? How do you know I wasn’t pretending? I’m a liar by trade, you know that.” Eddie was trying to drive her away, again, although he never truly meant it, and Nijai always managed to see through his bullshit.

“I’m not gentle. I never have been and I probably never will be.”

@tip-top-westy

“I’m not tongue-tied.” He grumbled to himself, before smiling at her. “We will be fine, I promise.”

Once in the bedroom, Eddie made sure to close the curtains after glancing outside. He didn’t bother to change out of his clothes, tired after the day he’d had, and simply laid down. He opened his arms, wordlessly gesturing for Nijai to join him.

“Yes, you are,” she teased. “It’s what makes you so damn cute.” She threw one of the blankets over Eddie before laying down beside him. She cocooned herself with the other one, savoring the soft warmth it gave her. Her shoulders finally loosened, releasing some of the stress from earlier as well.

“I’m not cute, either,” he halfheartedly growled, before wrapping the blanket she threw at him around his shoulders.

Noticing that she seemed more relaxed than earlier, Eddie smiled and leaned down to kiss her cheek. He curled himself up so he was totally enveloped by the blanket, and tried to relax a little.

“If anyone here is cute, I’m afraid that it’s you, love.”

Nijai let out a gasp of outrage. “It appears I misspoke, then. Did I say cute? I meant handsome, just like the devil himself, matter of fact.” Her eyes were alight with mischief, testing him. “As for whether or not I’m cute, I ain’t gonna refute or agree with you on that one.”

“Hm…I have been accused of being the devil himself on numerous occasions, so I’ll let you have that one,” he snorted softly, grinning at her, “and you’re cute. You’re utterly adorable in every way possible. And you cannot disagree with me because it’s true.”

Nijai raised an eyebrow at his first statement. “I hate to have a look at the people who said that,” she chuckled. She lightly slapped his side at the compliments he gave. “You and that silver tongue of yours. Is sweet talking all you’re good for? Hm?” She flopped back-first onto her side of the bed.

“I’m afraid there wouldn’t be much to look at.” A soft chuckle followed the morbid statement, before he dismissed it with a shake of his head.

“Hey, I’m good at other stuff than sweet talking!” He laughed, gently poking her side in retaliation. “I can bake, you know, and my neighbour says that I make some really nice muffins. Perhaps I should have tried charming you with sweet treats rather than sweet talking.”

She made a soft sound of surprise when he poked her and scrunched up her nose, before giggling. “I’d be kissin’ my waistline goodbye, if that was the route you decided to take,” she murmured shyly, a hand on her stomach. “I’ve got more than enough pudge already…”

“Hey, you’re perfect as you are,” he kissed her cheek, hoping that it would help a little. Pulling her onto his lap, he wrapped his arms around her, adjusting the blanket so it was tucked comfortably around her. “You should try and get some sleep. It’s late.”

She let out a soft “Hmph”, and settled into his lap. “Thank you, sugar. Don’t know what I’d be doin’ if you weren’t here with me.” She snuggled against him, and sighed. “You wanna talk about sleepin’ when it’s late?” Her voice held a slightly accusing tone.

Fondly chuckling at the feeling of her snuggling against him, Eddie laid his head back and closed his eyes.

“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, love. I go to sleep early every day…early in the morning, that is.” He laughed, shaking his head. “Sorry, sorry. I do need to get a better sleep schedule, you’re right, but in my defense it’s hard to do so when I’m at the beck and call of a very impatient boss.”

The sucking of her teeth was clearly audible despite half of her face being buried against him. “Lemme talk to him,” she muttered, “I’d give him a lecture on sleep deprivation, and I’ll bet he wouldn’t bother you no more.” Grinning, she sneakily left a kiss on his neck.

“Mm…sorry, sweetheart, but I’m not letting you anywhere near that man. Although I’m sure your lecture would be very effective.” He smiles, about to laugh, before gasping in surprise at the sneaky kiss on his neck. His cheeks tinted red as he stared down at her.

“Wh- what was that for? Not that I’m complaining.”

“‘Cause you look so precious when you turn red like that,” she cooed, staring up at him cheekily. “I like it,” she added. “And if I can’t speak to your boss personally, at least I could give him something to complain about tomorrow.” Mischief gleamed in her half-lidded eyes, and she moved to land another peck closer to his throat.

❝You can be gentle. I know you can, I’ve seen it.❞ - Nijai (Mafia AU!)

“Have you really seen it? How do you know I wasn’t pretending? I’m a liar by trade, you know that.” Eddie was trying to drive her away, again, although he never truly meant it, and Nijai always managed to see through his bullshit.

“I’m not gentle. I never have been and I probably never will be.”

@tip-top-westy

“I’m not tongue-tied.” He grumbled to himself, before smiling at her. “We will be fine, I promise.”

Once in the bedroom, Eddie made sure to close the curtains after glancing outside. He didn’t bother to change out of his clothes, tired after the day he’d had, and simply laid down. He opened his arms, wordlessly gesturing for Nijai to join him.

“Yes, you are,” she teased. “It’s what makes you so damn cute.” She threw one of the blankets over Eddie before laying down beside him. She cocooned herself with the other one, savoring the soft warmth it gave her. Her shoulders finally loosened, releasing some of the stress from earlier as well.

“I’m not cute, either,” he halfheartedly growled, before wrapping the blanket she threw at him around his shoulders.

Noticing that she seemed more relaxed than earlier, Eddie smiled and leaned down to kiss her cheek. He curled himself up so he was totally enveloped by the blanket, and tried to relax a little.

“If anyone here is cute, I’m afraid that it’s you, love.”

Nijai let out a gasp of outrage. “It appears I misspoke, then. Did I say cute? I meant handsome, just like the devil himself, matter of fact.” Her eyes were alight with mischief, testing him. “As for whether or not I’m cute, I ain’t gonna refute or agree with you on that one.”

“Hm…I have been accused of being the devil himself on numerous occasions, so I’ll let you have that one,” he snorted softly, grinning at her, “and you’re cute. You’re utterly adorable in every way possible. And you cannot disagree with me because it’s true.”

Nijai raised an eyebrow at his first statement. “I hate to have a look at the people who said that,” she chuckled. She lightly slapped his side at the compliments he gave. “You and that silver tongue of yours. Is sweet talking all you’re good for? Hm?” She flopped back-first onto her side of the bed.

“I’m afraid there wouldn’t be much to look at.” A soft chuckle followed the morbid statement, before he dismissed it with a shake of his head.

“Hey, I’m good at other stuff than sweet talking!” He laughed, gently poking her side in retaliation. “I can bake, you know, and my neighbour says that I make some really nice muffins. Perhaps I should have tried charming you with sweet treats rather than sweet talking.”

She made a soft sound of surprise when he poked her and scrunched up her nose, before giggling. “I’d be kissin’ my waistline goodbye, if that was the route you decided to take,” she murmured shyly, a hand on her stomach. “I’ve got more than enough pudge already…”

“Hey, you’re perfect as you are,” he kissed her cheek, hoping that it would help a little. Pulling her onto his lap, he wrapped his arms around her, adjusting the blanket so it was tucked comfortably around her. “You should try and get some sleep. It’s late.”

She let out a soft “Hmph”, and settled into his lap. “Thank you, sugar. Don’t know what I’d be doin’ if you weren’t here with me.” She snuggled against him, and sighed. “You wanna talk about sleepin’ when it’s late?” Her voice held a slightly accusing tone.

Fondly chuckling at the feeling of her snuggling against him, Eddie laid his head back and closed his eyes.

“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, love. I go to sleep early every day…early in the morning, that is.” He laughed, shaking his head. “Sorry, sorry. I do need to get a better sleep schedule, you’re right, but in my defense it’s hard to do so when I’m at the beck and call of a very impatient boss.”

The sucking of her teeth was clearly audible despite half of her face being buried against him. “Lemme talk to him,” she muttered, “I’d give him a lecture on sleep deprivation, and I’ll bet he wouldn’t bother you no more.” Grinning, she sneakily left a kiss on his neck.

❝You can be gentle. I know you can, I’ve seen it.❞ - Nijai (Mafia AU!)

“Have you really seen it? How do you know I wasn’t pretending? I’m a liar by trade, you know that.” Eddie was trying to drive her away, again, although he never truly meant it, and Nijai always managed to see through his bullshit.

“I’m not gentle. I never have been and I probably never will be.”

@tip-top-westy

“I’m not tongue-tied.” He grumbled to himself, before smiling at her. “We will be fine, I promise.”

Once in the bedroom, Eddie made sure to close the curtains after glancing outside. He didn’t bother to change out of his clothes, tired after the day he’d had, and simply laid down. He opened his arms, wordlessly gesturing for Nijai to join him.

“Yes, you are,” she teased. “It’s what makes you so damn cute.” She threw one of the blankets over Eddie before laying down beside him. She cocooned herself with the other one, savoring the soft warmth it gave her. Her shoulders finally loosened, releasing some of the stress from earlier as well.

“I’m not cute, either,” he halfheartedly growled, before wrapping the blanket she threw at him around his shoulders.

Noticing that she seemed more relaxed than earlier, Eddie smiled and leaned down to kiss her cheek. He curled himself up so he was totally enveloped by the blanket, and tried to relax a little.

“If anyone here is cute, I’m afraid that it’s you, love.”

Nijai let out a gasp of outrage. “It appears I misspoke, then. Did I say cute? I meant handsome, just like the devil himself, matter of fact.” Her eyes were alight with mischief, testing him. “As for whether or not I’m cute, I ain’t gonna refute or agree with you on that one.”

“Hm…I have been accused of being the devil himself on numerous occasions, so I’ll let you have that one,” he snorted softly, grinning at her, “and you’re cute. You’re utterly adorable in every way possible. And you cannot disagree with me because it’s true.”

Nijai raised an eyebrow at his first statement. “I hate to have a look at the people who said that,” she chuckled. She lightly slapped his side at the compliments he gave. “You and that silver tongue of yours. Is sweet talking all you’re good for? Hm?” She flopped back-first onto her side of the bed.

“I’m afraid there wouldn’t be much to look at.” A soft chuckle followed the morbid statement, before he dismissed it with a shake of his head.

“Hey, I’m good at other stuff than sweet talking!” He laughed, gently poking her side in retaliation. “I can bake, you know, and my neighbour says that I make some really nice muffins. Perhaps I should have tried charming you with sweet treats rather than sweet talking.”

She made a soft sound of surprise when he poked her and scrunched up her nose, before giggling. “I’d be kissin’ my waistline goodbye, if that was the route you decided to take,” she murmured shyly, a hand on her stomach. “I’ve got more than enough pudge already…”

“Hey, you’re perfect as you are,” he kissed her cheek, hoping that it would help a little. Pulling her onto his lap, he wrapped his arms around her, adjusting the blanket so it was tucked comfortably around her. “You should try and get some sleep. It’s late.”

She let out a soft “Hmph”, and settled into his lap. “Thank you, sugar. Don’t know what I’d be doin’ if you weren’t here with me.” She snuggled against him, and sighed. “You wanna talk about sleepin’ when it’s late?” Her voice held a slightly accusing tone.

❝You can be gentle. I know you can, I’ve seen it.❞ - Nijai (Mafia AU!)

“Have you really seen it? How do you know I wasn’t pretending? I’m a liar by trade, you know that.” Eddie was trying to drive her away, again, although he never truly meant it, and Nijai always managed to see through his bullshit.

“I’m not gentle. I never have been and I probably never will be.”

@tip-top-westy

“I’m not tongue-tied.” He grumbled to himself, before smiling at her. “We will be fine, I promise.”

Once in the bedroom, Eddie made sure to close the curtains after glancing outside. He didn’t bother to change out of his clothes, tired after the day he’d had, and simply laid down. He opened his arms, wordlessly gesturing for Nijai to join him.

“Yes, you are,” she teased. “It’s what makes you so damn cute.” She threw one of the blankets over Eddie before laying down beside him. She cocooned herself with the other one, savoring the soft warmth it gave her. Her shoulders finally loosened, releasing some of the stress from earlier as well.

“I’m not cute, either,” he halfheartedly growled, before wrapping the blanket she threw at him around his shoulders.

Noticing that she seemed more relaxed than earlier, Eddie smiled and leaned down to kiss her cheek. He curled himself up so he was totally enveloped by the blanket, and tried to relax a little.

“If anyone here is cute, I’m afraid that it’s you, love.”

Nijai let out a gasp of outrage. “It appears I misspoke, then. Did I say cute? I meant handsome, just like the devil himself, matter of fact.” Her eyes were alight with mischief, testing him. “As for whether or not I’m cute, I ain’t gonna refute or agree with you on that one.”

“Hm…I have been accused of being the devil himself on numerous occasions, so I’ll let you have that one,” he snorted softly, grinning at her, “and you’re cute. You’re utterly adorable in every way possible. And you cannot disagree with me because it’s true.”

Nijai raised an eyebrow at his first statement. “I hate to have a look at the people who said that,” she chuckled. She lightly slapped his side at the compliments he gave. “You and that silver tongue of yours. Is sweet talking all you’re good for? Hm?” She flopped back-first onto her side of the bed.

“I’m afraid there wouldn’t be much to look at.” A soft chuckle followed the morbid statement, before he dismissed it with a shake of his head.

“Hey, I’m good at other stuff than sweet talking!” He laughed, gently poking her side in retaliation. “I can bake, you know, and my neighbour says that I make some really nice muffins. Perhaps I should have tried charming you with sweet treats rather than sweet talking.”

#unbrokenloneliness #She gets a bit self conscious from time to time

She made a soft sound of surprise when he poked her and scrunched up her nose, before giggling. “I’d be kissin’ my waistline goodbye, if that was the route you decided to take,” she murmured shyly, a hand on her stomach. “I’ve got more than enough pudge already...”

❝You can be gentle. I know you can, I’ve seen it.❞ - Nijai (Mafia AU!)

“Have you really seen it? How do you know I wasn’t pretending? I’m a liar by trade, you know that.” Eddie was trying to drive her away, again, although he never truly meant it, and Nijai always managed to see through his bullshit.

“I’m not gentle. I never have been and I probably never will be.”

@tip-top-westy

“I’m not tongue-tied.” He grumbled to himself, before smiling at her. “We will be fine, I promise.”

Once in the bedroom, Eddie made sure to close the curtains after glancing outside. He didn’t bother to change out of his clothes, tired after the day he’d had, and simply laid down. He opened his arms, wordlessly gesturing for Nijai to join him.

“Yes, you are,” she teased. “It’s what makes you so damn cute.” She threw one of the blankets over Eddie before laying down beside him. She cocooned herself with the other one, savoring the soft warmth it gave her. Her shoulders finally loosened, releasing some of the stress from earlier as well.

“I’m not cute, either,” he halfheartedly growled, before wrapping the blanket she threw at him around his shoulders.

Noticing that she seemed more relaxed than earlier, Eddie smiled and leaned down to kiss her cheek. He curled himself up so he was totally enveloped by the blanket, and tried to relax a little.

“If anyone here is cute, I’m afraid that it’s you, love.”

Nijai let out a gasp of outrage. “It appears I misspoke, then. Did I say cute? I meant handsome, just like the devil himself, matter of fact.” Her eyes were alight with mischief, testing him. “As for whether or not I’m cute, I ain’t gonna refute or agree with you on that one.”

“Hm…I have been accused of being the devil himself on numerous occasions, so I’ll let you have that one,” he snorted softly, grinning at her, “and you’re cute. You’re utterly adorable in every way possible. And you cannot disagree with me because it’s true.”

Nijai raised an eyebrow at his first statement. “I hate to have a look at the people who said that,” she chuckled. She lightly slapped his side at the compliments he gave. “You and that silver tongue of yours. Is sweet talking all you’re good for? Hm?” She flopped back-first onto her side of the bed.

❝You can be gentle. I know you can, I’ve seen it.❞ - Nijai (Mafia AU!)

“Have you really seen it? How do you know I wasn’t pretending? I’m a liar by trade, you know that.” Eddie was trying to drive her away, again, although he never truly meant it, and Nijai always managed to see through his bullshit.

“I’m not gentle. I never have been and I probably never will be.”

@tip-top-westy

“I’m not tongue-tied.” He grumbled to himself, before smiling at her. “We will be fine, I promise.”

Once in the bedroom, Eddie made sure to close the curtains after glancing outside. He didn’t bother to change out of his clothes, tired after the day he’d had, and simply laid down. He opened his arms, wordlessly gesturing for Nijai to join him.

“Yes, you are,” she teased. “It’s what makes you so damn cute.” She threw one of the blankets over Eddie before laying down beside him. She cocooned herself with the other one, savoring the soft warmth it gave her. Her shoulders finally loosened, releasing some of the stress from earlier as well.

“I’m not cute, either,” he halfheartedly growled, before wrapping the blanket she threw at him around his shoulders.

Noticing that she seemed more relaxed than earlier, Eddie smiled and leaned down to kiss her cheek. He curled himself up so he was totally enveloped by the blanket, and tried to relax a little.

“If anyone here is cute, I’m afraid that it’s you, love.”

Nijai let out a gasp of outrage. “It appears I misspoke, then. Did I say cute? I meant handsome, just like the devil himself, matter of fact.” Her eyes were alight with mischief, testing him. “As for whether or not I’m cute, I ain’t gonna refute or agree with you on that one.”

❝You can be gentle. I know you can, I’ve seen it.❞ - Nijai (Mafia AU!)

“Have you really seen it? How do you know I wasn’t pretending? I’m a liar by trade, you know that.” Eddie was trying to drive her away, again, although he never truly meant it, and Nijai always managed to see through his bullshit.

“I’m not gentle. I never have been and I probably never will be.”

@tip-top-westy

“I’m not tongue-tied.” He grumbled to himself, before smiling at her. “We will be fine, I promise.”

Once in the bedroom, Eddie made sure to close the curtains after glancing outside. He didn’t bother to change out of his clothes, tired after the day he’d had, and simply laid down. He opened his arms, wordlessly gesturing for Nijai to join him.

“Yes, you are,” she teased. “It’s what makes you so damn cute.” She threw one of the blankets over Eddie before laying down beside him. She cocooned herself with the other one, savoring the soft warmth it gave her. Her shoulders finally loosened, releasing some of the stress from earlier as well.

❝You can be gentle. I know you can, I’ve seen it.❞ - Nijai (Mafia AU!)

“Have you really seen it? How do you know I wasn’t pretending? I’m a liar by trade, you know that.” Eddie was trying to drive her away, again, although he never truly meant it, and Nijai always managed to see through his bullshit.

“I’m not gentle. I never have been and I probably never will be.”

@tip-top-westy

She took one of his hands and pressed her thumb into the palm of his hand. “You can deal in lies all you want, outside. But I know that all falls away when you come home to me.” Her brow furrowed when he mentioned that maybe he’d been pretending all along. “Why would you have to pretend around me?

“Because you don’t know the real me,” he frowned, “you haven’t seen the person I am around everyone else. And, hopefully, you never will. Perhaps I pretend because I don’t want to scare you away.” He reached over and took her other hand, gently squeezing it whilst looking away from her.

“You could never scare me, Eddie,” she moved her hand from the palm of his. “I think, that you’re not the problem, it’s the company you keep,” she murmured thoughtfully, tilting her head so that he’d have to look at her again. Her eyes were sad.

“Let me help, please?”

“There’s no way you can help. I can exactly leave, I’m tied to them. And if I tried to leave, they’d destroy me, and destroy you in the process.” He leaned forward, staring Nijai in the eye, his gaze fierce. “I will not let that happen to you.”

Leaning back again, he cupped her cheek, his heart aching at the sadness in her eyes. “I’m sorry, dear. I really am. There’s simply nothing we can do.”

She shook her head stubbornly. “I don’t believe that. There will always be something. A loophole, some sorta misstep.” She wracked her brain furiously, shaking her cheek free of Eddie’s hand. For a moment, the protectiveness in his voice warmed her from the inside out and she almost smiled for him.

However, the sadness in her eyes was replaced by righteous anger and frustration. She began to pace. “Baby, I don’t want you to live like this anymore. ‘Cause you’re so smart, and sweet, you debate with me, and I—”

He sighed, covering his face with his hands. It wasn’t like he hadn’t tried to look for a loophole, some way to untangle himself from those people. He stood, walking over to Nijai and gently placing his hands on her shoulders. He looked fraught, his eyes desperate despite trying to keep his features calm.

“I have to live like this. If I don’t, they will tear my life apart piece by piece, starting with you. I will not let that happen!” Tears welled in his eyes, and he quickly blinked them away. “I will look for a way out, I promise, but for now I have to do my job.”

Nijai felt a pang of guilt in her chest. She wasn’t exactly being fair, this whole thing was just as hard on him as it was on her. She took his arms from her shoulders and wrapped them around her waist, while she laid her head upon his heart. “I’m sorry. All of this isn’t as black and white as we wish it was.” She watched him push down the tears and whimpered, inaudibly.

“Why don’t we just go to bed? I-It’s late.” Outside, it had just barely reached darkness but Nijai felt like it was already the middle of the night. The sooner they were both cuddled up together, the easier it might get for them to forget about the obstacles facing them, even if it was for a little while.

“I think going to bed is a good idea, but just wait a minute, I…” He pursed his lips, struggling to figure out exactly what to say.

Taking one hand off of Nijai’s waist, he gently tilted her chin so she was looking him in the eye. His eyes were gentle and calmer than before, and he had a sad smile on his face.

“I need you to know that no matter what I say, no matter how many times I try to push you away from me, I…I love you. I promise that I love you so much. And I’m so sorry for causing you so much grief and pain.” Eddie struggled to get the words out, but once he did, he breathed a sigh of relief, pressing a kiss to Nijai’s forehead.

“Come on. Let’s get to bed, hm?”

“I love you too. I don’t think I’d ever be able to forget how much you love me. It shows in everything you do. Even right now, don’t think I can’t see you getting all tongue-tied. Everything just has to run its course, I know we’ll be fine.” She seemed to say it more to herself than to Eddie.

The forehead kiss had her standing up on tiptoe for one more, but she thought better of it, knowing Eddie was notorious for not being able to notice that due to their height difference. If he did, he’d probably tease her first. She grabbed two blankets before following Eddie into the bedroom.

❝You can be gentle. I know you can, I’ve seen it.❞ - Nijai (Mafia AU!)

“Have you really seen it? How do you know I wasn’t pretending? I’m a liar by trade, you know that.” Eddie was trying to drive her away, again, although he never truly meant it, and Nijai always managed to see through his bullshit.

“I’m not gentle. I never have been and I probably never will be.”

@tip-top-westy

She took one of his hands and pressed her thumb into the palm of his hand. “You can deal in lies all you want, outside. But I know that all falls away when you come home to me.” Her brow furrowed when he mentioned that maybe he’d been pretending all along. “Why would you have to pretend around me?

“Because you don’t know the real me,” he frowned, “you haven’t seen the person I am around everyone else. And, hopefully, you never will. Perhaps I pretend because I don’t want to scare you away.” He reached over and took her other hand, gently squeezing it whilst looking away from her.

“You could never scare me, Eddie,” she moved her hand from the palm of his. “I think, that you’re not the problem, it’s the company you keep,” she murmured thoughtfully, tilting her head so that he’d have to look at her again. Her eyes were sad.

“Let me help, please?”

“There’s no way you can help. I can exactly leave, I’m tied to them. And if I tried to leave, they’d destroy me, and destroy you in the process.” He leaned forward, staring Nijai in the eye, his gaze fierce. “I will not let that happen to you.”

Leaning back again, he cupped her cheek, his heart aching at the sadness in her eyes. “I’m sorry, dear. I really am. There’s simply nothing we can do.”

She shook her head stubbornly. “I don’t believe that. There will always be something. A loophole, some sorta misstep.” She wracked her brain furiously, shaking her cheek free of Eddie’s hand. For a moment, the protectiveness in his voice warmed her from the inside out and she almost smiled for him.

However, the sadness in her eyes was replaced by righteous anger and frustration. She began to pace. “Baby, I don’t want you to live like this anymore. ‘Cause you’re so smart, and sweet, you debate with me, and I—”

He sighed, covering his face with his hands. It wasn’t like he hadn’t tried to look for a loophole, some way to untangle himself from those people. He stood, walking over to Nijai and gently placing his hands on her shoulders. He looked fraught, his eyes desperate despite trying to keep his features calm.

“I have to live like this. If I don’t, they will tear my life apart piece by piece, starting with you. I will not let that happen!” Tears welled in his eyes, and he quickly blinked them away. “I will look for a way out, I promise, but for now I have to do my job.”

Nijai felt a pang of guilt in her chest. She wasn’t exactly being fair, this whole thing was just as hard on him as it was on her. She took his arms from her shoulders and wrapped them around her waist, while she laid her head upon his heart. “I’m sorry. All of this isn’t as black and white as we wish it was.” She watched him push down the tears and whimpered, inaudibly.

“Why don’t we just go to bed? I-It’s late.” Outside, it had just barely reached darkness but Nijai felt like it was already the middle of the night. The sooner they were both cuddled up together, the easier it might get for them to forget about the obstacles facing them, even if it was for a little while.

❝You can be gentle. I know you can, I’ve seen it.❞ - Nijai (Mafia AU!)

“Have you really seen it? How do you know I wasn’t pretending? I’m a liar by trade, you know that.” Eddie was trying to drive her away, again, although he never truly meant it, and Nijai always managed to see through his bullshit.

“I’m not gentle. I never have been and I probably never will be.”

@tip-top-westy

She took one of his hands and pressed her thumb into the palm of his hand. “You can deal in lies all you want, outside. But I know that all falls away when you come home to me.” Her brow furrowed when he mentioned that maybe he’d been pretending all along. “Why would you have to pretend around me?

“Because you don’t know the real me,” he frowned, “you haven’t seen the person I am around everyone else. And, hopefully, you never will. Perhaps I pretend because I don’t want to scare you away.” He reached over and took her other hand, gently squeezing it whilst looking away from her.

“You could never scare me, Eddie,” she moved her hand from the palm of his. “I think, that you’re not the problem, it’s the company you keep,” she murmured thoughtfully, tilting her head so that he’d have to look at her again. Her eyes were sad.

“Let me help, please?”

“There’s no way you can help. I can exactly leave, I’m tied to them. And if I tried to leave, they’d destroy me, and destroy you in the process.” He leaned forward, staring Nijai in the eye, his gaze fierce. “I will not let that happen to you.”

Leaning back again, he cupped her cheek, his heart aching at the sadness in her eyes. “I’m sorry, dear. I really am. There’s simply nothing we can do.”

She shook her head stubbornly. “I don’t believe that. There will always be something. A loophole, some sorta misstep.” She wracked her brain furiously, shaking her cheek free of Eddie’s hand. For a moment, the protectiveness in his voice warmed her from the inside out and she almost smiled for him.

However, the sadness in her eyes was replaced by righteous anger and frustration. She began to pace. “Baby, I don’t want you to live like this anymore. ‘Cause you’re so smart, and sweet, you debate with me, and I—”

❝You can be gentle. I know you can, I’ve seen it.❞ - Nijai (Mafia AU!)

“Have you really seen it? How do you know I wasn’t pretending? I’m a liar by trade, you know that.” Eddie was trying to drive her away, again, although he never truly meant it, and Nijai always managed to see through his bullshit.

“I’m not gentle. I never have been and I probably never will be.”

@tip-top-westy

She took one of his hands and pressed her thumb into the palm of his hand. “You can deal in lies all you want, outside. But I know that all falls away when you come home to me.” Her brow furrowed when he mentioned that maybe he’d been pretending all along. “Why would you have to pretend around me?

“Because you don’t know the real me,” he frowned, “you haven’t seen the person I am around everyone else. And, hopefully, you never will. Perhaps I pretend because I don’t want to scare you away.” He reached over and took her other hand, gently squeezing it whilst looking away from her.

“You could never scare me, Eddie,” she moved her hand from the palm of his. “I think, that you’re not the problem, it’s the company you keep,” she murmured thoughtfully, tilting her head so that he’d have to look at her again. Her eyes were sad.

“Let me help, please?”