Baine
He could feel Soren pulling away, maybe not physically but mentally he was backtracking. Running from what he was feeling, erecting barricades and walls. He needed to get through to him before it was too late. Who knew when the next time he’d have the chance to force Soren to talk to him like this. He pulled back so he could look him in the eyes but kept a firm grip around his mate’s waist.
“I’m not letting you go until you talk to me, make me understand why you are denying me. What could possibly be so wrong with me, that you don’t want to be my mate? Because it can’t be you, you’re gorgeous, sexy, kind, compassionate and have a heart of gold. You’re a gargoyle, the one creature that was created to keep evil away. You are everything that’s good, you give me hope that one day I can be half the man you already are.”
Soren grunted and rolled his eyes, “You don’t know me. You have no idea who I am. You think just because the fates assigned us as mates, that I must be as good as you. That’s crap, I will only destroy the light inside you and I can’t live with myself if I let that happen.”
“Now who’s talking crap?” Baine challenged. “This town has done nothing but talk about you and how you will drop everything to help anyone. About the animals, you take in and rehabilitate. The kids you rescue and find a safe place for. Tonight, is a perfect example of that. You went and got those two kids and brought them here, without knowing a thing about them other than they were living on the street. From what I’ve heard that’s not unusual.”
“That’s” Soren objected but Baine placed his hand over his mouth to shut him up.
“I’m not done talking yet, since day one you’ve done nothing but help me, protect me and watch out for me. I didn’t even know you existed, but you were there like my own guardian angel.” Baine took a deep breath and smiled ruefully, “I’ve done so many things in my life that can’t be excused. I’ve hurt, threatened and made people cry. My soul is scarred black from the actions I’ve taken. If anyone should be worried about destroying anyone, it’s me.”
Soren shook his head and glared at Baine until he finally removed his hand allowing him to speak again. “Don’t give me that shit. You can’t take the blame for things you were forced to do while undercover. You may have had to do things you regret, but I bet in the end it was all worth it. You took down some of the vilest hate-filled monsters that roam this earth, ones out only to destroy and hurt as many as they can.”
“You think the people I hurt would agree that their pain now was worth saving hundreds from suffering later? Very few people are really that noble, I can guarantee you that.”
“Maybe you’re right, but let me ask this if you hadn’t been the one to hurt those people, and instead it had been someone else in the group, what would have happened to them? Would they still be here today? Would they be as whole as they are or would they be so broken and destroyed that each breath was a chore for them? You were the lesser of two evils, you saved them even if they didn’t know it.”
Baine chuckled darkly, “How can you see that about me, but you can’t see the good inside you? How are you so blinded, when you do nothing but good for those around you? I know about the darkness that lives inside, that threatens to swallow you whole. The voices of those who’ve torn you down and destroyed you, but those are in the past. You need to open your eyes to what’s in front of you. You’ve made one hell of a life for yourself, with people who look up to you, love you and would do anything for you. If you were a monster as you seem to believe, do you think they’d all be standing there beside you? Monsters don’t care about people, they only care about controlling them and what they can get from others. That’s not you.”
Soren grunted and pulled away, “I don’t understand you. I’ve done nothing but keep you at arm's length since the day we found you in that cage. Yet, here you stand defending me to myself.”
“I’m hoping that something I say or do will finally get through your thick skull and penetrate that brain of yours. You’ve wrapped yourself so tight behind your walls of stone and mortar that it’s impossible to penetrate. I’m asking you to let me in, let me show you the man I see when I look at you.”
“You only met me a couple hours ago.”
Baine smiled, “Maybe in person, but I’ve been listening to stories of you. I’ve seen the way this town lights up at the mention of your name. I watched as the pack all demanded the opportunity to fly to your side tonight to stand beside you. I think I was in love with you long before tonight. I just never thought someone like you, could possibly want somebody like me. I’m broken and cracked. Those pieces are slowly falling apart and I fear one day there will be nothing left to hold me together.”
“We’re a pair, aren’t we?” Soren teased, “neither of us think we’re good enough for the other. et I almost feel whole when your arms are around me. Almost as if your cracks and broken pieces fill in my empty places.”
“I get it. It does feel that way, doesn’t it? Maybe that’s what being mates is for us. Separate we’re broken and cracked pieces that are barely being held together, but together we’re whole. We are what the other needs to be complete.”
Baine watched as Soren closed his eyes and pulled away until they were no longer entwined. “I don’t know if I can do this though. My heart says take everything you’re offering and never let go. My gargoyle is demanding that as matter of fact, but my head says to run. To keep away so I don’t shatter those pieces of you that you still have.”
“I’m not asking you to claim me as your mate right this minute. I’m asking you to stop running and hiding from me. To give us a chance to see if we can be what I hope we can be.”
“Can I agree to try not to run. To try not to give in to my incessant need to keep you at a distance. I can’t promise I will always succeed, but I can promise I’ll try. But you have to promise to not give up on me. I’m being honest when I say I want to run from this room right now and fly as far away as I can’t. To leave it all behind and never darken your doorstep again, but my heart knows that it’s the wrong thing to do. My gargoyle found it’s peace in your arms for the first time in our lives. I want this, but I’m so fucking afraid at the same time.”
“Babe, you’re preaching to the choir. I’ve never had a place to call home really. The closest I ever came is when I was with Daegan. But in your arms, I finally feel as if I belong. My pegacorn is content and happy for the first time ever. I may not run, but that doesn't mean I’m not scared shitless too. I’ve dreamed of meeting my mate, but deep down I prayed it would never happen at the same time. I’ve already been taken once because of my horn and its magic. Do you think I want to ever endanger you because of it?”
“So basically, it comes down to, we’re both broken and fucked up and were perfect for each other.” Soren joked.