✿ Pairing → Leon•Ada
✿ Word Count → 715
✿ Summary → Raw honesty… an open wound revealing just a little more of her heart. He savors these moments, moments when she either doesn't realize, or doesn't care that she's pulled away her mask. He's waiting for the moment she hurls it against the wall, waiting for the sound of it shattering, a brittle twinkle of crippling chains falling free.
【Floating Breathlessly】
His heart is still racing, a delightful thudding against his chest, warm, almost musical. A slow smile teases his lips and he glances over at her sweat glistened skin. Her own chest is rising and falling hastily, the ebbing excitement giving way to afterglow and satisfaction.
She looks over to him, her eyebrow raising. "Having fun, handsome?"
He wants to touch her, make sure this isn't a dream he's fallen into, make sure that she hasn't left again. "I was having fun." His graveled whisper tickles his throat as his fingers skim her shoulder. "Now… I'm…"
Silence stretches around them, comforting. He can't look away from her. It's always like this. She's always caught him off guard, always left him wanting more, yet somehow satisfied… somewhere deep inside.
Back on that crumbling catwalk, in the hellish fire and rising ash, he'd realized just what this woman meant to him. She's precious to me… because I can share this kind of silence with her. His fingertips graze her lips, lingering. This silence isn't empty, because… I trust her, completely.
Her chocolate eyes flicker and her playful expression is momentarily replaced with something else… It's gone suddenly, though, hidden back under bedroom eyes and sly lips. He exhales, disappointed.
"You're so greedy." She chuckles. "It's cute."
Leon's eyebrows soar to his hairline. "Greedy?"
Her lashes flutter and her tongue wets her lips. He's distracted again.
"I can't give you everything, Leon, not… right now… Maybe not ever." Her true age shows in her face at that moment, every creeping line and battled-hardened feature fading into the shadows of twilight.
Raw honesty… an open wound revealing just a little more of her heart. He savors these moments, moments when she either doesn't realize, or doesn't care that she's pulled away her mask.
He's waiting for the moment she hurls it against the wall, waiting for the sound of it shattering, a brittle twinkle of crippling chains falling free.
His arms are encircling her and his lips find hers before he even registers it. Oddly enough, she doesn't protest the action, but invites it. Her fingers crawl up his arms and her breaths are ragged against his mouth. He can feel her heartbeat, a rattling bird in her chest. She embraces him tightly, desperately, and they remain this way for a while, frozen in time.
When he pulls away, he sees something glittering at the corners of her eyes; however, before he can read her thoughts, she looks away. Tears. What was she thinking just now? I already know, don't I?
He kisses her jaw line tenderly. "I'll always trust you, Ada. Always."
Her eyes crinkle and her lips tremble, as if she's holding something back. He waits, watching her.
"Leon…" Her velvety whisper cracks and she closes her eyes. "I… most of my life—no, all of my life has been a test. I…" She swallows forcefully. "I'm not made to love someone. I never was." Her amber eyes are open and glittering again. "But… I…" She shuts her eyes tightly, the tears dripping down the bridge of her nose.
Her mask is fracturing in two. He closes his eyes. No… I can't let that happen.
Leon takes her chin gently in his hand and turns her to face him again, his gaze boring into her. For the first time in his life, her eyes are wide and unveiled. Exhaustion, fear, want, and desperation are swirling, tangled amongst each other in a glimmering mess.
She wants to look away, to hide her heart—he can feel it, but she holds his stare.
I love you.
"Ada, I have never asked for you to stay." He caresses her face. "I used to ask for answers, but I understand. I don't need answers, anymore. Reasons are for people too afraid to face what's right in front of them." He smiles contentedly. "Out of all the things in my life, you have never been, and will never be a regret."
Her lips part in surprise and he kisses them, feeling her begin to smile with him.
I won't let you destroy your mask for me. Until this moment, he'd not been aware of his own selfishness. His desire to have her, to keep her—a foolish flight of fancy, really—isn't fair. No, I won't let you destroy such a necessary thing.
As they pull away, Ada reaches out to touch his face, her eyes half-lidded and her expression serene. "No. I can't stay, Leon, but I'll always come back. Always."
You'll hide away your mask for me. He kisses her forehead. It's enough.
