Lumina
b i r b m o m
Alejandro couldn't keep his composure. After a while, he kind of felt a wave of sadness wash over him. Especially when Astrid started to cry... And if he wasn't mistaking... She said that she loved him. When she dropped to her knees, he soon followed, looking her in the eyes. "I'm not going to lie to you, Astrid. You were my main focus. I don't care if you can't protect me, or if I make it hard for you to protect me... I value you more than I value myself." He said, shaking his head. "As crazy as it sounds... I've grown to love you and I can't help myself when I see you struggle or in pain... And you are my partner. We are equals... When we went out on that battlefield, we both got our asses handed to us. You didn't cause me any harm, I caused myself harm. It was my choice to fight him, you didn't make me." Alejandro placed his hands on Astrid's shoulders. "I look to you for strength. No one else. Seeing you like this is something I'd never expect, because you're so independent, and strong. I depend on you more than you think. I look to you because... I really do... Love you." Alejandro let her go, and he stood up, wiping his eyes. He couldn't believe he was crying. It was a disgusting feeling, but at the same time, he was just as emotional as Astrid at the moment. That was something he'd never understand, even in death. Alejandro reached a hand down to Astrid and he sighed a bit, "Don't change on me now... I want you around... No, I NEED you. Without you I'd be lost at this point... And I can't imagine doing anything else without you by my side. That includes fighting, training, even the more simple stuff like just going on a walk. I'd rather you be there than not..."
Astrid
Astrid sat in what was probably the most vulnerable state she had ever been in. To date, she couldn't recall any time ever having been more vulnerable and emotional. Hell she wasn't even this emotional when she left home, and she had left EVERYTHING behind then. But this? This was something different. Laying herself and her soul bare to the one person who she felt completed her. The other half of her soul that she didn't know was missing. Her soulmate, one might say. To just lay it all out in the open to him was the biggest risk and the scariest thing she'd ever done, and it hurt. A lot. But it was a good hurt, in a way, even though it sucked. So it was terrifying, those moments of silence after her words ended, where Alejandro was processing her words before giving his own. What would he think? It was more than possible he didn't share the feelings she had, though she wished to all the gods that may be that he did. So to hear the words he was saying was like something out of a dream. Saying he valued her more than himself. How they were equals, and how he actually looked to her for strength. And the most important part - that he loved her too. The tears had nearly stopped at this point, but hearing the confession of love started them right up again. There was no stopping them now. Astrid brought her hands up to cover her mouth, as if that would help calm her emotions. "A-Am I really enough??" She asked, as if his words didn't prove that it was okay. It was hard to believe, after what happened, but god it was everything that she wanted to hear, whether Alejandro knew that or not. "Is it r-really okay to stay by your side.... Alejandro?" Even though he offered her a hand up, she couldn't move, too overtaken by new emotion to move from her position on the ground.