Man On The Moon

Chapter 21: Just Only Us

The room was bathed in a dim, soft light. The only sounds that could be heard were the steady breathing of the sleeping group, the slow, rhythmic sound adding to the peaceful atmosphere. While Vettel tries to sleep, Suddenly Jingliu approaches him again seems she needs affection from him. Jingliu, her sharp eyes now soft and vulnerable, approached Vettel. A hint of a smile played across her face, and she sat down quietly next to him on the edge of the cot.

Jingliu: "... Can I... speak to you, for a moment?"

Vettel, despite his fatigue, was pulled out of his half-asleep state by the sound of Jingliu's voice. He looked up at her, his expression weary yet open to listening.

Vettel: "Of course. What is it?"

Jingliu's gaze flickered towards the rest of the group, making sure they were all asleep, before returning to Vettel. She swallowed visibly, gathering her thoughts before speaking.

Jingliu: "I've been reflecting... about everything that's happened. About..."

She paused, her voice trailing off as if the next words were too difficult to say. Vettel, sensing the weight of her thoughts, shifted slightly so he could face her more fully. He waited patiently, allowing her to find her words in her own time. Jingliu took a deep, steadying breath. Despite her usual calm exterior, there was an undercurrent of emotional vulnerability in her voice.

Jingliu: "About us. About everything. I... I want to apologize for the way I've behaved."

She stopped again, her eyes shifting away as if it was difficult to hold his gaze, to admit her flaws. Vettel, now fully awake and attuned to Jingliu's vulnerability, watched her quietly, taking in her words and the emotions behind them. When he spoke, his voice was gentle, but there was an intensity there, too.

Vettel: "You don't need to apologize to me. I know you've been carrying a heavy burden, and sometimes... sometimes it's difficult to see anything else but the past."

Jingliu, surprised by Vettel's understanding, looked back at him. Her eyes searched his face, seeking more than reassurance. She took another shuddering breath, gathering her courage to continue.

Jingliu: "I... I have been holding onto the past too tightly, I know that. But it's become like a... a shield if that makes sense. It protects me, but it also... keeps me from seeing what's right in front of me."

Vettel nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving her face. His exhaustion was forgotten, replaced by a sharp focus on her words. He understood better than she might know. In his way, he was just as haunted by the past as she was.

Vettel: "I understand. I've done the same thing, in different ways. It's a dangerous trap, the past. It can hold us down, keep us from living in the present."

As he spoke, Vettel reached out and pulled her into an unexpected embrace. His arms encircled her, drawing her closer to him. This was the closest they had been in a long time, the physical contact speaking louder than words. Vettel, his voice a gentle murmur.

Vettel: "You've been through so much, Jingliu, but you don't have to face it alone. I'm here. You don't need a shield. Not from me." 

Jingliu, caught off guard by the sudden embrace, found herself melting into him. For once, she felt safe, truly safe, after so long. Her arms wrapped around him in return, her head resting on his shoulder. Jingliu whispered words muffled against his skin.

Jingliu: "I... I don't know if I even know how to let go."

Vettel held her closer, his hands rubbing slow, soothing circles on her back. He understood her fear, her doubt, and it broke his heart. Vettel, his voice a hushed but fierce reassurance.

Vettel: "You don't have to know how. Let me help. We'll figure it out, one step at a time."

Jingliu closed her eyes, her body trembling slightly as a wave of emotion washed over her. All the pain, the sorrows, the guilt, the fear - it all seemed to come to the surface, and she gripped him tighter as if trying to anchor herself to this moment, to this man. She let out a broken whisper.

Jingliu: "I don't deserve you."

In the soft, quiet moment, surrounded by the peaceful sounds of the sleeping group, Vettel gently tilted Jingliu's chin up, the touch of his fingers light but deliberate. He looked into her eyes and then, without another word, leaned in, his lips finding hers in a gentle, lingering kiss. The kiss was unhurried, a gentle affirmation of his words - that he was with her, that she wasn't alone. Jingliu's surprise quickly melted into the kiss, her defences dropping, if only momentarily. She melted into him, her fingers curling against his back, wanting to be even closer. When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing a little harder, their faces close enough to feel each other's breath on their skin. As they pulled apart, a breathless moment passed, and then Jingliu, still clinging to Vettel, her eyes fixed on his, whispered.

Jingliu: "Vettel, give me more."