V I G I L A N C E ~ (MCU) ~

C H A P T E R 7_

"You're wrong... Showing emotion is a weakness. And caring too much is something that is a curse to me. I show it horrifically and that has been my downfall," he seems to scold himself harshly but in a way that is still prideful of course. "And as for saving your life, I thought we agreed not to mention that again," he says angrily but his eyes not looking that way when he looks at me, annoyed.

I grab his hand and squeeze it tightly. "Crying is not a weakness. Everyone cries. It's a perfectly normal and healthy thing to do. All crying means is that you actually have a heart," I pause, then I smirk as I continue with, "And we may or may not have discussed that. I never really listen when you tell me not to do something,"

"That I know," he says with a lift of his eyebrows, his eyes looking away from me for a moment but then returning to mine, "It seems perhaps Esther Mason might be as stubborn as the God of Mischief now, doesn't it?" His mouth curls at the tips as it wants to smile with amusement. His large hand hasn't recoiled from my little one that wraps around it.

I copy his smile while looking down at our intertwined hands. "I wouldn't say that I'm stubborn. More... tenacious."

"Really?" He squints. "And what exactly are you tenacious about?"

I shrug. "Basically I am determined to get what I want, when I want it. Or if I don't want to do something, I won't do it and nothing can force me to do it."

"And where do I fit into that philosophy?" he smirks.

I purse my lips in thought. "You fit into it when I am concerned about you. If I want to be concerned about you, I will be."

"My, such determination in you. I like it," he smiles with amusement, a teasing expression.

I laugh. "What? Did you just now notice it? I think I showed enough of that when I tried to kill you before."

He chuckles. "Yes of course, darling but this determination is something completely different now, isn't it?" he says smugly like he's got me trapped.

I scoff and look away from him. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Oh don't you? Well tell me," he leans a little closer to me and speaks quieter in a teasing way, "how many times do you blush around someone you want to kill?" he smirks.

I can feel my cheeks burning. Damn. Why do I keep blushing? My eyes are downcast towards the debris and dust covered floor. "I don't have to answer that question."

I can feel him smile widely. "No you don't," he says quietly, his thumb stroking my hand that still holds his to let me know why he knows the answer. He knows because I still have a hold of his fingers.

I look over at him, my jaw set in anger and I pull my hand loose to cross my arms and look away, my cheeks still as red as roses but now I just feel pathetic.

He chuckles at me then looks forward with a grin of amusement on his lips.

The silence falls over us again and it's a long time before either one of us speaks, a serious tone in the room again.

"You're not leaving," I say surely, looking ahead.

He doesn't reply immediately, weight on us both and neither of us are sure what we are to each other anymore or sure of our place in this if we have one... For some reason... I feel like we will play a part... somehow...

"Still determined to kill me?" he asks plainly.

"No," I reply in the same attitude.

He hesitates, waiting for me to explain further.