"Lucas, look at me."
Eva felt a bubbling energy in her stomach. She felt pain in her fingers that were now clenching the plate in her hands.
"Helping you was just the excuse I used to finally leave."
Her eyes burned as a single tear fell down her face. She could see the panicked expression on Lucas' face.
'This is too much.'
Eva could feel her emotions raging inside of her. A thud resounded as the plate in her hands fell into the grass.
"You idiot!"
Eva started hitting Lucas' shoulder. There was no way she could ignore that. She couldn't bring herself to hit him hard.
It was already too late.
"Idiot."
Even she thought her voice sounded weak at that moment. Her forehead rested on his shoulder.
She felt his arms encircle her.
'Ah, I want to stay here forever.'
How many times would she cry like this? Lucas was really such a stupid man.
He wouldn't give up on her. Even though she was selfish and put her foolish pride before everything else. It was almost enough for her to give in.
Almost.
"Tell me more."
Her voice was muffled, but she knew his ears would pick up her voice.
"For a long time I lived with my friend Alva's family. They took me in after the incident with my father.
"That is where I learned how to carve wood and all about the forest. Eventually I became old enough to learn combat skills.
"It was a fulfilling time in my life. I finally felt like I was a part of the village again. However, due to my family's past, my choices were limited.
"So I chose to be a hunter. I always felt constricted in the village, you see."
Lucas' voice was soft, but he spoke directly into her ear since they were so close. He didn't seem bothered by her sudden closeness.
Eva inhaled Lucas' scent. He always smelled so strongly of the forest. She knew if she looked up she would see his kind light blue eyes staring back at her.
Since she was weak she hid her face in his shoulder. Since she was weak she would stay here where it was warm. Since she was weak…
'All of these are just excuses. Why am I even denying my heart what it wants?'
Nothing had changed with her. It was true this was a moment of weakness for her. At that moment, it was more painful to be far away from him.
There seemed to be some unspoken understanding between them. They would not mention their feelings and they would continue on their journey regardless of their feelings.
This was just supposed to be another fleeting emotion for her. It was not supposed to feel like this. Loving him was like breathing.
He never grew angry with her and could strictly train her when needed. His feelings were evident in all of his actions. If only she could give him what he wanted.
Lucas was silent now. She knew that he was doing the same thing she was, hoping this moment would never end.
"More…," she sniffled.
Only Lucas could see this weak side to her, she vowed.
'Just for tonight. I will let you hold me just for tonight.'
She heard a slight chuckle escape under his breath. Eva lightly hit his chest. Lucas stroked the back of her head.
Warmth flooded her stomach as she felt a light feeling in her head.
'This feels nice.'
Lucas began to go into great detail of the inner workings of Alva's family. He mentioned his mischievous younger siblings who always tried to play pranks on them.
Of his childhood and the different games he would play with them. Eva remained silent as the lilting tone of his voice filled the air.
Lucas could feel that he had only won a small battle, but not complete victory. Still, the feeling of her body against his made him feel whole.
The gaping hole in his chest was finally satisfied. He wanted to memorize this feeling. Even the stubborn part of her that hit him with no strength as she called him an idiot.
He would just memorize how her hair almost glowed to her in the setting sun as it flowed freely down her back. He could even smell the flower scented soap she had used just before dinner.
It was about the time he had started to speak about his job as a hunter that he realized Eva had fallen asleep. He smiled to himself.
Pulling her into a more comfortable position in his lap, he buried his face into her hair. Even in her sleep, she still clung to his shirt with her tiny hands.
His heart had been beating wildly this entire time and she fell asleep? A sigh escaped his lips. Why was he so addicted to her smell?
He pulled back and stared down at her sleeping face. Her eyes were puffy and slightly red.
Cupping her cheek in his hand, he lightly brushed his thumb across her bottom lip. The urge to kiss her almost overwhelmed him.
She always slept deeply in his arms. He almost wanted to scold her for being so defenseless.
This rather strange ability was a boon to him right now. He could drop his usual expressionless face and really look at her.
His heart almost stopped when he felt her press her cheek into the palm of his hand.
'You accept my affection in your sleep.'
It was almost funny. He wanted to laugh, but he could not bear to interrupt her sleep.
'If it is just a little…'
Lucas brushed his lips against her forehead.
"Lucas..."
She called out to him in her sleep. Strong emotions swirled inside his chest. It took all of his mental energy to suppress them.
'I must wait until she is ready.'
His resolve was weakening by the second. So he laid her down gently on her bedroll, prying her hands away from his shirt.
Her face scrunched up in protest, but she remained asleep. Lucas brushed her hair away from her face and laid another gentle kiss upon her forehead.
The protest dissolved off her face and she returned to a more peaceful sleep. Pushing his body away from her, he loaded more wood onto the fire.
******
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