Author's Notes:
king Ks: Indeed! Those two are experiencing a rollercoaster of conflicting emotions right now, let's see if they can truly find peace with each other.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Loud House, the brand, as well as all of its characters and settings belong to Chris Savino and Nickelodeon, all rights reserved.
Chapter 78: Regret.
Soon after, Lola was out of the bathroom, having applied her medication, she got out to realize that Lincoln was picking up the bottles and sweeping the fragments off the ground.
- Want some help? - She stood in her place, watching the scene with a comforting smile.
- No, it's fine… sorry you had to see that - Lincoln excused himself with a look of discomfort.
- Honestly… it was better that way, good to know we got the nasty surprises out of the way first - Lola admitted with a sly grin, the situation was… ironically funny to her - by the way, nice closet, I think we may actually have enough space for my things -
- Which reminds me, do you want help with the unpacking? - Lincoln asked sincerely.
- Nah, it's ok, doubt you'll know what goes where - Lola said sassily.
Having calmed down a little, Lola decided to explore the rest of the room, she knew that making any more questions about the "pedigree" of the area was a pointless endeavor, as he promised to tell her later, but still… she couldn't avoid being impressed by the fact that he had a private rooftop temperate pool in a massive balcony to his reach.
Meanwhile, Lincoln was done with fixing the broken, he was now just making his… their bed, now the room looked more like what he wanted to show his special invitee in the first place.
By the time Lola was done exploring the place, her eyes landed on the particular decoration of the right nightstand.
She noticed a very interesting drawing.
- What's this Lincoln? - She grabbed the picture and turned her attention to her brother, who was now looking for something on U-tub.
Lincoln turned to see his sister holding the special kiddy drawing.
- It was… a very special thing that Lily did for me - Lincoln replied with sleepy eyes and a half-smile.
- …That girl - Lola was starting to become slightly altered, grabbing the frame a little more forcefully than necessary.
- Hey! Careful with that - Lincoln noticed the increased grasp and took the object away from his sister -
- …Sorry - Lola realized her mistake and looked away - … Why do you have that preserved? - She asked without establishing eye contact, sitting on her… their bed.
- It's a reminder of why I fight everyday - Lincoln answered with a confident smile, making Lola twitch an eye.
- …so, did she send it to you or something? - Lola tried to change the topic.
- Ehh.. not exactly, we were kind of playing in… his restaurant - Lincoln looked down a with a frown for a moment - …and then she started to draw her superhero self, so I showed her my old Ace Savvy persona with McBride as one-eyed jack - He hesitated to continue, his expression showed deep discomfort by remembering his previous life - …and that's when she drew this, in a stupid napkin and with crayons… all things considered, it was truly impressive how it came out as well as it did hahaha - Lincoln tried to dismiss the aura with a forced laugh.
- Wait, how old was she when she drew this? - Lola realized that he was obviously referring to an old memory.
- Uh, like 5 or something - Lincoln answered awkwardly.
And that's when everything clicked for Lola, This entire plan… it wasn't just to help Lincoln or herself wasn't it?
- That stupid girl… If I ever see her again, I'll give her a spanking - Lola spoke mostly to herself, frowning visibly.
- Hey, cut her some slack, had it not been for that drawing - Lincoln changed his tune, looking at the girl sitting besides him with half-lidded eyes and a stupid smile - My dumb ass wouldn't have realized that I was in love with you~ - He confessed while approaching his reddened face to that of the incredibly beautiful woman by his side.
- Well, that was a good talk, sorry Linc, I think I'll change to my nightgown if you don't mind! - Lola suddenly got up from the bed, oblivious to the approach that her brother tried to make on her.
- Yeah… I guess I'll look for something to watch - Lincoln looked disappointed, but then quickly replaced his expression with a smile - Feel like watching a movie, or starting a series? - He asked readily.
- Well, I'm kind of tired, why don't we just call it for today? - Lola yawned.
- Oh, sure, if that's what you want - Lincoln replied with the same grin, but couldn't help but to twitch an eye.
- Lily, it's ok, please don't cry -
.
- Whatever may happen from here, please don't blame yourself -
.
- Shhh, Ignore the screams down there, your big sister is here for you -
.
- I know I haven't been there for you before, but I can tell you with statistical accuracy that there's a way to fix this -
.
- And don't worry, I forgive you, maybe you're right, only they can fix each other, I as your big sister will help you with the rest, or my name is not Lisa Marie Loud! -
.
- … Todd, initiate the five-year contingency plan as per programed, element 94 secured -
The lights were off, but a certain faint blue light emanating from the artificial lights of the pool in the balcony that was being reflected on the ceiling allowed the white haired man to get some visibility of his surroundings
He was currently watching straight at the ceiling of his room, as he lied in his bed, unable to sleep; his companion at the side was turned sideways, facing away from him.
But he could feel it, she wasn't asleep yet.
- Lola - He dared to speak, breaking the background noise of cars and the motor that powered the pool.
- hmmm? - Lola responded, but didn't move a muscle, at least confirming his suspicions.
- …are you still mad at me for the… state of my room? - He asked with a neutral expression, still looking at the ceiling.
- …I'm not mad - Lola reassured him, but still refused to turn around.
- …I see - He said with low energy, then, he sighed and turned sideways, facing her back - Is it okay if I hug you? - He said softly.
- … ok - the blonde replied with a low voice.
Given the green light, Lincoln approached her frame and placed his arm on her waist, which made Lola recoil slightly and become tense.
That did not go unnoticed by him.
- Turn around please - Lincoln commanded in a more serious voice.
Lola did as told, but kept her eyes closed.
- mmm? - She mustered a frown.
- Thanks, I missed this view, I'm glad to be able to have it every night again - Lincoln blushed slightly, centering his sight on Lola's mildly annoyed face, which to him, meant heaven.
Her happiness and her anger, he lived and died for both.
Lola refused to comment on that, but her frown increased.
- …can you please open your eyes one moment? - Lincoln demanded in a slightly softer tone.
- mmm? - Lola growled slightly, but complied anyways, her blue irises reflected the tenuous light available.
Lincoln's heart skipped a beat, this woman was a goddess.
- …Can I Kiss you? - Lincoln was beginning to lose himself to the beautiful sea in her eyes, he didn't even realize the question that he had asked.
But Lola didn't respond back, she shifted uncomfortably and avoided eye contact.
That didn't seem to stop the approach of the albino, as he proceeded to put his palm on her cheek, forcing her to center her view on him, then began approaching his lips to hers.
- NO! - Lola had enough, she struggled forcefully towards his grasp and turned around.
And Lincoln was done with her attitude.
With a big, forceful pull, he made Lola lay face up and climbed on top of her, pinning her arms to the sides of the pillow with his own.
- L-lincoln, let me GO! - Lola was wide eyed at this sudden assault, struggling under his grasp, but ultimately unsuccessful in her efforts to get him off her.
- NO! You're going to tell me what's going on! - Lincoln raised his voice to a threatening intensity, making the girl below him stop struggling.
Instead, Lola was now looking at him with visible sweat in her forehead and growing tears.
- a-about w-what? - She weakly asked with a trembling voice.
- Why do you keep ignoring me!? - Lincoln cut to the chase.
- I-I wasn't… ignoring you - Lola replied with a regretful face.
- YES YOU WERE! - Lincoln continued deeply staring at the terrified girl below him, applying even more strength to submit her further - …why do you keep avoiding my kisses? - His look softened slightly, but he retained his firm grasp.
- I-I… wasn't - Lola looked to the side, still under extreme pressure.
- …in that case, show me that - Lincoln looked angrily at her - Prove it! -
- …fine - Lola looked back at him, her expression still distilled fear, but her features were also revealing determination.
With that, Lincoln's hold softened, releasing Lola's right arm so that he could place his palm on her cheek, approaching his face to hers as they aligned their lips.
At last, their lips connected again.
He tried to increase the intensity of the kiss, inserting his tongue in her mouth.
- mmm! - Lola, however, applied resistance again, breaking the kiss suddenly.
Lincoln was looking angrily at her again.
- Now what! - He shouted, pinning her again.
- …we can't - Lola turned her face to the side with a look of melancholy.
- Why not! - His patience was running tin.
- …The golem woke up, Triton - Lola spoke softly, ignoring his intense stare.
- What the fuck does that stupid story have to do with any of this? - Lincoln was now expressing disbelief.
- Excuse me? - Lola turned back to look at him with renewed anger - What happened the last time we allowed these… urges to beat us? -
Now it was Lincoln who was speechless.
- No Lincoln, I didn't forget about that, it still lives in my head every, single, fucking, day - Lola declared with a deepened frown - It lingers in my head as a fresh reminder of how everything could of have been different if only I had controlled my stupid, horny, lonely self back then - She said with an intense stare, as the tears just kept flowing.
Then, Lincoln understood everything as well.
His anger was… mostly, gone, enough to at least release Lola from his grasp and sit on his side of the bed again, hugging his knees on the process.
- …Do you have it? - Lincoln asked calmly, without establishing eye contact.
- It's on that bag, second pocket - Lola sat up to point to one of her many laying bags in the floor.
Lincoln suddenly sprang back up from the bed, going over to the designated bag to look for that notebook, Lola simply watched without any strong emotions coming out of her anymore.
Effectively. Lincoln found it, then approached the bed again, sitting on his side, and opened it, looking for the latest update, he then retrieved a pen from his nightstand and turned the lantern on his phone to illuminate the little book.
Lola was still watching everything without moving a muscle, which Lincoln noticed, he turned his attention one moment from the book to look at her.
- …Good night Lola - He said drily, before turning his attention back to the story.
- Night - Lola replied back with lacking energy, she simply resumed her original position, sideways and to the opposite side of his.
- Does she think it was just an act of lust? How can I show her that I'm not just a pervert? - Lincoln thought while writing the next part.
- Once again I used that story to hide the truth, what a fantastic human being - Lola thought to herself before drifting to sleep, shedding one last tear - Then again, the truth is in the story, what if he reacted badly if I told him directly? -
- … I hated that kiss - Both thought at the same time.