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Another day of work had just completed through the body. One that required a little more effort than usual. And it ended in utter exhaustion between the two blood cells. Especially for AE3803. Both she and 1146 walked inside the apartment, taking off their jackets and hats onto the hooks and kicking their shoes off by the door.
A heavy exhale left her as she leaned her shoulder against the wall for a brief moment.
"Way too many deliveries to go through in one day…" she uttered wearily as she then walked into the kitchen and switched the kettle on to make the tea.
He watched her for a moment as he followed her into the kitchen.
"Maybe you ought to find a more efficient route then..."
He wasn't mocking or teasing in his tone. He was simply offering a suggestion to her that came out as a bit of his casual dry humor. He even almost let out a small chuckle.
However, it didn't land that way. Maybe it was because she had a long day. Or maybe she was just too tired to pick up on it. But AE3803 found heavy offense in his words.
She immediately glared at him with eyes like daggers. And it was enough to fully surprise him. Not in fear. But in shock to see that side of her emerge. She was one to rarely ever get angry, if ever at all.
"What? Are you saying that I'm not able to do my own job, White Blood Cell?"
Her tone was just as razor sharp as her stare.
1146 didn't respond right away. He knew that a situation this fragile required a more strategic level of care in how to handle his next words. But his silence only made her more upset.
"You are, aren't you?!" she growled, as she turned away from him, "I can't believe you…"
He then blurted out in an attempt to explain himself, "Red Blood Cell—"
"What?" she interrupted in a low sharp voice.
Her arms were crossed. And she kept her gaze away from him.
He tried to keep his voice soft and calm around her.
"I didn't mean it like that."
She stayed quiet for a moment. Still in a cold sheltered posture from him. Her back was turned away from him.
"…It… It still really hurt, White Blood Cell…"
Her words managed to shut him completely. And he was unable to respond as he desperately searched for the right words to try and make everything right again between them.
Unsuccessful.
AE3803's shoulders trembled, refusing to show her tears to him.
He lifted his arm to reach over to her. But he hesitated on placing it on her shoulder. To embrace her and apologize. To let her know that he would never demean her on purpose. To remind her that she meant everything to him.
But she didn't even give him the chance to.
"I need some time alone away from you right now, White Blood Cell…" she uttered as she stormed out of the kitchen with his arm still outward for her.
1146 didn't pursue her. He felt that he didn't have a right to. He simply watched as she walked into the bedroom and shut the door behind her.
His eyes looked downward, his voice as low as he felt.
"Understood."
The kettle then clicked off. But the bedroom door remained closed. There wasn't even an attempt to make footsteps towards the door. AE3803 obviously was no longer in the mood for any tea now.
He let out a soft exhale as he turned his attention towards the kettle. He prepared some tea for himself while making sure to leave enough for her just in case she were to ever change her mind. He brought his cup of tea out to the living room and he sat on the couch. But what was once mere routine, now gave a new realization that evening. He didn't even drink his tea right away.
He subtly glanced over towards the bedroom for a moment before looking downward.
"I better get used to staying here for tonight," he thought to himself.
Meanwhile, in the bedroom, AE3803 was laying on the bed by herself. She was still heavily upset about what he had said to her. Tears had fallen down her cheeks as her brows remained furrowed.
"White Blood Cell knows I sometimes still struggle at my job," she thought to herself, "He didn't need to say something like that."
She cleared away the tears from her eyes with the pillow as she buried her face into it. But it didn't feel the same as when he was the one to clear them. No warm and gentle touch of his hand to caress them away. No reassuring smile to let her know that everything will be alright. No tender kiss to confirm his love and care for her.
She then shut her eyes tight from the thought.
No. He had made her upset. That was the point. It didn't matter how much he had always made her feel better in the past. She was mad at him now. Right?
Her eyes glanced over towards the door. It was still shut.
Back in the living room, 1146 couldn't even finish the tea he had made for himself. The cup still rested on the coffee table in front of the couch, not even halfway finished.
"I don't deserve to relax," he thought to himself.
He let out an exhale as his head tilted back against the back of the couch. He turned to face the bedroom door. Still closed. His expression lowered and he turned to face the opposite way. The balcony.
"Maybe if I got some fresh air…" he figured.
1146 stood up and opened the panel door and leaned against the balcony wall. A soft evening breeze drifted by. But as gentle as it was, it provided almost no comfort.
If he were honest with himself, he wanted the loving warmth of her up against him. For him to hold forever. To let her know how much she truly meant to him.
But…
He turned back in the direction of the bedroom. The door remained shut as before.
"I only want to give Red Blood Cell what she wants," he reminded himself, looking down, "What she deserves to make her happy... Even if… If it requires me out of it."
His head sunk in-between his shoulders. And he stood there outside for a lingering moment until the breeze began to make him shiver. He returned back inside and lounged on the couch. His eyes briefly returned towards the bedroom door before staring back down at the half cup of tea on the coffee table.
Back in the bedroom, AE3803 restlessly shifted around in the bed. But no matter what position she laid, there was no comfort.
"Come on, Red Blood Cell…" she thought to herself, "You used to do this long before White Blood Cell started living with you! You can definitely do it again!"
However, the truth was that she no longer can't.
The space next to her was empty and cold. Her fingers curled over the spot. But there was nothing to grab. No one to pull herself closer to and hold.
Her expression softened for a moment as she imagined 1146 there with her again, making the night feel safer and warmer. One full of intimacy and devotion.
"White Blood Cell…" she uttered softly.
Her words simply slipped out before she could realize it. And for a moment, she longed for him.
But then she fought herself. She laid on her back and crossed her arms stubbornly. She wanted to stay mad at him. However… She no longer had a reason why. Or even if she had a reason to in the first place at all.
"I have to… Or else he… He would just make me mad again…"
It was a poor excuse. And AE3803 knew it.
But the longer she pouted over it, the more it began to feel more like she was simply punishing herself more than him.
Once she realized that, she straightened her arms by her sides and hit them against the bed in frustration. Not at him. But at the situation.
She took in a deep breath and sighed, turning her head back towards the door. It was getting harder for her to resist any longer.
Outside in the living room, 1146 was laying out on the couch, staring at the ceiling. He was reflecting on earlier that evening. There was one thing she said that he could never justify for. And it echoed in his head as if to discipline him.
"…It… It still really hurt, White Blood Cell…"
Knowing he had done that was unforgivable on his part. It was his personal duty to protect her, to keep her happy, to ensure no form of harm came to her. And yet, he managed to break all three.
It didn't matter what he said, how he said it, or what he implied by it. What mattered was how she felt. And that's what devastated him the most.
He let out a soft exhale.
But before he could think more deeply about it, he heard the bedroom door quietly open. Soft footsteps slowly came closer.
However, he didn't look, believing that she was still angry with him.
For a moment, AE3803 stopped and just stood quietly at one end of the couch. She was covered in the blanket, carrying it with her. It was oversized in comparison to her small body. And only her head was exposed. And when she finally spoke, her voice was just as soft and quiet as she entered into the living room.
"White Blood Cell… Are you still awake?"
He lifted his head slightly up to face her.
"Yeah."
There was a momentary pause before she spoke again. She was trying to gather her words together.
"I'm… I'm still upset…"
1146 didn't say anything. He didn't really have a chance to.
"But not at you…" she added in a lowered tone.
Even with her slight outrage now redirected, he still had the urge to amend any cross feelings.
"I really didn't mean to hurt you, Red Blood Cell."
He managed to keep his voice steady. As if he had complete control over his words. The words came easier than the ones he had spent the evening searching for.
"I know…" she responded, firmly yet quiet.
It was enough to bring up a small pause between them.
"I never would intentionally hurt you like that," he added, his tone more apologetic.
She picked up on the subtle change in his tone.
"I know…" she acknowledged in a much softer tone.
Her eyes were glancing away as her head lowered slightly, covering half of her face with the blanket.
He then lifted himself and supported himself by his elbows.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
AE3803 turned her eyes back towards him. She still had the lower half of her face covered, raising the blanket slightly to cover up the slight blush on her cheeks.
"I… I'm scared of being by myself, White Blood Cell…"
1146's expression softened. He shifted himself more from the couch, giving her some room to sit if she wanted to.
She immediately took the implication and sat by him quicker than he would even be able to change his mind.
Though, he clearly had no intention to in the first place.
She curled against him closely. Close enough to feel his heart beginning to beat just a little harder.
"You're cold…" she commented, taking some of her blanket and covering him up.
His eyes softened at her care. Even when she's upset, that trait about her never left. It never could.
"No…"
He wrapped his arms around her to pull her even closer. Close enough that their lips were lightly brushing together.
"…You're just warm, Red Blood Cell…"
He then gently closed the gap between them in a tender passionate kiss that lingered for a few seconds longer than necessary.
But AE3803 didn't mind. She glanced up at him for another moment with soft eyes before resuming for a second moment of reconciled intimacy.
Her arm rested over his shoulder as she placed her head by his.
1146 pulled her legs over his to let her be in a more comfortable position. His arms cradled around her as he nuzzled affectionately against her cheek.
"Feeling any better?" he asked in a gentle voice.
She didn't answer right away as she realized that even though she had taken out her exhaustion and frustration at him, he still prioritized her. He still respected her. He still loved her. Regardless. It made her feel guilty. But at the same time, also cherished deeply by him.
"Yeah…" she answered, letting out a sigh, "I'm sorry…"
He pressed his forehead against hers.
"Don't be," he tenderly whispered.
She curled herself more against him as if she couldn't get enough of him being there with her at that moment.
"I love you, White Blood Cell…"
A subtle curl touched the corner of his lip.
"I love you too, Red Blood Cell…"
The two shared another soft kiss before she gradually drifted off to sleep securely in his arms a few minutes later. He gently watched her as if doing so provided the ultimate form of protection against harm. And before long, sleep eventually caught up to him as well, still holding her in his arms.
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