Twisted

Just Look at Me

"This can't be real," Boruto muttered, staring at the long bangs that hung down in front of of the face of the girl before him and the books about their country spread out on her bed. He was pretty sure his face had been plastered on posters all throughout the kingdom. There was even a poster on a random tree in the forest.

But to say she thought all the history books on her bookshelf were nothing but fantasies...

He shook his head. Because of her bangs, she hadn't looked at him once. That was it. She just needed to look into his eyes, and she'd know that he was the famous prince who brought a smile to everyone's face.

"Hey."

"What?" She answered but remained facing away from him, her head tilted down. 

"Turn around."

"...I'd rather not."

He caught her shoulder, but she ducked and walked rather quickly away. "You should be going."

"Not until you look at me."

She lunged away. "I'm not looking at anything."

But Boruto caught her arm before she could get anywhere. It was surprisingly small... And delicate. And shaking. He eased the tension in his hold and spoke softly as she yanked her arm away. "I'll admit I'm annoying, but I'm not someone bad enough for you to smack upside the head with a cast iron skillet. Seriously, if you look at me, you wouldn't be trying to shoo me away. I need a favor... Please?"

"I don't recall owing you any favors." Sarada ambled back towards her bookshelf. "And you won't fool me into looking at your unpleasant face, even if you hold me down and pry my eyes open."

Boruto's eye twitched. "If you just turn around, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to tell who I am, and that I would never hurt you. And I'm not 'unpleasant' to look at either."

"I think I'll be my own judge of who is unpleasant and who is not. If you don't want to be knocked out and tied up again, I suggest you behave."

"Oh, so you're keeping me now?"

"You've left me with no choice. Who sent you here?"

"...No one," said Boruto, now much more interested in the contents of her bookshelf. 

"Why do you want my eyes? Do you have orders to gouge them out? Tie me up and sell me?"

"Huh? No! What on earth are you talking about?" 

"You-- You don't want me for my eyes?"

"Why on earth would I want your eyes?" Maybe this girl wasn't right in the head. "Look, the only thing I want with your eyes, is for you to look at me. And stop hiding your face. I won't hurt you. Or are you scared I'll call you ugly?"

"...I think calling me ugly will be the least of your worries."

As she said those words, her tone was rather sad, as though looking at her would be some sort of terrible experience for him. Now he was even more curious. "I've never met someone as difficult and stubborn as you."

"I guess you're not well acquainted with your reflection. There's a mirror right over there. Go say hello."

Boruto's eyes narrowed this time, leering in her direction. Who did she think she was, insulting him like this? "I'm more impressed by your ignorance. I didn't think there was anyone who..." He trailed off. 

What if she was being serious? What if she didn't know he was a prince? If that was really true, it would save him a lot of trouble. But he had to see her eyes and judge her reaction first. Words were one thing, but when he looked at people and their hopes were laid bare, it was much harder for them to lie.