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She looked at him with her only visible eye . He always liked how girls hair sometimes fell over their faces.
As he rarely noticed on Power's appearance ( since their first week working together ) he haven't really gave it much attention before.
The girl he recalled to had admired the hair curtain the most was Reze - and he did not like thinking about that, so he focused on the female in front off him.
Quite literally in front of him, as they were tucked together in bathtub. She seated between his legs, her back leaning on his chest her head sprawled on his shoulder in a way that let allowed them to look at each other.
One of her ruby red eyes was obscured by a curtain of pink hair. She was definitely beautiful.
Even so...
"It is weird it does not feel naughty at all. " Denji said, sounding as exhausted as he felt." What's up with that."
He really would like to know.
Even though he was loyal to Makima it would make sense for him at least to feel horny.
But instead of that-
" Naugthy ? " She asked... tears still flowed in her face, as they had all day.
Don't cry. Please do not be so hurt. Please tell me how I can make you foget that darkness.
please be well.
please, don't cry. It's what his mind wanted him to say...
But as he decided that asking that would sound a bit heavy he choose to just say:
"Aw Maaan. I really wanted to go on that trip with Makima." Denji wined
Power just cried a bit more. hugging him like he was a lifeline.
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She needed his help to dry herself up and put her clothes on.
" Come on, dress yourself !" He complained, more concerned than annoyed, though it would b hard to tall by his tone.
He gently made her lift her arms so he could put a shirt on her. It's like the fear dazed her into becoming a child again. He was used to her being energetic and bratty... this was to distant from normal.
" We will sleep in 3 hour shifts. Call me if power starts thrashing around." Aki told him before going to sleep.
He felt glad they had the raven haired man to take care of the both of them. As doushy as Aki tried to make himself look in their first weeks together it was clear they could count on him.
He guided the pink haired girl to bed and tried to welcome sleep.
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" Denjiii . " He heard her and opened his eyes.
"Yeah? " his voice was drowsy and so damn tired.
" Please do not hate meee." A plea not louder than a whisper, and honestly crushing.
What was up with her and that crying voice ( it made his heart hurt )
"Hey !" Still in sleepy-whisper tone, but notably firmer. " I am not gonna hate you for something like that... In fact, this whole thing is like a prove of how much I lo- ca-care about you. "
What I am I thinking. Did almost just said I loved her ?!? Sorry Makima ! I am just sleepy ! I swear !
" Hmn ?" the soft hum of confusion came to break him out of his mini freak out.
He turned his head back at her to see she was staring at him as If she expected him to keep talking. To explain what he meant.
He took a breath to calm his nerves and tried to do just that. " Look... when we really care about someone, We want to make sure they are safe, well and happy. Sometimes even more than we care about ourselves. That is why I stayed. You needed me and I wanted to make sure you were well. " He summarized, rather well for his standards. " If you really wanna thank me ... Just make sure that, when I need it in the future, you will do the same for me. "he attempted, and in her eyes Denji saw a spark of something bright and warm.
" Ok ..." She said curtly, happily, before pressing her face in his chest.
She is grabbing me more gently now. More like an actual hug than a child desperately holding for her life.
"Hehe." he giggled at the thought of Power as a child... In truth she was probably the only person he knew that made him feel like the adult of the relationship. Like... If they were siblings, she would be his baby sister.
He, slowly, hugged her back as a effort to make she feel extra safe so they could both sleep in peace tonight."Goodnight, Power."
Her nest word were tranquil, happy and sweet:
" I love you, Denji. "
Surprisedly his heart did not skip a beat or anything like that. He just looked at her and, timely, she looked up at him.
He could only see one eye and a bit of her cheek but it was pretty obvious she was smiling at him.
It made him...
really happy
... though not the same way Makima or Reze did.
Maybe it is because she does not mean the kind love to make the heart pound... Faintly Denji remembered being patted to sleep as a child. It was a soft memory in which a woman's voice repeated " I love you." to him , again and again, as it the phrase itself was a lullaby to guide him to a good night of sleep...I guess there is more than one way to love someone.
In the memory, the woman placed a kiss in his forehead and rested her nose in his hair while he fell asleep. He decided to follow the example.
He got off the tight embrace for a second and she already looked distressed.
Gonna have to learn to live without being glued to me 24/7... Starting tomorrow.
Her expression relaxed though as he cupped her cheek in his hand - She is warm... - and with his other hand brushed the hair off her face.
leaning fast he placed a 2 second kiss in Power's pale forehead.
I like kissing. Like the little sound it makes. Denji decided. putting her back in the original hugging position. This time he gave himself the task of memorizing every single feeling - from her temperature and smell, to how slim and small she felt in his hold. I will not forget any of this like I did with the other one.
"I love you to. Now go to sleep."