My dear, we're slow dancing in a burning room
Everything starts to crumble and for a moment she wishes they could go back in time to when he looked at her with a softness in his eyes and a smile on his lips. She isn't his enemy and if he would just stop to think for five seconds that would be clear. Aidon moves from between them to curl protectively around Maeve, an unhappy rumble in his throat as Sunjata bares teeth and snaps, lashing out at her because she's here and it's easy. "Okay. I get that and that's fine too." She huffs, cutting her eyes over at him and not letting his stare intimidate her, refusing to waver in the heat of his gaze.
The question makes her brow arch, a huff of a breath that could be a laugh pushing past her lips as she shakes her head, "Probably because you don't trust anyone right now? Probably because everyone could be an enemy? Probably because you think someone who loved you and lived with you set fire to your town?" She runs a hand through her hair, pressing her lips into a thin line, regarding him with soft eyes despite her irritation and despite his harsh words. "Jata, you're scared. I'd be scared too. Hell, I am scared. Not of the same things, but... I'd imagine that has something to do with why you feel that way." Paranoia, fear, and worry for his daughter's safety was enough to send anyone to that edge.
Maeve doesn't comment on how the help has gotten him into more shit. She'd argue that wasn't exactly the case, but what does she know? It isn't until he fixes her with that stare again, teeth razor sharp and eyes practically black, that she twitches. Her brows pinch together, the faintest hint of hurt coloring her gaze, giving away the sting of his words. "You don't owe me anything. I just thought we were past that point. You didn't lie to me before about how you were feeling. When we were friends. That thing that we still are. I don't expect you to spill your guts to me, Jata. I know it isn't my job to care, but I do because you're my friend."
Her words are just as soft as his though her voice doesn't threaten to give out. Instead it remains steady and even, mixing with the crackling of the fire as she meets his gaze, concern tugging on her features. "And you can hate me for saying it or get mad or whatever, but if you keep pushing people away you're going to end up alone and that's not something any of us should be right now." Sure, he would have Nate and he would have his daughter, but outside of that? If he kept burning bridges, if he kept drowning people, he'd have no one left to bringing him back to shore.
The question makes her brow arch, a huff of a breath that could be a laugh pushing past her lips as she shakes her head, "Probably because you don't trust anyone right now? Probably because everyone could be an enemy? Probably because you think someone who loved you and lived with you set fire to your town?" She runs a hand through her hair, pressing her lips into a thin line, regarding him with soft eyes despite her irritation and despite his harsh words. "Jata, you're scared. I'd be scared too. Hell, I am scared. Not of the same things, but... I'd imagine that has something to do with why you feel that way." Paranoia, fear, and worry for his daughter's safety was enough to send anyone to that edge.
Maeve doesn't comment on how the help has gotten him into more shit. She'd argue that wasn't exactly the case, but what does she know? It isn't until he fixes her with that stare again, teeth razor sharp and eyes practically black, that she twitches. Her brows pinch together, the faintest hint of hurt coloring her gaze, giving away the sting of his words. "You don't owe me anything. I just thought we were past that point. You didn't lie to me before about how you were feeling. When we were friends. That thing that we still are. I don't expect you to spill your guts to me, Jata. I know it isn't my job to care, but I do because you're my friend."
Her words are just as soft as his though her voice doesn't threaten to give out. Instead it remains steady and even, mixing with the crackling of the fire as she meets his gaze, concern tugging on her features. "And you can hate me for saying it or get mad or whatever, but if you keep pushing people away you're going to end up alone and that's not something any of us should be right now." Sure, he would have Nate and he would have his daughter, but outside of that? If he kept burning bridges, if he kept drowning people, he'd have no one left to bringing him back to shore.
Maeve
