The Prisoner | Natasha x OC

Chapter Seventeen

"Was I raised without love?
Or was I born unlovable?"
___

~One month later~

"ahbibt hadhih," Natara murmered to herself, fingers dragging softly up the spine of a book. (I like this one)

"You like that one? Or you don't?" Natara turned, no expression of surprise showing on her face which let Natasha know that she'd known she was there.

"I like it," Natara answered with a smile. She looked the redhead over once before going back to finding books. "That was close. You're getting good." She'd learnt early on that Nat picked up on languages quickly, making her advance easily in their lessons.

"There are children's books here," Natara informed her with furrowed brows. She'd seen several earlier and had been confused. "But they're all about love and... nihayat saeida?" Her brows drew together, creating a faint line. "What do you people call those?" (Happy endings).

Nat smiled at the fact that she understood. "Happily ever afters?" Natara hummed in agreement, eyes clearing and eyebrows relaxing.

"Because love is for children," Nat said with faux seriousness. The playful and teasing tone was heard easily. It helped her move on when she could use things she'd learnt as a child that back then has been the difference between life and death, for mockery.

"And what about the children who didn't get love?" Natara asked absently as she searched through the books, not paying attention to what she was saying.

Feeling eyes on her, she turned, and saw Nat was staring right at her, green eyes glimmering with an emotion she couldn't place. "Inner monolog," Natara excused, feeling a weariness starting to form inside her chest.

Nat didn't acknowledge her last words. "Then they deserve love more than anyone else." She watched the blonde closely, her own eyes soft as she took her in. Natara just gave a humorless smile.

"There are lots of people in this world who deserve lots of things. That doesn't mean they get them."

Nat shrugged and walked closer, also scanning the books now. "Maybe," She hummed. "Or maybe the world is preparing something extra special and it's just waiting for you to be ready for it." By now their eyes were locked, bodies close.

Natara almost lost herself in the comfort that Nat brought by having their bodies close to one another. With their eyes still locked, Natara spoke softly. "Unfortunately, I do not possess that optimism. I think that all Gods and good forces left this world long ago and allowed those left behind to deal with the consequences. The world cares for no one and nothing. And that is the truth."

The light in Nat's eyes dimmed and filled with a sadness as she looked at the beautiful women in front of her. If only the inside was as bright as the outside. Just how cruel had the world been to her to break that light all human beings should possess?

"There it is," Natara said quietly, snapping Nat out of her thoughts. The redhead could see something like acceptance in the green eyes that looked at her. "You're seeing me as I am. Broken, and lost. A broken toy that can no longer be fixed."

Nat's eyebrows furrowed. "No, that's not-"

"It's okay." Natara had a small smile on her face, forgiveness and understanding. And even a glint of relief. "I've always preferred people see me as I see myself. It spares them the disappointment they feel when they realize that the version of me that is in their heads it only that, a figment of what they wished I was. The truth is always better than a lie. Though I'll be honest when I say that I hoped the lie would last a little longer, in your mind that is."