[attr="class","beck"]another step draws him closer.

as often as his gaze was unreadable, the bare smile that creeps onto his features is one that shows amusement, softness, and oddly enough, care.

"you're blushing now."

[attr="class","noodles"]Lulu Flint

she didn’t recognize the care in his smile. it felt like he was mocking her, but maybe that was just the sort of character she continued to project upon him.

she didn't move, her feet feeling cemented in place. still in denial, she responded, quieter, “no i’m not.”

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]denial.

the snorunt on his shoulder is carefully grabbed, lowered to his foot that balances the ice-type the same way it earlier.

now close enough, carefully, he reaches a hand to her cheek, caressing against the pink hues.

"are you sure?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Lulu Flint

she froze and melted all at once under his touch.

this was wrong. she wasn’t supposed to feel like this, for so many reasons. she should have never bent to his unique effect on her. a weird crush, that she hadn’t recognized at first, and now denied, even in this moment.

she said nothing in response, barely blinking or breathing anymore. playing dead, maybe.

the snorunt looked up between them curiously from below, forever without an understanding of personal space or social cues.

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]here, there is no indifference.

there is safety. an odd sense of comfort. and despite the denial, the spite, and the sharpness of her words at times, those feelings still remain, persistent, and perhaps everlasting.

as unfamiliar as it may be, theo's never been one to shy away from danger.

and so, when nothing comes from her, the same hand cups her cheek, tugging her into a kiss.

[attr="class","noodles"]Lulu Flint

she allowed him to move her, feeling heavy and weightless at once. a sort of disorienting paralysis.

just as before, on the sub, her lips did nothing at first, only brushing.

”you’re a bad man,” she finally managed. certainly not a worse person than her, though.

she found herself unable to pull away. it seemed that maybe only a very bad man could captivate her like this.

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]"i am."

never has he denied it. he's done terrible things — things that could never be undone nor forgiven. but she's done the same, hasn't she? they both have.

he doesn't pull away either.

"but that doesn't mean i don't care about you, lulu. i do."

[attr="class","noodles"]Lulu Flint

it was then that things got dangerous.

somewhere inside her, a steel door slammed shut. she recoiled at once; as reflexive as her fist into an opportunistic golbat.

“no.”

her eyes evaded him, suddenly released from his hold, and feeling the want to flee from her own home.

“you couldn’t care.” it wasn’t the usual disgust she felt. “i don’t want you to.”

it was too much. feeling cornered, she turned to black and sank into the shadows.

“go away.”

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]no.

you couldn't care.

go away.

familiar as they may be, they do little to lessen the emptiness he feels.

"...okay."

but it's not hurt that shows in his voice. he had pushed and tried his luck, tempted fate, even, and he has little to show for it.

once again, he's met with shadows and despair.

but he's not dissuaded.

"for the record, lulu,"

he steps away, ignoring the snorunt as he approaches the exit.

"i do care."

[attr="class","noodles"]Lulu Flint