generalflirt | ~♥THIRTY-ONE♥~

[The smile remains on his face. It doesn't match his eyes exactly - reflected in his... is love. Or like. Or something like that? The point is, some deep emotions are portrayed in his. There's pain there. There's not humiliation. He's mad - oh God knows he is mad - but it's at the Malnosso, or himself. And it's not being portrayed in his eyes or his body.

And so with an even tone] Why?

[The hand between them curls into a fist and Katara does not lean back.]

I don't want to hear this! ["Right now" is what she really should have added on if she was going to be polite about it, and believable, and make it just about this situation. But he's getting the truth instead.]

You think I like having to shut you down? You think I like having to hear these things about myself which aren't true - and if they are, are informed by feelings I can't return? It's not fair- [and it hurts.

She bites off those last words, but doesn't have anything else to complete the sentence.]

[he only hears one thing. aren't true. Instantly, the smile fades. And he shouts this next part (Linda is basically like *^* now jsyk)] It is true! Ask anyone! You are a beautiful person!

[She's not the slightest intimidated by his shout, even if the words contained therein make her eyes tear up a bit. She just shouts back.]

I said "Stop it!"

I won't!

-I won't. [he calms. In a more even tone. Even if it's clearly a bit strained - this shouting is making his headache come back. Fuck being hungover] This isn't even about you and me now, this is about you, Katara. Stolen? "Aren't true?" Fine, there's a lot of lies within the last week, but one thing which is a solid truth is what I've said right now.

[His hands are fists, aren't they? Dammit Dammit.]

Edited 2012-02-28 20:16 (UTC)

[And now Katara finally does look down. And she leans back, drawing her fists into her lap.]

I'm not talking with you about this anymore. I'll accept that you mean what you say, but that's it, Masaomi.

["I could survey all the men in Luceti, like I did with this Luffy thing. Most of them would agree with me."

But that would piss him off. he holds his tongue. Linda looks disappointed at this resolution, but huff. Actually, she's going to walk on over to get between them. Masaomi, for his part, answers]

Alright, good.

[Now she's just scraped out again and hurting. There was more that she wanted to talk with him about, she didn't even get to him running away, but now... she doesn't want to talk with him about anything at all. She feels blindsided and still a bit angry.

And while she might say that she'd accept his opinion, and mean it. in actuality what happens is that it's going to get put in a box marked as 'Irrelevant' because of those very same feelings that prompting him to say it.

She looks up, but not at him, and not at Linda walk between them. She looks towards a wall, by the door.]

I think I'm done.

[and he looks at his pichu. She looks at him and he keeps his eyes locked on her and...]

I'm not. We're not.

[Frowning, Katara just turns her gaze to look at him. There was a reason why she said that, instead of just getting up to go. If he had something to say - on a different topic - she'll still listen.

She starts doing what she can to rally her heart's defenses.]

Okay...

[So if you have something to say, say it.]

I ran.

[He apologized already, but that seems to be the crux of this whole chat. He's not even sure what he feels as he says this. He has a blaring headache, and he keeps his eyes evenly on Linda as he says this. Linda is confused again, but seems to pout a bit at her trainer]

[...un.expected.]

Yeah.

[Softly now, and watching him closely, not willing to dive right in and say what she has to say yet, but... watching.

And slightly impressed, really, that he brought it up.]

That was wrong. [It hurts.] I said... [I wouldn't run. I failed, Saki. He chokes up here, still looking at Linda. He reaches out to the rat, brushing her hair tuft which makes her look like Gold]

[...okay, so. Okay.]

Yeah. It... I wish you had stayed so we could have talked about it. But even if you had, I still [this hurts to say; her throat is tight] thought I was in love with Luffy. So we wouldn't have really been able to work it out, anyway.

[A quick breath.] I'm not saying it's okay - but I understand why you did, at least I think I do. And I want you to do something for me.

[Here is where she pauses to wait and see if he'll look at her.]

[he's still petting Linda, but he looks up. His expression is so disjointed so as to probably be unreadable. He's got a not-quite-smile on, his eyes look deeply pained, and his face is screwed up besides that]

What would you ask of me?

[Do you even understand]

[She swallows, and her voice is hesitant at first because - that sounds like so much more than she thinks that this is.]

You said you would always be there for me - I don't accept that promise. No one can keep that promise here. We don't even know what could happen the next second here - this place takes our minds, and our hearts, and sometimes... [she reaches out to touch her heart in a subconscious movement, trying to keep her pain inside.] it takes us away too.

So don't make me promises that you can't keep. [That's all she wants. Just don't lie to her. Don't give her something to hold onto that isn't there.]

But if you want to promise to try, instead... I'll take that. I can believe that.

[She moves the hand on her heart to lay her forearm across her knee and extend her hand between them, palm up.] Because I can believe you about the other part - friends, no matter what. You've put up with me hurting you this much, after all.

[...] Katara. [...] Katara, even then I- ["while you were loving Luffy, I still had feelings. But no, that's stupid. He pets Linda, a bit harder than is probably needed. Linda pouts at that and sends a quick electric shock into him. His fingers clench and he pulls his hand back with a bit of a start]

[He looks down at his just-shocked hand. That's interesting... It hurts, but not nearly as bad as that hatching did. Well then, he'll hold out his pinky for her]

As long as I am here and breathing. I won't run, and if I'm hesitating, remind me of this. Unless I loose all my memories, I'll stick to it.

That's not what I'm asking you.

[She's not sure if this is something she should do or not, but she's not out-right turning him down either.]

Are you sure you want me to hold you to that?

[He nods. Yeah, see, pinky?] We're friends now, I want to remain friends. [But I want so much more]

[But Katara still hesitates, thinking over everything he'd told her about what happened between him and Saki and. She's not sure that this is really what he needs right now.

But. She has to trust him to at least know his own mind and his own heart.]

I think you might put enough pressure on yourself not to run as it is.

[She holds up her hand, pinky out as well, but she doesn't move to join it with him. This isn't what she wanted. If he wants her to do this, he has to take that step.]

But if you really want me to do this, then I will.

[Does he?

There's about five centimeters between his and Katara's pinkies. He stares at that pinky, feeling a cold sweat pouring down him. I won't fail her, not like Saki. Not again. He listens to her, his eyes wide with something like reverence and a hint of fear. Slowly, the first centimeter is taken.]

[...And then the second...]

[his heart is racing, isn't it?

The third.

beat, beat]

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