Song listened to: 'Unconditionally' by Katy Perry.
"I love you, Micha."
He looked up from the papers he had been working on for the last hour, his office illuminated by the glowing of lanterns and the stars above, his eyes wide as he stared at the form of the fledgling that had refused to be at his side for nearly a month and a half. It was the least he deserved because of his treatment and intentions on that fateful day he had so cruelly lost his temper on the innocent little thing who had merely asked a soft question.
She never strayed too far from her master's side, and he saw no end to the affect, but as he watched her stand there nervously, twisting the sleeve of her top in her little fingers he saw no shadow to indicate that she had come with another. She had come alone, called out to him in the soft way someone did when unsure of themselves or the situation they faced, and stared up at him with saddened alert eyes.
"And, I love you."
Being the oldest, he was not often given the love that others showed one another, of course he knew his siblings cared for him. But sometimes he feared it was merely as their protector than as their older brother. But this little loved him for him being himself, as a person and not a weapon, and he would be honest in saying he had taken it for granted once he'd gained it. To lose the love she gave was like losing the warmth one had in the coldest of winters.
His hand fell, the writing utensil forgotten as he watched her to see what she did next. Leave him to his thoughts again, perhaps? Stay to keep him from becoming the prisoner of his own thoughts once more? But she didn't move, not in the way to leave, or to come closer, she watched him like an animal watches another after being struck so suddenly without cause.
"I know you didn't mean it."
He nodded, resting his arms on the desk tiredly, staring right back into her shining eyes. She forgave him even after what he had done to her. Even after his cruel attack. The unwarranted dressing down that had separated her from his side for so long. But the forgiveness did nothing to quench the fear. It had stopped his heart when he saw it back in the garden that month and a half ago, the fear in her twinkling eyes that he had put there, and he withdrew from the others lest he harm them too.
"I miss you, Micha."
"I miss you too, little one."
She nodded this time, looking down to her feet silently for a moment, rolling a question around in her mind and he waited patiently for her to find her voice, if she ever would. A moment passed and little Akeelah looked back up at him for wide eyes.
"Can I sit with you?"
Michael didn't utter a word, he pushed himself to the side in his chair, and raised his hands to her. There was only a moment of hesitation, as she parted from the doorway and stepped around his desk to allow him to lift her into his lap. Her bright eyes looked up at him with determination.
"I love you, Micha. Always. Please don't do that again. I miss being with you."
He would never tell her of the heart ache, as he knew he deserved it for his actions, but it warmed him to know that he was still accepted.
"I cannot promise something I cannot control. But I promise to never expose that side to you again."
She nodded, curling slightly into his chest, fingers curling around his loosely. Akeelah was smart beyond her years, perhaps a token given by the war she lived through most of her lifetime, and she knew the sincerity that came in his voice was real. She also knew that some had bad days, along with their good, and even the most powerful among them were prone to have them too. It was not something someone should be faulted for. But that didn't mean it didn't frighten her when she witnessed it.
"I love you, Micha. I missed you."
"And, I love you, with all my heart. I have missed being with you more then you will ever know.", he turned them back to face the treatise he was reading through and reached for his writing utensil once more, one arm curling around her waist securely "Help me with these treatises?"
"Yea, I'll help."