CCS (c) Clamp and all rightful owners, similarly to the quotations.

The (Im) Perfect Couple

"Perfection itself is imperfection." ~Vladimir Horowitz

"There is a kind of beauty in imperfection." ~Conrad Hall

Chapter 1: Pride

"Pride is seldom delicate, it will please itself with very mean advantages; and envy feels not its own happiness, but when it may be compared with the misery of others." ~Samuel Johnson

"Pride is a personal commitment. It is an attitude which separates excellence from mediocrity." ~Unknown

Tomoyo –

She picks up the broken pieces of her heart.

Eriol –

He clutches onto his trampled pride.

Even 'perfect' people get hurt.

Tomoyo –

She sits on the sofa, physically fatigued but mentally restless. She can feel her heart rate and breathing slow. (Deep, slow breaths) Ugly thoughts circle her pretty head.

Manicured fingers reached for the phone.

[Let's go for a drink?]

Then she waits.

Eriol –

The glasses clinked when he gave cheers to the lonely bottle. The liquid in the glass was a sparkly gold.

Gold – how classy! He tipped the drink towards his mouth.

His movements stilled in midair. His phone was vibrating.

Spectacles glinted in the artificial white lights when he read the message.

[Let's go for a drink? – Tomoyo D.]

"Old friends are best." ~John Selden

Tomoyo –

She knocked on the door.

Eriol –

He opened the door to a sweetly smiling Tomoyo.

Tomoyo –

[Bastard.]

Gentleman Eriol is not, Tomoyo knows this by heart.

Eriol –

"Why, if it isn't our dear Tomoyo! What brings you here with wrath blazing in your eyes?"

Tomoyo –

Dramatics.

She rolled her eyes as he invited her in.

The onyx eyes landed on the living room. He had prepared everything – comfortable beanbag seats, round glass table filled with elegant bottles of wine, glasses (his half-filled, hers empty) and snacks.

Eriol –

He smirked, noticing the guest's gaze.

Ego inflated a little.

Then he felt a jolt in his chest.

Hurt. Pain. Pride – Trampled. Without. Mercy. Hurt. Hurt. Hurt.

Tomoyo –

Eriol was cold.

Without warning, he got still and silent.

Her bare feet kissed the plush carpeting as she crossed over to the table. Eriol had not noticed that she filled her own empty glass and refilled his.

She went back to his stilled body.

Boldly, she tipped his glass of wine to his lips, and hers to herself.

"Cheers."

Eriol –

He broke out of his moment.

Eyes light with mirth noticing the awkward position his drinking companion had herself in; trying to tip the drink into his mouth standing on her tippy-toes.

He was gentleman enough to relieve her.

[Cheers]

. x .

'Outsiders' –

No one was surprised to find her vehicle by his mansion.

Eriol and Tomoyo.

What a lovely couple. A match made in heaven.

Eriol, Tomoyo –

[Do they know?]

We are no longer together.

A/N:

(i) Okay, talk about confusing! I have no idea why I wrote this either.

(ii) Explanation: The bolded her, his and they in the last 7 lines refer to Tomoyo, Eriol and 'Outsiders' respectively.

Tomoyo and Eriol were a couple. The 'it' couple, in fact, if you were to infer. Eriol and Tomoyo broke up, apparently, but are still on good terms ("old friends"). They don't mind drinking in each other's presence although he/she is his/her ex. I'm not a psychologist, but I find this two characters to be especially headstrong, so they'll most likely be prideful enough not to breakdown in front of his/her ex.

Hence the title "Pride".

(iii) Do you find the quotations fitting? I've took a long time searching for a fitting quote, you know?