The light from the lamp illuminated his face, casting shadows on his eyebags.

Even with or without artifical light you'd still admire his disheveled look, black unkempt messy hair that was sticking on his forehead and those damn eyes that would give away his true feelings.

Ever since those kids from the Grace Field farm entered our shelter, Yuugo wasn't able to sleep.

Emma, Ray and their family were currently asleep so that meant a little bit of peace for us two. Not that I didn't enjoy their company, I adored it, but some time alone with Yuugo is a very precious moment.

He sat down on the soft sofa, and I made my way to the stove to prepare some tea.

" Why don't you like Emma and her family?" I asked, not really expecting an answer since it was this obvious.

" Don't ask me things you already know." he replied rather groggy.

I poured tea into two small cups and handed him one. He looked down at the cup, steam from the tea hugging his face.

" I know what you're thinking. If you take Emma and Ray with a secret motive of killing them, don't bother coming back." with that said, I sipped my tea and watched Yuugo sigh in defeat.

" Look, we don't need more dead weight." he looked up and I raised an eyebrow.

" So I was dead weight all along? "

" That's not what I'm saying. You're a grown woman (Y/N), you can fight and take care of yourself, they are.. they are just kids. With no chance of survival. " he furrowed his eyebrows and continued sipping his tea.

" I was just like them when I got there. And you helped me. "

" I did not. You were annoying and threatening me to blow up the whole shelter if I didn't share food. "

True. When I got here, I was about 15, an escapee who was living on her own a couple of years in the forest. I guess Yuugo didn't mind me coexisting in his shelter if I was staying out of his business.

" Look, we're old now. What do you plan on doing in here for the next five, ten years?? If we don't help them, no one will. Don't you want a world where we can start our own family?" I gently placed my teacup on the table and got up. This seemed to upset him, since he got up too.

" You know what? Fine, kill them all and you won't only lose a chance to help those poor children. You'll also lose me. I'm going to sleep now. Goodnight. " after saying that I stormed out of the room, not turning back when he called out my name, so softly. Like the whole world was crumbling.

But I wasn't going to go soft on him now. He has to understand that those children need our help.

I entered our shared bedroom and changed into something more comfortable, aggressively throwing my clothes on the floor.

As I sat down on the bed, the memories we shared came flooding in my head.

I remember when I first saw those carvings on the wall, when I annoyed him one month straight to tell me what happened. I think after that, when we shared our mutual pain, that's when we found solace in each other.

I remember him letting his guard down and breaking down in my arms and the warmth of his tears crushing my poor heart.

Or when we talked about future and him playing the role of a strong man and telling me that we'll get out of here and be fine. Even though those were a couple of sweet lies, I gave in temptation and believed them. I hoped for a bright future where Yuugo and me could live without any worries.

I didn't even notice when the tears started pouring down my face. I bit my bottom lip and dried off my eyes.

That lovely bastard.

Throwing myself under the blankets, the warmth welcomed my body merging me in. I sighed and closed my eyes, getting ready to fall asleep but alas my intentions were interrupted by quiet steps.

He was coming.

Still a bit annoyed and angry I pretended to be asleep. I could hear him taking off his clothes and changing into something comfortable. I had to give everything I had in me not to yell at him or even cry.

Once he laid in the bed I felt the mattress shift and soon enough two strong arms pulling me closer. I craved his touch but my damn pride said don't move.

So I didn't.

" I'm sorry." he mumbled as he buried his head in the crook of my neck, inhaling the sweet scent.

" I'm sorry.." he said again, this time louder while squeezing my waist.

I couldn't take it anymore, that vulnerability he was showing me was more than enough for me to stop this childish behavior and intertwine my small hand between his scarred fingers.

He noticed that and tensed for a brief moment before relaxing again. How I loved this man.

" I'm sorry. I won't kill them. I never planned on doing it. It's just.." he whispered and I felt his hot breath tickling my neck.

" I see how you look at them. I will protect them, with all of my might. I know that... I know.."

I felt goosebumps all over my body as he was saying that.

" I know that you always wanted kids. "

xx