The first moment of her fall was horrifying.

She slipped-

She began her decent-

And I could just see what was going to happen-

A smash of her head against ground, falling and tumbling-

Until she wasn't.

I stood, bracing my legs against the steps, and snatching her out of the air faster and harder then I should have.

My arms wrapped around her-

Scared-

Of what just happened

Of what could have happened

Of all the many possibilities that could have harmed her-

But now she was here- with me, pressed up against me- the warmth she spread through my body was harrowing and lovely at the same time- sparks jumping into my skin- growing only stronger the longer and harder I pressed her into my chest.

Her neck was close to me-

So very close-

Everything needed to be closer-

Shoving my face into her neck was almost involuntary-

A deep breath-

Intoxicating scent-

Warm and delicate-

She was still there.

She was still very much alive-

She was still with me-

It was a relief.

But then that older male spoke.

Aggressive noise garbling through his mouth- past his flat teeth

Angry...

That was what I was.

I believe that is what I am.

Aching with a need to... bite.

Not bite- but

Something unfathomable to me.

These things.

These people.

They threaten me.

They threaten her-

Us.

I can feel it.

The jaggedness.

The stiffness of their arms.

The clicks of their metal contraptions.

Contraptions- metal-

All of it is familiar.

I know what they are- yet I don't.

So many things that I didn't know have been growing clearer.

Her.

My lifeline.

My shining star.

My guide

My safe.

She is safe.

Her actions are safe.

I need to keep her safe.

The marks I left on her arm scream at me for not doing just that.

She was upset with me- upset by me- upset by my actions-

Not safe.

The red pouring from her arm felt like acid in my mouth- her skin repelled my being

The dread I felt- the shame- the utter shame in knowing.

I did that.

I made her upset.

I made her defenseless.

I shouldn't do that again.

I wouldn't do that again.

I CAN'T do that again.

And no one else is allowed to do that either.

Not these beasts in front of me.

Not these figures- these people- these dangerous

Fidgeting- species- that reek of a fight- they were ready to kill-

Kill her

Kill us.

Wicked rumbles rolled through my chest-

Ready to defend- ready to fight

For her.

All for her.

Never let anything get to her-

She needs to be safe-

Safe

And

...

Protected.

...

She nudged at me.

I glance- I can't not glance at her.

I meet her eyes, the concern that goes through them.

The sheer and potent worry she oozes.

It hits my core- my chest- my heart

It clenches- in hurt- that if these savages before me do use their metal do fight- she wouldn't be safe.

I glance back at them. I glance to her, and back again.

She snaps her teeth-

I shuffle closer- to ease her worry-

Can't they see they're scaring her-

Do they even care that they are?

They clearly don't-

...

Imagine my alarm when she wraps those delicate arms around me.

So much smaller.

So much more fragile then my own arms.

I meagerly look at the difference.

The itch that ran beneath me

Chewing my skin- the burn- the ache- flaring ever stronger against me-

I shouldn't be indulging myself-

She was scared- she

She

Sh...

...

I heaved with a breathless voice of fury, growls forming in my mouth.

A warning- of what I wanted to do- could do.

Standing in front of her-

I would rip the red out of those people- I could and I would- but leaving her there would make her even more vulnerable- so I leaned into the comfort of her timid touch.

...

But then I felt her prod at my neck-

Her face pushing its way to my skin-

I was surprised-

Taken off guard-

Off put-

The way she nuzzled into my neck- so timid, and sweet- nervous-

The instinct in my gut molded my mind, twisting the agitation out, leaving only room for the comfort and burn she rubbed into me.

I turned to her- I needed to respond to her- to this-

To what she was providing- and the gentleness with which she did so-

Ignore them.

That's what she meant.

Pay no mind to their babble- their gruff and aggressive noises.

It's okay.

That's what she meant.

She was safe-

I folded onto her, limply standing, threading my arms around her waist, letting myself take in her scent- however tarnished it was by that foul and vile blob of acid.

I rubbed myself into her, trying to let my own smell rid her of the acidic stench, pulling my head back in a small flex of trust.

The burning sensation of her breathe was sent scuttling down my spine, and I tensed, tightening my hold.

I felt happy.

So pleasantly happy.

I wanted to take her into me- grab her- hold her- never let her go, spin her in a circle for no fathomable reason- anything to be closer- anything to never not be close.

...

What luck I saw.

I felt.

I noticed just how tight I was holding her- the tips of my fingers almost piercing her side-

Release-

Unwound my arms from her.

I can't keep hurting her.

A spare glance to the bite on her arm was more then enough reminder.

Not again.

No more.

I want her to be alive- with me- together.

As us.

.

.

.

So yeah- another chappie on his perspective.