[attr="class","beck"]the answer is simple, void of any uncertainty:

"i wanted to."

with a nod, he smiles.

"you helped me feel."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

Emma sighs, shakes her head. Disappointment is reflected in the pinched expression on her face. Uncomfortable emotions swirl in her belly, and all of them trace back to guilt.

"I'm not capable of that. You made sure of that."

A lie.

Emma steps next to him, opposite shoulder pressing against the wall. She looks out the window, lips pursed, deep in thought.

"We can change, but I doubt either of us are capable of changing that much."

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]a chuckle escapes before he can catch it, though it lacks any venom or distaste; quite the opposite.

"i don't think that's true."

his gaze follows her out the window and down the white steps of sootopolis. the city, despite the bitter memories he has of it, is still beautiful.

"i suppose we'll find out eventually. until then, i'll keep trying."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

Emma glances at him, perplexed by his laughter. People seemed to laugh at her often, lately. But her narrowed eye, suspicious stare is ignored.

Instead, Theo continues to stare out the window, losing himself in his own train of thought. What did he see?

"I suppose we will."

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]with a nod, he focuses on nothing in particular and loses himself in the vast blue and green of the ocean.

eventually, his gaze returns, shifting to her.

"my offer to help's still on the table. if you want it."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

"You're going to help whether I want it or not. Seems to be a trend lately."

She huffs in quiet laughter, a breathless chuckle with no effort put in. Emma shakes her head, glancing back up at him.

She reaches for his hand briefly, brushing her index finger against his skin briefly in a very muted show of affection.

"Don't get attached."

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]he glances down at her touch, appreciating the gesture more than he realizes. he nods, smiles, and turns his hand to return the show of affection against her skin.

"i'll try."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

She says this, expects this, demands this knowing full well she was asking for the impossible.

They were human. Driven by need, driven by want, driven by desire.

He says 'I'll try' while returning the simple gesture.

It prompts her hand to twitch and the loneliness in her chest to expand. It goes against reason, but she reaches to hold his hand.

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]naturally, almost too easily, he holds her hand in return, relishing the warmth that flickers within him. it's faint but it's there — and that grounds him.

his smile lingers, genuine in its nature.

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

He shouldn't, she shouldn't. But she has and he does, and her fingers slip through his and are held secure.

But where Theo finds it in him to smile openly, Emma's expression is twisted and clouded with guilt, with grief.

It shouldn't be his hand she's holding. It shouldn't be his arms she wants to lose herself in. Theo is a stand-in, a convincing mirage or silhouette.

She's selfish.

"What do I do first?"

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]whatever lays dormant behind her expression is lost on him. he doesn't search for them, perhaps because he knows what he'd find.

it's easy to ignore; selfish, even.

looking around the room, he replies:

"furniture.

everything else is fine unless you want to repaint or change the floors."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

He doesn't search her expression and for that she wants to believe she is thankful. Instead, he grounds her by holding her hand and keeping her close.

He doesn't ask for anything more than shes already given.

"Repainting.."

The woman glances around, lip pursed in thought. She sucks in a breath, nodding along with some idea she hadn't spoken aloud.

"We should paint something."

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]it's an idea he accepts with ease. the walls do look a bit bare.

"i can run to the store."

but that'd mean stepping away, which he's yet to do.

"what color?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe