"Then he will be more quiet as he does so," Jill says, amused, even if she wishes Torgal's patrol were shorter. He shouldn't have to go downstairs to Clive. Clive should be with her, but she sent him away.
"I wish I hadn't sent you away," she says, an admission to what she's sure is obvious. "I only hope that this time apart strengthens us so that we may never break again."
Her thumb caresses his skin. Does he truly understand?
"If the cruelest thing I've said to you is that you need to sleep elsewhere, I would like it to remain that way. I never want to say anything in anger before I come to my senses."
If he had stayed, she's sure the rift between them would have worsened before he saw himself to the basement.
Clive looks at her, and he's sorely tempted to assure her that it's fine. It happened, it will never happen again. This is their long, winding path back to happiness, and the past need not matter.
But it does.
He nods.
"I understand," he says. "But we are imperfect people. I believe it matters more that we can resolve these things. Together."
"It was less complicated in Valisthea." There was always a goal to meet. It was so easy to put their relationship aside, their feelings, for what needed to be done.
"There were spans of time we hardly saw one another, coming and going from the Hideaway. It would make my heart ache, but as you say... there were distractions." Guilt for something so simple as missing Clive when so many suffered under the hands of their masters.
"We had no time to have problems between us," she says with slight amusement. "I missed you so much that when we were reunited it was as if the sun itself shone brighter. I was that happy when you returned."
"It must be. It makes nights like tonight all the more special," she says. They won't be heading home after this to crawl into bed together. They'll go home, say goodnight, and go to their own rooms.
"And it is. I'm very happy we're spending this time together."
“I am too.” He isn’t sure what to make of it yet, but he’s sure it’ll be better for both of them. “Just a week ago I thought I’d have to leave the house entirely to not make you upset at the sight of me.”
"I wouldn't have let you," she says. "Even when upset... I never want you gone, Clive."
Not entirely. Her efforts to cut him out here failed hilariously when it felt like she was stabbing herself in the chest. Space is good in a way, she knows, but not in any sort of permanent way.
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A harder task, but he's easier to bribe.
"You might have to hoist me in through the window if we're trying to avoid him."
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“He’s going to wear down his claws, going from room to room.”
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"I wish I hadn't sent you away," she says, an admission to what she's sure is obvious. "I only hope that this time apart strengthens us so that we may never break again."
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“I am sure it will,” he says. “And in the mean time, I understand why you had to do it.”
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"If the cruelest thing I've said to you is that you need to sleep elsewhere, I would like it to remain that way. I never want to say anything in anger before I come to my senses."
If he had stayed, she's sure the rift between them would have worsened before he saw himself to the basement.
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But it does.
He nods.
"I understand," he says. "But we are imperfect people. I believe it matters more that we can resolve these things. Together."
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"You deserve the best of me. I want to give you that, Clive. Truly."
She just has to find her.
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"I'm trying," she promises.
local man doesn't gaf about seatbelts
"Come here," he says, untangling his fingers from hers so he can open his arm for her to join him on his side of the car.
Another fine in the making, Clive funds the city
Jill scoots over to fit under his arm and against his side.
"This is home, to me," she tells him. "All the reason to try is right here."
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"And if we can make it work here, we can make it work anywhere," he says.
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"I often wished you could have joined me," he says. "But I am still glad to have kept you safe, and it made our time together that much sweeter."
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"It must be. It makes nights like tonight all the more special," she says. They won't be heading home after this to crawl into bed together. They'll go home, say goodnight, and go to their own rooms.
"And it is. I'm very happy we're spending this time together."
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Not entirely. Her efforts to cut him out here failed hilariously when it felt like she was stabbing herself in the chest. Space is good in a way, she knows, but not in any sort of permanent way.
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"I'm glad. Is it terrible to be glad that fate insisted I care for you the other night?"
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And her pride, but that's a small thing.
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