This time he does not let cowardice take over. He holds her gaze, though his own drifts slightly to her hair, and the way it turns red gold in the light of the sunset, or to her dress when the breeze ruffles at the sleeves and skirts. Always he turns back to meet her stormy eyes, much as it frightens him. He feels as if it owes it to her, the respect of it. The honesty, though he thinks he might regret that part of it come the morning.
Her surprise amuses and frightens him at once. It means he's challenged her expectations of him... but also she has once again seen into him, seen more of him than most. He has known at first glance that she would be the kind of woman who could cut right through to the heart of him. What will she do with that knowledge, he wonders?
He breathes through his nose, something close to a laugh. "I understand the feeling." He still chases that pedestal, himself. It's easier to be an object to people in that way, to meet certain expectations in order to hide the truth. "In contrast, I am not strong enough to step down off of it." He shakes his head at himself, but smiles warmly at her. It reaches his eyes. "I have endured worse and deserved it less. No offense is taken."
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sforzinda
no subject
Date: 2021-05-20 06:49 am (UTC)This time he does not let cowardice take over. He holds her gaze, though his own drifts slightly to her hair, and the way it turns red gold in the light of the sunset, or to her dress when the breeze ruffles at the sleeves and skirts. Always he turns back to meet her stormy eyes, much as it frightens him. He feels as if it owes it to her, the respect of it. The honesty, though he thinks he might regret that part of it come the morning.
Her surprise amuses and frightens him at once. It means he's challenged her expectations of him... but also she has once again seen into him, seen more of him than most. He has known at first glance that she would be the kind of woman who could cut right through to the heart of him. What will she do with that knowledge, he wonders?
He breathes through his nose, something close to a laugh. "I understand the feeling." He still chases that pedestal, himself. It's easier to be an object to people in that way, to meet certain expectations in order to hide the truth. "In contrast, I am not strong enough to step down off of it." He shakes his head at himself, but smiles warmly at her. It reaches his eyes. "I have endured worse and deserved it less. No offense is taken."