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Tears stained her newly sown nightgown. Hiccups and sniffles muffled into the cream fabric. Shaky arms grabbed tightly around her, afraid she was going to disappear.
“…I’m sorry…” Rui quietly spoke between his whimpers. Emu gently combed through the messy lavender hair. She pulled him closer to the hug. Rui continued to cry against her chest. Tears staining his face.
“It’s okay. I’m here for you,” She kissed the top of his head, her fingers still tangled in the lavender strands of hair. Emu could feel the shaky hands grip onto her tighter. Rui continued to sniffle onto the fabric.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Rui looked up, his tears shining in the moonlight. Despite the darkness he could see Emu’s warm smile. A genuine smile. She remained her shining self despite the situation.
Rui felt awful for putting her in this situation. Always crying out of stupid reasons. And somehow Emu still stayed by his side, comforting him, even if he felt like he didn’t deserve such kindness.
“…I’m sorry you have to see me like this…” tears swelled up in his eyes again. With no strength left in him, he almost collapsed on top of Emu. He gripped onto her nightgown tightly for dear life.
“…Why do you stay with a mess like me?”
Emu only hugged him, caressing his back gently like he was a wounded animal. Shushing him and pressing her head against his hair.
“I love you…” Emu hugged him tighter. She swallowed down her own tears before speaking up again.
“… And I don’t want you to carry your own burden alone. I want to be there for you, always.”
Rui could hear her slightly choke up on her own words. He felt a guilty punch in the pit of his stomach. He felt nauseous again. She never stopped caressing his back.
“I’m sorry,” The tears still hadn’t stopped flowing. Rui didn’t know why he was crying so much and when he had started crying. Emu was there for him, so why didn’t the tears stop?
“I’m scared,” Rui sobbed out.
“I’m scared you’re going to disappear and then I’ll be alone again. I’m so scared I won't wake up next to you one day. I’m scared that I won’t be able to hug you again. The thought of you being gone scares me.”
Rui hadn’t noticed that he started to ramble in his sorrows. He choked up between his sentences. Small whimpers escaped his lips every breath he took. It was a pathetic sight.
But Emu didn’t think that.
She brought him closer into her embrace. Tiny arms wrapped around him. Her hands grabbed onto the black fabric of Rui’s shirt.
Leaning down and speaking in a hushed and calm voice.
“I won’t disappear from your side. I love you. I love you with everything in me. Everything from my heart to my soul. I could never leave you.”
Emu cupped Rui’s cheeks and smiled softly. His amber eyes glistened in the light. The amber eyes were red and puffy from crying. Tears stained his cheeks. His hair was all messy from pressing against her. She wiped the tears away with her thumbs and kissed the hook of his nose.
Rui leaned against her palm. Closing his eyes and letting a soft shaky breath. He wanted to feel her touch. He reached out to her other hand and without any words Emu interlocked their fingers together. She gave him soft and gentle squeezes at his hand.
“Am I greedy?”
“You’re allowed to be greedy,” Emu kissed his nose again.
“I love you for who you are, Rui. Even with your flaws. Even if you’re selfish. I still love you. And nothing can change that.”
“Your flaws make you who you are. And I love that part about you. You’ve gone through so much and despite that, you still remain caring and loving. You’re worth all my love, Rui. If I could, I would give you my whole heart.”
Emu kissed Rui’s lips. A soft quick kiss. Emu pulled him close into a tight embrace again. He hugged her back, more calmly than before, almost like his life was depending on her. Maybe it was.
Emu massaged his scalp gently with her fingers. A gentle embrace. Just what Rui had been missing for years.
“Emu,” Rui spoke softly.
“I love you,” He smiled ever so softly. The tears had dried now. He felt safe in her arms.
“I know. I love you too,”
“And I’m sorry for ruining your nightgown. Especially a new one…”
“It’s okay. What matters most is you and how you’re feeling.” Emu reassured him. That gentle smile never left her face.
Rui lifted his head up. Emu’s gaze was fixated on him. Her eyes shone beautifully under the moonlight. The faint light lit up her face even more. She was like an angel.
Rui took a strand of her hair into her hand and kissed that bubblegum pink strand. “I love you.”
“Rui, you already said that,” Emu couldn’t help but let out a soft giggle. He loved hearing her laugh. It was more beautiful than any song.
“I want to make sure you know,”
Emu cupped his cheeks again and brought him closer to her face and closed her eyes. Her eyelashes were so beautiful and long. Her entire face was beautiful. The way her cheeks flushed with pink rosey colors, how she had small dimples every time she giggled, her freckles painting her cheeks. How her hair framed her face perfectly and her skin felt so soft to the touch.
She was a huge contrast to him. A beautiful angel and an unsightly devil.
“You’re so perfect,” Rui said quietly. He was lost at her sight. He still couldn’t believe how a goddess like her cared so much about a beast like him.
Emu pulled him closer. And closer. So close until there was a centimetre of room left between their lips. Rui swallowed and closed his eyes shut too. Emu brought her lips up to Rui’s and exchanged a small kiss between the two of them. A soft gentle kiss.
She raked her fingers through his hair and pulled him to another kiss again. Quick soft kisses. Emu leaned back down onto the mattress, pulling Rui down with her.
Emu pulled him into a hug again. “I will always love you.” A soft voice spoke. Rui leaned down next to her, still holding onto that hug.
“Don’t ever think otherwise.” She nuzzled her head against the crook of Rui’s neck. Soft breaths against the skin weirdly calmed him down more.
“And if I’m not somehow by your side, remember that I’ll always love you, Rui.”
“Yeah. I’ll continue loving you forever, Emu.”
Rui pulled the soft blanket over the two of them. The pair were snuggled up against each other. A warm embrace as they fell asleep in each other’s arms. Knowing neither of them would leave.
It didn’t take long for Emu to fall asleep. Rui felt her soft breathing against him. He smiled softly before placing a gentle kiss onto her forehead.
“I love you.” Rui whispered before drifting off to sleep himself.