Only The Strong Survive

Ahanu
Frustration was building up inside him, but so far he had been able to keep it under control. "Charity, do you even want me here? It's hard to talk things out when you don't want to talk." 

Charity
"Well, um..." Charity murmured quietly. "I mean, yes, I do..."

Ahanu
A long breath slipped through his teeth in an attempt to deflate his frustration. She didn't want him touching her, but she wanted him to stay. She had something to say, but wouldn't say it. He was supposed to be helping, but he was pretty sure that wasn't happening. "We need to communicate a little better," Ahanu said kindly. 

Charity
Charity swung her legs back and fourth, slipping her hand back under her legs. How should I do that...

Ahanu
He sat quietly a moment. How had Auberon expected this to go? So far nothing was working and Ahanu was just as confused, doubtful, and hurt as before. If not more so. 

Charity
This is going so perfect good job Charity you officially suck at life. She winced at her own thought, her legs stopping their swinging.

Ahanu
He stood, his thoughts piling into his mind until he couldn't bear it any longer. "I left the blanket and stuff outside," he muttered, heading for the door.

Charity
Part of Charity's mind somehow figured that that meant the conversation (or lack thereof) was over. "No- wait," she stood up and jogged after him, grabbing his hand and swinging him around to face her. "I-I'm just scared okay? For the longest time I haven't had anyone really care about me, and the few people who I cared for either died or became distant, and my parents stopped caring about my happiness because they were too preocupied with Auberon that they just..." she trailed off and started crying again, slightly shocked by her own words. She had felt so numb towards everything that she had forgotten it had hurt her. Now having someone actually love her had brought back ever fear of being left behind again because of someone more important. 

Ahanu
She had startled him, breaking the heavy silence when she came jogging after him. He listened to her, glancing at his feet a moment when she finished before looking back up at her. He opened his mouth to comfort her, but instead the turmoil he was feeling tumbled out. "So in your fear of getting abandoned or forgotten, you push me away? The very thing you're afraid will happen to you?" The unreadable expression changed quickly to horror. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I was - I mean, I just - I - It - I'm so sorry." 

Charity
Charity rolled her eyes at herself. "I know it sounds stupid... but it's a lot less shocking to push someone away instead of them pushing you away for no reason. Or they have a reason but it's just not a fair one," she mumbled.

Ahanu
"So you're telling me," Ahanu said slowly after several seconds of silence in which he just stared at her, shocked, "that in order to save yourself from that possibility, you're willing to put someone else through it?" He shook his head, running his free hand through his hair. "I'm a bit tired and stressed so please don't get offended by anything," he added in a mutter.

Charity
"Fear has a grip on me... I'm a little desperate..." she replied, looking down shamefully at the ground.

Ahanu 
"I've been terrified this entire time." He glanced over at his rats to gather his thoughts, and then looked back at Charity. "We can make it through this, alright? It'll be okay." He gave her hand a comforting squeeze.

Charity
Charity sighed and wiped her face, although it didn't help much as more tears just retraced the old patterns.

Ahanu
He pulled her to him in a hug. She's going to push away. "It's okay to cry." That sounds so cliché.