Author's Note: Just a quick little one-shot, folks. Inspiration courtesy of Lightman's Gumby-like physicality (and apparent lack of a skeletal system). Words courtesy of me and (as always) no infringement or theft intended. (Translation: Don't sue.) Comments go at the bottom (just click the little tab). Cheers!
They invented hugs to let people know you love them without saying anything. Bill Keane
He's an enigma. He's perfected the art of lying and misdirection and can tilt matters so keenly onto their sides that, no matter how well she thinks she knows him, she's never one hundred percent certain that she can tell what he's thinking in any given moment. As time goes on, she gets closer and closer, however.
She knows the truth of him.
He hates stability. He sneers at normalcy, turns his nose up at any approach to life (and truth) that appears too easy, preferring instead to take the difficult approach to everything. He pursues the precarious, shifting, and uncertain realms where truth hides in shadow and can be discerned only by the most practiced of professionals. (If he can put his life on the line in the process, so much the better, he believes. There's really no thrill in it otherwise.)
He lies to her blatantly and often. Sometimes he lies to protect her feelings and her well-being (a lie for the purposes of good). But other times he lies to throw her off-balance, to taunt, and to tease – and also because he likes to be the one with the upper hand in all of his relationships (a lie for the purpose of evil). When he lies to her, it's often hard to discern where the evil leaves off and the good begins, however.
He also lies to her to protect himself. She knows this.
He lies so that he doesn't have to admit to himself (or anyone) the depth of his affection for her. He pretends that they are merely business partners and best friends so that he doesn't have to admit that she is so much more, that he loves her. She can read the truth behind his enigmatic behavior, his tics and his quirks, though. She recognizes it because, despite the way in which they bicker and banter in conversation, when he hugs her, he hugs with his whole body. Where words may deflect, dissuade, or disrupt any connection between the two of them, his full body hug is the truest statement he ever makes.
The full body hug: It isn't just arms and chest, a quick squeeze of the shoulders with an affectionate pat on the back thrown in for good measure. (That's what most people do.) No, with him it's arms and hands and fingers and chest and ribs and head and neck and heart and soul. One entire being wrapped around another in complete and total surrender, solidarity, and safety.
It's the most honest conversation they ever have – and no words are ever involved.
It's because of the feelings that course through his full body hug that she lets him continue to lie to her, to himself, and to the world. She lets him pretend she's just his friend and confidant and that his feelings for her don't go past professional courtesy, companionship, and congruence. She lets him continue with the ruse because she can feel the truth when he hugs her. At the end of the day, she knows the truth of him - the love he feels but can't quite express in words.
He's only lying to himself.
FIN
