Conquestshipping (Kujaku Mai/Valon)

. . .

He knows, logically, that things like this can't last.

He knows, illogically, that he still wants it to.

She's cried herself to sleep again, and her face is pressed into his shoulder. Her hair is a mess, velcroed to the back of the couch and washing over his arm in a mussy, tangled blond mess. He tries to smooth down a bit with one hand, but he doesn't want to wake her. He'll try to convince her to let him brush it for him when she wakes up. She'll insist that she doesn't need to be treated like a child. She'll end up brushing her hair herself but she'll only do it halfway because she doesn't have the energy to do it the whole way. He'll tell her she looks nice and she'll tell him to stop lying.

Things just keep working out this way and they both know it's only going to be so much time before the shaky foundation simply collapses underneath them.

Her lips are full, half-open in sleep—she doesn't look as calm and peaceful as she should for someone who is dreaming. He hopes it's not another nightmare. She's had so many for so long, and he knows he doesn't have the strength to hold her up after another one, not this time.

He lets his head fall gently against hers and breathes in the scent of her hair. It's not really a pleasant smell; unwashed hair hidden with copious amounts of perfume sprayed on top. But it's hers, and he can't help but love it too.

He knows this can't last. He knows she knows too.

But they're not quite sure what to do just yet.

So they cling on a little longer, and fall asleep on the couch again after another round of tears and half-hearted comfortings and breaking voices as hands try to grasp each other but they don't quite seem to fit. The sound of the TV playing static fills the room instead of music. This isn't and can't be a fairy tale. He always knew it wouldn't be.

He always knew it was going to be exhausting, a slog uphill.

He only hopes they can both hang on just a little longer before they break.

"I love you," he whispers into the silent air.

But only where she'll never hear him say it.

. . .

A/N: I have depressing views of this ship sorry lol. Next is Confusionshipping (Atem x Ryo).