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

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I think about what we've been through a lot," he said. He ran his fingers down her arm and traced the stitches there. "What I got you into."

[assassinrue]

"And look what came out of it. I have a friend. I've had my first kiss."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Was it worth it?" Aron asked. "Being tortured in exchange for... whatever this is?"

[assassinrue]

Valerie turned in his arms to look at him. "One scratch on my arm was definitely worth it."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron tightened his arms around her and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, but if meant we'd never have been friends without it, then I wouldn't want to change that. Does that make me selfish?"

[assassinrue]

Valerie touched his cheek with her fingertips. "Not in my opinion."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron closed his eyes and let out a slow breath. "Okay," he whispered. "I think I can go to sleep now, but we probably won't be comfortable if we stay on the couch." He cracked an eye open and gave a faint smile.

[assassinrue]

Valerie smiled and stood slowly, running her fingers don his arm to take his hand and pull him up. She led him to the bed room and climbed onto the bed, careful not to let go of his hand.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron glanced down at the jeans he was still wearing, wishing he could not sleep in them for the second night in a row. Maybe he could scrounge up some pajama bottoms... but he doubted it. He sighed and settled down into the bed beside her.

[assassinrue]

Valerie curled into his side and laid her arm over his chest. "I hate jeans." She mumbled.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Would you mind... if I took them off?" Aron asked hesitantly. "I think I have some shorts. You can borrow some, too."

[assassinrue]

"Sure" Valerie yawned. "Go ahead."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron slipped out of bed, ignoring the disappointment as breaking her hold. He grabbed two pairs of shorts from his dresser and tossed her one. He stripped off his jeans and pulled the shorts on. Strange, that he thought the long shorts were better than his boxers. It seemed it was more the concept than the actual clothing.

[assassinrue]

Valerie sleepily wiggled out of her jeans and pulled on the shorts. "They're kinda big." She mumbled, sounding like she wanted to giggle.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron grinned as he climbed back into the bed with her. "Big shocker there." He slipped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him so her face was resting against his chest. Yeah, he could get used to this. It wasn't so hard, though he still wanted to kiss her.

[assassinrue]

Valerie wiggled herself closer to him, smiling. "I like you." She whispered against his chest, resting her knee over his thigh.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I like you too," Aron replied softly. He stroked her hair gently, his eyes closing. I really like you.

[assassinrue]

Valerie nuzzled into him and promptly fell asleep.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron's hand still as he drifted on. With there bodies pressed together, it was probably the best he'd slept in a long time, and he hadn't even known he'd been having trouble sleeping.

[assassinrue]

Valerie kept her eyes shut but her brain snapped into wakefulness. Something was wrong. And yet familiar. She slowly opened her eyes and remembered that she had stayed with Aron. Who was currently completely curled around her, his breath warm on the back of her neck.