Ashlandil

"Scares you?" I looked at her in surprise. "Baby, why would it scare you?"
"I --- because!" she looked down, embarrassed. "It's one thing to be with you, I trust you. It's different to be with a total stranger. I just --- I couldn't do that."
I hesitated.
This was bad.
"Kenali, it's not that bad. Honest. And it's meaningless --- you can even wipe their memory afterwards if you like. You can control them, you don't have to worry about, well, anything. What scares you so much?"
"I don't know," she still wouldn't look at me, tugging anxiously at her t shirt. "I don't know."
She was going to be difficult about this, I could tell.
"Ken," I stepped to her, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Baby, it's not scary. It's the same as being with me. You can even pretend it IS me if it makes it easier --- or whoever you want it to be." I added quickly.
Like Andiel.
The self righteous fuck.
I think I hated him more now then ever before. "No," she shook her head quickly, hair flying. "I won't do it."
"You're gonna have too."
"No!"
"Yes!"
"NO!"
"YES!"
"NO!"
I growled, stepping closer to her, grabbing her face between my hands. Her eyes bored into mine, as if she was looking into my soul.
"You're going to make yourself sick again," I whispered, abruptly losing all my steam. "I don't want to see you like that again, I won't."
"I'll be fine, Ashlan, please," she murmured, looking away.
I had to admit, I adored the fact she'd created a nickname for me; somehow it made our relationship more real, more ... Like I actually meant something to her.
I hadn't wanted someone to like me since...
"I worry about you," I murmured, pressing my lips against her nose. "Constantly. This world is too awful for someone with such a pure heart."
"Ashlandil," she sighed, leaning into my touch. "You know I'm not going to survive here forever. I won't make it to the End."
"Yes you will! Don't talk like that," I told her fiercely, making her look at me again. "I will not let anything ever ha
ppen to you! I will make you do whatever you need to do!" She just looked at me sadly, as if she knew differently.
I sighed, my thumbs stroking her smooth cheeks.
"I would miss you," she whispered after a moment. "So much if you left."
I sighed, and pressed my lips against hers, tilting her head back.
"I would miss you too." I whispered back.
She smiled slightly, threading her fingers together behind my neck.
"As much of an ass as you can be, I would miss it so terribly now that I'm used to it."
I chuckled.
"And you need to apologize to Andiel," she added.
I frowned. "Why?"
"You two need to make up before the concert, I don't want you fighting."
"I'm not gonna apologize to him! He started it."
She frowned at me. "You're not children, Ashlandil. Now go and apologize."
"No," I scowled.
I wasn't gonna do it.
"Ashlan," she said warningly.
"No," I repeated stubbornly.
She raised a brow, her hands sliding slowly down my chest, coming to a stop at my belt.
"Yes. Now come on." Her hand abruptly latched around my wrist, and she was dragging me out of the closet and into the hallway, and then into the dressing room, her hands resting on her hips expectantly as everyone turned around.
I glared at her, and then at Andy.
"Now," Kenali told me sternly, and I felt like a chastised child.
"Sorry for... Tackling you," I managed, gagging out the words; I shouldn't have to apologize to him.
Andy looked smug.
"And now you."
"What?" Andy looked at her blankly.
"Apologize to Ashley."
"What? No way!"
"Andrew," she said in her stern mom voice.
Andy huffed, and the guys all looked at each other in amusement.
"I'm sorry I fucking punched you."
"Andy!"
He glanced at her almost guiltily.
Then, "I shouldn't have to apologize for standing up for you, Kenna."
"Apologize. Now." Kenali said slowly, glaring at him, and I sent him a smug look over her shoulder.
Her hand slammed into my stomach, knocking me breathless, and I doubled over with a wheeze.
"I won't have the two of you arguing right before a concert ever again, am I clear?" she looked at both of us. "Well?"
"You're clear," we both muttered, glaring at each other.
"Good. Now, you go change," she ordered, her tone lightening, "and then go out there and play a good concert."

Notes