Breathe .Shadamy.

I looked out the window adjacent to me...

The moon bathed my room with it's mysterious midnight glow. The white sheets, of the bed I was perched upon almost reflected the milky white light. I smoothed them under my tense fingers. Big windows. All white. Nothing to cause chaos in my head. My room was perfect for this kind of moment.

A heavy breath was heaved from me as the day's events triggered one after another in my memory. I shook my locks stubbornly, snapping my emerald eyes open at the realization of my doings. I would not dwell on the things of the past... I calmed myself slowly, reminding myself how to breathe.

Inhale... Exhale... Inhale... Exhale... Inh-

The sound of my door almost silently, slowly... opening. It made me tense. I was sitting up completely straight and my ears were perked. Stupid instinct. I tried to make myself somewhat less stiff.

I uncurled my fingers. Relaxed my shoulders. Flattened my ears back, to appear mad, maybe even intimidating. And lastly, let my hair down, so as to make a curtain between me and him, incase he had the guts to actually come in.

I heard his slow, cautious foosteps. I hated each and every one of them. But... I told myself to keep breathing. I felt my hands grip tightly at the sheets below me. The sheets I had just smoothed, the fingers I had fought to uncurl.

We both embraced silence for a few moments before I managed a whisper, "Haven't you ever heard of knocking...?" I had planned on being clever with my comebacks; cocky, and strong-willed when this confrontation came around, but when his aura settled in the space surrounding me... I lost all of that. Out the window. Instead, I have this weak, disgusting, pleading voice... for him.

"...What happened today, was a mere.... accident. Nothing more." He replied in his usual monotone. I could already picture his face without looking at it. His eyes, cold and uncomfortable. I unintentionally shivered. He was obviously watching because soon after followed his deep, husky chuckle.

"You don't believe me." He stated. Not a question. I shook my head slowly, careful not to move my curtain of hair that blocked him from my view.

Silence. Did he leave? A gloved hand swoops my curtain of protection gently to the side.
My eyes widen and dart to his fiery red ones. Not cold and uncomfortable, but rather heartwarming and inviting. His expression, one of compassion & careful love. His motions were slow and he watched my every reaction. I watched right back. His eyes probed. They took in every movement, every flicker of emotion in my eyes.

He smoothed my hair away from my face. He looked me in the eyes, trying to find the answers to the questions he never asked. My brain screamed to look away, to protect myself. It wasn't smart to give away your thoughts, your dreams, your whole self. 'Who are you?' It felt like he was asking me in his own way. I kept my eye contact with him though. I took the opportunity to read him. But, he caught that in my very own eyes, curiosity...

His eyes immediately chilled and solidified from the fire they once were. I realized I was holding my breath the whole time...

The sudden gush of air to my lungs almost burned. How much air would I have given to have a few seconds to see his eyes burn like that again...? My emerald eyes closed lazily.

Inhale... Exhale... Inhale... Exhale... Inhale... Exhale...

He let me have my time.
Then he got impatient.

A light pressure on the left side of my face. My eyes opened, urgently needing to see. I gasped lightly. He was a little closer than before. He stroked my cheek with his thumb, his eyes half lidded. Had anyone else seen him this way? So caring? So... not himself.
He chuckled lowly at my response. "I'm not like that, Rose. I'm... not him." He sighed.

He removed his hand from my face and let it drop between us. He continued, "I'm sorry that I hit him... But... I don't regret it. No matter how many bruises came as cost of that fight..." It was hard to see them under his midnight fur, but they were definitely there. I rubbed one on his arm & massaged it with my thumb. I did feel bad about that...

"Thank you." I murmured in his ear. I  wrapped my arms around him and hugged him. He fought for me today... I kissed his cheek lightly. My lips lingering longer than what was to be considered friendly. I pulled away only barely to nuzzle him, then whispered, "Goodnight, Shadow."

His face heated quickly with color. And he stiffly exited, with only one glance back, more controlled than the last time, and a murmured, "....Goodnight, Rose..."