MAEA
Maea had no desire to hurt him. Nor did she want to be hurt in return. Though she felt a brief pang of relief when he rose and went to fetch his shirt, there was a cry of disappointment stuck in her throat and in the moment when he turned his back and couldn't see her, sorrow flashed across her face. If anything, this night had shown it plainly to her how damaged she had become, how broken and in need of mending... But how was she supposed to recover, when even a friend wasn't trusted enough to be let in on the things that frightened her? It went beyond sex, beyond touch - and it was all she could do not to curl up in the oversized chair and weep, for all the things she kept missing out on.
When he turned back, she was replacing the fruit in their bowl, calm and composed in the way of one who held back a storm. One day it would have to be let out, but tonight would not be it. Looking up as Harper offered to sing to her, Maea returned his gentleness with what quiet trust she was able to offer him still. Because he still had that. Simmering attraction aside - they still had that.
"Alright. Will you join me, until I doze off?" It wasn't as hard as she had thought, to rise and move to the bed. It wasn't even hard to pat the space beside her as she made herself comfortable, offering him the spot. Strange, how she could feel guilty for not being able to offer more. Like she was obliged to give away everything just because someone asked for it. She wasn't, and Harper hadn't even actually asked, and YET... she still felt bad.
The bed was plush beneath her. Too soft. The pillow she mashed in under her head smelled of rose petals and lavender soap, and the fragrance clawed at the back of her throat. It was a bed for gentler creatures than her, who had grown more comfortable around charcoal beds and ashes than clean linen.
And Harper deserved someone gentle. That was the whole of it, she told herself, and closed her eyes.
When he turned back, she was replacing the fruit in their bowl, calm and composed in the way of one who held back a storm. One day it would have to be let out, but tonight would not be it. Looking up as Harper offered to sing to her, Maea returned his gentleness with what quiet trust she was able to offer him still. Because he still had that. Simmering attraction aside - they still had that.
"Alright. Will you join me, until I doze off?" It wasn't as hard as she had thought, to rise and move to the bed. It wasn't even hard to pat the space beside her as she made herself comfortable, offering him the spot. Strange, how she could feel guilty for not being able to offer more. Like she was obliged to give away everything just because someone asked for it. She wasn't, and Harper hadn't even actually asked, and YET... she still felt bad.
The bed was plush beneath her. Too soft. The pillow she mashed in under her head smelled of rose petals and lavender soap, and the fragrance clawed at the back of her throat. It was a bed for gentler creatures than her, who had grown more comfortable around charcoal beds and ashes than clean linen.
And Harper deserved someone gentle. That was the whole of it, she told herself, and closed her eyes.
I'm bleeding out for you
BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3
