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

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron's head jerked down when he saw her approaching, and when she sat down beside him, his whole body stiffened. Suddenly, he wanted to be anywhere but here. She was happy! What was wrong with him? He was going to waltz in and screw everything up for her... again.

[assassinrue]

That smell. She would know that smell anywhere. "Aron?" She breathed, just quiet enough that she was hoping he might not here.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Good Lord, how did she know? He let out a slow breath but didn't answer, hoping she'd think she was mistaken.

[assassinrue]

"Damn it Aron!" Valerie hissed. She reached over and snatched the good off of his head.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron swore under his breath--a rather vulgar string of words, mind you--and then slowly raised his eyes to meet her gaze. Still, he stayed silent.

[assassinrue]

"What are you doing here?" She hissed. She had no idea what she wanted to do more, hit him, and gods knew it would hurt, or smother him in relieved kisses that he was alive and here.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"I decided to come home," Aron replied. "I couldn't stand being there anymore."

[assassinrue]

"When?" Valerie couldn't make herself say more than that.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron watched her face carefully. What was she thinking? Was he happy to see him? He wasn't sure that was even possible. "I got here a few days ago," he said. "But I guess now I'm on the run. A defector."

[assassinrue]

Valerie exhaled loudly then launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around him as tightly as she could. She still couldn't force words out of her mouth.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

The impact of her body made him jerk back a little, but he caught his balance and wrapped his arms around her. He didn't know why she was hugging him, but he wasn't going to question it just yet. He held onto her tightly, his heart quickening as all his memories of her came rushing back. So many memories packed into so few days. Even the beginning, when they were kidnapped. It was horrible and he wished it hadn't happened to her, but at the same time it was glad it had. Because where would he be right now if they haven't been forced together like that? Such small things made such huge changes.

[assassinrue]

Valerie pulled back shyly, refusing to look at him. "When are you leaving again?" Her voices was harder than before.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron watched her closely. "I'm not," he said. "Not unless they find me."

[assassinrue]

Valerie looked at him critically. "Things have changed. I don't know what to say."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"You don't have to say anything," Aron said. "I shouldn't have followed you. I just... I had to know if you were happy."

[assassinrue]

Valerie shrugged, looking out over the people, her eyes not really seeing them. "I don't have a good answer to that. I'm happy where I am but I miss how my life used to be. You included."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron smiled sadly. "I miss you, too. I'm not sure I can go back to what my life used to be. I guess I just move forward. Move on." If that was even possible.

[assassinrue]

"That's what I thought but even caring about Isaiah as much as I do, I can't seem to move forward the way that I want to."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron nodded slowly. "You two have grown closer, then?" he asked carefully. "Does he know you used to be his dog?"

[assassinrue]

Valerie shrugged. "Not necessarily, it's just different because I'm human." She scoffed. "And he most definitely does not know I used to be his dog."