forum Hold me closer, tiny dancer (o/o) (Closed)

Started December 20, 2021 by @emilyevewrites group

tune

"Maybe," she murmured, gently brushing aside Rowan's hair. "And if they don't…" She leaned in closely, letting her warm exhales fall on his lips. "I don't care."

Rowan shuddered a bit, leaning back and looking up at Eve meekly. "Um… it would definitely be better if they didn't pitch a fit about it though, yeah?"

Eve smiled briefly and let her eyes drop down his face, but she didn't come any closer since he backed up. "Yeah."

"Just wish I wasn't so scared of them… feels stupid, right? I'm a grown man scared of his parents." Rowan laughed weakly. "I don't really feel like a man. I'm still like a stupid teenager, worried ill get grounded if I step out of line."

"It's not stupid. That's like saying a fear of spiders is stupid, or a fear of heights is stupid. Fears are valid," Eve murmured, looking into his eyes as the conversation got serious.

Rowan shrugged and looked away. "I dunno… it just seems silly to be afraid of them, doesn't it? They shouldn't have this kind of power over me anymore."

"Hey," Eve said quietly. She gently took his chin and turned his head to look at her again. "No, it isn't," she murmured. "And if you're so worried about the power they have, just take it back. You're on your own now. You make your own choices."

Rowan looked up at Eve weakly and offered her an obviously fake smile. "You make it sound so easy. You're a lot stronger than I am, Eve. I've just been sitting and hoping they would give it up, but I know that isn't ever going to happen…"

Eve couldn't help but laugh. "No, I just look it. I'm really not strong at all."

"I think you're pretty strong… I'm just weak. I'm only confident when I'm dancing, and I'm pathetic when it comes to anything else." Rowan laughed weakly and lay his head back against the couch.

"So… think of everything as if it's dancing," Eve suggested. "What do you do to get better at dancing?" She didn't wait for him to respond. "You practice. Practice all the time, build muscle, build confidence, learn new routines and steps. Independence from your parents is little steps that combine to make a routine of you living your own life. You're here aren't you? You've moved out, which is a phenomenal start. And you're not pathetic, so don't even get me started down that path."

Rowan sighed and closed his eyes. "But if I change anything in my routine, they get mad and question me and threaten me… I feel like at some point, it's not worth the trouble, right? They'll be furious, and they'll cause a scene or ruin my whole life somehow…"

Eve's eyes widened, and she gripped Rowan's hand quickly. "They threaten you?" she asked quickly. "How?"

Rowan paled when Eve grabbed his hand, looking uneasy. His pulse noticeably quickened as well. "It's nothing… I don't even live there anymore, so it doesn't really matter."

Her eyes were worried. "Tell me," she begged. "What have they said to you?"

"I-It's nothing, really… mostly just… I'm only successful because of them, they'll take away the apartment, they'll… I dunno…" Rowan looked away, clearly uncomfortable.

"No they won't. I'll pay for it. You can still live here," Eve promised.

"I don't want you to have to do that, Eve… it's not fair to you. I-I don't want to be a burden on you too." Rowan insisted.

"You're not a burden," Eve dismissed his claim quickly. "It wouldn't be any trouble. You could repay me with your cooking." She cracked a smile, hoping he would too.

Rowan's lip quivered briefly before he buried his face in Eve's shoulder. "No, no… no… they would show up. They… they would be so angry with me… I c-can't…"

Eve gasped softly, but she embraced him lovingly. "Hey, hey… it's okay," she whispered. "It's okay."

"If they… if I step out of line at all, t-they're going to show up and deal with me… m-make sure I don't… do it again…" Rowan whispered weakly, clinging to Eve. "G-God, I'm so pathetic… look at me."

"And I will be there when they do to give them a piece of my mind," Eve finished. "You are not pathetic, now would you stop saying that?"

"B-But I am… I'm freaking out over my parents and I'm… I'm an adult…" Rowan's breathing was pretty shallow by now, and he was trembling a bit. "I c-can't do it… I can't see them again. Please…"

Eve held Rowan tightly, resting her cheek against his hair. "Relax, darling, please," she urged him gently. "You'll be alright, I promise."