Glass
Passing by the large full-length mirror in their bedroom, he catches sight of his reflection and stops, standing and gazing thoughtfully into the glass. Glancing up at him from the other side of the room, she sees him standing there examining his appearance. Without saying a word, she comes up and stands next to him, taking his hand and smiling up at him.
Then, as he observes the picture of him and her together, he wonders silently, guiltily, if maybe he is not what would be best for her after all- if she doesn't want someone who wasn't trapped in an empty suit of armour for more years than he can reliably count; and who didn't leave her behind, helplessly waiting, for all of those years; and who can't sense every tiny movement, every twitch in the delicate fabric of the world; and who doesn't still have trouble sleeping; and who doesn't still become teary-eyed and speechless when they kiss, because the feeling is just so there, so whole and complete and perfect; and who doesn't still wake up tortured and shaken with dreams of darkness and low wicked murmurs that dangle mockingly on the edges of his hearing, where he is hollow and empty and cold.
In short, he wonders if she doesn't want someone normal.
But then again, he supposes that she herself can hardly count as normal. After all, it isn't every day one finds a woman who smells of sweat and not perfume, and prefers wearing overalls and flat wooden-soled sandals to a dress and high heels, and has machine oil rather than make-up on her face, and carries a tool box instead of a handbag when she goes out.
He turns back and again examines their shared reflection, two people that together have seen hell and worse, and who now stand strongly, hand in hand. Maybe, he thinks, their differences- from each other and from the rest of the worlds- are something to be thankful for.
Author's notes: OKAY! School is out! That means an end to exams, coursework, exams, assessments, exams, and so on, all of which have kept me insanely busy and prevented me from updating for so long. Unfortunately, it also means the beginnings of an extremely busy (so-called) holiday. I hope to find a way to update, but it will be difficult. Just know that I love you all, and that I really do try. I don't want to let you down. Equally, please forgive the crappy quality of this update.
On another note, be on the lookout for a new story, written by request of Don't Make Me Blue, the first chapter of which should be out later today. :D