Arthur's cheeks flushed slightly at Penelope's question, 'how did you do that? What am I supposed to say?' Arthur thought to himself. Penelope waited patiently for an explantion, she could see in Arthur's eyes he was contemplating what to say, but she was very curious now. She thought in this moment, he was a beautiful magic being, and she wasn't wrong... After a few more moments however, of Arthur thinking things through in his head, she couldn't wait any longer.
"Arthur" She tilted her head, her hand rested on his.
Arthur looked at her hand that was holding his, 'she feels the warmth too, the connection, everything oh I am absolutely buggered now, I need to say something'. He let out a small grumble, much to Penelope's amusement.
"Come on Arthur you know where I live, the least you can do is admit you are indeed a beautiful magic man", Penelope's eyes widened at what she just said, and out loud!
'Fuck' she thought, hitting herself inside, 'idiot'. Her face now resembled a strawberry.
Arthur's face however was not the same as hers. She called him 'a beautiful magic man', his face was now burning, not because of the heat (although it was a scorching day), because she called him beautiful. He had never been called beautiful before by anyone, although he had been called very handsome. He couldn't believe his ears, although his excitement quickly disappeared, she also said 'magic'. 'I can't let her know the whole story yet...' Arthur thought to himself some more. He then focused on Penelope again, her face bright red as she diverted her gaze to the chestnut tree.
"Did you just call me beautiful?" Arthur smirked, embarassing her some more.
"No you must have misheard me" Penelope whimpered in utter embarassment.
"I have fantastic hearing" His gaze burning through her.
"Well clearly not" She grumbled, still she was looking at the tree.
Arthur smiled, 'ah she's forgotten now, it worked'.
"You didn't answer my question" She said suddenly.
'Fuck, she's too switched on for a distraction'.
"You technically didn't ask me a question, you just admitted you find me beautiful".
"Fine, how did you heal me?" She growled, ignoring his statement, but stared right into his emerald eyes.
Arthur's eyes burnt into Penelope's seductively, she growled, and he liked that, she knew that, so she had to ask him in a different way.
"I want to know how you've healed me, won't you do me that kindness?"
"I have been kind to you always, I healed you, I returned your precious equipment back to you, I saved you, I then healed you again" Arthur snapped and grimaced at Penelope, she'd struck a nerve.
"I'm, I'm sorry..." Penelope whispered and looked down at her hands sadly, she wasn't expecting him to look at her in that way, in so much distaste. She has a sensitive soul, and was merely fasinated.
It took a while to realise what he had done, Arthur clicked that he had scorned her, visually too. 'The poor women is only interested in me, why did I have to do that?!' He had got angry under pressure, he never ever wanted to take his anger out on Penelope. He needed to give her something, that is when Arthur noticed a tear rolling down her rosy cheek, he was now disgusted with himself.
"Penelope?" He looked shocked, a second tear rolled down her cheek.
"No no no" Arthur repeated, he hastily stood up and walked round to Penelope's side of the bench and sat down beside her.
She turnt her head so he couldn't see her face, the tears now escaping her eyes, she wiped them away with the back of her hand and sniffled.
"I'm am so so sorry Penelope please don't cry, please don't, I'm sorry I'm so sorry" Arthur begged her to stop crying, her tears were tearing his heart in two.
Her pain was his pain, but his was now ten times worse. He had made her cry, he never ever wanted to see her cry again. He gently placed his hand on her back and caressed it, Penelope's back went stiff.
"I'm sorry" Arthur whispered, "I'm so sorry please forgive me, I'll explain, just please stop crying" He continued to caress her back lightly with his fingers.
Arthur caressed Penelope's back with his fingers in circles, drawing heat upon her. 'Why does it feel so hot when he touches me?' She wondered, 'Am I ill, do I find him that attractive, is there something wrong with me?' She spiralled in her head. Unknown to Penelope in this moment, Arthur had all her sad emotions making their way into his fingers, up his arms, and into his head and heart.
She was starting to feel better, Arthur however felt like he was hit by an emotional tidal wave, however he was not as sensitive as her, although he used to be... He could be sad without shedding a tear, most of the time, however her pain is something he had never felt before, and never wanted to feel or have to feel ever again, she had a deep pain inside of her already (which he could not remove just yet) so he stopped caressing her, Penelope felt better after all.
She had stopped crying for a few minutes, they were both sat in silence. Arthur looked longingly at Penelope, she had yet to face him. He had to speak to her at some point, he was in so much pain, the silence was killing him.
"Do you feel better?" He spoke softly, his voice cracked slightly.
Penelope nodded, managing to turn to look at him, her cheeks were wet with her tears, and her eyes were red but each iris was burning blue, causing his heart to race. Arthur slowly lifted both of his hands gently to Penelope's face, wiping her tears away with his thumbs, she didn't move an inch, instead staring into Arthur's eyes, she could see unshed tears. 'We are both in pain, but why?' She wondered.
Arthur looked at her with pure emotion, he wanted to explain everything to her, but he needed to spend more time with her, more positive times! So he nudged his forehead with hers quickly and said, still holding her face...
"Please let me explain".
Penelope took his hands off of her face slowly, placing them gently on the table, she laid one of her hands on top of his. Arthur moved his thumb so he could caress the side of Penelope's hand. She was embarassed that she kept getting embarassed with him, so she kept her hand firmly on his, it took great strength not to give in to the urge to move, but her cheeks did flush.
Penelope nodded, now ready for the explanation...