The Red Means I Love You

Her confession hangs in the air, laden with a promise that both thrills and unnerves him. He has always been the one to protect, to lead, but here, in this moment, now, he feels a shift in the balance of their relationship. El's vulnerability touches him deeply, and for a moment, he forgets the weight of responsibility that usually defines him. He is just Red, not his mother’s son, not the boy who is defined by his quirks. He is content to feel her, to hold her close, this girl who once stumbled across the border and trespassed her way right into his life.

When she asks if he wants her, Redrum's hesitation is fleeting. His gaze softens, and he reaches up to gently clasp her paw against his cheek. “Elara is Redrum’s.” He murmurs, his voice rough yet filled with unspoken emotions, “Redrum is Elara’s.” He doesn’t quite know what it means, does he need to? It feels right, good, like it’s what he should say; what he wants to say. He leans in, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead, his scent mingling with hers in the quiet heat of the moment. He thinks, he wonders how he’s going to let her go now, to go back to her family and leave him here again. He tries not to think about it at the moment, because that's selfish and he won't be selfish with his sweet friend… his sweet Elara.