Steve tried not to let it through to his body, tried to keep his muscles loose and relaxed, but he was tensed. Ready for her to try and break away from him. He listened as her crying softened, then died to a few hiccuping breaths; he could feel her body as it settled against his, her resistance fading.
He couldn't quite hide the stuttered sigh of relief, and pressed his face into her hair to hide it, even though she couldn't see him. He still heard her apology, and almost snorted at the sheer absurdity of it.
"You have─ nothing to be sorry for," he whispered back, his breath hitching as he remembered her earlier pleas. "You haven't─ it wasn't your fault, Rogue. And I know," he continued quickly, before she could say anything to refute his words, "I know you'll say it's not true, probably even believe that, but none of this was your fault. I don't know what happened before, and I don't know what you dreamed tonight, but this, what happened just now? Not your fault. Only thing you've done, is be yourself, so that I fell in love with you. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."
He had to choose his words carefully while speaking, because this wasn't the time to be blasé and say something like 'being perfect' or 'making me fall in love with you'. Maybe it wouldn't matter; but it could, and so Steve selected his words with care. He still wasn't sure if he would say the wrong thing, hit some unknown trigger that would set her off again, but he was trying to avoid the obvious landmines.
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He couldn't quite hide the stuttered sigh of relief, and pressed his face into her hair to hide it, even though she couldn't see him. He still heard her apology, and almost snorted at the sheer absurdity of it.
"You have─ nothing to be sorry for," he whispered back, his breath hitching as he remembered her earlier pleas. "You haven't─ it wasn't your fault, Rogue. And I know," he continued quickly, before she could say anything to refute his words, "I know you'll say it's not true, probably even believe that, but none of this was your fault. I don't know what happened before, and I don't know what you dreamed tonight, but this, what happened just now? Not your fault. Only thing you've done, is be yourself, so that I fell in love with you. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."
He had to choose his words carefully while speaking, because this wasn't the time to be blasé and say something like 'being perfect' or 'making me fall in love with you'. Maybe it wouldn't matter; but it could, and so Steve selected his words with care. He still wasn't sure if he would say the wrong thing, hit some unknown trigger that would set her off again, but he was trying to avoid the obvious landmines.