Clutching a lukewarm cup of coffee like a lifeline, forehead pressed to the mugs rim, knees tucked up. She's more pillbug than person at the moment.
It's been a long morning already, and a long night before that.
โhold on, just gottaโโ screams into a jar, then slams the lid onto it. โall better!โ
said jar is promptly held out to the blonde, with a vaguely sarcastic, but playful, grin.
โyour turn.โ
โwhyโs that?โ
hands stuffing into her coat pockets, features shifting into a mixed look of concern and seriousness.
โiโve only got one other person to live for, but ๐ฎ๐ค๐ชโ๐ซ๐ got just as much right to feel relieved about surviving, and i know it ainโt always easy to accept.โ
he stiffens at her comforting touch, gaze flickering to where her fingers graze the leather of jacket. a pensive bob of adam's apple.
โใ คi don't think i really . . . deserve that,ใ คโ a pause, quieter. โใ คbut thank you. you're stronger.ใ คโ
โand you know what? iโm kind of used to you being an enigma. .โ
flashing a brief, intentional look, etched in what appears to be something flirtatious.
โyou keep me intrigued, but i guess thatโs what i like most about you.โ
โpfft. not a chance you could genuinely scare me, i assure you.โ not entirely a lie, but said with enough playfulness, itโs hard to tell if sheโs ever truly believed in the kind of danger heโd actually be capable of imposing. .
but in a twisted way, perhaps she wouldnโt mind. >
boots scuff along wet pavement in an
effort to remain at her side. soles crunch
atop fallen leaves โฑ summer inevitably
coming to a close amidst the familiar,
albeit foreboding glow of autumnal
decor lining neighborhood stoops.
โ sorry if I scared you, by the way. โ
โgreat! god, how can we repay you guys? is there anything we can do? iโm sure my whole town can come up with something in return. we all just wanna live in peace, and halloweenโs been ruined for decades. itโs the one night heโs nearly unstoppable.โ
soft sigh.
allow her to elaborate.
โso, thereโs this manโnot
sure if heโs entirely human, but a man nonetheless, and he wonโt leave my town alone. i donโt know if youโve heard about him, but heโs pure evil. heโs also been my grandmotherโs biggest enemy, for the longest time.โ
managing a small, but genuine, chuckle while shaking her head. despite the morbid topic, thereโs a comforting grin on her face.
โnah, youโre cool.โ a hand pats against his forearm, like a form of encouragement. โat least weโre alive, right? youโre strong for sticking it out.โ
a soft swallow, throat tightening rather slightly. his mouth feels dry, suddenly. โใ คnothing that bad,ใ คโ through partially gritted teeth, eyes falling down to her shoes. โใ คi'm sorry for . . . er . . . doubting.ใ คโ