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Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath and smiles. Holding a bouquet of different flowers in her hands, holding them tight in her grasp. She wore a beautiful white dress with a red ribbon around her waist. Across from her was the man she was marrying. His gray eyes locked on hers only for a moment until her eyes trailed to the people standing watching the show.
Her eyes locked onto another man’s eyes for a brief moment. Red and blue. Those beautiful eyes looking back at her. Everything faded out for a moment. Her heart suddenly felt it race, adrenaline hit. She felt sick – was this the wrong choice? Looking back at her spouse she saw his confused look, Purah shook her head in response and smiled at him.
“Purah, do you take Devon as your husband...”
Those words held heavy as if she couldn’t speak for a moment. Nerves hit her as thoughts of him filled her mind. Images of the red and blue-eyed man she worked so close to all these years... Purah looked at Devon again as if to remind herself who she was actually with.
“I do...”
Her heart dropped. She signed it now and there was no way out now. Why did this feel so wrong?
In the corner of her eye, she saw him: Robbie Tech, his expression changed, watching the whole scene.
Object. Object. Object! Purah could only think. Robbie, say you object.
Robbie stood there silently, watching.
“...I do.” Devon’s words broke her daze and he smiled back at Purah. She held onto the flowers tighter, feeling something wrong once again.
She loved Devon. She said yes. Why was she having doubts now? What changed?
“You may kiss.”
Purah watched the other cup her face and lean in. Purah leaned in, kissing him back as her heart sank. Parting the kiss, she hears everyone cheering and clapping, looking over to Robbie again he was clapping while looking down.
Did he feel the same?
The two newlyweds walked down the middle of everyone, walking past Robbie once more, all time stopped as she looked at him once more. Everyone’s congratulations and other words were but a mere blur of words.
Finally, Robbie smiled at her, “Congrats Cherry. I’ll take over for a while you’re on vacation.”
No. No!
Purah could only smile back, “Thanks Robbo... you’ve always been there for me! Got my back like...”
“Click snap.” Robbie replied, winking.
“...Yeah, like that!” Purah’s smile only widened.
“Come on, Purah. You can talk to Goggles when you get back.” Devon whispered in Purah’s ear and tugged her away from the other. Purah glanced at Devon dragging her out at this rate, turning back to Robbie, looking behind her as he waves and suddenly as if all time stopped...
He frowns, looking down.
Suddenly people started gathering around blocking his view completely. She wanted to reach out to him, go right back to work right beside him. They were always together... How did she even end up with someone like Devon?
--
“Finally, we are out of the lab is nice, isn’t it?” Devon stretches and looks at Purah. They went to Lurelin Village for their Honeymoon. Purah looks at her drink, nodding. She missed the lab already. She had so many ideas and things she wished to try!
“...Purah? Che-”
“Do NOT call me that!” Purah snapped and covered her mouth, “S-sorry Devie... That name is just...”
Devon rolled his eyes, “Goggles, yeah... I get it. Thought it was a cute nickname. Sorry.” He’d snicker, “I wouldn’t want to sound like the weirdo anyway.”
Purah looks down at her drink, “...Yeah, what a guy he is.” Purah fell silent.
He was still there, lingering in her head. That last look of sadness before the crowd got to her. She didn’t even get to say bye properly... Taking a sip from her drink, she looks out into the ocean, the waves splashing on shore. Without a word Purah walks over to the water, standing there.
Letting the water hit her feet over and over. She stared out at the moon’s reflection on the water’s surface. Thinking.
Devon walks behind her, wrapping his arms around her as he nuzzled his face against Purah’s shoulder.
“What’s wrong, Purah? We are just married and you seem unhappy.” Devon whispers.
“Do you love me?” Purah replies, her eyes not leaving from her gaze onto the ocean, “What do you love most about me?”
Devon blinks for a moment and laughs,” Purah, I love you-”
“I know that. But what do you love most about me?”
“...Everything.” Devon takes a step back, “What’s going on?”
Purah swallows nervously as the ocean’s breeze blows her hair gently behind her, “The little details about me... what do you love most?”
Devon’s eyebrows furrowed, “Purah, you’re talking gibberish again, cut it out.” He’d sigh, “I love your passion for your work. How you’re the smartest in the whole team.”
It was quiet for a moment.
“...What else?” Purah finally spoke, “What else do you love me for? Is it just for my intelligence? My status in the lab? Because I’m the director?”
Devon fell silent.
Purah continues, “I always have to beg for you to show that you love me at the lab, yet you never return it, Devon. Only when you get to brag about me being yours is when you claim to love me.”
It was all suddenly falling into place, Devon saw her as a trophy; a status. He didn’t truly love her for her, only her mind. The fact she was the director. Why was she so stupid? So, so stupid.
Purah finally turns around, looking back at the grey-eyed Sheikah, “What am I to you, Devon?”
Devon clenches his teeth, “You’re my wife, Purah. You’re speaking absolute madness right now!” He holds her close to him, looking down at her, “What’s gotten into you? I thought you loved me, Purah. You agreed to marry me and now we are!”
His voice raised a little, “It’s that freak, isn’t it? Clouding your judgment? That stupid colleague of yours!” His words were laced with hatred now, “I knew inviting him was a mistake, I saw him eyeing you. With those tabooed eyes of his, he ruined my own marriage!”
Devon spat, slightly shoving her away from him.
“This is OUR life, and he is NOT a part of it! Do you understand?”
Purah’s heart was racing as Devon’s voice raised, her eyes wide with slight fear.
She made a mistake.
“Since I’m married to the director... why don’t I get him fired? Or better yet!” Devon spins around with a wicked smile on his face, “Get him exiled! The guy has Sheikah technology in him. You know that’s the worst crime, right? Without him it would be safer in the Lab anyways!”
“Leave Robbie alone!” Purah finally screamed back and pointed at Devon, “He’s the only person in the lab who knows me! Not even you let me talk about my own issues, you’re always too busy for me and my problems!”
She poked her finger against his chest, glaring up at him, “But when you have a problem, I am always there for you. I listen to you, I help you... where’s my help? Oh, yeah... I have to go to Robbie with my problems. And guess what, Devon... He listens.”
She took as step back, visibly trembling, “He stops working on whatever it is and listens to me. You never did that for me. Not even once...”
Purah looks down, hugging herself trying to stop her damn trembling, “You only wanted me to be... noticed... Robbie doesn’t care about being noticed...” She breaks into a sob, “...everything he’s done was to help me and I...”
Click.
It finally dawned on her.
… She loved him.
“I... I cannot do this.” Purah takes the ring off and drops it in the sand, rushing back to the inn to get her stuff. She was going straight back to the lab.
Devon with a scowl picks up the ring, quickly following after her. The grey-eyed Sheikah grabs Purah’s bags and throws it away from her. Her clothes flying all over the place as he points at her, “You are not going back there. If you do... I’ll make sure you’re fired too.”
Purah glared up at him for a moment.
The silence was heavy.
“Then fire me. Since I’m just another weirdo anyways.” With that she slaps Devon’s cheek hard with a SMACK and goes back to packing her bags that were thrown across the room.
“I’ll tell Impa about you, too. Even if I get fired, I’ll make sure the entire Royal Family knows about how you used me.” Purah began to tremble again as she shoved her clothes into her bag.
He used her.
It plagued her mind the more she thought about it – it all made sense now. Why didn’t she get the hint?
Devon clicked his tongue as he rubbed his cheek, glaring at Purah from across the room, “So that’s it? You’re just packing up and leaving?”
Purah didn’t say a word.
“... Purah, talk to me.”
Again. Nothing.
“Purah.”
Purah stood up and swung the bag over her shoulder, walking out of the inn. She was going to the lab no matter what. She made a mistake and she needed to fix this one.
Devon runs out, watching Purah walking out of Lurelin Village. He cups his hands over his mouth, yelling at her, “You’re a fool just like him, Purah! He has you wrapped up in his lies. If you get in trouble because of him, don’t come running back to me crying! Because I’ll just laugh and say I told you so!”
Purah clicks her tongue, not looking back at him.
She would never cry to him; she wasn’t allowed to in the first place anyways.
"So, what was the difference, Devon? "
Purah quickly wipes her tears away from her cheek as she walks back to the lab. It was a long journey ahead of her yet she did not care – it was better than returning back to that man who did not truly love her.
You're in my heart, in my heart, in my head.
You’re in my heart, in my heart, in my head...
- -
Opening the door to the lab, researchers all stared at Purah. Gasping, tilting their heads, whispering among themselves. Some even spoke up, asking why she was even there. Purah ignored each and every one of them. Her head was pounding, she was exhausted. Making her way down the hallway with a turn, she made her way to her lab.
Her hand grabbed the door handle; she hesitated.
Inhaling deeply and exhaling, she opened the door to be greeted with Robbie’s head perking up from the desk, quickly putting his goggles on his forehead.
His eyes widened at the sight of her.
“Purah, you weren’t scheduled to come back for another week! I do hope I didn’t screw something up... I...”
Purah dropped her bag on the floor; staying completely silent. His voice was a song to her; an absolute bliss. This is why she came back.
“...Purah?” Robbie slowly sat up from his desk, his voice so gentle, so soothing.
The tears built up in the corner of her eyes as she stared at him, hearing him just say her name so gentle like this, she knew.
She knew.
Robbie gasped under his breath and he rushed over to her side, crouching down to her level, “What is going on? Purah...?”
She couldn’t speak without a sob coming out, so she stayed silent at tears ran down her cheeks as her gaze met his. That soft look on his face, that look of concern for her was pure; genuine. She was screaming internally at herself. Kicking and screaming. She should have known all this time he was there for her always – not Devon. Not that vile man.
Robbie frowns, wiping the tears off her face and stood back up straight, “I’ll put your stuff away as you settle in, alright? We’ll talk about it when you’re ready...”
She immediately grabs his arm, looking down, “Stay.”
He froze for a moment and nodded, staying by her side, “If that’s what you want, I can do that too.” Robbie slowly smiles at her.
She had to say something. This is why she came all the way back, wasn’t it? Another lump in her throat as she wished to speak to him, a broken sob could only be heard.
“Cherry...” Robbie whispered as he looked at her again, “Talk to me...”
“...I made a mistake.” Purah finally spoke. It was quiet; a mere whisper, “Devon used me, Robbie. He never loved me.”
Robbie’s expression lowered. Concern, anger, disappointment.
She couldn’t tell what he was thinking and quite frankly, she was too tired to right now.
“...So, I ran back here from...Lurelin. I just wanted to get away, back to my safe space.”
“...The lab will always be your safe sp-”
“You’re my safe space, Robbie.” Purah looks up at him as tears flow down her cheeks again, “You are and always will be where I feel most safe.”
He was home to her.
The other froze again and smiles so gently; so softly. It warmed her broken spirit.
“You’re mine too, Cherry...” Robbie whispers back at her, “I never said anything since you were with...Him.” He’d look down, frowning again, “I’m sorry I didn’t butt in. I couldn’t do that to you since you seemed happy with him...”
Purah shook her head, “I thought I was. But I am my happiest with you. Working with you every day. Seeing you here beside me... That’s what makes me most happy.”
Say it.
Say it!
“Same with me, Cherry.” Robbie grins with a tick of his head, “Seeing you happy is what keeps me going.”
“... Robbie.” Purah holds his cheeks in the palms of her hands, gently brushing his cheek with her thumb. She chuckles slightly at his smiling face, “... I love you. I love you so much.”
His eyes widened as he slowly raised his hand to hold Purah’s hand, “I love you too, Cherry.”
Purah pulls Robbie into a kiss. That was all she needed.
Him saying he loved her back.
As if they were simply made for one another, Robbie returns the kiss softly. So very gently that she could melt in his embrace alone.
“Purah there you are! You better not be with the idio-!” Devon slams the door open and his voice trails off.
Purah leans closer into Robbie’s embrace as she deepens the kiss with a chuckle, Robbie pulls her closer, wrapping his arms around her.
Ignoring the angry soon to be ex-researcher watching them.
Devon punches the wall and storms off; he knew that he lost his status now; he lost everything.
Parting the kiss, she could only chuckle and smile bright at the man in front of her. She felt like herself again. Ready to take on the world.
As long as Robbie was by her side? Nothing could stop her or break her spirits knowing he’d be right there beside her.