Wage War *Obi x OC* (COMPLETE)

What Is Love?

"I've been in love with you for the past three and a half years."

I can't get my mind to focus on anything but Obi's words. He told me he'd tell me the truth, but he just lied to me. He's got to be joking, there's no other explanation. I'm not deserving of love and I never wanted love. I saw how my parents were together, and if that's love, I want no part of it.

I laugh and shake my head. "What? I told you to tell the truth, Obi."

"I didn't lie."

"There's no way you're telling the truth. I'm not a lovable person and we've known each other for so long and you never acted upon such a feeling before." I shoot back.

"I never acted directly upon it yes, I didn't intend on sleeping with you, that part just happened... But, I took care of you when you were sick, I kept watch over you during jobs and immediately came to your side, I kept the creeps away from you, and I did my best to make sure you were happy. I knew you were bothered about your birthday and had briefly mentioned you hadn't gotten a present in years, so I was going to get you something. I spent the last of my money on medicine since you were sick so I tried to take that job. I was going to get you the book you'd wanted from that store that you put back and brushed off last year. It wouldn't have been much, but I could tell you really wanted it and that the book meant something to you."

"Oh shit," I force myself to speak after Obi's explanation sinks in. He wasn't lying... "You're serious."

I can't get myself to say anything. My mind is reeling. Obi's in love with me. He kissed me because of that... I will admit, at least to myself, that I care for him in some aspect, but there's no way that's love. I just don't know how to respond to his confession. I finally break the silence by quietly telling him that I'm going to lie down for awhile. Maybe once I'm alone I can process this mess. The bedroom is rather nice for a safe house, they're usually scarcely furnished and usually rundown, but it looks well-kept and clean except a thin layer of dust on the furniture. I curl up on the bed under the blankets and run a hand down my face. How the hell did things get so complicated with Obi AFTER we became enemies? When we were friends for about six years, things were easy. We become enemies, it's easy. The line became blurred somewhere along the way and now I don't understand anything. I don't even know what the weird feeling is in my chest that's been around for well over a year now.

I sigh and get out of bed when I give up on falling asleep. I've spent so long in the dark trying to think of any explanation or reaction to what happened over the past day. I don't know what I'm going to do or say, but right now my mind is telling me I want to be near Obi. He's still sitting at the table where I left him. I feel bad that I didn't respond to his confession but I really couldn't tell what would have come out of my mouth and that had a chance of being far worse than being left with silence.

"Obi...?" He stares at me in silence before stuttering out a one-word answer. "Do you want to uh- you can come lay down with me... if you want to, of course..."

"I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable." He mumbles as he tears his gaze away.

"If it made me uncomfortable, I wouldn't have offered it."

He nods and stays silent for a moment before downing the rest of his rum and getting to his feet.

I find myself lying beside Obi, both of us covered by blankets, but I can't get myself to face him so I roll to my side to get comfortable. I've slept beside him for years without issue, I guess his confession shook me a little more than I thought. I still don't know how to respond to it.

"Arowen?" His soft voice breaks the silence.

"Yeah?"

"I-I'm sorry for confessing that to you. I didn't want to mess things up between us but I think I did that already."

"It's okay... I'm sorry I never responded, I just don't know how to process it."

"You don't have to respond to it. You know how I feel but I'm okay with no response and I won't act on anything."

I chew on my lip for a moment before quietly speaking again. "I was told that my parents loved each other, and if love is really like that, I don't want it."

"Can I ask what you think love is, based off your experience with them?"

"They didn't speak to each other often, and when they did, it was more anger than anything. I don't recall seeing them together at all if they weren't attending or hosting an event. I don't even recall ever seeing them kiss, hug, or hold hands either. I was told they loved me by my caretaker, but I know it was a different form of love. It was angry too. I hardly ever saw them unless they were going to chastise me for doing something they didn't approve of or were going to beat me and lock me away in the cellar."

"I'm sorry you experienced that, but that is definitely not love in any way, shape, or form. Love is a happy, comfortable, safe feeling and someone who cares for your well-being. It's being with someone you wouldn't mind spending the rest of your life with. You may not get along all the time but the good days outweigh the bad."

I think over his words for a moment then my eyes widen as I realize something. "If that's what love is... then I think I love you, Obi."