Wildfire

(32)

3 months later

Mariana Montanari

I sat on the table going through some papers as I angrily typed away. Kenneth sat beside me with a burger. I was trying to leave validation thing behind and a few months ago I almost did too. But that week brought a lot back that I didn't want.

"You've got to at least eat something." He rubbed his hand on my back. I kind of felt bad about how much patience he'd been showing me. A year earlier I would've gone into complete self destruction but he wouldn't let me.

I hadn't let him touch me since the incident. He had never complained but it was frustrating. I wanted to. I want to touch him but every time he was on me it brought so much back. I hated to push him away but at least he knew I was trying. I hadn't really talked to anyone in three months.

"I'm working." I said without looking at the food. "Okay then I'll feed you?" I absentmindedly nodded. "What are you doing anyways?" He said as he held up the burger to my mouth. "Pissing off Diaz."

I glared at him as he chuckled. "That's work?" I nodded looking up from my screen and taking the burger in my own hands. "Are you mad at me, wildfire?"

Wow so I couldn't even eat on my own. "No burgers are just good to eat with your own hands?" I held it up to him to take a bite. "So what did Diaz do?" He said as my eyes landed on his Adam's apple moving as he swallowed the bite. "Exist." He looked at me to finish my sentence but I didn't have anything else to say.

"I'm a very petty human being." I provided him with the much needed explanation. "You're a very pretty human being." He echoed my sentence. "I said petty." He wiped a crumb off my lip. "I said pretty."

I miserably failed at hiding my blush. "Shut the fuck up." He sighed but smiled anyway. "Also I have to take you somewhere." I got slightly nervous at having to leave the comfort of my own house. "When?" I asked, realising I couldn't stay inside forever.

"Go get dressed, wildfire." I rolled my eyes at the confidence. "Say please and maybe I'll consider it." He looked me in the eyes with a mischievous smirk. "My precious darling, I need to take you somewhere and if you don't want me to throw you over my shoulder and take you exactly in the state you're in then be a good girl and get your ass ready in the next hour. Please?"

"I-" I was more concerned about the state I was in. I was wearing one of his t-shirts with nothing underneath. They helped me sleep better and since we'd been staying at his apartment since I got discharged from the hospital. His gaze didn't waver as I met it with mine. "You were such a good boy till I said I love you too."

I didn't miss the blush creeping on his face as I moved closer and traced the tattooed lip print in red on his neck. I got closer to his ear as I whispered "Why don't you be a good boy and help me get dressed, curly?"

A shiver rolled down his neck as I brushed my lips over the tattoo. "Y-yeah okay." I smirked at his stutter and kissed his jaw before leaving him and moving to the vanity to get ready.

I liked when he was there with me when I got ready. The mirrors hurt more without him.

After the incident he made sure I didn't come across any mirrors. Slowly and gradually I was getting used to them again. I still ended up breaking one once in a while but he kept me from using the shards.

I apologised to him for getting his mother in trouble only to get a "she's dead to me. Always was. Always will be." Now we don't talk about either of those things.

After I was ready we walked to the car. He beat me to the door. Again. "When can I open my own doors?" I rolled my eyes. "When I lose my hands maybe. Or your concerning friend chops them off." I haven't really talked to Elijah in a while. In all fairness I haven't talked to anyone in a while.

"He knows I'm gonna bite his ear off if he tries." I countered. "Protective huh?" He didn't give me a chance to respond as we stopped at a cherry field. I loved cherries. I can't help the smile forming on my face. I stepped out as he opens my door, not wasting a second as I went to the trees.

For hours we plucked cherries and ate them. With multiple death glares at Kenneth and a lot of jokes about my height. For the love of god. With a basketful of cherries and sore feet I stood there. "The air even smells like cherries. Oh my god, Ken, Let's move here-."

I spin around to look at him to see him on one knee. My breath caught in my throat. I saw sweat cover his forehead as his hand reached into his pocket pulling out a velvet box.

"Wildfire, there's something I need to say, and I want to make sure I get it right. We've faced dangers, shared secrets, and survived more than most people could ever imagine. But through all the chaos and the darkness, there's been one constant light in my life, and that's you."

My eyes softened as I saw the look in his eyes. It was so.... sincere... "Kenneth..."

"You are the strongest, most incredible woman I've ever met. You are fierce, fearless, and unstoppable. You make me want to be a better man, to be someone worthy of standing by your side. Mariana Montanari, will you marry me? Will you let me be the one to stand with you, to support you, to love you for the rest of our lives? I know our world is dangerous and unpredictable, but I promise to be your partner in every battle, your comfort in every storm, and your unwavering ally in all that we face together."

The tears fell from my eyes before I even knew they're there. "Kenneth... I..."

"I know we come from different worlds, and I know I can't erase the past or the scars we both carry. But I know we can build something beautiful together, something strong and unbreakable. Marry me. Please?"

A sob escaped my throat. My voice barely above a whisper "Yes, Kenneth.... Yes, I will marry you." His arms wrapped around my waist lifting my feet off the ground, spinning me."

"We can move here, yes." He responds. "I-" I finished his sentence "Bought it? I know."

He slipped the ring on my finger. "I hate you." I say between sobs kissing with enough force to make him stumble. "Forever?" He asked, making me nod. "Forever."

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