hauntedcollection

[hauntedcollection]

Aw! There there, even as the one who wrote it you weren’t the only one whose pillow was tear soaked. But I’m glad you liked it!!

WARNING: CONTAINS IMPLIED SUICIDAL THOUGHTS/IDEATION. DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

[Life is always better with you in it. I promise it’ll get better.]

Summary:

You and Simon had a good progress on your relationship… until he decided to break up and ghost you. Now he’s returned hoping to reconcile.

I might’ve been crying the entire time writing the dialogue… needless to say my eyes were puffy the following day…

Hot showers always seemed to be the best way to melt the day’s struggles away. Especially with being under stress from work, struggling to get a restful night’s sleep, and still recovering from the abrupt breakup with your boyfriend. He really lived up to his callsign because after his brief speech of ending the relationship, Simon “Ghost” Riley had simply vanished from your life. Granted, the two of you were taking things extremely slow. From when you met him, you sensed he’s lived a life that wasn’t kind at all. Being so patient with him had rewarded you with learning a new layer of Simon’s personality and little life details. But you persevered with him because you saw his worth in your future. Well… at least you did.

Shutting off the water and drying yourself off with a towel before dressing yourself in sweats and a jumper to contain the warmth of the shower you absorbed, you stepped out of the bathroom and into the hallway. The stark contrast of the cold floor against you feet had you rushing to the bedroom, but before you could enter you felt a slight draft. You paused in your steps and listened to the quiet night. Did you leave the window open? You knew it was opened earlier to not keep in the scent of the meal you cooked. Heading to the living room to slide it shut and hurry to kick on the heat, you missed the dark figure sitting in the corner of the room hidden by the shadows.

“You took a while to finish up.” The rumbling voice that sent pleasant butterflies through you only caused terror to strike through your chest.

“Oh, for fucks sake!… Simon?… are you trying to give me a heart attack?… wait… what are you doing here? How’d you get in?!” still feeling your heart trying to calm itself after a fright, you couldn’t help the nervous feeling of seeing Simon again even if he did break your heart and ghosted you.

“… went on an op… I did quite a bit of thinking… I missed you…” his words only struck annoyance in you,

“… right… I totally believe you. Listen, I’m not up for it to go back and forth with you… just… just leave me alone.” You couldn’t believe that after this man had left you for weeks, basically months, and now returned just because ‘he missed you’.

“Oh, come now Lovie. Let’s talk for a bit now.” Despite Simon dressed in his civvies, he still fashions himself as a shadow. His stature rising from the chair and slowly approaching you, reaching a hand to caress your cheek, “please let me explain.”

“No Simon… did you seriously think I’d welcome you back with open arms after you ended things, disappeared to fuck knows where, and popped right back expecting me to go along with you?… Simon, it really hurt… and I can’t let you in again…” gently maneuvering his hand away from your face only gave him the opportunity to grab your arm,

“Then explain to me all those calls. All those messages and voicemails you left me. Begging for an explanation. Pleading for me to reconsider… I thought you cared… or is it that you’ve become so ‘cold-hearted’ and had someone else?” Simon’s tone had a hint of anger and betrayal, but you couldn’t help but feel blinding heat for what he insinuated.

“You don’t get to pin this on me, Simon… I did care for you… but just out of the blue ending things… and not even explaining why… if anything, you are the reason why I’m so ‘cold-hearted’ because it felt like I died… you think I had time or energy to put myself out like that? Do you really think of me so low? No, I was being delusional the whole time hoping it was a nightmare…” at the sound of your true annoyance and being cross at him, Simon’s eyes widened just a fraction. His mind scrambling to try remedy the situation not only from hearing how upset you are but also hearing how your voice began to waver.

“Listen… darling… I messed up. I know I did. Even now I’m messing up… I’m sorry… I’m sorry for ending things how I did… I just… I wanted you to have a reason to hate me… to be with someone else… someone better.” Simon had taken to rub the wrist he had in his grasp, smoothing over your skin with the rough pad of his thumb, “… I was only trying to protect you from me… I really care for you…” his remorseful admission had brought out the frustration you thought you buried.

“No… no Simon… that’s not protecting me at all… I… I couldn’t eat… I couldn’t sleep. I still can’t… do you know how much I’ve gone mad thinking of any possible thing that I could’ve done for you to leave me?” The heat you felt earlier had now travelled to your face, concentrating on your cheeks and in your eyes, distorting your vision of Simon’s face staring at you intensely. You could only swallow a lump before continuing, “… I’ve always told myself it was stupid for people to give up on life when a partner leaves… but I was so close to ending it, Simon… I was so convinced that no one would ever love me…” despite the tears escaping and your voice warbling, you still look at Simon. Watching his reaction, his realization of what transpired in his absence, what could’ve happened. Simon’s stomach twisting in the familiar way when a mission takes an unexpected turn. Taking both of his hands to caress your face, attempting to wipe away the continuous flow of tears.

“Lovie… no, Lovie, no… don’t say that. Don’t say such things… I’d never let that happen… you know I wouldn’t let you hurt yourself… I’m so sorry, Lovie… I’m sorry for what I’ve done to you, I really am…” Simon’s internal panic has caused his heart to drop, “ I can’t imagine my life without you, Lovie… please, please Love… give me another chance. It won’t happen again. I promise.” Now your admission and reflection of what you’ve experienced had caused quiet sobs and hiccups to interrupt your breathing.

“… but it’s true!… I seriously thought I did something wrong!… or that something was wrong with me!… I was so alone!… I can’t- I can’t do this… I can’t trust you again!…” Simon releases your face in favor of wrapping his arms around you, to bring you in to him in an effort to hold you closer to his heart. Listening to the hurt in your voice that he caused. Simon rubbed his hands up and down your back, rocking the both of you back and forth, all the while listening to the muffled sounds of you being in pain.

“I’m so sorry, darling… I’m so so sorry.” He pulls away just enough to once again try to wipe away the tears from your warm cheeks, pressing kisses from your forehead across your eyes and all over your cheeks in an effort to stop the tears, “Please… please, you have to believe me. I love you with everything I am. I always have… Lovie, please don’t leave me…” Simon once again brought you into his embrace, holding onto you tightly as if you’ll break into pieces.

“… I can’t… I can’t… I can’t… because what if it happens again?…it hurt… I don’t wanna be hurt again…”

“Lovie, please don’t cry anymore… I won’t ever let you hurt again. I’ll take care of you. We promised we’d marry one day… don’t let this break us apart… I don’t want to live without you.” His words felt so sincere, the way he held you was so desperate. Seeing you being this hurt over him was another type of pain he was not familiar with. “I’m willing to do anything for you… all I ask is your forgiveness. Please Love… forgive me…”

“… yeah… that was what we promised… but you went ahead and left me anyways… I was the one abandoned, wondering what went wrong… I want to believe you… I really do… but I’d be a fool to trust you again…” eyes now red and puffy, yet still producing a steady stream of tears for Simon to continue wiping away.

“Darling… I understand… I know why you can’t believe me right now… but please… let me make it up to you…” with Simon now fully cradling you face in his hands, staring into you with a determination and resolve, “I’ll treat you better… I’ll treat you like royalty, like the most precious gem in the world… I’ll buy whatever you want, buy the most expensive jewelry… please, give me another chance, Love… call me ‘your Simon’ again…”

“… I don’t want to be treated like royalty… I don’t want the most expensive jewelry… all I wanted was you… that’s all I was happy with… I was perfectly happy knowing I had you…” those words truly broke Simon within. Knowing that he had ruined what was the best thing in his life. All because of his cowardice, he had caused pain to someone he loved. Listening to you cry because of him, because of what he’d done, he was willing to do anything to make you happy.

“Alright darling… I’ll give you what you want… you’re all I ever needed, so this is breaking me… if you won’t give me a chance as your lover… can I at least stay in your life as a friend?… I want you to be happy… and even if it means without me… I’ll do it.” Simon now grasped both of your hands and held it close to his heart, you could feel the strong beat of his heart within his chest. And as you looked at him through your wet lashes, you could see he was being sincere. That he meant what he said. That he was truthful in promising to do better, and that even if you didn’t want him in your life anymore that he would respect it. As much as you were trying to send him off, reject his appeals… you couldn’t help but feel hopeful for another try.

“… Simon… Simon… I forgive you… please, don’t leave me… I forgive you… but please don’t hurt me again… I won’t survive it… it hurt so much… so please don’t leave me again… if you don’t love me, just tell me… but don’t abandon me like that again…” you wrapped your arms around Simon’s neck, burying your face into the crook of it and tightening your hold on him. The sobs came once more, but as you felt Simon’s arms slide against you for an embrace, you felt a sense of calm.

“Shh… alright darling… shh… I won’t abandon you… never again, Lovie… I’m so sorry… I swear it won’t happen again… I love you so much…” Simon resumes rocking you back and forth while pulling away between words to press kisses over your face, “From now on, nothing will separate us… I’ll always be with you… I promise to keep you happy forever…” squeezing you tightly against him, Simon couldn’t help but to breathe in your scent. He heard your cries subsiding and all that remained were the sounds of your sniffles,

“… this better not happen again… I seriously couldn’t take it…” even pressed against him with your words muffled, Simon heard it loud and clear.

“It won’t happen again, darling… I love you… I love you so much… as long as I’m breathing, you’ll never cry over me… do you understand?” Simon pulls away to hold your face gentle within his hands, the face he dreams of and longs to kiss when he’s away, “My Lovie, may I kiss you?” And only when he asks that do you attempt to wipe away the mess of your face, carefully dabbing at your eyes and wiping away any nose drippings with your sleeve. Yet it’s still a sight that Simon loves, he hates that he’s made you cry like this but it’s brought a warmth to know that someone loves him this dearly.

“… I’m all covered in tears and snot, Simon…” your face warms as you feel the embarrassment of breaking down in front of Simon like that, yet you glance at him through your wet lashes only to find that he was staring the entire time. You felt his warm hands caress your face and noticed him bringing your foreheads together whilst letting out a quiet chuckle,

“Regardless, my love, you are still so beautiful and precious to me.” Not a single moment was wasted before you were pulled into a passionate kiss.

[hauntedcollection]

WARNING: CONTAINS IMPLIED SUICIDAL THOUGHTS/IDEATION. DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

[Life is always better with you in it. I promise it’ll get better.]

Summary:

You and Simon had a good progress on your relationship… until he decided to break up and ghost you. Now he’s returned hoping to reconcile.

I might’ve been crying the entire time writing the dialogue… needless to say my eyes were puffy the following day…

Hot showers always seemed to be the best way to melt the day’s struggles away. Especially with being under stress from work, struggling to get a restful night’s sleep, and still recovering from the abrupt breakup with your boyfriend. He really lived up to his callsign because after his brief speech of ending the relationship, Simon “Ghost” Riley had simply vanished from your life. Granted, the two of you were taking things extremely slow. From when you met him, you sensed he’s lived a life that wasn’t kind at all. Being so patient with him had rewarded you with learning a new layer of Simon’s personality and little life details. But you persevered with him because you saw his worth in your future. Well… at least you did.

Shutting off the water and drying yourself off with a towel before dressing yourself in sweats and a jumper to contain the warmth of the shower you absorbed, you stepped out of the bathroom and into the hallway. The stark contrast of the cold floor against you feet had you rushing to the bedroom, but before you could enter you felt a slight draft. You paused in your steps and listened to the quiet night. Did you leave the window open? You knew it was opened earlier to not keep in the scent of the meal you cooked. Heading to the living room to slide it shut and hurry to kick on the heat, you missed the dark figure sitting in the corner of the room hidden by the shadows.

“You took a while to finish up.” The rumbling voice that sent pleasant butterflies through you only caused terror to strike through your chest.

“Oh, for fucks sake!… Simon?… are you trying to give me a heart attack?… wait… what are you doing here? How’d you get in?!” still feeling your heart trying to calm itself after a fright, you couldn’t help the nervous feeling of seeing Simon again even if he did break your heart and ghosted you.

“… went on an op… I did quite a bit of thinking… I missed you…” his words only struck annoyance in you,

“… right… I totally believe you. Listen, I’m not up for it to go back and forth with you… just… just leave me alone.” You couldn’t believe that after this man had left you for weeks, basically months, and now returned just because ‘he missed you’.

“Oh, come now Lovie. Let’s talk for a bit now.” Despite Simon dressed in his civvies, he still fashions himself as a shadow. His stature rising from the chair and slowly approaching you, reaching a hand to caress your cheek, “please let me explain.”

“No Simon… did you seriously think I’d welcome you back with open arms after you ended things, disappeared to fuck knows where, and popped right back expecting me to go along with you?… Simon, it really hurt… and I can’t let you in again…” gently maneuvering his hand away from your face only gave him the opportunity to grab your arm,

“Then explain to me all those calls. All those messages and voicemails you left me. Begging for an explanation. Pleading for me to reconsider… I thought you cared… or is it that you’ve become so ‘cold-hearted’ and had someone else?” Simon’s tone had a hint of anger and betrayal, but you couldn’t help but feel blinding heat for what he insinuated.

“You don’t get to pin this on me, Simon… I did care for you… but just out of the blue ending things… and not even explaining why… if anything, you are the reason why I’m so ‘cold-hearted’ because it felt like I died… you think I had time or energy to put myself out like that? Do you really think of me so low? No, I was being delusional the whole time hoping it was a nightmare…” at the sound of your true annoyance and being cross at him, Simon’s eyes widened just a fraction. His mind scrambling to try remedy the situation not only from hearing how upset you are but also hearing how your voice began to waver.

“Listen… darling… I messed up. I know I did. Even now I’m messing up… I’m sorry… I’m sorry for ending things how I did… I just… I wanted you to have a reason to hate me… to be with someone else… someone better.” Simon had taken to rub the wrist he had in his grasp, smoothing over your skin with the rough pad of his thumb, “… I was only trying to protect you from me… I really care for you…” his remorseful admission had brought out the frustration you thought you buried.

“No… no Simon… that’s not protecting me at all… I… I couldn’t eat… I couldn’t sleep. I still can’t… do you know how much I’ve gone mad thinking of any possible thing that I could’ve done for you to leave me?” The heat you felt earlier had now travelled to your face, concentrating on your cheeks and in your eyes, distorting your vision of Simon’s face staring at you intensely. You could only swallow a lump before continuing, “… I’ve always told myself it was stupid for people to give up on life when a partner leaves… but I was so close to ending it, Simon… I was so convinced that no one would ever love me…” despite the tears escaping and your voice warbling, you still look at Simon. Watching his reaction, his realization of what transpired in his absence, what could’ve happened. Simon’s stomach twisting in the familiar way when a mission takes an unexpected turn. Taking both of his hands to caress your face, attempting to wipe away the continuous flow of tears.

“Lovie… no, Lovie, no… don’t say that. Don’t say such things… I’d never let that happen… you know I wouldn’t let you hurt yourself… I’m so sorry, Lovie… I’m sorry for what I’ve done to you, I really am…” Simon’s internal panic has caused his heart to drop, “ I can’t imagine my life without you, Lovie… please, please Love… give me another chance. It won’t happen again. I promise.” Now your admission and reflection of what you’ve experienced had caused quiet sobs and hiccups to interrupt your breathing.

“… but it’s true!… I seriously thought I did something wrong!… or that something was wrong with me!… I was so alone!… I can’t- I can’t do this… I can’t trust you again!…” Simon releases your face in favor of wrapping his arms around you, to bring you in to him in an effort to hold you closer to his heart. Listening to the hurt in your voice that he caused. Simon rubbed his hands up and down your back, rocking the both of you back and forth, all the while listening to the muffled sounds of you being in pain.

“I’m so sorry, darling… I’m so so sorry.” He pulls away just enough to once again try to wipe away the tears from your warm cheeks, pressing kisses from your forehead across your eyes and all over your cheeks in an effort to stop the tears, “Please… please, you have to believe me. I love you with everything I am. I always have… Lovie, please don’t leave me…” Simon once again brought you into his embrace, holding onto you tightly as if you’ll break into pieces.

“… I can’t… I can’t… I can’t… because what if it happens again?…it hurt… I don’t wanna be hurt again…”

“Lovie, please don’t cry anymore… I won’t ever let you hurt again. I’ll take care of you. We promised we’d marry one day… don’t let this break us apart… I don’t want to live without you.” His words felt so sincere, the way he held you was so desperate. Seeing you being this hurt over him was another type of pain he was not familiar with. “I’m willing to do anything for you… all I ask is your forgiveness. Please Love… forgive me…”

“… yeah… that was what we promised… but you went ahead and left me anyways… I was the one abandoned, wondering what went wrong… I want to believe you… I really do… but I’d be a fool to trust you again…” eyes now red and puffy, yet still producing a steady stream of tears for Simon to continue wiping away.

“Darling… I understand… I know why you can’t believe me right now… but please… let me make it up to you…” with Simon now fully cradling you face in his hands, staring into you with a determination and resolve, “I’ll treat you better… I’ll treat you like royalty, like the most precious gem in the world… I’ll buy whatever you want, buy the most expensive jewelry… please, give me another chance, Love… call me ‘your Simon’ again…”

“… I don’t want to be treated like royalty… I don’t want the most expensive jewelry… all I wanted was you… that’s all I was happy with… I was perfectly happy knowing I had you…” those words truly broke Simon within. Knowing that he had ruined what was the best thing in his life. All because of his cowardice, he had caused pain to someone he loved. Listening to you cry because of him, because of what he’d done, he was willing to do anything to make you happy.

“Alright darling… I’ll give you what you want… you’re all I ever needed, so this is breaking me… if you won’t give me a chance as your lover… can I at least stay in your life as a friend?… I want you to be happy… and even if it means without me… I’ll do it.” Simon now grasped both of your hands and held it close to his heart, you could feel the strong beat of his heart within his chest. And as you looked at him through your wet lashes, you could see he was being sincere. That he meant what he said. That he was truthful in promising to do better, and that even if you didn’t want him in your life anymore that he would respect it. As much as you were trying to send him off, reject his appeals… you couldn’t help but feel hopeful for another try.

“… Simon… Simon… I forgive you… please, don’t leave me… I forgive you… but please don’t hurt me again… I won’t survive it… it hurt so much… so please don’t leave me again… if you don’t love me, just tell me… but don’t abandon me like that again…” you wrapped your arms around Simon’s neck, burying your face into the crook of it and tightening your hold on him. The sobs came once more, but as you felt Simon’s arms slide against you for an embrace, you felt a sense of calm.

“Shh… alright darling… shh… I won’t abandon you… never again, Lovie… I’m so sorry… I swear it won’t happen again… I love you so much…” Simon resumes rocking you back and forth while pulling away between words to press kisses over your face, “From now on, nothing will separate us… I’ll always be with you… I promise to keep you happy forever…” squeezing you tightly against him, Simon couldn’t help but to breathe in your scent. He heard your cries subsiding and all that remained were the sounds of your sniffles,

“… this better not happen again… I seriously couldn’t take it…” even pressed against him with your words muffled, Simon heard it loud and clear.

“It won’t happen again, darling… I love you… I love you so much… as long as I’m breathing, you’ll never cry over me… do you understand?” Simon pulls away to hold your face gentle within his hands, the face he dreams of and longs to kiss when he’s away, “My Lovie, may I kiss you?” And only when he asks that do you attempt to wipe away the mess of your face, carefully dabbing at your eyes and wiping away any nose drippings with your sleeve. Yet it’s still a sight that Simon loves, he hates that he’s made you cry like this but it’s brought a warmth to know that someone loves him this dearly.

“… I’m all covered in tears and snot, Simon…” your face warms as you feel the embarrassment of breaking down in front of Simon like that, yet you glance at him through your wet lashes only to find that he was staring the entire time. You felt his warm hands caress your face and noticed him bringing your foreheads together whilst letting out a quiet chuckle,

“Regardless, my love, you are still so beautiful and precious to me.” Not a single moment was wasted before you were pulled into a passionate kiss.

[hauntedcollection]

When a Ghost is Haunted

All you could focus on was ensuring not to disturb the little sleep you poor husband could manage but alas, when you’ve decided to drink an unholy amount of water before bed the consequences strike you when you least desired them. Of course the need to relieve yourself was worlds stronger than the desire to stay swaddled in the safety of your shared bed, even more so with your personal heater that is Simon.

Speaking of, as you shut the door to the bathroom you confirmed he was surprisingly still within the comforts of sleep. However, as you cautiously approach the bed to resume your peaceful slumber, you paused fixing yourself in to listen to the deep mumbles coming from Simon. Freezing in place so as to not cause more disturbance, you watched him for any signs of wakefulness only to hear more than just mumbles - sounds of pain, quiet cries and heartbreaking whimpers. You gently reach a hand out to feel for his face, he doesn’t feel feverish but when you passed over his closed eyes, your thumb moist with his tears. Now you’re definitely startled and concerned. You turn to completely face him,

"Si… Simon… please wake up…" you held your breath as he grumbled awake and reached out to caress his face. His eyes blinking a few times, looking around him before finding yours within the moonlit sanctuary of your room.

“… what’s wrong lovie?” Simon, always the protector, the caretaker. It warms and hurts your heart to see him put you first before his clear distress.

“I should be asking you that, you were crying in your sleep.”

“… just a bad dream… sorry about that” as he rubs his face to vanish the tears staining his face, you couldn’t help but take over for him and use a much gentler motion, causing his hand to rest on your thigh.

“Don’t apologize for that Simon, do you want to talk about it? I can fix you a cup of tea if you’d like?” Now your hands have migrated to his hair, rhythmically raking through his short strands and softly scratching at his scalp.

“It’s alright dove, it’s enough you pulled me out of it…” clutching onto the remnants of sleep, dragging you flush to his body, face finding home in the crook of your neck, “… congratulations on becoming an honorary Brit. Offering me a cuppa. I’ll be seeing you screaming your head off at football matches in no time.” Those words murmured against the skin of your neck caused tingles, especially as you felt his lips press against you.

“Quit it that tickles… and joke all you want about me making you tea you hypocrite. Johnny told me ‘bout the ‘verbal lashing’ you dished out to him about the proper way of making tea.” You continued the motions of scratching nonsensical patterns through his hair, feeling the warm puffs of air come to a halt at the mention of Johnny.

“… oh really? What did Johnny say?” Even as Simon whispered, there was suspicion in his voice.

“All he mentioned was his surprise at your passion for tea, and he’s not wrong because you nearly had a conniption when I told you water heated in the microwave was good enough, and then you made me go through a whole crash course led by you on how to make a proper tea.” Recalling that day of nearly giving poor Simon a heart attack when he had asked for a tea only to see you preparing to heat the water in the microwave ‘like a heathen’ instead of using the kettle. You giggle at the memory of seeing such a burly man be so stern at such a mundane task; however, Simon could only grumble at you finding amusement at his expense.

“You should be thankful I’ve cultured you, now all you need is a good course on football… and I swear you better not side with Price and his Liverpool team or even worse, Tottenham.” This in turn sent you in a fit of laughter which Simon couldn’t help but chuckle along and patiently listen to it descend into silence once more, “ so what else do you and Johnny gossip about? … You better not be giving him ammunition to use against me.” Now your hands migrated to below his shirt collar, scratching lightly back and forth across his shoulders.

“Ah, just to catch up with any of his family drama, I swear the MacTavish family tree is branching out a lot quicker than we can keep up with… oh and maybe let’s me know when you’re ‘in a mood’ and to ‘fix his LT to be less like an arse’” at that last comment Simon couldn’t help but furrow his brows and pull away to actually face you.

“… he doesn’t tell you too much does he? Like details on base? Or operations?… or my past?” At first he sounded uncharacteristically frantic and as he mentioned his past it devolved into a whisper. You could vaguely make a connection on what was truly on Simon’s mind but now your concern was soothing him from the trauma he might’ve encountered from his nightmare.

“No, no. Not at all. Just to give me a heads up if you’ve had a bad day… I don’t think he’d betray your trust like that Simon. And even if he did, god forbid, I wouldn’t want to hear it unless it came from you.” Retracting your hands to cradle his face, you felt him release a breath before gripping onto one of your hands, pressing a kiss to it.

“Thanks lovie… is that offer for tea still standing?” Smiling at his spontaneous silly nature you couldn’t help but kiss his cheek.

“I think I can get behind the idea of a private tea party between us… by the way, how is your hair so damn soft? And your lashes, they’re so long and pretty, it’s unfair!” You could actually feel his face burn reacting to your inquiries and thrown your man into a loop for Simon was stunned and took a few seconds to gather his thoughts.

“… I… um… thank you? … since when were you this flirty?” It was an amazing sight to see this 6’2 mass of a special air forces lieutenant be so flustered.

“You’re welcome hun. And what’s wrong with flirting with my own husband? I’m making sure my game is still strong to keep winning you over like we’re still dating. Either way the return policy is nonexistent so you’re stuck with me handsome.” You’ve once again flustered Simon and he couldn’t help but laugh.

“That’s right, as long as I’m the only one you’re flirting with,” a small smile snuck onto his face as he embraced you, “and the only one allowed to flirt with you darling. All mine.”

“And I’m proud to be yours, just as much as I’m happy to call you mine.” You couldn’t help but giggle and snuggle closer to him, “… have I ever told you how much I love it when you surround me like this? Makes me feel secure. Protected. Even more so because I can leech off of your body heat!”

“You know you’re a real sweet talker.” Listening to his rumblings through his chest and feeling him press kisses to your face invoked warmth within you, “It’s no wonder how I’ve fallen for you.”

“Well someone has to satisfy your sweet tooth and I happily volunteer. Makes it totally worth it when you keep giving me such sweet kisses like that. You deserve all my love and flirtation if I’m rewarded with your affections, not many can brag about getting such an honor.” Within this moment was when Simon realized he was the luckiest man to have found someone to love him unconditionally and had boundless amounts of patience for him. The urge to bury you - keep you safe - within his own chest was overwhelming. He settled for squeezing you just a tad bit tighter only to feel you reciprocate the gesture. Your bodies relaxed against one another in comfortable silence, now broken with Simon’s teasing,

“… Since you’ve kept me up with this flirting, how about that tea you promised?” You couldn’t help but squeeze his bicep in retaliation and laugh.

“Oh I’m sorry, his royal highness is demanding the tea he mocked me about. And don’t complain about my flirting as if you weren’t enjoying it a few seconds ago. That’s right, I’m calling you out. Don’t think I didn’t feel you become feverish all of a sudden, pretty boy. You’re not fooling me anytime soon.” You could hear Simon let out a mock gasp.

“Shut up or I’ll kiss you again,” he murmurs right into you ear and snakes his arms around your ribs to begin poking and tickling, “I mean it, don’t test me.” Punctuated with a firm kiss to your cheek before rolling out of bed, “let’s go make that tea darling.”

“Oh? Are you threatening me with a good time? Say no more.” Hopping out out bed and approaching Simon to wrap him in your embrace, “I’ll always be by your side Simon. Through sickness and health. You’re mine as I’m yours… now let’s go make that tea before you get grumpy.” But before you could fully escape his grasp, Simon held on to your hand firmly.

“… can you promise that you won’t let anyone else touch you like I do?… not even Johnny?” As he softly requested that, the picture was getting clearer on what disturbs Simon, “I want to be the only one, to treat you with my affection like that.” He takes his other hand to cup your face to meet his eyes, “… am I the only one?” Just seeing him have the bravery to admit a slight insecurity had you in a panic but you let your feelings flow out.

“You were and are always the one for me. I value loyalty and I can’t fathom hurting you like that; if I’ve done anything to even hint at betraying your trust please talk to me Simon. You’re the last person I’d want to hurt. You literally have my heart, hell, you probably have my own soul because that’s how much I dedicate myself to you and you alone.” You’ve said it with such conviction that you’ve stunned him to silence. And Simon couldn’t help but think of the epitome of a nightmare that is his life: all of the abuse, pain and suffering… only to be blessed with an entity so loyal to him, someone who loved him for Simon. Someone who didn’t place expectations on him, or dishing out heavy criticisms. Only is it you, who stands before him, that has genuinely loved and cared for Simon. And he definitely couldn’t fight against the tears welling in his eyes, so he’s pulled you into his warm firm hold.

“Please, never leave me… I don’t know where I’ll be without you.”

“Simon, if it was within my power I’d have our souls intertwined. I’ll stick around for as long as you’ll let me. Even into our next lives, we’ll meet again, fall in love and stick together. I’d even wager that I’ll find you first so you’ll never be lost. But I love you with every fiber of my being. I don’t believe in ‘till death do us apart’, no I’m a possessive person and you’re mine regardless. In this life and the next and all the ones after.” You really haven’t stopped surprising this man the entire night as he refused to let you budge from his hold. You’ve only confirmed that there is no one else better for him, no one more loyal and trustworthy than you. You, along with the task force that is his family, now belonged to his entire world, and this time he’s making sure no one is taking it away from him.

“Until we become one soul in another universe, I guess… now let’s make that tea. I’m desperate for a cup thanks to you.”