Red wasn't sure what he had done to set her off this time. All he knew was that she was screaming at him, calling him every name in the book, and he didn't feel up to dealing with it at the moment. He had tried to explain himself but had just gotten slapped across the face.

Why was that so easy for her? Didn't she know how many people were afraid of him? What did it matter? She knew that he'd never do anything to hurt her. Yet, Liz found it so easy to hurt him, whether it was verbal or physical. He still had the scar on his neck from where she had stabbed him.

Red couldn't help the ache in his chest when she called him a monster again. It was odd. Everything else felt numb except for that dull pain.

"Do you even care about anyone but yourself?" She questioned angrily. He kept her gaze but refused to answer. His eyes stayed open the whole time. If he blinked, he might shed a few tears. There was no way that he'd let her see that. No way that he'd let her know that she was hurting him.

"It seems like you're always keeping me away from what I want to know. Is this some kind of sick game to take everything away from me?" Liz added. The irony of that. He was trying to give her everything that he could. There was nothing he wouldn't do to protect her.

"Are you done?" Red asked, his voice gruff. This seemed to send a new surge through her. If she didn't leave soon, he might break in front of her.

"You're an ass," Liz responded. She gave him one last glare before getting up. After she left for a minute, Red leaned forward in his seat and put his hands over his face. His eyes burned, and his chest ached.

Raymond Reddington wasn't much for crying, but he'd allow himself this moment. It wasn't many tears but was enough to leave damp streaks down his face and redden his eyes. He glanced up when he heard the door open again.

"I forgot my pur-," Liz started as she hurried into the room and towards where she had forgotten her bag. She stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of the criminal. Her eyes widened as her breath caught in her throat. So, he was human.

Both just stared at the other for the longest time. A feeling of guilt rose in Liz while Red tried to work out a way to get out of this. Finally, Liz took a hesitant step towards him. She felt like he might try to get away if she moved too quickly. Red watched as she moved closer to him until she was standing right in front of him. There wasn't anyway for him to stand with her moving at this point.

Red worked his jaw as the two held eye contact. Liz thought he looked angry, but really, he felt broken. She didn't know what she was doing or what needed to be done, but she lifted a hand and placed it gently on his cheek. Brushing away one tear, another seemed to take it's place. All the things she had said seemed to come and slap her across the face. She had done that to him too.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to where he almost didn't understand her. Liz brushed away another tear before leaning forward. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders tightly.

This was where he broke. He couldn't handle the softness of her touch or the sweet smell of her hair. He made a noise in the back of his throat as he held back a sob. Tears trickled down his cheek onto her shoulder. Then, he buried his face into her shoulder and put his arms around her waist.

At some point, Liz lowered herself onto the sofa. His head fell against her shoulder as he tried to stop himself from crying further. She was never meant to know about this.

"I'm sorry," she repeated over and over again as she pulled him closer. He just let her hold him until he started to feel better. The light kisses to the top of his head was the biggest thing that helped. Then, he looked up to her face. She looked worse than he did. "Why did you put up with me saying all of that?"

"Because," Red started before he worked his jaw as he thought. "I care too much about you for that to matter."

Liz looked like she was going to crumble. Red ended up putting his arms around her and swaying to calm both of them down. He pressed his lips against her cheek before rubbing her back affectionately.

It was true that she could tear him down in an instant. She could burn him quicker than that. But, it was also true that she could build him back up.