WotN: It's _not_ okay

Pencil, Micron 005, Bic and Prismacolor markers

---

Naru clenched the front of his vest like a lifeline, hot tears soaking the rough material. She felt compelled to apologize, but she didn't dare look into his eyes.

The look of understanding sure to be found there would undoubtedly shatter what little control she had left.

Despite her silence, Lee seemed to sense her inner turmoil - and the fact that it ran deeper than her concern over the state of his clothing. Tightening his arms around her shuddering form, he rested his head on top of hers, nuzzling her hair gently.

His soft smile faltered slightly at her whimper, but as she didn't seem to notice, he quickly fixed it back into place. "It is okay..." he murmured softly. "It is okay that you do not love me..."

"No, it is not okay!" she said finally, meeting his dark gaze with pain filled blue eyes. She averted them quickly, grasping his vest so tightly now that her knuckles were a pasty white. "It's not... "

He let out an imperceptible sigh, staring down at her head before gazing skyward. "It will be..." he said quietly. "I promise..."

She shut her eyes tightly, her mind whirling even as her stomach twisted into painful knots. How could he be so calm? "Even..." she paused, taking in a gasping, shuddering breath, trying not to sob out loud when he rubbed her back gently. "Even when your heart feels like its breaking...?"

There was a long silence, before she felt his chin rest upon her head once more. "Aa..." he said quietly. "Even when."

~~

Hehe... dunno... it was floating around in my head whilst I was in St. Louis... blame it on the change in climate...