A/N: The prompt was "I love you and it's terrifying" for Bellarke and I didn't like the stories I saw, so I wrote my own.
Standing next to her, the powerful front she held for everyone else seemed to fade. Next to her, he could notice her hands trembling, her knees weakening. He could feel her leaning towards him, trusting he would hold her up if she needed it.
Standing next to him, the nonchalant indifference seemed to fade. Next to him, she could feel his entire body watching, protecting. She could feel him waiting, watching, always prepared in case she needed him. Always there. No matter what.
He watched her speak, protect, lead. He watched her put on her brave face. deep breaths, calming the trembling hands. And then when she walked into the empty tent, he followed. Her hands still trembling, her knees close to giving out, her breathing becoming shallower, he takes her hands into his and holds them steady. He forces her gaze up, steadying her knees. He breathes deeply, in and out, forcing her to do the same. She looks at him. She stops trembling for him, steadies herself for him, breathes for him, so he can finally take a breath himself.
He doesn't know how. he doesn't know when. he doesn't know why. but he does know this, he loves her. It's terrifying. It's risky. It was inevitable. It was the only truth.
She doesn't know how. She doesn't know when. She doesn't know why. But she does know this, she loves him. It's weakness. It's futile. It's hope. It was inevitable. It was the only truth.
They don't know how, but they know it's there. They don't know when, but they know it's a forever. They don't know why, but they know it is. He loves her and she loves him, it doesn't need words, it doesn't need validation. He loves her and she loves him. It terrifies them both. It gives them a reason to survive.