Irrational fear
Disclaimer : I don't own yugioh
Had she actually laughed at him? If he had realized that from the very beginning then none of this would have happened and he wouldn't be sitting here, dumbly flipping through a scarp book full of pictures of her. It all started as a little game, innocent and harmless; just to give him the feeling that someone does care. A quick smile flashed now and then, a discreet wave or even a gentle yet respectful greeting. He never questioned her motives; she was just too innocent for her own sake. But little did she know that those little, insignificant gestures grew in his heart as he became gradually fond of them. Not that he would really admit that to her for fear of being taken for a fool.
Whatever awkwardness that had transpired during the first year of their marriage was gone. Over. At the beginning he made sure to disguise his official proposal into a business deal at loss of better alternatives. He could decipher her uncertainties and doubts but brushed them off as temporarily. But her long thoughtful moments and deafening silence left his head spiralling with suspicious. And the situation felt somehow wrong. It was then when he had given her a choice; her friends foolishly cried ultimatum. The proposition simply offered her the opportunity to reassess what she valued the most. But even this one was wrapped up in a business deal package.
One night, he was greeted by a lengthy silence. It was then when he understood that silence does speak louder than words.
At the time, storming Joey's apartment had seemed like the only way, and he had found her there. Instead of relief, he felt angrier. Time. That's all what she had asked for, but he felt empty at the mere thought of losing her. Since her bother was there, watching, he couldn't stoop to the level of openly asking her to come back. It was just too much!
Sometimes when she playfully compared him to the Beast in that European fairly tale, he would scoff and argue. Deep down, he knew she was right. She longed for more and deserved better. But he had clung fervently to the idea that eventually she will get used to him, and accept him willingly the way he was. Now, wasn't that what the Beast had always requested from Beauty?
A particular picture has suddenly stolen his gaze. He was indeed stiff, not moving a muscle, his mouth in a tight, thin line. Her, she was smiling broadly, pinching his forearm in a futile attempt to stir any reaction out of him. He just wouldn't budge. How could he deny her such little things?
He didn't want to look weak. Had happiness become a form of weakness? He questioned himself restlessly.
All his life he had worked hard to bring joy to his little brother's heart. Why people kept denying him this primary right? He was after all a human being; he swatted the little voice away impatiently.
He blinked, taking in her appearance as she stepped into the room. He couldn't even bring himself to believe that she was standing there, breath-taking, as always. If his mind wasn't clouded by all those irrational thoughts, he would have gathered her in his arms, choking the air out of her. He got up and felt like a zombie as he numbly took steps toward her; all the way trying to figure out if she was a hallucination or not.
A/N: The second part of this short one-shot will be posted hopefully soon.
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