[RL: Locked to Helena] Don't kid yourself, and don't fool yourself... this love's too good to last.

[vryimprtntman]

"Oh, fine!" Valentine exclaimed after what had to be the ten-thousandth complaint from the gryphon. "We'll take a bloody rest! But only for a bit, we've got to hurry it up."

As the gryphon curled up to rest on a pile of leaves, Valentine slid to a sitting position, back to a stone wall he'd spotted nearby.

Bloody stupid gryphon... wasting

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[reality_runaway]

Finally allowed a break from her walk through the labyrinth, Helena rested against one of the nearby walls. After trying very hard to shut off her thoughts Helena drifted off to sleep.

She found herself once again in the borderlands of her other world. She sighed and lazily walked over to the small pond. She slipped off the shoes on her feet, sore from all the walking, and stepped into the water.

[vryimprtntman]

"... Helena?" Valentine blinked in surprise as he spotted her there.

"... Hold on! What am I doin' back here?"

[reality_runaway]

Helena turned, some water splashing up around her.

"...Valentine?" she asked, sounding very surprised. "Did you fall asleep?"

[vryimprtntman]

"I-- suppose I did." He walked over, and sat beside her, noting how familiar this scene was.

"Yeh, that's right-- that ridiculous gryphon demanded a break. I suppose I must've fallen asleep or somethin'."

[reality_runaway]

"I don't blame him," Helena smiled slightly. "Walking through that labyrinth is tiring," she said.

Wading closer to the edge of the pond Helena sat on the edge, keeping her feet in the water.

[vryimprtntman]

Valentine stared into the water; it was so odd, how being there felt. Even though it was right there, looked so close, the water and the ground beneath him and that entire place was very, very far away.

Being there without being anywhere near it.

Valentine shifted his gaze to her, and he wondered vaguely how she'd turned him like she did. He'd betrayed her once, nearly twice, and damned if he wouldn't do it again before this was all over-- it was his nature. Inescapable. Yet here he was, risking life and limb for her just to use her again, as he knew he would.

"Helena..." He said, immediately regretting saying anything out loud.

[reality_runaway]

Helena turned to look at Valentine. She could definatly tell that something was not right with him, but she wasn't sure what.

"Yes Valentine?" she asked, trying not to sound too concerned.

[vryimprtntman]

"Why..." He wasn't going to ask. It was so stupid for him to ask. She'd know, she'd figure him out, and then he'd lose her before he even got to use her, lose her of her own accord and not his abuse.

Abuse. Why did she do this to him? He'd never felt bad about what he did before. It didn't bother him, and why should it? He got what he wanted, what he needed. Who he used would get passed it eventually, wouldn't they?

Valentine. He kicked himself. Why worry? Why does losing her matter so much? Why do you care? You've lost people before, to death and betrayal.

She's different.

"Why do you tolerate me?" He half-laughed, trying so hard not to show how stirred-up, insane he felt inside.

[reality_runaway]

Helena gave Valentine an odd look. She certainly hadn't been expecting a question like that from him.

Why do I tolerate him? she thought, starring at his masked face. It certainly was a good question. He'd betrayed her, left her in the hands of the dark queen. But it wasn't like he hadn't come back for her.

But why did he come back? To this day she still didn't know the answer to that question. Had it been love? Guilt? Heroism? She really couldn't say.

Helena had never been a girl to fantasize about a boyfriend like most girls did. It had been the furthest thing from her mind, but she knew if she had taken the time Valentine would not be what she would have fantasized about.

So why was it he was the one she chose to be with? Why was he the one she'd given her first kiss to?

"Why?" she repeated, her throat dry. "I don't know," she finally said. "But...do I really need a reason?"

[vryimprtntman]

"I suppose not." He said, standing. "I suppose you don't. And, really!" He began to pace, throwing his arms widly into the air, "I can't find a reason at all, so it's good that you don't need one!"

Oh, Valentine. He thought in irritation, you're rambling like a stupid poet now. You've honestly lost it.

"I don't-- I-- I just can't-- this is driving me mad!" He suddenly exclaimed, throwing his hands over his head.

[reality_runaway]

Helena stood up once again, splashing water all about.

"What?" Helena asked, feeling more confused and worried than ever. "What the matter Valentine?"

[vryimprtntman]

"It's-- I can't--" Words spilled out in orders that made no sense whatsoever. He was really babbling now, trying so hard to make a point without actually revealing what he was feeling to her; I can't tell her I'm going to do it again. She can't know.

"I-- It's stupid! Just something so bloody stupid. Just nevermind."

[reality_runaway]

Helena stepped out of the water and marched over to Valentine. Forcfully she grabbed hold of his sleeve in order to stop him from pacing.

"Would you calm down and stop babbling like an idiot?" she exclaimed.

[vryimprtntman]

Valentine stared wildly at her for a moment, as if he;d been awakened from a nightmare.

"I-- ss--"

He quickly sat down; the world seemed to be spinning around him, and that usually wasn't a good sign.

"I... didn't mean to..."

[reality_runaway]

Helena sighed and knelt down beside him, resting her hand on his shoulder.

"Now, will you calmly tell me what's wrong?"

[vryimprtntman]

"I-- I can't tell you. I mean, it's nothing. Nothing to worry about."

Don't want to lose you. Don't want you to leave me. I need you-- to cling to or abuse, I dunno, but damnit...

Helena.

"Really. It's nothing."