She hesitated, considering him. “Do you feel it too?” she asked him, tilting her head. “I’m not imagining it, right?”
He hesitated, looking unsure of himself. "It's not that I don't think you're capable, it's just.. It feels like I have to try and protect you or else I'm going to lose you, and I can't get rid of that thought in my head.."
She frowned at him, her hand coming up to cup his jaw gently. "You're not going to lose me, Abel," she said softly. "And... I mean, I get it, but all of that is built off of the thought that I can't handle myself in a bad situation. Like... I don't know. Like I need you to come in and protect me because I'm not able to do it myself."
"I'm just.. used to being around people who can't defend themselves," he explained, like when I was younger in the explosion, or when I had to leave a family I really liked in the foster system. There was nothing I could do.. I didn't want it to happen again, but now that you're here and you're able to take care of yourself I'm just not used to it."
Her face softened as she listened, her thumb brushing over his cheekbone gently as she considered him. "Nothing's going to happen to me," she told him gently. "You don't need to be the only strong one, you know...? I can take care of myself."
She took his hand and kissed his knuckles gently, her fingers tracing the links in between. "I don't want you to be frightened, Abel," she said after a moment, looking up at him. "The one benefit of the work we do is that we are hopeful for a better future because we're taking the steps to initiate it. Fear is..." She paused, looking for the right words. "Fear strangles progress. Fear looms over hope, if we let it." She stood on her toes, kissing his cheek and squeezing his hand. "I'm not frightened, Abel. Are you?"
He considered this, watching her with a thoughtful expression. It took him a moment to reply, the future plans racing in his mind. "I.. I'm scared of going into the their headquarters and dying there."
She digested that, looking up at him, holding his hand just under her mouth as she thought. "I don't want you to go alone," she told him, her brow furrowed. "I don't think it's smart."
"Then I should go," she replied, tilting her head. "We've been over this, Abel. You're smarter than I am."
"Maybe it's a pride thing. I've just spent so long and worked so hard." He paused and frowned, before looking up at her. "Maybe we can finish it together, though."
She considered him, tucking his hair behind his ear. Judging by her facial expression, she didn't understand this compulsion, but she tried, talking slowly. "If me being there diminishes... the triumph of the moment... I mean, I guess..."
