Cruel but Gentle - Herobrine X Steve

Chapter 34

Steve was elated. When he opened his bedroom doors after hearing the barely-restrained and frantic knocking, he was met with the bright red face of Alex.  She wore an expression that screamed for help. She was clearly embarrassed, for some reason. Steve would have laughed warmly at Alex but that was when he noticed who was standing behind her.

Herobrine. He had came back. Steve found himself unable to fight off the grin that tugged the edges of his mouth. Herobrine actually looked marginally better than last time - his clothing less crumpled and his hair seemed to have finally been brushed from the countless knots that had formed from the lack of care. Steve had to force himself not to let any joyful sounds escape him, really happy with how Herobrine had been taking a little more care of himself.

"Hi Steve!" Alex greeted upon seeing him, voice a little too loud and smile a little too wide. "So this guy came here to see you!" She gestured to where Herobrine stood behind her. "Now I've got, uh, more patrolling to do! So I'm gonna go! But have fun!" She was quick to dash off after that, running back down the nearby flight of stairs and leaving Steve to wonder what had just happened between those two.

But that wasn't important at the moment. What was important was the nervous god that stood by his door, fidgeting ever so slightly. Fondness crept into Steve's heart once more; he really was in love with this dork.

"Uh, hi?" Herobrine tried, forcing himself to make eye contact with Steve. Seeing those blue eyes so happy was doing horrible things to his insides, making them all fluttery. Clearing his throat to steel himself, Herobrine continued. "You told me to come back... so here I am?"

Steve couldn't wait any longer, so he took the two steps that separated them and wrapped his arms tightly around the waist of the god, who seemed startled by the sudden affection.

"Thanks, Herobrine." Steve smiled into his chest. The was a solid couple of seconds that passed before Herobrine found himself returning the hug, his burly arms wrapping around the human with caution. "Wanna come inside?"

There was enough awkwardness in the air for it to be noticed by both parties (and any onlookers, if there had been any) but Steve had expected that.  He knew that things weren't going to be perfect between them. He'd honestly be way more concerned if they were perfect. Steve could deal with awkward.

"Yes. If that's okay." Herobrine felt stiff, his heart hammering against his ribcage. Steve could hear it thudding, taking more of how nervous Herobrine seemed. He then broke off the hug to walk into the bedroom and sit down on the bed.

Steve began to pet Dusky, who had been laying there, but she quickly jumped off the bed once she saw Herobrine. Her chocolate eyes were filled with distrust and a hatred that had been there so long that - if it were to disappear - there would be nothing left.

Herobrine didn't blame her. Dusky's old owner was one of the few humans he remembered killing, though he couldn't recall her name. All he knew about her was she had been very interested in him. Or rather, his story. She was basically obsessed with researching what had happened to him. The only reason he remembered her was because of how she didn't react in fear when she first saw him, but in awe. She was dead soon after. Dusky had seen him kill her.

Herobrine decidedly turned his focus back to Steve, who had been staring warmly at him. The human shifted further onto the bed with his legs crossed and then patted the now empty spot in front of him as an offering. Herobrine took it gratefully - having felt even more out of place whilst just standing there - and joined Steve on the bed, sitting opposite the human and on top of his own legs.

There was a full moment where nothing happened, but then Steve spoke up and cut through the silence that had been growing thick with agitation

"I wanted to talk to you; about everything." He began to wring his hands, giving Herobrine a hopeful look. Herobrine drew in a deep breath to prepare himself as he mimicked Steve's pose. Now they both sat cross-legged and facing one another. "And about... my feelings. And yours. I want us to talk about our feelings and what happened."