fire and gold

Jude

Do you love me like that?
If I keep on driving

She'd never heard it because Jude wasn't the type to raise his voice. He can't even remember the last time he was truly mad. That probably isn't a good thing because all emotions have their place, and he's definitely the type to suppress things in favor of obedience, but for now she has nothing to fear in terms of his reaction.

"Of course she approves if she was already friends with you before, you're the best," he murmurs, absolutely certain and immovable in his sentiment. Though it does make him feel better to know that both his parents approve now of the girl he loves even if he doesn't need their approval (a dangerous, rebellious thought that is quite out of character for Jude).

Chuckling slightly and bouncing her as he does so, Jude squeezes her gently with one arm and continues stroking her hair, letting his fingers delve into it and play the golden strands over his knuckles. "I don't mind. I feel a little bad, sure, but only about having kept it from her on accident. Everything has been so busy with maman, and now her recovery, and dad becoming King..." Frankly it has all been a bit too much for the young man, but it's nothing he feels he can't conquer with Sohalia here now. "I'm not upset - I want everyone to know about you too," he murmurs, smiling softly at her.

His expression changes a bit then, going a bit pink in the cheeks and almost hangdog. "I do have a confession of my own." Clearing his throat, he looks up at the ceiling to try and make it easier on himself. "When I went to Stormbreak to meet with your supplier I uh...I had someone run into me and spill their coffee on my back. A Dragoon named Koa stepped in and helped me but...well, he was really flirtatious. And I didn't dissuade him like I should have." Sighing softly, he tries not to focus on the chill in his stomach, terrified of her anger in the exact same way. "I just...before you, nobody ever noticed me before. And I felt like since he didn't know me, it was genuine. And it was...nice. To be found attractive and interesting." He still can't meet her eyes, though the shame and self-consciousness in his own only deepens. It's not like it's a secret between them that Jude has next to zero self-esteem, but saying it out loud - especially as reasoning for having let the flirting continue - makes it particularly shameful.

Would you hold me when we crash?
Or would you let me go?