"Fae?" he asked, and she could tell he was struggeling with how to say something without upsetting her. They were laying together, tired, him studying her face carefully. "My Elphie-Fae? Before now, before this, had you ever-"
"Spit it out, Yero, I'm too sleepy to beat around the bush," she said, but without anger or real annoyance. Her eyes were shut, but she felt him smooth a bit of her hair out of it face so it fanned out beneath her on the old, flat pillow.
He faltered a little, unsure of how to properly say what was on his mind without getting kicked out of the bed. It was too late in the night for him to walk back to his hotel, and he really didn't want to sleep on the floor. She didn't even have a couch for him to sleep on. "You're so shy sometimes, about yourself. It makes me wonder if you've ever had a lover before me- I know you've told me you aren't a virgin, but I mean something different."
She fought the urge to glare at him, and considered feigning sleep. She could sense him still staring at her expectantly though, and eventually said, "Never anything like this before, no," she admitted, in the hope that he'd drop it and they'd both get to sleep. "And you, then, if we're sharing?"
"You know better than that, I haven't lied to you." She did glare at him, then. "I'm sorry, but-" She cut him off with a waive a hand, not even knowing what he was going to try and say. She just knew she didn't want to hear it. She rolled over, turning her back to him. A few minutes later he found his nerve again and added, "I didn't mean anything by it, I was just curious. Sometimes you get so shy and insecure, but other times it seems you.... ahh..."
She didn't give him the opportunity to get kicked out of bed. "What, experienced?" she supplied, not bothering to let him confirm it. "Like I've said, I'm no virgin. However I would guess that experience doesn't equal confidence."
She felt him tense up. "What are you insecure about? Fae, it's just me."
She groaned, wondering why she'd even let the conversation go on this long. "I've been used enough times, Fiyero, I'm a curiosity, particularly when discovered in some seedy bar and expecting payment. You're right, I am experienced, but that doesn't exactly make me feel any better about myself." She was bitter and the words bit at him and she knew it. "What? It's not like I said anything you hadn't suspected before."
He was quiet for a minute, but then she felt his hand on her shoulder, a gentle squeeze. "I'm sorry it's been like this for you," he said quietly. "It shouldn't have been."
But by this point she was mentally exhausted so she didn't say anything. She couldn't.