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

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron snorted and took off his shoes. He grabbed a blanket from the closet and settled down on the couch to try and sleep.

[assassinrue]

Valerie couldn't sleep. Partially she was staying awake to see what Aron would do, partially she felt strange, the last time she had slept as a human she was delirious and in pain.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

After about ten minutes of laying there, Aron rolled over onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. His eyes darted toward the bedroom and he groaned. His imagination was running wild, but he forced himself to think of something else. Anything else. Like getting shot. Yeah, that would work. Pain would keep his head clear.

[assassinrue]

Valerie rolled over in the bed. This wasn't working for her. With a loud sigh she turned and curled up at the foot of the bed.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron closed his eyes briefly but snapped them back open when her face swam into focus. He rubbed his forehead, a soft growl sounding from his throat.

[assassinrue]

Valerie picked up her head and listened, she was getting sleepy now, but her better ears told her Aron was no where near sleep. She padded out the the living room and slunk up to the couch, quietly resting her head on the edge of the couch, her dark eyes watching him.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron didn't move when she came in, but he could hear her and smell her. Finally, he said, "You're not helping."

[assassinrue]

Valerie whined and sat back on her haunches with her head tilted.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron turned his head to the side so he could see her. Well, at least he didn't feel like making out with her anymore, not when she was a dog. Eww. He sighed and looked away again. "You should really go back to sleep."

[assassinrue]

Valerie barked as she turned and it turned into a laugh. "I never fell asleep."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Fine," Aron grumbled. His fingertips tingled to reach out and touch her. "Go back to bed and fall asleep."

[assassinrue]

Valerie frowned and crossed her legs. "Is it really that bad?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron sighed. "I've been giving into my primal instincts for years now. Indulgence would be an understatement. I do what I want, take what I want, and no one's ever been able to stop me. Now? I can't decide what I want."

[assassinrue]

"Tell me about it, why can't you decide?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Because I want you, but I don't want to scare you off. I don't want to force you into anything you're not ready for." He paused and looked over at her, just barely able to make her out in the darkness. "Sometimes I just want to hold you, but that's not really something I've done before. Just held someone."

[assassinrue]

Valerie stood up and sat next to him. "Try it."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron blinked at her. "Try what?"

[assassinrue]

"Just hold me. Just relax, wrap your arms around me and breath." Slowly, she laid down next him, giving him time to shove her away.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron hesitantly put one arm around her, and then rolled onto his side and wrapped his other behind her back, pulling her to his chest. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to remind himself that this was what he wanted--someone to hold onto, not another one-night-stand.

[assassinrue]

"Talk about something." She whispered. "Or think of a conversation in your head. Think about all the craziness we've been through lately and what we've learned about each other."