SEVENTEEN – Scared

"He didn't come that night?" Obi asked, content and confusion escaping his mouth as he stared at Shirayuki.

"He didn't," Shirayuki muttered quietly. The two were back at her work wing, sat across from one another on stools as Shirayuki stared distantly down at her hands. She didn't know how to feel: happy or hurt. It was nice to receive the attention of her love again, but knowing that she can't really call him her lover really stung. She didn't understand Zen's intentions, and she's not really sure if she wants to.

Obi watched as she held her knees, her nails digging into them through her white work attire. It's become a habit of hers, and Obi is afraid she'll clench so hard that she'll hurt herself. It was uneasy to see the girl you want to protect hurt herself. Especially when she's hurting physically, mentally, and emotionally. There was only so much he could do.

"I'm sorry if this sounds awful of me, but I'm glad he didn't," Obi muttered, having Shirayuki widen her eyes while still staring down at her hands. Obi fiddled his thumbs nervously, hoping he didn't come off so cold. "I mean, considering you wanted me to stay last night and all, I figured—"

"It's okay, Obi," Shirayuki said softly. She looked up to give him a reassuring smile, but it was hard to take it with her eyes so puffy and bloodshot all the time. "I'm glad as well, but I just… it still hurts."

"I understand," Obi murmured, the amber eyes dimming to a more mustard color as he stared at the girl. Her pain was becoming his pain, and he hated it beyond words. He could feel it, the way her heart throbs and how shaky she sounds every time she talks about it. The eyes that once held such a light was dull and withering like a flower with no water.

"But I think I'm going to be okay," Shirayuki said with a small smile. She closed her eyes and those beautiful cheeks lifted. "I have you to protect me."

Obi's heart stopped, his mind intoxicating with desire for the girl. Her words had always done things to Obi that's beyond explanation. Shirayuki always has that effect on him, but sometimes she becomes everything and the world disappears around the two. Obi doesn't find himself in his past or thinking about regrets he owns. The void is suddenly full of red and all he wants to do is drown in it with her consent.

"I… I will do my best to protect you," Obi assured, placing his hand over his hard while softly grabbing his black shirt. Shirayuki smiled even wider and Obi couldn't help but feel this newfound hope that he can become everything to her. It's incredibly greedy and immensely optimistic, but Obi wishes that she would want to drown in him as well and get drunk from his existence and everything he has.

But even Obi knew that was impossible.

Zen is the Prince Charming straight from the books. Zen was the man that every male should aspire to be. Someone with a real heart, complete respect for everyone, and still had a playful aura. He is the face little girls dream about and hope that one day, it would be the thing they see every day and be loved by. Though, this new flaw that Zen is expressing really does something to Obi's confidence.

But right here, with Shirayuki holding this unbreakable gaze with Obi, he knew there was something there. Her cheeks were flushed, lips chapped yet parted as those emerald eyes lit up to stare into his. There was something about that very stare; the very still silence between them that began yelling way too many things incomprehensible. There was something there, Obi knew there was.

But his feelings aside, Obi hopes that he can bring that light back into Shirayuki's eyes again.

"O-oh, th-that reminds me," Obi stutters, breaking the gaze as he pointed at the green scarf around her neck. "How's the…" Obi began pointing at his neck, having Shirayuki understand what he meant.

"It's still there," Shirayuki said, looking down shamefully. Obi gritted his teeth at the words, feeling the hurt in her words as she emitted them. It bothered Obi that he couldn't protect her, but there was only so much he could do as the two were under this castle. Obi watched as she uncomfortably began unwrapping the scarf.

"No, you don't have to show me!" Obi spat quickly, waving his hands to alert her. But she only gave him a dismissive smile before taking of the warm scarf to reveal the splotch. It was still evident, surely, but the blue and purple colors were gradually disappearing. Obi found himself clenching the stood beneath him as he saw the trauma in her eyes. Her shaky hand went up to touch it, but Obi was quick to jump up and take her wrist. "Don't."

Shirayuki's eyes widened, looking up at Obi as he locked eyes with her. The sudden closeness had embarrassed her, but Obi was too distracted to realize. His rough hand held her smooth wrist, sending a shock to both of them as he held it. Shirayuki found herself having trouble to breathe at Obi's sudden closeness.

"Obi?" Shirayuki whispered, having Obi realize and let her go. He looked slightly horrified before covering his face with his hands. "Obi, are you okay?"

"No," Obi said, muffled by his hands as he walked back at took his seat. "I'm so sorry for getting so close, Miss." Shirayuki couldn't help but smile at Obi's embarrassed state. It was endearing, seeing how such a stern individual can show such unexpected expressions. It was especially heartwarming to know that she was the one to conjure them.

Swiftly, Shirayuki stood up and walked to Obi. She grabbed his wrists and tugged them off his face, having Obi show a bit of shock from the forced reveal. Shirayuki giggled, smiling at him as she held his boney wrists. He then found himself smiling back at her, his embarrassment disappearing to be replaced with warmth. She truly was everything.

"Oh hey." Obi managed to escape her grip as he stood up and bent down beside her. Shirayuki backed up and watched as Obi picked up the scarf from the floor and dusted it off a bit. Shirayuki was prepared to apologize before Obi put the scarf on her and wrapped it around her neck, covering the splotch Zen created on her neck. "Let's get back to work, yeah? I don't want you being up late doing all this."

"Y-yes!" Shirayuki exclaimed, her cheeks flushing up a bit. Obi chuckled, grabbing her clipboard from her desk to hand it to her. She took it graciously, flipping through the papers to see what she must get done. "Oh, I have to pick up a few herbs from Garak to study a medicine she created."

"D'you need me to come with you, Miss?" Obi offered, having Shirayuki shake her head softly with a smile.

"It's just a corridor down," Shirayuki assured as she handed Obi the clipboard. "I think I'll make it." With that, Shirayuki walked out of her wing and began her venture towards Garak's office.

A clink came from every step she took on the white tiles of the corridor. The walls, similar to eggshells, surrounded Shirayuki as she looked forward. She hummed a bit, turning the corridor in hopes that there would be nothing. But her luck was long gone.

Shirayuki paused and backed up when she saw Zen right in the middle of the corridor. Breath escaped her as she met eyes with the azure ones before her. Fear welled up inside her heart as butterflies danced in her stomach. There were too many feelings to narrow it down to one, and that absolutely frightened her.

"Shirayuki." Hearing her name from his voice made Shirayuki wince, diverting her eyes to the ground to avoid his gaze. And that bothered Zen beyond belief. Shirayuki was quick to weave her hands over her chest, but Zen swiftly grabbed her by her waist and pulled her into the vacant corridor. Nerves were striking all over Shirayuki as Zen leaned against the wall and forced her body against his.

"Z-Zen, please…" Shirayuki whispered, but it was barely audible as Zen didn't even hear.

"I'm sorry I didn't come last night," Zen murmured, pressing his lips on her forehead as he held her. "Did you stay up waiting for me?" Shirayuki couldn't speak. The audacity of this boy, grabbing her in a situation she hadn't asked for. Where was the gentle, kind boy she met? The one who saved her and went crazy over merely holding her hand? Who was this monster?

"Why are you still wearing this?" Zen asked, his voice sounding poisonous as his eyes darkened. Zen hated that scarf more than anything now. It bugged him the way she wore it so comfortably, like it was her safe zone. Little did he know that it really did make Shirayuki feel incredibly safe, even when he was taking charge like this. "What did I say before?"

"Please stop," Shirayuki whimpered, disliking his aggressive tone as he held her tighter. Tears were coating her eyes, but Zen couldn't see as she was looking down with the red hair covering her face entirely.

"But you're mine, aren't you, Shirayuki?" Zen began, taunting Shirayuki brutally. "Don't you love me?" Shirayuki didn't want to listen to that because he knows that she loves him. She loves him so much, she does. "It would make me really sad if you didn't, Shirayuki, because I love you so much."

Shirayuki shut her eyes tightly, allowing the tears to stream down her cheeks. She had been praying for Obi to come in her head. She wanted him to take her as far away from Zen as possible. But at the same time, her heart was eating this attention all up. But this isn't the love she was asking for, and she didn't know what to do.

"Miss?" The voice of her savior erupted as she looked up and over at the corridor she was taken from. Zen finally saw her face and immediately let her go. Those puffy, pink eyes with moist cheeks, and the pained frown hit him. But what got to him was how her eyes lit up at the sound of the name Obi has given her. "Little Miss?"

"I'm here," Shirayuki croaked, quickly cutting her knee with her nails as she rushed into the corridor she was in to meet with Obi. She made sure Obi wasn't near the intersect of the two corridors so he didn't see Zen there.

Zen was extremely puzzled by this. Why had Shirayuki been crying in his very arms? Why did she get incredibly excited to hear Obi call out to her? Why were her eyes the way they were? Zen figured she'd feel better when he was sneaking at night to meet her. It's impossible that the relationship was one-sided now. This made his head throb as Zen escaped the corridor and returned to his office to distract himself with work.

"Miss, is everything all—" Obi began, but Shirayuki quickly ran into him and wrapped her arms around him. Obi froze as she dug her face into his chest and squeezed him tightly. He was stunned—had something happened to her while she went to Garak's office? But her hands were empty, making Obi question what could've happened. "Are you crying, Miss? Did something happen?"

"I um, I fell," Shirayuki lied, holding onto his jacket tightly as she took in his scent. The nature scent in him, the smell of grass and the tree tops were deeply engraved in the boy. And honestly, Shirayuki adored that scent. "Scraped my knee a little. It really hurt though."

Obi's eyes widened, slowly wrapped his arms around her shoulders and keeping her close. He gently smiled; immensely glad it had nothing to do with Zen. But he felt footsteps approach and lifted his head up. 2 guards, armored with spears, were walking and talking as they walked down the corridor the two were in. They easily noticed and widened their eyes, their mouths now closed as they stared.

"Alright, c'mere," Obi began, ignoring the guards as he picked her up bridal style. Shirayuki didn't tense up, feeling safe in his arms as she wrapped hers around his neck. She hid her face in his chest, sniffling harshly as she indulged in his warmth. "Let's get it cleaned and bandaged." But as Obi was walking back to Garak's office, her dress revealed her wounded knee and noticed 3 clean cuts in her skin. That was no accidental scrape, Obi thought.

Why is she scared to tell me the truth?