ι'м ησт qυιтє нυмαη, вυт ι'м ησт qυιтє α мα¢нιηє {Rue}

[assassinrue]

Valerie blinked rapidly then took the beer with a smile. "Oh yes I'd love one thank you!"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron gave her a small smile and went to sit on the couch. So caught up in what he was feeling, he hadn't even realized the effect he'd had on her. He just wanted a beer to calm himself down.

[assassinrue]

Valerie panicked. He hadn't left a lot of room for her on the couch and no matter where she sat, their legs would touch. She sat down quickly, trying not to hyperventilate, trying not to stare at where their legs touched. What was wrong with her?

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron's chest rose and fell slowly, but only because he was focusing on keeping his breathing steady. Inside his chest, his heart was pounding, like he'd been running for miles. Finally, he said the only thing he could think of. "How's your arm?"

[assassinrue]

"Considering you were just playing with it, it kinda hurts." Her voice was small.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron gave a short laugh. "Playing with it?" He glanced down at the angry red area on her arm, her skin held together by a fair number of stitches. "It'll heal," he said absently. "Though you'll probably have a scar."

[assassinrue]

Valerie shrugged, running her fingers around the angry red line. "It's not like anyone will see it. Or care." She mumbled the last bit.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron cocked his head slightly. "You're right. They won't care. At least, no one important will care."

[assassinrue]

Valerie laughed bitterly, "You're really the only person of import."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"For right now, perhaps," Aron said. "But I doubt that this... whatever it is... will last long." It hurt him to say, but it was true. In his experience, even 'real' relationships didn't last.

[assassinrue]

Valerie motioned between them "This?" She laughed. "God Aron cheer up a tiny bit. There's not even enough between us to wedge us apart. We eat food and you sewed up my arm." She shook her head with a small smile. "We have a lot of time,"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I think there's more than that," Aron said, amusement flashing in his eyes. "We got kidnapped together, you got tortured, I saved your life. I mean, average stuff for me, but..."

[assassinrue]

"Not so average for me." She looked at him critically a moment. "Shouldn't I be all PTSD or something?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron set his beer down on the coffee table and leaned back, throwing his arms over the back of the couch. "Nah. PTSD is for losers. You're way too cool for that."

[assassinrue]

Valerie laughed delightedly. "If you're this much fun all the time I see why you're such a ladies'a man"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron gave a lazy grin. "Really? I thought it was because of my amazing good looks."

[assassinrue]

"That too." She mumbled, blushing and looking at him through her lashes.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron's lips twitched. He remember what she'd said before, while she was a little delirious, about him being pretty. He'd never once worried about his looks, because he'd been told his whole life how handsome he was. Somehow, though, hearing her say it meant something more. It was different when it wasn't some drunk girl looking to get laid.

[assassinrue]

Suddenly unable to be so close to him, she turned and walked up to different shelf, trying to center her mind, trying to accept that she was here and it was okay.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron stood up slowly. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked. Was it something he did? She kind of looked like she was going to cry. Or pass out.