All I See is You

He wasn't necessarily afraid that she wouldn't believe him, but he did worry that he wouldn't be able to break past this fear and self-doubt that had built up in her mind over the last several weeks. He had no way of knowing just how deep this ran and when he felt how she tensed when he touched her scars he wondered to himself if he really had what it took to help her the way she needed. He had never had a very high opinion of himself when it came to his abilities to hold relationships or commitments, but when Keahi looked up at him with tears in her eyes and he felt those same tears dampen his paw pads she made him want to try. For the first time he felt like it might actually be worth it to actually give a damn about someone for more than just a meaningless fling and the thought was overwhelming and terrifying. Not because he didn't want to continue being with her, but because he was absolutely certain that he couldn't possibly be what she needed. But gods did he want to be when he saw how she smiled and felt the way she clasped his chin to pull him into a kiss that melted him like nothing else.

That kiss ended all too soon, but he was just as happy to meet her gaze again. A little grin tugged at his lips as she smiled and insisted that while he didn't have to protect her, she did enjoy the idea. He had never been a protector and had never wanted to be, but Keahi gave him a reason. She was worth fighting for and for a pacifist like him that was saying an awful lot. The sound of her laugh made his smile widen and the last of the tension slip away from his shoulders and when her paw came to cup his cheek he leaned into her touch as he looked down at her with a soft, adoring gaze. He knew she was right when she mentioned how there was sure to be more wars. It was an unfortunate side effect of the world and how others viewed their place in it, but the idea of focusing on their futures together gave him a hope he wasn't used to feeling. He didn't know what that future looked like yet or what he wanted them to be, but he did know that he didn't want to do it without her.

With his forelegs around her sides, Ruga held her against him and leaned his head down to nuzzle affectionately into her scarred cheek and to press a tender kiss across the raised skin, making a point now to love and cherish every single part of her. "I can't promise I'll be a great partner. Every relationship I've tried to have has always failed," he rumbled quietly with his cheek leaned into hers, his paws rubbing slowly along her back as he spoke. "But I can promise that I've never felt this way about anyone else and no one has ever made me want a life and a future the way you do." He wondered to himself if this was what love felt like. He had never seen love in action before. It had always felt like a fairy tale, like a mythical thing that only fools fell for. But if he was going to be a fool then at least he could be one for Keahi. He couldn't force the words past his lips, at least not yet, but he spoke them silently as he drew his muzzle back to capture her own again in a deep, passionate kiss that he hoped said what he couldn't. He held onto her there for a while longer, catching up on all of the affection that he had been missing in their time apart, and when he finally broke his lips away from hers he didn't pull back or loosen his grip on her. Instead, he gave her a sly grin and whispered, "Unless you want me to show you how much I've missed you out here in the woods I suggest we get back to my den as soon as possible."

"Ruga Amanto"