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

[assassinrue]

"What do you hear?" She wanted to beckon him closer, to coddle him and tell him everything would be okay, but she resisted, figuring she was lucky to get him to look at her.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Hot, sexy, handsome. Take your pick." Aron glanced away again. Damn, he'd been doing so good recently, and then this girl had walked into his life and ruined it all. Maybe that's why he acted like a complete dick to everyone. Drive them away, or if they're a girl and interested in sticking around, hit on them and get a one-night-stand. No need to worry about caring about people that way. "You know, Kenneth couldn't have picked someone better to use as... incentive for me to talk."

[assassinrue]

Valerie shrugged. "They all work, but I think pretty... maybe even beautiful, are better words for you." She looked at him a long time before responding to his statement. "I don't see how."

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron took a deep breath and shifted his gaze back to her. "Because you're not just some random girl off the streets. I hardly know you, I've never slept with you... Hell, maybe because I've never slept with you. You're more of a person in my eyes than most people out there."

[assassinrue]

Valerie nodded, momentarily silenced by his confession. She wished more than anything to sleep, to let these things process. Her eyes were so heavy, her limbs still cold, and she wondered how much blood she really lost, how much it would hurt when the adrenaline was gone. She shivered, fear clutching the little liar in her mind who told her it would never hurt.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron cleared his throat and stood up. "You should get some sleep," he said. He walked around the bed and pulled back the covers for her. "In you go."

[assassinrue]

She struggled to get herself under the covers but once she did she realized Aron would turn away and he would leave the room. She felt that if he did, she might break. "Can you stay?" She caught the cuff of his sleeve in her fingertips.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron had started to turn but froze when she grabbed his sleeve. He looked back at her, his eyes weary. "I don't think that's the best idea, Valerie," he said. Wow, what a gentleman he'd become.

[assassinrue]

Valerie frowned. "Just until I fall asleep. Then you can do whatever?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron sighed and walked around to the other side of the bed. He kicked off his shoes but kept the rest of his clothes on. He started to pull back the covers, but thought better of it and laid down on top of the comforter.

[assassinrue]

Valerie sighed in relief and scooted closer, carefully not to touch him, but she allowed her head to lean against his shoulder.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron laid stiffly for awhile, staring at the ceiling. Eventually, he angled his body toward her and put his arm around her. He hadn't realized until that moment how scared she must be. She'd been kidnapped, tortured, almost bled to death, and now she was in a relative stranger's house. She could use a little comforting.

[assassinrue]

In her sleep, Valerie curled into his chest and sighed, her small fingers clutching his chest.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Aron closed his eyes, his cheek falling to rest on the top of her head as he fell asleep.

[assassinrue]

Valerie's eyes flew open. There was something warm curled around her. For a moment she thought it was Isaiah until she realized she was human and her arm hurt like hell.

She pulled away from the warmth to see Aron. She gasped. What happened last night? How the hell had she ended up in his bed?? In a rush it came flooding back to her. Oh dear gods.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

A tiny sound came from Aron's throat when she moved, and he stirred slightly. Still mostly asleep, he tightened his arm around her, hugging her closer.

[assassinrue]

Valerie stiffened and held her breath. How was she supposed to get out of this situation without disturbing Aron? Part of her asked her to go back to sleep but she didn't know if she wanted to...

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Eventually, Aron's eyes fluttered open. It took a moment, but when he realized who he was sleeping next to, the sleepiness was instantly dispelled from his eyes. He jerked away from her, rolling off the bed and landing on his face, though not as gracefully as he would have liked. "I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I meant to leave after you fell asleep, but... I guess I dozed off."

[assassinrue]

"It's ok." She mumbled, acutely aware of his absence. Her mind churned over everything that happened. She moaned, her arm hurt.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Guessing that she was in pain, Aron said, "I have some painkillers. The good stuff. But... well, they might make you a little loopy. Again."