Promise
The bruises of broken promises are still tender on their skin.
They've come to learn that broken promises remain and stain and weaken trust, sometimes permanently.
They've come to learn from many, many failures in the past that success is unlikely. They fear more failure because it makes sense to do so. Haven't they both failed in their promises more often than they've succeeded?
They've been conditioned, to put it scientifically. And conditioning is a powerful thing, even for smart, logical people such as themselves.
This will be a relationship, albeit one defined by work. But it's a relationship nonetheless and the question becomes how they can avoid disappointing each other.
She grins and jams her hands in her pockets, "Subtlety isn't exactly your strong suit."
His head dips, almost bashfully. The tension that was his guilt is lifted, "No, maybe not."
This is how.
-End-