Becoming the Luna

I wring my hands constantly as I make my way to Dale's room, it's already evening and he had refused to come out of his room ever since he got back from the station, Nicole was going to be charged with second degree murder and attempted murder, according to Aunt Candy but I didn't want to think about that.

Even though I take my time, Dale's door appears sooner than I had budgeted for and too soon I find myself in front of his door, lifting a shaky hand to knock.

There's no reply but I'm not surprised, everyone has been trying to get him to come out but he wasn't budging.

I lift my hand to knock quietly again, it was still early so he couldn't have fallen asleep.

"Dale?" I call out tentatively, pressing my palm flat on the door, it's still summer so I'm back in one of Virgil's shirts and comfortable shorts.

I reach out to knock again but I don't get that far, before my knuckles can make contact with the door, it swings open and Dale pulls me in.

The door slams close almost immediately and he presses me against the wall, his much taller form blocking out the rest of the room.

I gasp at the suddenness of his actions, the dim room not giving away his expression. "Um, hi." I say cheerily, my palms are flat against him and when I butterfly my fingers, I note that he's half naked.

"Doll." He says on a breathy whisper and before I can regain my balance he claims my lips fiercely and my eyes go wide.

'wait what??'

Fireworks start up in my brain and my eyes slip shut as I let him lead the kiss.

What did this mean?

He breaks off to stare intently at me and my mouth remains parted with the need to get more air in.

"It means..." He says like he can read my mind.

'Did I say that out loud?' I think in horror.

"That I've decided to not let you go." He says seriously and I blink.

What?

He sobers up. "I listened to the rest of the tape." He says quietly and my mind immediately goes to the part where Nicole was saying that he loved me. 

I look up at him expectantly.

"Will you let me carry you?" He asks in a vulnerable voice and I blink in surprise, remembering when he said that he liked to carry Jade that way.

"S-Sure." I stutter, letting him lead the way to the bed which he quickly settles on and pulls me down, cradling me.

"She's right, I do." He whispers into the crook of my neck and I stiffen in surprise.

The room is still dim with the lowest lights on but my eyes are starting to adjust and I can clearly see his burning bright green eyes, peering down at me.

I can't seem to look away even though panicked excitement is crawling up my chest, drowning in those intense orbs.

I know exactly what he means but I'm scared of him putting it in words, how do I reply?

I couldn't just say I loved Dale right to his face, that meant I had picked right?

Some of my panic must have shown on my face because he pulls me closer. "You don't have to say it back." He says gruffly and I feel upset.

A soothing silence falls on us but I'm still a little bit uncomfortable with how he sounds.

"Thank you." He says, after a while.

"For what?" I ask reflexively, looking up to him.

"Everything, I would have never escaped Nicole myself, she had the perfect leverage over me." He starts to say. "I let the guilt I felt consume me and I was willing to let Nicole do as she wished because it sort of eased that guilt but I was just looking for a way to lessen my burden." He says and I catch a whiff of self loathing in his voice.

I quickly cup his face with both of my hands. "You shouldn't have to bear any burden, you're the victim here, you've always been and I don't think Jade would want you to carry on like this."

"I know that." He sighs, leaning into my touch. "It's just really easy to forget and lose myself to the darkness and guilt again but that's why you'll be here to remind me, right?" He says teasingly.

"I-I, um, o-of co-course!" I agree readily.

"Good, because I know exactly what's going to be the perfect reminder." He nods importantly and I narrow my eyes in suspicion, it seems like they're always looking for new ways to torture me.

"What's that?" I ask nervously.

"A kiss." He says seriously.

I have to remind myself to breathe and our close proximity finally hits me, I remember him saying that the next time if I didn't agree, he wouldn't kiss me, well just a couple moments ago was a kiss right.

"O-Okay." I agree in a tiny voice.

He grins down at me. "I'm waiting."

I blink at this, waiting for what? Oh no!

I think in realization, he expects me to kiss him!

I decide to get it over with before I lose my moxie and chicken out, my hands are still cupping his face so I lean up a bit with the plan of making it a light touch of lips and cringing back into my shell.

But did I really think Dale would let me?

He chases after my lips and the kiss that follows makes me realize that the one earlier couldn't be referred to as one.

I break off first, panting like my head was dunked under water, my hands are fisted in his shirt and I finally remember the main reason I had wanted to check up on him.

"Y-You ha-haven't eaten a-all d-day." I stutter in stilted gasps, my chest heaving.

He drags his eyes from my mouth to look at me with amusement dancing in his eyes, a tiny side smile on his handsome face. "I must be terrible if you're thinking of that right now. I should try to improve." He mutters, leaning forward again.

My eyes widen at this. "Wait, wha…hmph!"