He had intended on using himself as bait in order to get his beloved back in class. He had done her a great disservice and he felt that he owed it to her to get her back...even if, after this time, she may not want to be back amidst her anger. She may just refuse to return out of spite, still not knowing what actually happened and might just prefer to keep it that way.
The first eight hours after locking himself in had been the initial starting point. Unable to leave his room, now thankful there was so much stuff to take his mind off things, he played with his video games, watched tv, and used his computer. He ignored his father's means of communicating online, merely typing back in a chat window if Marinette were with him already and how fast that was.
When nighttime on the first night fell, the serious hunger pangs hit. The first few hours of those were hard to bear. He had never had to go without food before and it was definitely an unpleasant thing to experience. He constantly tried not to give in to his rational mind telling him that water wasn't the end of the world in such harsh bargaining and no one would know if he at least drank something to prolong his fasting strike.
"You have no idea what you've made me suffer... The humiliation...the knowledge that such a person knows what else I've done over the years... I can't take that back!"
Thinking of how cruelly she was treated, how all her happiness and dreams had been snatched from her, kept him from giving in. Any time he found himself in his bathroom, staring at the sink with hungry eyes, he would return to that night...how she gripped his clothing and shook him.
How infuriated her eyes had been.
How close she had been to crying, though she never did.
He would see it and he would march right back to his room and lay on his couch in attempt to continue on.
Day two was much harder than the first. The pain, the constant growling of his poor, empty stomach...
It hurt...so much...
He tried to rest on his bed, curl up onto himself and sleep it off, but it was difficult. His head absolutely pounded from dehydration, and his throat was sore and dry.
He gave up trying to move around his room a lot during that second morning due to the dizzy spells which would come upon him at not having anything in his system. He was quickly becoming anemic, something he never was, and it was not a fun experience. The feel of his vision wavering, of graying out... His brain was in a fog and it felt horrible.
He sometimes could get the pain to subside by nodding off, but there was the occasional pound on the door, the beep of a message on his computer, or his phone ringing which would bring him back to his surroundings and start everything all over again.
"So...I heard you got rid of a street rat lately..."
"I couldn't let that street rat remain in your father's perfect school, standing next to you when I belonged there."
He pressed rewind and played it from the beginning again.
"It was so simple really. I just needed to bide my time and wait for her to mess up."
His jaw clenched at the all-too-happy laughter coming from the recorder, from Chloe. It fueled the fire to keep going, despite how decimated his body had become.
He spent most of the afternoon laying on his side in bed, the recorder in his hand. His eyes looked at it, playing and replaying both conversations. When the pain became more than unbearable in the moment, he reached for the recorder and altered his emotions from agony to anger. Their horrible words, his own joining them...even unintentional...gave him strength to keep going.
"I love Marinette and if you ever try such a thing to her again, ever get near her after she gets back, I'll make you pay... I feel nothing for you! You know nothing about how amazing she is...how much she's helped me!"
His eyes teared, but nothing would fall. He wouldn't let himself cry over this; he didn't have the right. He would only let happy tears fall when she was back in his arms, in class with him.
"You're sure excited for it being seven-fifty in the morning..."
"I have no idea what you mean..."
"I think someone is happy someone is here..."
He exhaled a shuddery sigh, arms wrapping around his torso as the pain enveloped him again. His jaw clenched as he tried to shuddery breathe through it, trying to get this round to subside.
If only he could fall asleep...that might help a little...
The afternoon sun had more than switched to the evening when there was a noise on his monitor. Dull, pained green slitted open as the light on his monitor beeped. His father was trying to call him again.
Perhaps he would see if this time, this call, his father had something productive to say.
Feeling unable to catch his breath despite all the deep breaths from the latest bought, he slowly rose to sitting position, a hand covering his eyes as the world spun for a second. He swallowed hard and gripped the blankets until things seemed to calm.
It took forever to get to his feet and when he did, he almost tilted to the floor. He gasped and grabbed his jeans at the knees as he tried to breathe to steady himself. A hand rubbed a temple at the acute pounding as he righted and made for his desk at a snail's pace.
Plopping in his desk chair was like heaven. The feel of not having to support himself was nice. He was in worse shape than he thought and he imagined he must look a mess right now. Not that he really cared though. Let his father see him in all his glory and see if that helped his decision at all...if that decision was still a 'no'.
His head finally rose from the headrest, a hand inching to his mouse. How he found the energy to do all this, he didn't know, but it was more than his necessary reserves had to give. He somehow managed to lean over on his elbows, letting his camera get a better look at him, as he accepted the call.
Gabriel came in on the other side, quiet as those scrutinizing eyes took him in. There was silence on both ends for many a heartbeat as father took in his son's terrible pallor and son waited for the words he wanted to hear.
Finally, Gabriel looked away with a clearing of his throat, obvious distress in his eyes. "Adrien," He quietly began, "this has gone on long enough. Unbar your door and unlock it. I don't wish to resort to foolish intentions and break into your room."
He wanted to laugh. Of all the ways his father had invaded where he hadn't wanted him to, NOW he was being conscientious...
He propped his head up with his hands on his desk, giving an exhausted smile. "That is quite...considerate of you father..." He quietly responded, feeling like he was expending too much energy just sitting up right now. "I must however...deny your request..."
He sat back in the chair, unable to use his own body to keep himself upright any longer. His head rested against the back and it was like plopping onto the softest bed in the world. His body slouched and he was thankful for something much sturdier than he was right now.
"As you can see...I'm not feeling very up to the task..." His breathing changed to noticeably labored. The world swam a little and his eyes clenched shut to ward off the feeling which only nauseated him. "What is your decision? Are you calling...to tell me that...Marinette is back in class?"
Gabriel's jaw tightened as he stared at the gaunt face of his son. There was a discernible change in color and it was frightening to say the least. The circles under his eyes were dark, his body using whatever reserves it had to keep him afloat. It had altered his facial structure to show that he had lost weight there and probably in a few other areas.
A normal person can only last about three days without water and maybe two weeks without food. His son had pushed his limits for foolish means and noticeably hurt himself for pride and a girl. It was almost more than Gabriel could stand at the moment.
His heart beat painfully as he watched his only son's chest rise as if trying to catch his breath despite being perfectly still.
"You need a doctor. I'm going to call someone and have them come and look at you."
"The only person...you need to call...is Marinette..." He countered, not looking to his monitor. "I'm not seeing anyone...but her... I want to hear from her personally...that she's allowed to come back."
A ghost of a humorless laugh escaped him, lips tilting through the constant pain he was breathing through yet again. "Hurry father...hurry and rescind your decision... At this rate...I think I really will need that hospital again..."
Gabriel watched his son move at a snail's pace. The pair locked eyes, Adrien showing exactly how much he was hurting, before the call was disconnected and Gabriel was left with only his computer screen and a horrible sense of foreboding.
After a moment of sitting in the desk chair, Gabriel stood and stared at nothing across the room. There was a noticeable stab of pain in his chest...the trepidation of seeing the last of his family harm themselves so much for one person.
He stared until the restless need to move overcame him and then he started pacing, hands clasped behind his back. His breathing quickened a hair, mind racing.
He held a initially grudge against the Dupain-Cheng girl because his son had collapsed. That urge to put a face to the person who caused everything...an outlet for his disappointment really. He had been so disappointed in his son's actions, never thinking Adrien would harm himself so much on purpose for such folly. Now that he knew his son had been tempted with a world outside what he usually knew, it had been easy...and it was alleviating. It was nice to know his son didn't do such things by himself...not entirely...
Kicking her out of the school had been wrong and Gabriel knew this. It had come from a personal vendetta which should have been overlooked. But, in the heat of the moment, he had given in to his own emotions instead of thinking clearly. Such things, irrationality upon irrationality, only bred the circumstances he was now trying to get past in the best way possible.
He wanted his son to see his own actions and think things through on his own time. He wanted to try and help Adrien to see his point of view. He needed Adrien to calm down, become more rational, so that it was possible to talk calmly.
This whole time, the opposite had happened. Adrien's feet only cemented in his own misery and his decision, despite the obvious, physical torment, hadn't altered in the slightest.
If things kept going this way, he was going to lose his son to a sense of stubbornness that Gabriel hadn't seen since his wife was still alive.
The human body can only last about three days without water and maybe a few weeks without food. Two days had already passed. Gabriel had pushed it so far by not considering as many aspects to the situation as possible and taking a step outside himself to see his son's point of view. The effects had been so discernible and they were shocking to say the least.
Adrien had never thought of himself in this and Gabriel was curious as to why Adrien would go to such lengths for one girl he really didn't know. Something had been going on under the scenes for months and perhaps this latest debacle had that hidden clue dangling in it the entire time. If he considered that obvious, yet simple angle, it all made sense.
"Your actions were totally uncalled for and I want you to reinstate Marinette immediately! I hate dancing with Chloe; Marinette is way better than she will ever be! Our chemistry together is unheard of for almost anyone in the dancing field."
Adrien wasn't just demanding the girl to be back because of talent. If that was the case, there were many other talented dancers that he could be, and had been, paired with instead. There were intense feelings there that Gabriel had never bothered to take a look at and consider. They were perhaps the real reason Adrien was currently pulling such a stunt, why he had recently attended ballet so happily while Marinette was there, why he had insisted on helping her with her audition...
Things had gone on long enough and they couldn't continue. It was for some base emotion that his son was doing all this and it seemed trivial to keep clashing retribution and desire. Only through his okay could Marinette be reinstated, provided he hadn't permanently driven her away.
As an adult and father, it was his duty to see that the needs of his child were met and his happiness ensured. Guaranteeing his future and making sure his job was available, should he so take it, had been the easiest part. Adrien had made things glaringly clear what he always wanted and Gabriel had done a fair job of ignoring everything up until now.
He had a decision to make. Now. The answer really was simple and he wasn't going to lose his son over his own pigheadedness.
He whipped to his desk and pulled a drawer open. He sifted through immaculate folders till he found the printouts he wanted. In a moment, he scanned the class roster from the fall auditions and memorized the address.
Putting it back, he grabbed his cell phone off the desk and dialed the number of his driver, informing him to have the car brought to the front immediately and made his way out of his work room before even hanging up the call.
It was actually a very short ride. He was amazed at how close she had been the entire time. He ordered the driver to stop at the front of the building and wait with the car running.
The second the car finished breaking, Gabriel threw the door open and hurried out. He gave a split second to look at the place he was about to enter before heading to the front door. He all but barged in to the empty business and looked around. He ignored the smells of baked goods and found a pair of women at the front giving him wide-eyed looks...one understandably more shocked than the other.
He locked eyes on his target and strode to the back of the small area with clipped steps. He stopped in front of the register, the counter the only thing keeping the trio apart. "Marinette Dupain-Cheng, I need you to come with me right now. There is no time to waste on this; you must leave this place immediately and come talk with my son."
She dumbly blinked, mouth gaping as it tried to find words. Never in her days would she have ever thought that Gabriel Agreste would come to her family's small bakery! The man who was famous all over Paris and in most other major cities in Europe was here! Sure, his social status meant absolutely nothing to her, but it was still a shock!
She jumped when he grasped her wrist, looking at her with very insistent eyes. Remembering their last meeting, she leaned away and looked at him warily. "L...let go of me Monsieur!" She stuttered, barely able to pick her brain up.
Gabriel squeezed a little. This was going to be kind of hard if his forcing her out of his school created bad emotions for her. She may not want to go with him because of the train wreck he had caused.
He looked down, mouth opening and closing before finding the right words. "I require your aide Mademoiselle. Adrien is...not feeling well and it is imperative that you come with me to help save him."
She jerked back, eyes wide at the choice of words. "What's the matter with Adrien?!" She blurted out, quickly clearing her throat to hide her overly concerned slip. "P – pardon me Monsieur, but I think there is much you're not telling me. Please enlighten me to the trouble. I don't particularly wish to help you right now otherwise..."
So he did. Gabriel gave her the quick story of Adrien storming into his office and their argument. He added details about Adrien's demands and locking himself in his room. Gabriel finished with the conversation he had mere moments ago and how horrible his son looked...and how desperately he had become because of her.
Her jaw clenched as she looked at the counter top. Her eyes blazed.
The idiot! Why did he have to go and do something like that?!
Her eyes hardened as she burned holes into the surface, jaw set. She suddenly looked up, seeing a harrowed and grave father who only wished to get his son back to normal. Her eyes narrowed as she nodded and was released.
She turned to her mother, putting a hand on the woman's shoulder. "Mama, I need food. Please get a bag ready while I grab water from the back."
The whirlwind happened as quickly as Gabriel's entrance. She twirled on her heel and grabbed a few water bottles from the fridge before immediately going back to the front. Her mother held out a full, slightly weighty bag that was warm and smelled of cooked bread.
She took it with a small smile and nodded. "I'll be gone for a bit mama. Please don't wait up. I'm not too sure how long this is going to take." She rounded the counter and stopped in front of Gabriel. He nodded and she copied him before the pair headed outside.
The drive was short. She knew where the Agreste mansion was and was even more thankful that it wouldn't be too anxious of a drive. As it was, trepidation and annoyance mixed so much that she didn't know which was stronger of the two. She didn't have much time to ask many more questions about what had happened since she left two weeks ago. She got out what extra information she could that he hadn't already given, mind whirling.
"Right now, he's barred the door and hasn't eaten or drank anything in two days." Gabriel tiredly reiterated. A hand ran over his face, fingers going under his glasses in his exasperation. "I just spoke with him and he looks very weak. He won't budge until he hears from you personally that you're allowed back into the school."
She heaved a sigh, head drooping a little. Her heart felt torn on the whole thing. She had spent two weeks after that fateful afternoon rebuilding herself back up and here she was, being thrown into it again!
Was she ever going to be done with this foolish Agreste family?!
A hand covered her face as she shook her head. Part of her would be happy to continue her dream, but a larger part was done with this whole thing. This had been two very long years of failures, of happiness, and of misery. She just wanted to wash her hands of this and find some normalcy to life!
"If you wish," Gabriel quietly broke in, "the spot is yours. I will gladly welcome you back, if only to save my son from being hospitalized again. I fear this time may be much worse than the first time around."
It was hard not to clench her hands around the bag she was holding and ruin the food. The utter...stupid...moronic...total idiot! She allotted a few swear words in her head his way, but it didn't make her feel better. How dare he go wasting his precious life for her and pull this stupid stunt when she hated him after he left! She was done with him!
She spied a look to her right at the sigh. She suddenly felt sorry for this man who had to put up with the whims of his last family member. She knew that Gabriel wasn't the most gracious and open person in the world, a pittance when compared to her loving parents, but he was still human and Adrien had forgotten that.
She remembered Adrien's words about his running away, the few talks he would give about his father when he was at her home, and how unpleasantly he spoke of the man. Gabriel was a man who had lost his wife, was the owner of a huge business, and had a teenage son to handle without familial help.
She suddenly saw Gabriel more than she ever had, and felt hurt and blame slide off her shoulders piece by piece.
She didn't blame him for slapping her in anger over Adrien's collapse any longer. Of course he would be upset and target her; she imagined she would quite be the same if she was the mother of a single child who foolishly lost sleep with such a demanding day schedule! They shared a bond of annoyance toward this rowdy teenager who kept causing problems for the both of them.
They pulled to a stop at the front door before she had a chance to answer. Instead of agreeing or disagreeing, she pushed the car door open and stalked out. Her feet harshly pounded on the ground all the way inside the marble interior and up the stairs. The huge portrait of Adrien and his father was purposely ignored for now.
If she looked at his face, she may just start screaming more than she wanted to.
She stopped in front of his door and pounded loudly. She didn't care what he was doing right now or if she had woken him up. He had forced his father to drag her here at such a late hour and he'd better open the door if he knew what was good for him!
"Adrien Agreste!" She shouted, fist clenched. "You open this door right now, mister!"
To say he was startled awake was an understatement. To hear Marinette's voice on the other side shocked him enough to get him to sit up despite how he had no ability to do so.
His eyes widened, hope springing into his chest as he hurried as quickly as he could, especially in his state, off his bed and to his front door. He kneeled on the floor to catch his breath, shaking away another dizzy spell and trying to swallow with his throat dying for water.
"M...Marinette?" He croaked. He cleared his throat and tried to go around the items lodged in front of the door to get closer. He leaned over a chair for support and put his hand on the wall next to the door. "Marinette...is that you?"
"Yes it's me! That's what you wanted wasn't it?" She glared. A fist hit the door once and she resisted the urge to start kicking it to break the lock. "You open this door right now and let me in!"
"Has father allowed you back in the school yet?"
She growled and pounded the door again. "Open this door, I said!"
"No! My father probably coerced you to show up and didn't do as I told him! I'm not opening this door until you tell me yourself that you can come back to dance with me!"
Every muscle tightened, teeth threatening to break apart as she clenched her jaw. She gave a scathing look to the wood, roughly where his voice emanated from, and wished it were his face. "You insufferable little piece of... Yes! Your father offered me a place in the Agreste Dance Troupe! Are you happy now?! That's what you've been waiting for right? Now do your part and open...this...door!"
A real, full-fledged smile came to him as his head slumped forward against the wall. Relief hit him and made his knees weaker than they already were. His emotions burst through his chest and made his body worse, but they were nice to feel...even if he was dizzy because of them...
His eyes fluttered open and looked to all he had wedged against his door, wondering how he would ever get it out of the way as he was. Resolution to do as he had said filled him and he propped himself against the wall, using a leg to start shoving items away little by little. It was utterly draining and by the time he got the door unblocked enough to let her squeeze in, he was totally exhausted.
He flicked the lock open and stumbled out of the way before collapsing against the wall and sliding to the floor, failing to catch his breath.
The click had to be the most heavenly sound in the world. She smiled in relief and turned the knob, finding the door to open maybe halfway. It was more than enough for someone like herself to get through as she sucked her stomach in to get past the doorknob. "Adrien?"
"Here..."
She looked down and gasped at the sight of him using the wall as the only means of remaining upright. She hurried inside, leaving the door open, and bypassed all the furniture to get to him. She set the bag of food on a chair and kneeled in front of him, eyes wide.
Her hands rose to touch him, but feared she would hurt him in his weakened state. "Oh my god! Adrien...oh my god!" She took in the white complexion, the dark circles, the prominent cheek bones and how horrible his breathing was.
"Okay, okay...think Marinette, think..." She gently grabbed a forearm and shifted her stance to his side. "We need to get you back to bed! Come on now...help me if you can..."
Lifting him was easier than she thought and she became even more worried. She carefully helped him walk to the bed and sat down on the edge with him. She coaxed him to sit back and moved his legs to rest on the mattress. All the while, tears crept through her defenses and lined her eyes, threatening to fall.
She stared down at him looking at her with soft, yet dull eyes and snapped. "Y...you..." Fists clenched as she harshly plopped on the edge of the bed, all strength leaving her. "You're an idiot! How could you do this to yourself?! You didn't need to go doing something like this after I accepted my fate! It's been two weeks! I'm over this whole thing...over you and your father's stupid actions!"
A hand slowly rose and covered what was gripping his shirt. He moved her fingers off it and gave her a weak squeeze.
"It's so nice...to see you again..." He breathed, chest swelling. Everything was falling over him and his feelings for her were making it hard to keep any kind of physical composure. "I didn't think that...I would ever be able to see you again. That I would never be able to look into your beautiful eyes... I thought you'd be gone from my life forever this time... Just like last time. I don't ever want to forget you...like I did before Marinette."
All anger and frustration toward him fizzled at those kind, heartfelt words. She slumped over with a shaky exhale, free hand covering her face. Her concern for him, mixed with the hidden emotions she had tried to lock away, created such a sense of conflict that she didn't know what to do now.
She was silent for a few heartbeats, feeling his cold skin against hers and gripped his hand a little. She glared at him, tears falling in twin rivers down her face. "You stupid cat! Why did you have to go and do something like this for my sake?! I didn't ask you to! I didn't want you to!"
"I'll do anything I can...to make it up to you. I crushed the dream that...you had been holding onto for years...because of my folly. I will never forgive myself...for putting you in such circumstances...with my father. I can only do this...to make it up to you..." He let his love shine through his eyes as he took in her beauty once more.
He took his hand back in attempt to brace himself and sit up. It was slow and labored, and strong hands went around his back to help him. He gave her a tender smile, fingers coming up to wipe a tear away from wide eyes. He leaned forward and lightly claimed her lips, heart trying to burst through his chest.
"I...love you..." He breathed, pulling away enough to speak. "I've been so lonely...since you've been gone. I found out everything...about what happened to you from Chloe. She actually ratted you out...from Sabrina who heard your phone conversation...in the locker room that day. I even recorded it...to prove it."
His hand inched across her face and slowly toyed with a pigtail. His eyes hardened just a little, becoming needy and jealous. "I refuse to dance ballet...with anyone other than you. You're the only one...who I dance the best with. All I need for proof...is every night from the Underground...and our time together in class."
His brow furrowed upward a little, hand weakly clutching the back of her neck. "Please...please come back... Please accept my father's offer...and dance with me again..."
He was so close. Despite his weakened state, his eyes were such a deep green and she couldn't stop staring at them. His feelings raged through her, the kiss making her lips tingle. His honesty, his heartfelt words, and his need for her stole the logic from her brain and cracked open the doors to feelings that she tried to bar and lock away yet again.
"Y – you...and I...are pointless if I can't get into your father's ballet school... There's no point in ever becoming 'us'...i – if I can't enter your world..."
It very well could be again. She had to admit that the time in class with Adrien had been some of the happiest days of the last few years. She was absolutely crushed when she had nothing to do during her mornings, but ballet wasn't the primary reason.
It hadn't been for a while now.
The time when he stayed at her place had been really fun. She had gotten to know him so much better, and being around him felt normal and comfortable. She could be who she wanted, who she really was inside, and he said nothing about it. He seemed to enjoy it and she even made him laugh with some of her silly antics.
She stood at the knife's edge, wondering just what she should do now. She was only being accepted back because of this foolish stunt he was pulling. She didn't know if his father would be happy with her because of what she had originally done and she honestly didn't want to be apart of the school that didn't really want her as a member. Going back due to an obligation felt cheap and left a bad taste in her mouth.
Wide eyes fluttered closed as she helplessly leaned her forehead against his. Her mouth snapped shut as her brain tried to process everything and futily ignore her heart.
'Yes' was so easy, but so was 'no'. She had been gone for two weeks and was trying to get on with her life. Did she really want to switch gears and reverse time like nothing had happened? The naive happiness would never be there again, but the nice classmates and strict teachings would. Those had been happy days and she'd be lying if she said she didn't want them back.
She was barely aware that she was trembling from the sheer force of so many feelings overwhelming her. Everything was valid when considered in a different frame of mind and thus the answer was always out of her grasp at every turn. She had no concrete reply to give, yet felt that he was waiting with baited breath for her.
If she went back, then they wouldn't have to finalize that move with the Underground. A new place had been spotted and the names of those written down for resending of invites, but the actual legwork hadn't taken place yet. Alya needed a few days after she left the school to scout a proper location which didn't get them caught. Then, she had to keep an eye on all of those that showed up over the next few nights to know who still attended.
If she didn't have to go through with the second half of all that planning, of moving the heavy dj equipment, and having to strip Nathaniel's art off the walls, the better. The others would be relieved that they didn't have to move yet again because of the Agreste family.
Although...if she didn't move the Underground and went back to ballet...she would probably have to seriously consider giving it up this time. The schedule at the school was just too much and she didn't want to end up like Adrien. He had already proven that you couldn't do both worlds without consequence. She could go back to ballet, but she would never be able to do the Underground again.
Still caught up in her own thoughts, she didn't catch the movement until Adrien's forehead was entirely away from hers. Her eyes jolted open and she looked at him whiter than he had been since she entered. He teetered back a bit, breathing labored, eyes clenched in pain.
She gasped, forgetting how weak he had been for almost three days, and gently laid him back on the bed. She hurried to the bag of food and pulled the water from it first. She helped raise his head and had him take extremely small drinks, barely letting him have an eighth of the bottle. She rested his head against the pillow while his body adjusted to liquid and reached for food. She broke a croissant up into tiny pieces and shoved one past his lips.
Her eyes teared as she slowly fed him, watching his loving expression and feeling utterly helpless with him like this. Her earlier memories of a handsome, laughing, smiling Adrien shattered with this haggard patient lying prostrate before her. Again, somehow, she felt like this was her fault. She forced her hands to move slowly and not pull him into her arms and huge him senseless in apology.
"You s – stupid cat...I can't believe y – you thought you could go this long without f – food. What are you going to do...with all of those people who rely on you?! You're not an island! You have to think of others aside yourself...aside from me! I'm not as important...as you are! Your role in this life...is much more public than mine. You live in the light; I l – live in the shadows...of the Underground. You have to take c – care of yourself so you don't w – worry everyone! I'm inconsequential!" She sniffed and blinked back tears.
He swallowed the drink and slowly pushed it away to be able to speak. "You're more important to me...than you think. Once you accept it...I'll do anything I can...to show you how much you mean to me. How much...the Underground has saved me...and made me love dancing again."
She lightly slapped his shoulder on reflex, ignoring the fact that her face was flaming hot.
It actually took more energy and desire to swallow the food and liquid in his mouth. He had adjusted to having nothing and anything he took in now felt foreign. He almost wanted to turn his head away from her ministrations, but forced himself to keep going.
She went agonizingly slow, thus he had no need to adjust her pace. They must have sat like that for over an hour. She fed him only one croissant and gave him half a bottle of water in the barest of sips.
The whole time, his heart expanded with every touch of her fingers on his lips and her strong arm lifting him up. She was here and although she hadn't given her answer yet, he could only keep his fingers crossed that his words would reach her and she would acquiesce to join him again.
