Coraline's freckled face was alight with a smile that made his heart throb almost painfully in his chest as he watched her. She was laughing, chattering on excitedly about the night's entertainment as she walked with him to the theatre's exit. Clutched in her fingers was the rose he'd thrown to her, so beautiful, though it paled in comparison with her.
He blushed lightly as she brought it to her face to sniff it's sweet scent, her eyes shining contentedly. Catching him looking, she giggled, blushing just a shade herself, before playfully hitting his shoulder. "Thanks for the rose Wybie."
He nodded, and smiled at the thanks, his blush darkening just a touch. He wished he could say something to her, but of course he couldn't speak. He couldn't tell her just how much he thought she deserved all the happiness in the world, or how it filled his heart to see her smile, for mute lips could do no such thing.
Sighing, the moment past, he watched her run to her 'parents', a dark feeling of regret stirring up inside his gut. He wanted to warn her, but he couldn't do anything against the Beldame. She was his creator after all. He couldn't keep smiling as he thought of what would happen, even when the Other Mother warned him. He was still frowning as the door of the house closed, hiding his rose behind it.
He stood there a long time, before finally tearing his eyes away from the wooden barricade. Lowering his gaze to the ground, he turned and started to walk, shuffling his boots some against the gravel and dirt as he did. As he walked something brightly coloured caught his attention. It was a petal, a rose petal, brilliant and red. Carefully, he pinched between his gloved fingers and lifted it from the gravel.
Bringing to his face, he examined it curiously. He figured it must have fallen off the flower he'd given to Coraline, as it matched the rose's silken texture and sweet scent.
Enclosing it in his fist gently, he held it close over his heart, feeling a tender throb deep in his chest as he thought of her. He'd only known her for a short time, but he couldn't help but love her. He'd been made to after all.
She was his little rose, so beautiful. He wanted to hold her close and shield her delicate petals from the harm he knew the one she wanted to call 'mother' would cause. He didn't want to see those pretty eyes, so expressive as they were, replaced with emotionless plastic. But what could he do? He was just a doll, just a toy made to entertain. Just a copy. How could he save her?
But he couldn't just leave her, he had to try. The doll peeked through his fingers at the soft petal within, a new glint of determination noticeable in the set let of his lips and glimmer of his button-eyes. He couldn't, no, he wouldn't let the Beldame pluck apart his little rose.
He would save her.
- - -
And when she was gone, through the little door to freedom, he smiled, fingering the single petal that he still kept as he waited for his punishment. It didn't matter. His little rose was free.