Better ~Jean x Reader AU~

Chapter 25: Just Like Home

My heart hammered against my ribs as my pulse pounded in my ears. My body was going numb, nothing but a few chills darting the length of my spine. I couldn't believe it...I couldn't believe who it was I saw photographing Nala. It felt like a dream -like a twisted dream. Then again, as I watched him, I wasn't too surprised.

Jean.

He was the one who stood close to Nala, his tall frame being painted by the bronzy luminance. In his hands he held the camera, his thumbs fiddling with the buttons as his stare focused on the screen on it. The beanie I had seen him wear before was cozily rested on his head while an unbuttoned red and black plaid shirt blew freely in the gale, a black undershirt clothing his torso. A pair of dark washed jeans with a few rips and tears at the knees hugged his legs before disappearing into his black Eddie Bauer boots. He looked so beautiful. Beautiful and refreshing.

He was concentrated on his camera, those gorgeous golden orbs scanning the image displayed on the screen. Honestly, seeing him so focused was both interesting and...attractive. The way the light slivered across his smooth features was utterly breathtaking. Before me stood a verily stunning specimen.

I watched as he held the camera back up to his eye, readying himself to take another picture of Nala when she took a step forward in my direction, grasping his attention. He pulled his gaze from the camera and directed it my way, our stares locking immediately. As if I wasn't already holding my breath, I could feel it lodge in my throat. He was definitely looking at me -there was no doubt of it.

"Y/N?" he asked, a hint of surprise visible in his tone. "Y/N...what...what are you doing here?"

With a surge of panic consuming me, I stuttered, "O-oh, h-hey, Jean. D-didn't expect t-to s-see you h-here." I scratched the back of my head. "What's...what's up?"

He lifted a brow. "Funny. I should ask you the same." He dropped his eyes back to his camera, fiddling with it. "How long have you been there?"

"Not very long," I answered, dropping both of my arms to my sides.

"I see," he sighed, glimpsing back up at me. "You're the first person I know of to venture back this far. Why did you come here, anyway?"

I didn't know how to answer that...not without sounding like a creep, anyway. How was I supposed to answer that? That I had seen him months ago in the dark photographing that majestic creature without truly knowing it was him? That was the truth. That was the honest truth. And he deserved that.

I shrugged, "I...well, over the winter I kinda stumbled across you photographing Nala." I perked up and held my hands defensively. "B-but, I didn't know that was you. It was dark and I just saw someone taking pictures of her. I swear I wasn't creeping or anything like that."

He scanned me briefly. "So, you know her name, then?"

"Um...yeah," I nodded. "I heard you say it that night...I just, uh...I just didn't know it was you."

"You've already said that," he huffed. "I'm surprised you're talking to me right now. I feel like you've been avoiding me."

A twinge pulled at me. A tint of pain seemed to appear in his eyes as he said that. Guilt washed over me. I felt horrible. I knew that it was my fault. At least, it felt like my fault.

"Sorry if I make it feel that way," I swallowed.

"Can you please cut the bullshit?" he growled, his tone sharpening. "I know you've been avoiding me, and I want to know why."

His stare burned into me, those piercing orbs pinning me to where I stood. A mixture of hurt and frustration was all I saw looking back at me. To be honest, I felt like a douche, but I didn't want to tell him the truth. Alexandra would surely have had a meltdown if she knew.