[Closed Thread] - The Breakup

[stealn_ur_richz]

Who: Robin + Marian
What: The break-up 5 years ago that marked a pinnacle point in both of their lives. After Robin left for the Military Academy, the young hearts tried to work with something that he just ended up losing touch over. One day his letters stopped coming, and they lost touch. This was the beginning of the end.
When: 5 years ago when two teenagers were hopelessly in love
Where: High school
Warnings: HEARTBREAK!!! *cringes* Bring tissues please, it's gut-wrenching. It is a finished log so READ, please. :D



Robin leaned against the wall with his arms crossed as he waited outside the entrance to the school for Marian. He hadn't gone to school today, which wasn't what was out of the ordinary. Even through his usual rendezvous it wasn't often that Robin missed a chance to see his girl. Her pretty face, sweet smile it made him glow from the inside out. He hadn't met her for lunch, didn't stop by the window to blow a kiss while she tried to pay attention to class---in all senses of the word he was avoiding her presence. After being picked up by her uncle John, it was clear what was to be done with him. He wasn't capable of being what Marian needed. It had been a long and hard conversation to get through, Robin's wit in the end being shoved aside as he was told what was to be done with him. John and the Sheriff had teamed up ready to cast out the estranged trouble maker not only for Marian's sake, but for their own. It was time to bring Robin to his knees and make him do what they wanted. Chasing after a renegade school boy all the time and seeing the closeness that he had moving in on the young girl was something that would not be tolerated.

He sighed, feeling his heart drop ten times over. He'd gone over this conversation in his head a million times not coming up once with what he was going to tell Marian. He still didn't know as he saw her emerge from the door. He suddenly felt sick to his stomach, this was the last thing he wanted to do.

Marian caught sight of Robin, and almost immediately a smile erupted on her face and she brushed her wavy hair out of her face, hurrying over to him. She had missed him in school today. "Hey." She said happily, throwing her arms around his waist and kissing him in greeting. "I missed you today, I thought maybe you were sick or something."

He kissed her lightly, forcing that smile on his face---which was far from usual. Robin never forced a smile for anything unless something serious was on his mind. "You could say that," he said before pulling her into a delicate hug. She felt so far away already, and his heart was about to beat out of his chest.

"We need to talk," he finally slid out as his chin lay nestled on her shoulder. The dreaded words. The words no one ever wanted to hear, especially a young teenage heart.

It didn't sink in. "Oh, are you all right?" Marian said in concern. "Do you want to go sit down somewhere?" She was worried about him, he seemed different, off somehow. "You're scaring me, Robin." It didn't even cross her mind that it might be about her or them.

"Somewhere private," he said in a delicate whisper finally releasing himself from his arms as he took hold of her hand and marched down the school steps. His pull on her was rather forceful, his calm nature just mildly pushing through as he took her with him past the school and somewhere where he was sure no one else resided. They'd tip-toed around each other for so long, finally falling head first into a relationship that had pushed one step further. After that first night where he'd given her so much of himself, persuaded her that it's what they both wanted, they were inseparable. Hands all over each other (in a respectable fashion), Robin had been clear this was his girl and always would be. He never thought someone else would wedge their foot into his happiness and crush all that in a matter or seconds. He couldn't tell her, couldn't tell her that it was because of her uncle.

He continued to string her along, keeping his face set forward so that he didn't have to look at her just yet. His eyes rimmed up with water slightly, finding that this was one of the hardest things he ever had to do.

Now Marian was getting scared, and when they were a good distance away from the school, she had started to shake. "Robin?" She whispered softly. "Robin, what's going on? You're too quiet." She stopped and tried to seek out his eyes. "What's going on? Talk to me, please."

Palms sweaty, Robin rubbed them together when they finally came to a halt. He didn't look at her, couldn't and was trying to brace himself with what to say next. He fumbled around walking in circles, thinking to himself and hating himself for what he was about to do. His eyes searched out, finally come to rest on hers and he broke. "I can't," he said turning away, his cheeks one step away from being stained from tears. He pulled the hoodie over his head as if it could hide him that easily.

Marian looked at him in worry and confusion, and moved closer, wrapping her arms around him, as if to give him some of her strength through the embrace. "It's okay, Robin." She said easily, resting her head on his shoulder, not seeking out his eyes. "Whatever it is, you don't have to tell me. I trust you, but I'm right here." She didn't know what to say, how to make him feel better. "I hate to see you so upset."

When she wrapped around him, it broke him that much harder. Why couldn't she have just cooperated and stayed at a distance. He'd thought about just leaving a letter explaining it so he didn't have to tell her to her face, but he couldn't do that to her. It was too harsh, and he cared too much about her to just up like a thief in the night.

He pulled away, hood still blocking his broken face to her. His hands reached up, holding her face in his hands tightly. "I have to go," he said simply as if she'd understood in those four words.

In the first few moments, Marian didn't understand at all, and then suddenly she felt a chill--or maybe that was just because she was shivering, and then her heart stopped for a moment as she realised, somewhat, what he meant. "For how long?" Marian asked, trying to sound happy and put a brave face on it. "Is everything all right? Did something happen?"

It was a stupid question, she realised, obviously something had happened. Her voice wavered and it felt like her knees were going to buckle. "Is it my fault?" She asked softly. "Did I...did I do something wrong? Have I not done something?"

"No, no," he said softly finally letting his hood slide back and showing her his eyes. "You haven't done anything. You've been wonderful," he admitted trying to hold back the choking feeling in his throat. "This is me, this is all me and I fear I won't come back...." he said in a whisper feeling his heart break again for the one hundredth time. He brushed back her red hair out of her face, caressing her cheek again. "My parents think it's best for me to go into the Military Academy, and I think they are right." He hadn't been sure at first, he'd fought the very idea. Heavy convincing from Marian's uncle and his own parents persuasion had told him otherwise. This was best for her. Best for Marian to move on and forget about him. They were still both so young, and no reason to keep themselves from encouraging new adventures, and giving her the opportunity to have a future. Without him. How many relationships in high school really made it? He wanted this one to last forever.

Marian's expression changed slightly as he explained, and began to shake without realising it. She wrapped her arms firmly around him, as if she could cement him there through sheer force of will alone. "No." She managed after a moment. "No, no, no, no..." A year ago she would have scoffed at the idea of this, she so attached to someone--anyone--else. This was why she didn't get close to people, they always left in the end; like her parents, like her uncles, too busy with work to really notice. "Don't go, don't leave me, Robin." Then she was crying, sobbing into his shoulder. "Stay, stay with me, please...I'll do anything, just don't leave me...take me with you."

His hands cupped her face again, blue-green eyes silently pleading. "I can't Marian. I can't stay. You need to stay here, with your uncles." He laughed then, a forced one, but a laugh just the same to try and hold back the blow he'd just taken when she pleaded and latched on to him. If he could he'd hold her forever, but his tender heart was having a hard time making it through this. He wanted to stay, to stroke her hair, comfort her and tell her it would be okay, but another side of him was all too ready to leave. H e couldn't deal with this pressure, it hurt too much. Usually Robin could force it away with a smile, but right now he was just being a teenage boy that was loosing the only girl he had cared so much for.

This was right, it had to be reguardless of how terrible and wrong it felt. Leaning down he kissed her, a sorrowful kiss as if it was supposed to make everything okay. It didn't, and he felt even worse.

Marian wanted to yell and scream and tell him he was taking this far too easily. "I don't want too." She said petulantly, like a child. "I want to be with you." She cluing harder to him. "They won't even care. Please, Robin, let's go away, just you and me, please... I don't want to lose you." Her voice went very quiet, to a bit of a strangled whisper. "It hurts. It hurts so much. Don't leave me."

"Marian, listen to me," he said pulling her away, a coldness striking his system as he gripped her shoulders. "I...." his eyes closed, taking a deep breath. He could say it, the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He couldn't though. Saying those three words would only further clarify how much she meant, solidifying that he couldn't get through this without her. That he wouldn't be able to take the step forward if she knew. "....I don't need you to follow me around. I don't need you to hold me back." He could feel it. Her heart breaking, and his own eyes lined with water. "You don't need me to do the same," he choked out, trying to sound as stern as possible.

Marian recoiled and released him as if he had struck her. It probably would have been easier if he had hit her, made the pain physical rather than emotional. It didn't matter, either way, it felt like the wind was knocked out of her, and she took a few wavering steps back as she was blinded by tears. She tried to say something, to form any sort of words, a denial maybe, but all that came out was a strangled sob and she lifted her hands to cover her traitorous mouth. She gave a little moan and shook for a second before falling to her knees, not even feeling it as they hit the ground.

Robin stood there for a few moments feeling nausiated. Gasping for air but not able to breathe. When she hit the ground he felt so cold. If he slipped up and said this was because of her uncles, because they had persuaded him to take a step down---then he would be the coward. He didn't ever want her to think of him as a coward and that he'd just stepped down instead of fighting back. It wasn't like him.

Squatting down, he sat by her for a long time not able to form any other words, crying himself to see her in such a state. A shaky hand moved out and touched her lightly on the shoulder, even if he knew she'd push him away. "Marian?" he said in a equally shaky voice.

Marian couldn't even form words, let alone the strength to push him away. She just hung her head and began to rock mindlessly back and forth, sobbing into her hands. A thousand thoughts were going through her mind at once. She had to wonder if he was leaving because of her, if despite his argument, she had done something so very wrong to send him away. She had to wonder if he cared for her at all--if he had only been with her to seduce her, and then scolded herself for the doubt, but they wouldn't stop. She cried harder at her own inability to pull herself together. This was why she didn't get close to people, why she didn't let herself care. Everyone she cared for left her eventually.

Robin's mind was in a jumble, and he thought briefly if he was doing the right thing. He rationalized that it was, that she would be better off. That in time this wouldn't hurt her so bad (or himself) and he'd just be a distant memory. Only Robin wasn't an easy boy to give up, and he knew it. He always walked around wanting people to love him, to care for him and not leave him. Yet, here he was letting go the only thing that mattered right now. If you asked him today, five years from now he'd marry this girl, and it was slipping through his fingers. Pushing away those thoughts, he wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his coat before pulling her into an embrace. "I'm sorry," he whispered into her hair.

Marian gave in to the embrace, even though she didn't want to, clinging to him hard as she sobbed harder into his shoulder. "Shoulda known." She whispered, her voice strangled with her tears, and raw. "Ev'rybody leaves me." Still, she had him for this moment, and it hurt far too much to let go, even a little. "You'll forget me."

He stroked her hair, pulling her in closer as if she were a second skin. He couldn't get close enough. "No I won't" he whispered again. She couldn't see his face or the tears he had in his eyes. "You'll get over me," he said with a struggled laugh and a sniffle. "They'll be someone else..." and his brows crossed. The mere thought of her with someone else. Being touched by someone else, loving someone else broke him in two, it made him angry. He held on a little tighter. She knew, she had to know that it mattered. That he wasn't just passing his time. Even though Robin wasn't one for stability, he wanted anything than to make her hurt go away. "I promise...." he whispered out. "This isn't because of anything you did, and don't ever think otherwise."

"No there won't." Marian argued. "No, no one else." She took a deep shuddering breath. She couldn't do this again, couldn't go through this again. She didn't even understand how she could survive it this time. "It hurts too much." She let out a little moan and clung to him harder. "I don't want anyone else, I only want you." She gasped a little, hiding her face in his neck. "And they'd leave me too. Everyone does."

His heart raced, hands still shaky as they moved over her back in a soothing manner. "I know it does," he said that voice threatening to fall apart. He pulled her back, having to pry his own arms off in order to look at her. He had to look at those green eyes, to reassure her that she would be okay; or he wouldn't be. "Marian," he said softly wiping the tears from her red stained cheeks with his thumb. "Your not forgettable," he breathed out softly, fingers running over her face delicately. "If you hate me I understand..." And he'd rather her hate him than to see her fall apart like this.

"Can't." Marian answered, tearing up again at the soft touch. "Can't hate you. You're leaving me and it hurts, but I can't...can't..." She swallowed hard, out of breath. "Ha...ha...hate you."

His brows lifted up, pitiful and wishing this just wasn't happening. At her words he leaned in and kissed her. A soft kiss that turned intense as he cupped her face for fear that he'd bruise her any further. For a moment in time things stood still and he forgot everything that had just happened. It was almost unbearable.

Marian kissed him back passionately, still shaking, putting everything she felt into the kiss, even the love that she had always been unable to say, and the need and desire for him to stay, to not leave her. At this point she'd do anything, anything, and it had to show in the desperate note in the kiss.

He pulled away, lips raw from the kiss and he felt everything slip away again. Looking into her tear-lined eyes, weak and trembling. He brushed the hair out of her face, kissing her again quickly. He couldn't see her like this, at this point it just wasn't possible to leave things like this. "We'll try it okay," he said with a sniff. Another soft and quick kiss. "See how things go...."

Marian stopped and wiped her eyes, her breathing still uneven from crying and not helped by the kisses. "Wha...what do you mean?" She asked, feeling pitiful and looking worse. She didn't want charity, but she'd take it at this point.

Another thread of his fingers through her hair. "To hang onto this..." he wanted to give her some hope even if her uncle forced him to do otherwise and made him a coward. Then he threw her that dashing grin, small and trivial of one that it was, but still his. Maybe in time this would ebb, but right now he wanted her to stop crying. To stop making it harder on him than it already was.

Marian cheered slightly, and her smile in answer was watery. She threw herself at him again, kissing him with renewed passion and almost glee, knocking him back. "Yes." She said, between kisses. "Yes, anything. I'll write every day, I don't care just..."

Robin laughed, toppling over onto the ground as she pushed him back, a sort of relief on his features that this hadn't gotten much worse. At some point he would have preferred her stalk off, walk away instead of fighting him to stay. But that was Marian, and that's the charm the he fell in love with. The fact that she would push right back when he threw something difficult and irrational. When she refused to take no for an answer. He just always felt the need to rescue her, and in the end he always would.

He kissed her back, that smile on her face lighting him up again as his arms wrapped around her waist.

Marian relaxed and kissed him again, finally pulling back enough to whisper. "When do you leave, Robin?" There was a tremble in her voice, but it was easier to deal with it now that it was only goodbye and not goodbye forever.

"A few months," he replied that ache punching back slightly. "The end of April." He wouldn't graduate. Wouldn't see prom or see her walk for a diploma. He'd miss all those things in a short amount of time.

"We'll miss prom." Marian said softly, thinking of the dress in her closet and how excited she had been to be just a normal girl going to the prom with her boyfriend. "And you'll miss graduation." She kissed him again, not mentioning her birthday. "That's so soon."

"I know," he said. "I won't be graduating, it's just the way it has to be." He fell into that kiss, easily letting her take his breath away as his hands moved down her back. "We'll make up for it," he said with a sly grin.

"We will." Marian agreed with a bit of a coo in her voice, concentrating solely on him, because with leaving in the offing, he was the only thing that mattered. "And I'll still be here." She kissed his throat, concentrating on his pulse beneath her lips.

"Marian...." he said feigning reprimand. "We're in public," there was at least some respectable behavior to be used, and Robin would never make her look otherwise when together. His head laid back, the grass cradling it as she kissed him delicately, while his fingers lightly ran up and down her back followed by that characteristic laugh.

"Really?" Marian joked, trailing kisses down his jaw. "I failed to notice. I suggest you whisk me away before I do something utterly inappropriate." She kissed him again, as if to swallow that laugh, which was slightly annoying and always endearing.

With that he released another laugh before rolling over, placing her now underneath him. "We wouldn't want that now would me. It's not proper for a lady," he said in a sweet kiss.

A few moments passed before he finally stood up, lifting her up with him.

Marian really wasn't caring about proper at the moment, she had just had the second largest scare of her life. She wanted the contact and the comfort. "So where do we go?" She asked, nuzzling his neck.

Laughing, Robin lifted her up with one arm around her waist to spin her lightly. "Up to you milady," he said enveloping her into a deep kiss.

Marian started laughing happily, and kissed him back, her arms going around his neck. How could things change so quickly from completely miserable to happy she had no idea. "Somewhere private." She said, repeating his earlier request. "Where we can be alone and inappropriate."

"You decide or I'm afraid your going to make a dishonest man of me Marian," he whispered in her ear doing his best to keep his hands from exploring as he clasped them together around her waist.

"Is anyone home at your house?" Marian asked quietly, whispering it in his ear. "Or we can go to mine." She thought about his for another moment about this. "No one should be home there. I don't want to be interrupted while being dishonest and inappropriate." She kissed him again. "I'm yours, Robin."