. B O N E S . S H A T T E R . ;; Cryssie

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Phoenix saw his shadow pause by her door and she crawled to edge of the bed, gently placing her feet on the floor. She stood up and shuffled to the door, putting her hand on the doorknob.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leo lifted his hand, knuckles ready to knock. He held his breath. He wondered if he could actually do it, if it would be right, if it would be worth it. What was enough to push him over the edge and make him ignore all his fears? He dropped his hand back to his side and started to walk away.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

The door opened a crack and Phoenix peeked out at his retreating back, "Leo?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leo froze. His heart missed a beat, his breathing stopped. He felt like he might pass out right there. Slowly, he turned around to face her. "Yes?"

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Phoenix felt her face heat up- she hadn't even been sure of what she wanted to say to him. There was an urgent need inside of her to speak to him about anything, "Um," she fidgeted, standing in the doorway, "I-I'm sorry.."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

He blinked. "For what?" He couldn't imagine what she could possibly have to apologize for.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"For..instigating anything," Phoenix played with the hem of the shirt she was wearing, "You..didn't have to feel like you needed to do anything."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leo let out a muffled laugh. "You think that? I've needed to do that for a long time, Phoenix. It's not your fault. Well... actually it's all your fault, but that's not the point."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Phoenix fidgeted, rubbing the back of her neck, "Then why do you seem...unhappy?" she asked softly.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I'm unhappy because it can't happen again," Leo said. He gazed at her with remorse and then glanced away. "It can't," he whispered.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Why not?" Her voice was sharper, the tone challenging, "Why can't it happen again, Leo? I liked it. I wanted it to happen." Phoenix stepped closer to him, eyes narrowed.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Because you deserve better than me!" Leo let out a frustrated sigh. "I'm damaged. You don't deserve that."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Phoenix shook her head, "Leo, I don't care. You can be damaged- that doesn't matter. I like you how you are."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

He let out a shaky breath. "Why?"

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

She huffed, dropping her arms, "I don't know. Why do you like me? I just..do."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

He took a step toward her, then another. "I like you because you're beautiful, and smart, and brave. I like you because you stuck by me all this time."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

She stared at him as he got closer, "I like you because you're focused. You may be serious, but you're not mean. Not to me, at least."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

The corner of Leo's mouth twitched into a sad smile. "Because I'm not mean to you, that makes me an okay person?"

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"You're a leader, Leo," Phoenix was just a few inches from him now, "You can't always be nice, if the situation doesn't call for it." She reached up, pressing her warm palm against his cheek, "It doesn't make you a bad person either."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Leo exhaled, his heart rate picking up even more at her warm touch. "It's more than that and you know it. There's not being nice all the time, and then there's begin a jerk."