I Didn't Think It Would Happen Like This

[Tree]

/I don't think Binding works like that. /

Ansel commented of her concerns, opening his eyes to look over her.

/ You're hot too./

He shared with an appreciative look over her before returning to finish his washing. Must continue task

[Sushi]

/I don't think you have to care about it if you don't want to?/

Willow didn't even blush this time. She kind of just gave him a bit of an impish grin as she scrubbed her arms.

[Tree]

Ansel chuckled.

"You are wonderful. "

But he did duck out now to shave at the sink so she child enjoy all the water

[Sushi]

Willow lasted about three swipes before she started giggling and pressing her hands against her own face.

/That's so weird!/

[Tree]

Ansel glanced over and snickered.

/I didn't even think about that. You ok? /

He wasn't gonna grow it out. He personally felt it looked rather.... hobo? But he didn't care what others did.

[Sushi]

Willow looked back at him, hands still pressed to her cheeks.

"I'm fine. It just feels funny."

She turned off the water and walked over, sliding up onto the counter. She watched him do another swipe before words popped out on an impulse.

"Let me try?"

[Tree]

Ansel glanced over her.

"Sure? "

He was a tiny bit hesitant, but that didn't stop him from handing her his straight razor.

[Sushi]

Ansel would be glad to know that she didn't just immediately slice his throat or something. Instead, she touched it to her finger to see how sharp it was before scooting up to him so she could reach.

"Like this?"

Willow's touch was not as deft but was much gentler than any barber he'd had.

[Tree]

Ansel smiled.

/A tiny bit more pressure, and the angle/

He reached up to tilt her hand just a bit so she got the best shave. He was curious about her interest in this, but found her cute all the same

[Sushi]

Willow's own simple curiosity softened into something warm and intimate as she finished his shave for him. It wasn't absolutely perfect, but it wasn't at all bad for a first try. Once she was done, she dabbed his face dry.

"There he is."

She gently ran a finger along his jaw, studying it thoughtfully.

"I've always wanted to know more of you," she eventually confessed in a whisper.

[Tree]

Ansel looked up at her, eyes running over her body with no shame.

"Shaving, though? How does it help you know me better? "

He didn't seem to be calling out it as anything, just wanting to understand

[Sushi]

Willow turned the little hand towel over between her hands until she could coax out a shy answer.

"It's part of your life. now it's a part we share."

[Tree]

Ansel slowly reached to tilt her chin up to look at him.

"That's the most beautiful reason for a shave that I've ever heard."

[Sushi]

"I dunno. Seems kinda sappy."

She met his gaze.

"But I like that you let me be close to you."

[Tree]

Ansel nodded, kissing her forehead.

"I'm glad to know those things are important to you. I love you. "

[Sushi]

Willow balked from that, unsure about making a big deal about anything by calling it important.

"I don't have to have it if you don't want."

[Tree]

"What about me says I'm against it? "

He asked her with a quirk of his brow as he shifted to gently start drying her off. Nothing about him was bothered in the least. He loved you and your happiness and comfort were important to him.

[Sushi]

Willow extended one leg for him and then the other.

"Nothing right now, but I just meant that if it changes..."

She shrugged.

"I know I'm too needy. You can let a lot go if you want."

[Tree]

Ansel shifted, kissing her forehead, cheeks, then nose.

" I can't foretell the future. But as of right now, I don't see that even kind of happening. "

[Sushi]

Willow's smile grew with his kisses.

"You're being so incredibly sweet to me. I don't feel like I deserve it... But I want to."

[Tree]

"I think you deserve it. Isn't that enough for this second? "

He asked of him tenderly, shifting to kiss over get full face as he scooped her up to the other room.

[Sushi]

Willow gave a little nod.

"Okay," she decided.

"For this second. Because I like the attention."

[Tree]

Ansel chuckled, kissing over her.

"I like you accepting it and believing it for what it is. "

[Sushi]

Willow grimaced.

"I don't try to be difficult. It's just..."

She glanced down, trying to think of a neutral way of explaining it.

"You live in a different world than I do."

[Tree]

Ansel nodded a tiny bit.

"I know.... but I really do want to share mine with you. "

[Sushi]

Willow slowly reached up to cup his cheeks.

"And I want mine to stop existing."

This time it was accompanied by a strange, complicated emotion. At its core was a knot of longing thick enough to choke on, but it was all bound up by other feelings - insecurity, fear, and the sense of something straining on the edge of exploding from being crushed down impossibly small.

[Tree]

Ansel shifted to kiss her, hugging her closer.

/ Someday. Someday you'll find yourself home and confident. I believe in you. I believe in us. /

[Sushi]

Willow was quiet for a moment, considering that.

/You believe in me?/

She just couldn't quite fit that into her brain, couldn't make sense of it.

[Tree]

Ansel nodded, looking over her with admiration.

/I do. You've been through so much and you still remain kind, giving, loving, you're such a treasure I'm so thankful for. /

[Sushi]

Willow slowly turned that over in her head.

/Believe in me to do what?/

She was trying. This was just so foreign she was having a hard time understanding.

[Tree]

/ To make it through to the other side of so the things in your mind. To exist in only my world, leaving all the cruelty of yours behind. /

For good

[Sushi]

Willow's expression turned pained.

/It's not something that only exists in my head.../

[Tree]

Ansel moved to press his forehead to hers.

/I know.. it doesn't mean that I don't want it to vanish all the same. /

But the first place he wanted it gone from was her head. He wanted her to have herself back for herself.

[Sushi]

She gently ran her finger down his chest.

/The kind of people that make it real aren't the kind of people you can control./

Well, except for himself, but that was in the past now.

[Tree]

/ I'm not looking to control them. I'm looking to eliminate their threat to you. /

He answered softly.

/ And our family. /

[Sushi]

Willow pulled her head back so she could look at him properly, worry crawling over her edges.

/I'm the threat. If you keep me, I'll bring bad things, no matter whatever else you do./

[Tree]

Ansel shifted to kiss her, shaking his head as his hands rested on her cheeks.

/ I'll keep you and face anything that comes our way. /

[Sushi]

Willow shifted forward so she sat on his lap instead, his body comforting and warm against her quickly cooling skin.

/I'm sorry./

[Tree]

/ for what, darling? Existing? Cause I'm very glad you're here. /

[Sushi]

/for my baggage. I wish I could be normal and sweet and young for you... I just can't./