Vessel X OC/reader

Chapter 14

I sit on his bed, and watch him carefully as he lies beside me.
"I don't want it to be another time. I want you tell me now. I don't like dishonesty."

He groans, and runs his fingers through his hair.
"There are people out there that disagree with me. Your family are one of many. "

"No shit. You're an asshole."

He sighs.
"Yeah, well. Lots of those people want me dead. Quite a few of them act on it."

I tilt my head.
"Okay. So what's your point?"

"So, it's not uncommon for me to get hurt. Which means, you're a target too."

"Why are you just telling me this now?" I ask him. "You wanted to marry me."

"Like I already said. I thought you were a monster, too. You're not."

I think, carefully.

"So why did my family get so much shit for opposing you, when people have actually tried to kill you?"

"I can't give shit to people that are dead and buried." He replies, and I stare back at him, in shock. It seems reasonable to kill people that are a threat to you, but I can't help but be a bit disturbed.

"But... You wouldn't hurt my family?"

"Your family attended one of my parties, maybe four years ago. Do you remember? That was the first time I met all of you. Your father is a good man, I could tell that straight away. Your mother was heavily pregnant with Jessa at the time, too."

"I remember." I reply, flatly, not particularly looking forward to where he was going with this.

"I'm an observant man, if nothing else. I remember these two young adults, standing either side of them. The spit of each other, and their parents. I knew by then, just by word of mouth, who you all were. The Lockharts. I'd already been told about all of you. Socialites. Popular, with most people. But heathens. Renounced our religion, and refused to compromise on it. That would usually infuriate me. And, it did, once I heard about it. But, once I saw you, I felt different. Calmer, at least. So I approached you. Not your family. You. Once I could get you alone, I offered you a glass of wine. I think it was red wine, right?"

"Yes." I respond, quietly. "It was, it was red."

"I'm not interested, usually. But like everyone had said, you were so visibly fierce, and stunningly beautiful. I think, all I said was, 'Gaia Lockhart, right?', I'm sure that's all I said. Do you remember what you did? Or said?"

I bite my lip, and try not to smile.
"Remind me."

"You said, 'fuck off', and you poured the glass of wine over me. You stained my mask, and soaked my clothes. And you walked away."

I didn't understand his point at all, but he seemed to genuinely enjoy reminiscing, so I let him.

"That sounds familiar." I reply, and look down.

"You weren't scared of me. The rest of your family were. Even your dad. The whole reason you were even at the party was to try and mend the rift between us."

"So, you won't hurt me or my family, because you think I'm pretty?" I ask, rolling my eyes.

"That's not the point, no. Your father was passionate about nothing except being a father. He just wanted to protect you. Your mother was pregnant, she wanted the same. Your brother was just angry, because he was scared for his family. All vulnerable in some way, and no threat to me. The only one of you I thought could be a threat, was you. I still believe that, too."

I think, carefully. Oh, jeez, what's he getting at?

"I had just decided I needed to settle, a little, and have a family. And I quite quickly realised, the kind of woman I wanted to marry, is the kind that would cut a throat for their family, without a second thought. So... No. I wouldn't harm a hair on the head of who I hoped would be my in-laws. And definitely wouldn't harm a hair on the head of who I hoped would be my wife."

I really didn't know what to say. The marriage proposal wasn't a sudden thing. He'd wanted to ask me for four years.

"Why did you wait to ask, for four years?" I ask him.

He thinks, for a moment.
"Truthfully, I knew you would say no, and wasn't sure I could handle it."

I stay quiet, completely dumbfounded.
"I'm staying here." I say, quietly. "If you don't scare me, neither does anyone that wants you dead."

"Ok." He says, quietly.

I was a little confused about who this sensitive and sweet man was, and what he'd done with my fiancé.

I lie down in bed, and get comfortable.

"Shit. I think I do have feelings for you." I say, out loud, deciding I may as well be honest.

He turns to look at me, and looks confused for a moment.

"No, you don't. Sleep it off, Gaia. Goodnight."