Drabble:142

It was the first night after being shot that Rose had been allowed out. Allowed out to walk around and test her endurance. Her bandages had been removed and she was set free upon the world again…but of course, she was in the custody of her superhot-Russian-god-boyfriend, who-courtesy of those damned chocolaty eyes and his silky voice-managed to convince her not to go all 'Sound of Music prancing' over the Court-pavilions, and instead start with baby steps, namely a walk back to his apartment for a movie and dinner (and lots of making out, if Rose had her way).

So, Dimitri left in the late evening to go to his apartment and prepare dinner-and procure donuts for Roza from a nearby confectionary-leaving Rose with instructions to doze for a bit and then take her pain meds before hopping into the shower, which Lissa had already stocked with exotic shower gels and shampoos, and the fluffiest of towels.

So when Dimitri returned later, after completing his tasks and picking up a bouquet of wildflowers from a flower shop (where the young shop-manager insisted on giving him her best bouquet for free, because she was smitten with his and Rose's love-story), he expected Rose to be waiting impatiently. But upon entering her rooms, he found it empty.

Thinking her still asleep, he crept into her bedroom, but it was empty too. Worried, he walked to the bathroom door and knocked. "Come in", came Rose's reply. Cautiously, he opened the door and found her…naked.
A towel was pooled at her feet and the smell of a flowery shampoo wafted in the air, but all Dimitri could see was Rose. His beloved Roza was staring at her reflection in the mirror with narrowed eyes and pursed lips.

"What's wrong?", he asked her, coming forward, trying his best to distract himself from the sight of her gloriously nude body, and also trying to remind himself that Rose was injured and definitely not up for the fantasies his brain was conjuring.

"It's nothing", she said vaguely, then sighed, probably anticipating his rebuttal. "It's just that…it's so ugly", she finally said, lifting her troubled eyes to his.

"What is?", he frowned in confusion.

"My scar", she replied, bringing up a hand to brush the marked skin in her chest. "It makes me feel….", she trailed off, but Dimitri could read her expression well enough.

"Oh, Roza", he said softly, sorry to see her sad. "The scar…it should make you feel alive. You're alive, love. And I'd rather have you with a scar than have lose you"

"But you'd rather have me with no scar, wouldn't you?", she challenged him with teary eyes. "I will always have it. I can never get rid of it", she said brokenly, looking away.

"Roza", he breathed, reaching a hand out to her and pulling her to his chest, wrapping his hands around her. He wanted to comfort her, but he knew she'd reject words, so he decided to show her.

Pulling away from Rose, Dimitri took a hold of his T-shirt and pulled it off. "Look at me", he said, and she did, feasting her eyes on his tanned, muscled physique. Rose wondered for a second if he had decided to revoke his statement of 'no sex till you're well enough to run 15 straight laps like we did at the academy' and go with the flow, but no such luck.
"Not abs, Roza. Chest", he directed laughingly, enveloping one of her hands in his.

When she looked at his chest, she was surprised to notice a scar in the centre, almost exactly where hers was. The mark left by the stake that had returned him to a dhampir… "We match", Rose blurted out, pulling up a hand to cover her scar as he raised their joined hands to his.

"Does it make you like me any less?", he asked her, seeking her eyes. "I'll wear it for life. Does that bother you?"

"No, of course not", she said vehemently. "Why should it…", she trailed off, getting his point.

"Exactly", he smiled, hugging her again.

"Have I told you 'I love you' recently?", she asked, leaning up to give him a small peck. "Maybe, but I'll never tire of hearing you say it", Dimitri returned, cupping her face.
"Sorry. I was just having a low self-esteem moment. Happens to the best of us, you know", Rose quipped, peppering him with kisses, congratulating herself when he snorted. "Now out you go and wait, I have to get changed", she finished with a final kiss before shoving him out the door and closing it.

This time, when she caught the reflection of the scar on the mirror, she didn't shy away from it or feel insecure. She reveled in being alive and loved. But God help Dimitri if he forced her to sit through a western-movie...

This one stretched a bit, but it refused to be unsaid. And I'm sorry for going AWOL for so long, but life happens, there's no helping that.
Hope y'all liked this (even though it's a bit rusty) and don't forget to review. Cheers!