II.

Love

"Why is this so difficult?"

The tone in his voice made it sound like he really wanted to know; almost desperately, he wanted to find some kind of answer to it. She watched the way he had at first tried to seem busy with his work but had ultimately given up on it moments later; it was in his body language and the nervous habit in his hands as he tried to keep them busy enough to stop the mild shaking.

"… Because I don't understand. I don't understand what… what you want or even how to get it for you."

She slowly pulled her legs up and tucked them beneath her as she fell into the curved shape of the chair beneath her; her fingers lightly knitted together as she continued to observe him. It sounded like he was giving up but… the motion was logical. What did either of them know about this?

"You're so wrapped up in your own little world…" she whispered. "It must be hard to break free."

"It's not that." he objected, almost sharply, as he turned towards her for a moment; there was this almost exhausted look in his eyes. "… There are certain boundary lines that don't need to be crossed; I used to push those lines enough to bend and stretch them but now… now I don't know what's on the other side waiting. I can't tell if… if the struggle to break that single obstacle is really worth it.

This wasn't an easy conversation for either of them.

But she was trying.

She was trying to push the words; she was trying to keep this- them together.

"Unconditional."

He looked up at her odd word choice and watched as fingertips carefully now played with the end of her braid; fingers tracing the different crossed patterns till they lightly twisted at the red bead that held it all together.

"What?"

The feel of his eyes on her now made her cast her sight aside for a moment as she tried to focus on something else in the room.

"That's what I'll give you."

He didn't reply and instead turned away for a moment as though caught up in the mess of his own thoughts; there were details that weren't worked out and as far as either of them were aware of… nothing seemed to be working out nor did any of it make sense. But, they were trying. They were both far too hard-headed and determined to give up. That would be weak and an insult to their intelligence. Sure, the ride through this 'relationship' had been fairly reckless and carefree, but as it began to process, it felt as though it went through a metamorphosis overnight. Suddenly… they needed a reason; they needed something more than just the human-like need of a want.

"I'll be waiting, right in this spot when you return." she started; slowly drawing his attention back to her. Her eyes shifted back to his own and held them for a little while longer. "I have no desire to be anywhere else until you feel comfortable with your answer and can present it to me."

Maybe those words held something in them, he looked almost halfway relieved at just listening to them before he carefully moved to brush aside a stray lock of pink hair.

"Why? Why this? Why us?"

"Because… I've been through a lot in my short lifetime. I've had things done to me, force on me and I carried on each mark and scar without even the hint of pain or hatred. But you left something greater than that. You left me with something I can't forget and something I can't give up."

Those usually sharp eyes of his caught on to hers and prolonged their connection. "… What is it?"

"It's difficult for either of us to understand because, it doesn't seem like there's much of a science behind it; it's outside of our range of knowledge and… we don't know how to react to it. But, I'm certain that you gave me the mark and scar that… can really only be achieved through love." she started; partly struggling with the words and partly believing in them when she spoke. "When you feel the need to come back and receive your own… I'll be here. Unconditionally."