Gehenna's Gate

Give

Cerulean eyes widened a bit at the proposition. A compromise. It was a vulnerable one indeed, but he was going to be just as vulnerable as her. A leveled playing field of raw emotions and weaknesses. She wouldn't be the only one risking something by being so open.

That seemed... fair. Doable. She wasn't the only one putting herself in danger, they'd share that together. Maybe even seeing someone else open up and lay bear whatever they held inside would help encourage her to do the same.

Slowly, another tear made its way down her cheek, but there was a soft smile accompanying it. The girl gave a wordless nod.

Xiao's eyebrows raised high, almost as if he'd expected her to decline. Immediately after, he smiled back, teeth showing and all, revealing sharp and perfect canines.

Vena's heart thumped wildly in her chest, a mixture of anxiety but also mild excitement. Happiness? She couldn't quite pin point it yet. Knowing she'd get to see even a glimpse inside of Xiao's mind intrigued her, especially since she knew he hadn't allowed many others. It was an honor indeed, but little did she know, he was feeling the exact same thing about her.

"I'm going to be brutally honest, okay? If any of it scares you, just let me know and I'll stop." Xiao's voice was low, coming over now to sit on the edge of the bed facing her so they could talk more comfortably.

Again, Vena nodded. Before, the love songs had kind of made her uncomfortable, almost as if she hadn't known how to react to such a deep display of love and admiration. She'd never experienced it before from someone who wasn't a parent or Rae, from someone she may have feelings for in return.

It was terrifying, to say the least, but apart of her wanted to dive headfirst despite that fear.

"The first time I saw you, it wasn't love at first sight. It wasn't like a cliche fairy tail or how they show it in movies..." Xiao spoke slowly, his eyes drifting downward, just focusing everything on his words and nothing else.

If it wasn't for his perfectly crafted poker face he had on at all times, Vena wouldn't even think he was uncomfortable either, but she saw how his fingers twitched in his lap, how his voice sounded ever so slightly off.

"It was a quiet curiosity. A little interest in learning more. I looked forward to seeing you. At first, I almost liked that you were afraid of me... The way you'd stutter your words or get angry at me, how you threatened me in the very restaurant I used to work in." The boy laughed softly at that, clearly still impressed by the girl's guts.

"But slowly, it started changing. It became more. Instead of scaring you, I started craving the sight of your smile. Hearing you laugh. It turned into an obsession to keep you safe. Now, it's almost animalistic. An intense possessive urge that I can't ignore... love."

The man didn't raise his head, but he could still see her face from the corner of his eye.

All color drained as her breath hitched in her throat, full lips parted in shock, feeling as if she'd been punched in the gut.

But honestly, what had she expected him to say? How long could she try and remain blissfully ignorant?

"What?" Azure eyes were glazed over, new tears beginning to form, but the exact emotion attached to them was hard to distinguish right now.

"I'm in love with you, Vena." Xiao gave an airy laugh at that, finally meeting her gaze as he reached over to tenderly take hold of one of her shaking hands.

"How?" Came the next response, another tear flowing down the endless river of her face.

"I am fragile... sensitive... dysfunctional. I struggle to trust anyone, even good people. I doubt everything. I ruin everything I touch as if I'm covered in poison ivy. I feel like I was born with something rotten inside me, and that if anyone gets too close, they'd find out. Maybe that's why everyone ends up leaving..." Vena was rambling almost mindlessly, listening off every negative thing about herself that she could think of.