[ she looks up at him, gaze soft. there's something tremulous and vulnerable about it. this is the time, she thinks. this is the kind of moment where she should affirm that she loves him. admit it. it's the safest time to do it. he's seen the worst, is staring down the worst and all its inevitability with her, and he isn't even flinching.
but she doesn't want to love him because he can put on a mask and be strong for her. she wants to love him because he can take it off. to really be in this together with her—scared beside her. even if she needs and leans onto the stability of him pretending otherwise.
so alina stares at him a moment like this, the words on the tip of her tongue. wanting and not wanting to let them out. heart hammering up into her throat.
finally, instead, she lifts one hand to the back of his neck, fingers threading up into his hair so she can pull him down enough that she can get on her tiptoes and kiss him. it's a kiss that means it. that lingers, her forehead pressed to his, breathing deeply of him. ]
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but she doesn't want to love him because he can put on a mask and be strong for her. she wants to love him because he can take it off. to really be in this together with her—scared beside her. even if she needs and leans onto the stability of him pretending otherwise.
so alina stares at him a moment like this, the words on the tip of her tongue. wanting and not wanting to let them out. heart hammering up into her throat.
finally, instead, she lifts one hand to the back of his neck, fingers threading up into his hair so she can pull him down enough that she can get on her tiptoes and kiss him. it's a kiss that means it. that lingers, her forehead pressed to his, breathing deeply of him. ]