Kasey stared at Shobeks drunken figure as his red face started to pout again. After a moment, Shobek yanked Kasey on top of him. She began to protest as she pushed herself up and looked down at him. But Shobek wrapped an arm around her waist to keep her from leaving; a goofy smile spread across his face as he gave her a warm look. Kasey stared down at him stunned once again.
"I've loved you for a long time, Kasey...." Shobeks words were soft and his expression slowly became pained and regretful. "But I've only ever hurt you and have caused you harm. I apologize."
"N...None of this is your fault..!" Kasey looked away flustered, her attempts at rolling off him failing.
"No... It is. I wasn't careful enough." Shobek tugged her against his chest until her head lay against his chest, his hand quietly petting her. As if to soothe her. Kasey again tried to remove herself from him but he instantly tightened his grip until she stopped struggling. Only then did he relax and resume petting her.
"Will... you tell me what you mean?" Kasey slowly peered up to look at his face, but he only stared at the ceiling with a solemn expression. Mammon's words instantly replayed in her head and she frowned. "Was Mammon telling—"
"I don't want to hear someone else's names on your lips," Shobek growled roughly before looking down at her. His eyes held an endless purple sea that was in turmoil. She instantly looked away, her heart clenching slightly.
"You never tell me anything." Shobek's gaze softened as he heard the sharp edge of her voice. It seemed he hurt her again.
"I'm sorry... I don't want you to hate me."
"Why would I hate you?" Kasey looked back up at him, wondering if, in his drunken stupor, he would finally answer some of her questions.
"Not now..." Shobek laid his head back and closed his eyes.
"Shobek, why would I hate you if you told me the truth?" Kasey slowly sat up, her eyes looking over his face which had become relaxed. After a minute of no reply, she tried again, "Shobek. Why would I hate you?"
No reply came and Kasey finally realized, this damn dragon has fallen asleep. His chest slowly rose and fell, his arms dead weights around her. Slowly, Kasey wiggled her way out of his embrace and stood up. She watched his innocent-looking face for a moment before sighing. "Why would you love me?"
After another moment, she finally turned to go back to her book but noticed he left his shoes on. Groaning, Kasey went ahead and quickly took them off for him before unfolding the blankets to lay over him. Afterward, she went to the oil lamps and dimmed them for him. She wasn't entirely sure why she even bothered doing these things for him, after all, he can't even tell her the truth.
But what is done is done. She plopped back down on the couch and picked up her book, taking only a moment to remember her page number. Hopefully, he'll tell me soon. Or maybe I can wait until he's drunk again. Shouldn't be too hard to drive him crazy enough to get him drinking.
Kasey checked the clock and frowned once she realized it was already past two A.M., Three hours had passed since she chatted with Shobek. And three hours went past with her replaying the details over and over. Having read the same paragraph in the book for the third time, she finally set it down and stood up. Everything was so confusing and more and more questions were tying their pretty little letters around her mind. She felt like her brain was being squeezed because of them. After a short stretch, she took off her shoes and trotted to the bed. Shobek was laying on his side, still fast asleep. It was a wide bed. So they shouldn't end up touching if she keeps to her side. And if he keeps to his.
After a long time of hesitation, she finally sighed and rubbed her head. The headache that was forming was growing more and more painful.
"Fuck it..." Kasey slowly laid down on her side, keeping her back to Shobek, wincing at the loud creak that the bed let out. Eventually, she was snuggled up under the covers. Though if she moved even an inch she would face plant on the floor below.
She slowly closed her eyes.
A rustling came from the other side of the bed and her eyes sprang open. Shobek sat up sleepily, and slowly, Kasey turned to look at him. He didn't even glance at her as he suddenly stripped off his shirt and threw it to the side. Kasey's face instantly grew dark red as she stared wide-eyed at the sexy body before her. But he acted as if she didn't exist as he laid back down. Kasey stared at his sharp toned back before quickly turning back away. Forgive me father for my eyes have led me to sin.
She stared aimlessly around the room EXCEPT at the toned body beside her. It shouldn't be physically possible to look that freakin good. And he likes ME? This is absurd on every level. I want to look. No, No, Keep it together. Kasey quickly closed her eyes as her mind went into a panicked frenzy. Her body was tense and she barely breathed. Just go to sleep... Just go to sleep... That image flashed in her mind again and she could practically feel herself drool over the image of Shobek shirtless with his messy bed head and sleepy eyes. Dammit!!
Another hour of panic took place quietly in Kasey's mind until she could finally feel herself relaxing. Her eyes drifted close slowly.
She subconsciously felt shifting behind her. Kasey was then startled awake with an arm encircling her waist and pulling her to a hard body behind her. She stared wide-eyed at nothing as she stayed perfectly still like a dear in headlights. Shobek snuggled into her neck, muttering something to her before he again fell silent with her tightly pressed up against him.
Kasey didn't dare move or breathe as Shobek fell back into his slumber behind her.
This...This...DAMN DRAGON!!! Kasey squeezed her eyes shut as she felt her blood heating her face and body. Never AGAIN will I sleep near you when you are DRUNK!!!
Shobek woke up with an excruciating headache, his memory fuzzy of what happened after he left the makeshift bar the Captian had. He groaned and hissed at all the bright lights that were on, his body sluggish as he sat up to look around, he took note of Kasey instantly; she sat stiffly on the couch with a half-empty plate in front of her. Dark circles were under her eyes as she glanced at him before taking a sip of her orange juice.
"There's a glass of water beside the bed. And someone brought you a bowl of soup to help with your hangover." Kasey informed Shobek in a matter-of-fact tone before returning to eating her meal. Her eyes had only met his once through the whole encounter.
"What...time is it...?" Shobek slowly reached out and grabbed the glass of water, taking only a sip before feeling a strong wave of nausea race up his esophagus. He instantly bolted to the bathroom, barely making it in time as it emptied what little was in his stomach.
Kasey glanced at the door he flew through as she took another bite of her eggs. Though she felt a little bad for him, she was ultimately satisfied that he was currently suffering. Considering she only got an hour of sleep thanks to him. She finished what was on her plate and was helping herself to another serving of food when Shobek finally dragged himself out of the bathroom to sit on one side of the couch. His movements slow to pick up the bowl of soup Kasey left out for him. Noting his seating, Kasey opted for the armchair that was closest to the couch. Preferring to watch his suffering from a safe distance.
"To answer your question, it is currently seven A.M." Kasey still used a matter-of-fact tone and Shobek gave her a questioning look as he slowly took a sip of the soup. His face twisting in disgust.
"What the hell is this?"
Kasey looked at him then the soup before replying, "I don't know. I just asked for something that could help an idiot's hangover. Not what was in it."
"I'm an idiot now?" Shobek frowned but continued to sip the soup. His tastebuds adapting to the bitter taste.
"Do you remember last night?" Kasey looked at him, already knowing the answer. Shobek carefully looked her over and frowned.
"No—"
"Then you are an idiot," Kasey concluded and turned back to her food.
Shobek watched her carefully, seeming cool and collected though on the inside he was in a frenzy to try and remember what happened. She was acting cold. She looks like she hasn't slept... He didn't do something to her, did he?! Shobek dropped the soup bowl as he sat up alarmed. "I didn't do anything to you did I??"
Kasey looked at him, pleasure flashing by at his sudden fear. She waited till it looked like he was believing whatever conclusion he made to finally answer, "No, you didn't."
Shobek felt his fear instantly deplete from his body. He sunk low into the couch as he let out a sigh of relief. His eyes fell close as his body relaxed.
"But you did tell me you loved me." Kasey gave a wicked smile as she noticed his posture instantly stiffen and his eyes widen in horror. He stared at her conflicted as she calmly at her food.
His voice cracked as he tried to speak and he licked his lips before trying again, "Did...I say anything else...?"
Kasey looked at him for a long moment, "No. Just that you love me." She instantly took note of how he relaxed a bit and looked away. Was she missing something?
Shobek slowly nodded and sighed, "Ok.." he looked at her for another moment before looking away again and nodding his head again. "Alright. Ok."
Kasey turned back to finish her food.
"Do....do you love me...?" Shobek's words were quiet as if they were a thought he meant to leave in his head but accidentally let slip.
Kasey looked up at him surprised, he blushed and quickly looked down and remembered the bowl he had dropped.
"Looks like I'll need to get more soup. And a towel. Let me just...go...do that."
Kasey watched him pick up the bowl and set it on the table before going to the bathroom to get an extra towel. A quickly cleaned up the spilled soup then tossed the towel in a corner of the bathroom before giving her a small smile and leaving the room to go hunt down someone who can make him another bowl of soup. Kasey stared down at the food that was left on her plate, but she suddenly found that she no longer had an appetite. She slowly set the food down and stood up. She looked around and sighed. She needed to get her thoughts in order. And she didn't need to add more questions to her already large pile of questions.
"Do you love me?"
A simple but complicated question.
So why can't I think of an answer...?
Do... I love him...?
Kasey crawled onto the big bed and laid down, her thoughts pondering what her answer possibly could be.
And...what it could end up meaning.