alternatively send ‘ + ‘ after the symbol for the roles to be reversed where possible !

✘ = hugging them . Δ = playing with their hair .  ❤ = kissing them .  ₪ =  asking them out for dinner . ☀ = giving them a gift of ___ ( asker’s choice ) . ♘ = stabbing them . ♕ = bowing down before them . ♒ = lying to them .   ✿ = buying them flowers . ☾ = being found shirtless . ♢ = reading them a story . ☂ = giving them their jumper to keep warm . ✎ = speaking in a different language . ✏ = teaching them a different language . ▄ = telling them a joke . ♬ = singing to them . ☹ = insulting a loved one . ஐ = slapping them . ✂ = threatening them . ❃ = dancing with them . ▤ = falling asleep on them . ☮ = waking them up after a nightmare .  ♣ = discovering them crying .  回 = patching a wound .  ✮ = stargazing . ▓ = caught stealing their belongings . ☽ = wandering alone at night . ♡ = complimenting them . ≡ = offering a place to stay overnight . ☢ = falling over . ✦ = being well-dressed . ❂ = wiping blood off their face . ◎ = taking care of them while ill . ☁ = being caught in the middle a storm with them . ⇕ = holding their hand . ↱ = being lost with them . ☠ = pushing them against a wall .

She managed a half-smile for him, wanting to be understanding, comforting no matter how she was feeling. The weight of his hand in hers eased her own fears, though she wasn’t sure if he was alright. She’d done more than one foolish thing this night, and now it was time to flee. At least they were together, for now.

One lingering kiss to his cool cheek and they took off, heading for California. Where was home for each of them? Was it back in France, at the court? Was it New York, where the promise of a life together waited for them? Or was it where they’d bed, surrounded by the smell of antiseptic and IV wires? At least that was the way she remembered it. 

Rose didn’t want to speak by that trailer. Though she wanted to do everything in her power to help Viktor with his worries she wanted to wait until they were truly alone. Perhaps it was running away, and that was unwise, but she couldn’t stop now. They landed together on a quiet strip of the beach, twenty miles or so from Seth and Fareed’s compound. From the only home he’d known for most of his life. 

He was right (which Viktor was often, though Rose wouldn’t admit to that), the waves spoke to her in a way few other things on the planet could. She only let his hand go to run towards the ocean, rushing in without hesitation. The water was cold, though that mattered little, and her clothes were now damaged, but that wasn’t a concern. Wading in until the water reached her waist, Rose dipped her head under the waves, her eyes open in an attempt to see any jellyfish under the light of the moon. But even with superior vision she couldn’t find any, though she was impressed that the salt water didn’t sting her eyes like it used to.

When she surfaced she gazed upon Viktor. He looked stoic, like an impatient father who was waiting on her to stop being so childish. Her expression was apologetic, though she said nothing until she was back by his side, her hand easily fitting in his once more. With a gentle squeeze of his palm in hers, they sat together on the sand, Rose using her free hand to wipe her face from the drips.

“The only person you have to be is you. Neither of us have to inherit anything from him, or become his legacy. You are what’s best for me. I promise. I swear it, Viktor. You are who I want, and it may not seem like that all the time, and that’s entirely my fault. Besides, I think the recklessness rubbed off enough on me for the both of us.” A terse laugh and she was serious again, caressing his cheek with her wet hand. “Hey, you saved me once more tonight. You saved me from myself. Or at least you tried to. Don’t let those doubts I see behind your eyes cloud that. Cause I am absolutely allowed to be a mess, but you…you’re strong, my rock. Because you’re you. No one else. I know I fuck up. I know I do the wrong thing, the bad things. I know I’m probably no good for you. But I tried to let you go and I couldn’t handle that. Because without you, I’d be lost. I need you. And I can deal with me falling apart, but I can’t stand to watch you silently wrestle your insecurities. I know you. And I’ll love you because you are you. Got it, Charming?”

The only telltale sign she had that Viktor was near, that he had indeed followed her, was the sound of his heart, a steady metronome in the quiet of the night. It wasn’t until his question that she turned to face him, while her knees were still planted in the ground. She hardly had enough energy to speak, but she managed one word, “Stay.”

Her head bowed once more, the dead grass more comforting than Viktor’s eyes. She took a minute to compose herself before realizing that they shouldn’t be there. The police would certainly be coming here to find any evidence, to investigate, and now she’d left them a broken lock and a fled pet. A part of her wanted to chase after it, maybe adopt it if it warmed up to her. But that wasn’t practical, and for once she was erring on the side of caution.

Standing and dusting herself off, she looked to him with pain, but not sadness. “You trust me, yes. I would never lie to you, you’re right about that. But you don’t have faith in me. That’s okay. I don’t believe in myself ninety percent of the time so…you don’t have to be sorry. Okay, you have nothing to apologize for Viktor. I don’t ever want you to think that you can’t be honest and upfront with me. That you…we should head out. We can’t linger here too long. We can…go to your old home and…meet everyone and then…thank you for sticking with me. I know I’m not easy to deal with. To be with. But the fact that you’re here right now is proof enough that you love me. And what do I give you? Shouting matches and…no, we need to go. Your choice. If you wanna go somewhere else, I’ll be with you.”

Rose offered her hand, but didn’t move forward. She’d made enough choices this evening. And she’d hurt Viktor, even though she also felt slightly betrayed. All of her decisions this night were snowballing from bad to worse, so she wanted this to be his call. If he still wanted to head together at all.