The King

Don't Leave Me

I've been holding on to hope

That you'll come back when you can find some peace

I've been told to get you off my mind

But I hope I never lose the bruises that you left behind 

I need you by my side

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Her smile fades slowly as she takes him in, surprised to see him there. She looks around, alert and her heart beating fast in her chest. 

No one is around. It makes her calm down just a fraction as her gaze falls back on him and she takes in the almost sad look on his face. 

"Hey" he says casually and she just stares at him for a while. 

"Hey" she says eventually, sadly.  

"You didn't leave" he says "...why?"

She swallows, her throat dry all of a sudden. 

"I don't know" she says quietly 

he looks at her for a very long time then sighs, walking towards her "Bell-"

"Don't" she says, her tone begging. 

He stops but says "why?" 

"I don't want to hear it" she says 

"but you came back" he says, resuming his walk towards her 

"I didn't know where else to go"

"you could've left with Richard" he points out "he would've taken care of you" 

She doesn't know what to say as she stares at him but then she says;

"we were unfinished" 

"you and I will always be unfinished" he says

She looks up at him when he stands in front of her. His hands reach out and she flinches back, confused as to what he's doing. His fingers go to the back of her neck and he starts to untie her surgical gown. She stays completely still, not breathing as his fingers work the strands. 

"we need to talk" he says softly 

"we always need to talk" 

He smiles then pulls the surgical gown off her. She takes it from him and she folds it, keeping the bloody side inside.  

"I didn't think you'd want to see me again" she says slowly 

He stills as he thinks "Neither did I" he admits "but here I am. As usual...next to you"  

He suddenly steps closer and his hands go to cup her face gently. 

"Don't" she begs, suddenly fighting the urge to cry as she tries to move away from him. 

"I was angry-"

"Stop it" she breathes, her vision blurring. 

His face is very close to hers as he breathes her name "Bluebell-"

"Arthur please" she says, turning her face from him. Unable to look at him in the eyes because of their proximity 

"we need to talk" he says again but she refuses to look at him

"then talk" she says 

"not here" 

She closes her eyes tightly "you're tiring me out" she whispers, feeling physically and emotionally drained.