Don't Let Me Get Me

Akio sighed and rubbed his head, looking at the bottles strewn across the floor. He had expected a reaction, though this did seem a bit excessive even for his beloved. Cringing as he put away the empty bottles in the recycling, he made his way toward the bedroom. He rested his hand on the door knob, hearing sobbing on the other side. He set the bin down and slid inside the bedroom. The lights were out, the curtains were drawn. More empty bottles clinked as he made his way to the bed.

He'd only been gone ten, maybe twenty minutes, how could she have already gone through so much? He softly sat down at the edge of the bed. The weeping lump in the middle froze when he did. The hero gently rested his hand on her side. Like a dam overflowing, she began to sob again, trembling beneath the covers.

"Beloved, you mustn't do this to yourself. Alcohol is a wonderful beverage, enjoyed all over the world, but such indulgence is dangerous. You must remember to enjoy yourself responsibly…" he trailed off, shaking his head. She wasn't drinking to enjoy herself, he knew better than that. She only drank like this when something came up.

"I...f-fuuuuucked uuuuuuuuuuup," she slurred between gasping breaths and sobs.

"You've done no such thing! Perhaps, the way you handled the situation earlier was...excessive, but no one was permanently maimed, everyone will be able to walk again after a few weeks of therapy," He cringed when she began to bawl again and sighed, resting his chin on his hand. "It's alright, please, come out here so we can talk. Remember? Speaking about these things is a good way to cleanse your soul and be at peace,"

After hesitation for a moment, she dizzily threw the covers away. She didn't bother trying to sit up, instead scooting along the bed until her head was in his lap. She wrapped her arms around his leg and buried her face, sobbing again. "I'm shush...su-sush...su-such a f-ffaaailurrrrre," she moaned.

Akio ran his hand through her hair, flinching when he hit one of the countless tangles. She jumped slightly when he hit a snag, but the low moan in her throat was enough reason to keep smoothing her hair. "You're no such thing. You are wonderful, an inspiration to me and those around you,"

"B-bu-buut I fuuuuuuuuucked up ag-ag-agaaaaain!" she cried. True, the man whose legs she'd broken was less than pleased with her idea of dealing with his dangerous cycling through a crowded street. But, he was going to be fine. And her heart was in the right place, like it always was. She was just looking out for the possible victims of his reckless behavior.

"Beloved, no...no you haven't. Your methods are...extreme, but, you are doing what you believe is right. And, more importantly, you're still learning. Perhaps, today you made a mistake. But, now you've learned! You've made such amazing progress...I never cease to be proud of you,"

"Yo-your-yooour lyyy-lyyyying," she sobbed, "I'm g-ga-ggaaarbaage! Y-yo-you-you haaaaate meeeee!"

Akio shook his head, "Beloved, you are not garbage and I could never hate you. No, every journey we take, every day that goes by, I simply learn to love you more than I thought possible. No mistakes could change that. I am proud of you, I am proud to be with you, to be able to say I love you," he insisted.

To his surprise, Berserk shifted, tugging at his shoulder to force herself into a dizzy, unstable kneeling position. She hiccuped and drunkenly rubbed her eyes, yelping when she poked herself. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she fell against him, "I lo-loooove youuuu, K-k-Ki...yo-you're my...I loooove youuuu don't l-le-leeeeave meeeeee!" she wailed.

"I'll never leave you, Beloved," Akio promised.

"Wi-wi-will you h-h-hug m-me?" she whimpered, biting her lip to hold back another sob. Akio chuckled and slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her into his lap. She buried her face in his chest and snuggled into his embrace. Akio kissed her head.

"As long as you want, Beloved," he whispered.