A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

Home. (F/n) never thought that it'd feel so unwelcoming. The key was in her right hand, but it wasn't in the lock. She simply stood outside the door. Her heartbeat wasn't steady. Lee was inside unless he decided to leave, but the door was locked; he didn't have a key. He could've gone out one of the windows, but she doubted that he would. Why would he invest himself so much in Anita's behavior and in her own life otherwise?

When she heard footsteps on the sidewalk, she glanced to her right. There was a group of friends leaving one of the houses down the street. So as not to look odd, she finally placed the key in the lock and turned it. A sigh left her, and she walked inside. She closed the door and locked it behind her. Perhaps, she should've left it unlocked, but she already was inside, and Lee already was there. Leaving it unlocked might've given her another second of escape time if she chose to run due to him becoming violent all of a sudden, but she was so drained from the evening that she didn't think one extra second would do anything.

Rather, she thought it better just to go up to her room and watch a movie. Maybe, he'd see how exhausted she looked and actually care enough not to bother her about the evening. As her feet carried her towards the stairs, she saw him lean against the doorframe to the dining room leading to the kitchen. His arms were crossed over his chest, and she wondered if he was smirking. Almost, she glared in his direction. Instead, she focused on the stairs and headed up.

One step at a time, she made her ascent, but she paused on the fourth step when she felt something hit her back. She didn't even have to glance back to know what it was. (F/n) turned around and picked up the piece of paper. It didn't go well? That was a major understatement, and she folded the paper back up before she threw it to him and continued walking. Behind her, she heard the creaking. Maybe, she shouldn't piss him off, but she also just wanted to be alone.

Scott had given her a conversation she needed, and she appreciated that. But now, she wanted to be on her own. Everything from the night she wanted out of her head so that she could have a peaceful sleep, but that probably was too hopeful, especially when the creaking grew closer.

Plastic grabbed her left wrist. "Can you ask tomorrow night?" Her voice was quiet. She didn't have the energy to make it louder. It remained around her skin a moment longer before his grip loosened, and she was able to pull her wrist away. "Than-" (F/n)'s voice was cut off when he suddenly pulled back on her, and a scream left her lips.

No stairs greeted her, though. Instead, plastic arms held her up before they fully lifted her up. Surprised and not comfortable at all, she glanced up to him quickly and exclaimed, "What are you doing?! Put me down!" He completely ignored her and carried her up the stairs as though they were a couple. "Seriously Lee! Set me down!" She, not thinking in that moment, hit his chest hard before she winced, and he acted like nothing had happened. Lee did adjust her in his arms while he headed for her room. (F/n) huffed roughly and crossed her arms since she had tried pushing herself out of his arms. All that did was tighten his hold on her.

Entering her room, he walked over to her bed and set her down. Her (e/c) optics watched him carefully the whole time, and he headed over to her desk. "What was that about? And, I really meant it." Her voice was harsh and impatient now. "I don't want to talk now. Or, tonight at all." She crossed her arms. "Can't you just wait?" A note soon flew over to her.

No. Tell me what happened. You're about to cry. I want to know why. She felt nothing wet on her face, and she was certain that she wasn't crying. Then again, he had proven to be able to read her quite well in the past. Slowly, her arms dropped down to her lap, and she faced away from him. (F/n) couldn't help but let her head hang down a bit.

Resting his hands on the desk, Lee leaned back and watched her. He didn't need to see her face to know what she was feeling. She had learned something about Anita's betrayal, and he knew that she probably felt scared, abandoned, lost and a whole series of other awful emotions. Like she was in a world of strangers. People could be only blurs, and it wouldn't matter. It wouldn't change what she had discovered.

If only she had listened to him more, let the doubt sink in more, she might not be feeling quite as terrible. Of course, he could've told her the truth. He still could. And for once, he didn't feel like smiling after someone found out a lie, learned the truth. It had been fun leading up to the present moment, but seeing her how she was ... Well, it reminded him too much of the past.

It reminded him of why he decided to help her. Beyond the amusement and vague warnings, he saw the betrayal he had felt all those years ago. Almost, it was like he was seeing himself sitting on the bed. But, he had been sitting on a hospital bed. The nurse had let something slip that his business partner and friend accidentally had disclosed after the accident. After hearing those words, everything had changed.

Nearly, one of his hands slipped off of the desk, and he quickly caught himself. She didn't notice, and he wasn't surprised. His eyes fell back on her. For once, seeing a victim of his broken didn't bring him to grin in victory, didn't bring him pleasure. Though, was she a victim? He had been planning to let her live and just kill Anita after learning about Anita's betrayal after all. Had he gotten too close? Was she too like him?

Sighing roughly, he pushed himself off of the desk. He grabbed paper and pen. Lee placed them on the bed and seated himself down next to her. She scooted away from him a bit but didn't get up. (F/n) didn't meet his eyes. Despite his note, she didn't say anything, and when he lifted up his right hand, she flinched and tried to move. His other hand caught her left one and held her there while his other rested gently on her head.

He pulled her towards him so swiftly that she didn't have a moment to pull back. She found herself leaning against his shoulder. (F/n) knew who she was leaning against; she knew that she shouldn't show any more weakness in front of him than she already had. Even if he could read her incredibly well, she shouldn't give in, but the simple action sparked something in her. It flicked a switch. The past didn't matter in that moment, and the idea of watching a movie became long forgotten.

Rather the fact that she had someone just holding her when she felt so horrid was all that mattered. Even if his comfort had some ulterior motive, it remained to be an act of comforting, and her exhausted mind needed that so much. It needed to let go; she needed to let go even if just for a short period of time. Maybe, it was stupid. But, hadn't that whole dinner been ridiculous?!

All those years of friendship put into question over some guy who had hurt her friend countless times? Anita had given a picture of her away without permission. She had lied to her about Tristan, and Anita most likely knew the depths of what Kaleb and Tristan were talking about. Perhaps, that was too much of an assumption, but her head hurt; her heart hurt. And, the worst part was that Anita wasn't there to help her out of such thoughts; she was the source of them.

Before she knew it, the tears were falling. Her hands were covering her face. (F/n) was leaning on Lee more. She was curling into him, and he just held her. His hand moved from her head to her shoulder and pulled her in closer. Steadily, her legs moved up onto the bed and folded so that she was even more curled against Lee. He didn't move, not even to write a note. All he did was sit and be there. It only made her cry more. Was he to be alive in the traditional sense, tears might've trickled down his cheeks. He had wondered if he had gotten too close. Now, he had his answer. Otherwise, he wouldn't be crying silently. Her sobs wouldn't be affecting him like they were. After his friend, he didn't think that he'd ever find himself close to another, but (f/n) and him shared a bond that even he couldn't deny. One of betrayal, and that dug its roots in deep.

Sounds of her pain continued. The sobs were loud and spoke of everything that she was feeling at that time. He held her close, but he finally wrote something. Lee had to know, and he set it on her lap. Tell me that you don't hold any secrets like Anita. Swear to me. If you can't, then I can't go further with you. I can't help you further. Not again. A second time would be too much.

Once she finally took notice of the note, her mind barely processed it. But, she eventually looked up to him. At first, he was staring straight ahead as though he saw something there that she couldn't. When his eyes met hers, she saw the neutral expression, but his note meant so much more. Even if she couldn't read him that well, she knew at least that much. Her lips parted. She wanted to ask him how he could even think that she'd keep something like that from Anita after how much she had stood up for her friend, but she recalled some of their past interactions.

With her worn out mind, the recollections were foggy currently, but they were there. Most likely, he had been screwed over by someone. Did he truly want to help her that much, then, because he had experienced something similar? "... Then," her words didn't come out steady but between hiccups, "tell m-me that ... I-I can tru-trust ... you. No mo-more g-games." Maybe, she shouldn't even be entertaining that idea, but Lee was ... He was the only one right then and there that claimed to know the truth about what was happening with Anita, and that was something she desperately needed after that dinner. She required answers, and Anita wasn't there.