Author's Note

Confrontation always leads to unforeseeable consequences. It's an awkward feeling that Adagio is about to understand all too well as she tries to help the love of her life. Will they both come out with hope in the end?

DISCLAIMER: This story includes references to depression, depressing thoughts, insecurities, anxiety, self-harm and thoughts based around all of these concepts. If you do not want to read a story with slight references to these, I would urge you to click off.

Hello, everyone! I hope everyone enjoys this newest installment of the series! Again, sorry for the slow burn, but that's just how I write~ Anyway! I am posting this with chapter 5, so I hope you all enjoy the double upload~ Thanks to my good friend Mon668 for beta reading these chapters, this story wouldn't be what it is without her valuable input on my story decisions! So, everyone feel free to shoot her a PM to thank her on Fimfiction under the profile Mon668! https://www.fimfiction.net/user/473432/Mon668

Escalating Circumstances

Chapter IV: Escalating Circumstances

“A-Adagio…? H-how long have you been there?” her lips instantly move in sync with her words, her eyes show a feeling of surprise as she covers herself up with the damned blanket… Tears instantly wiped away… The object isn’t in sight anymore, but it’s shape is still imprinted in my mind… “A-are you doing alright? I um… I missed you~” her voice let out the statement confidently, faking cheer and happiness as her fingers twitched on the blanket around herself… Her smile comes back to her face, hiding the nervousness she clearly feels.

My hands feel numb… A wobbly feeling spikes through my legs and my head is spinning… Despite my attempts to stabilize my breathing, my thoughts race through my mind, making me drop my phone to the floor. Why would… Why would she do this…? Someone so confident… Someone so determined and happy. Someone so… perfect… “Where is it…?” I ask weakly, finally locking my eyes with her again, slowly entering the room and walking towards the bed.

“Hmm? Where is what?” she asks innocently, shifting slightly in the bed as she rubs her arm slowly, the cool air lowering the temperature of the sweat on my forehead…

“Don’t fucking do that,” I say harshly, looking away for a moment. “Where… is the damn knife?” I ask slowly, looking into her eyes as I clench my fists. Why would she do this…? Am I not good enough…? Can I not help her…?

“A-a knife? I don’t-”

“Sunset, I know when you’re lying.” Interrupting her mid sentence, I walk the last stretch towards the bed, grabbing the blanket and pulling it away from her in my moment of anger and confusion. There it was… shining in our bed… That fucking object… It only takes a moment for Sunset to grab it, holding it close to her body, seemingly thinking of what to say as we lock our eyes. Why is it here, Sunset…? Why is there a knife in our bedroom…?

“I-I can explain!” she states quickly, looking down at herself and the knife for an idea.

“Why, Sunset…?” My question, as weak as it is, hits her ears as her head aims away from me, tears welling up in her eyes. “Someone so happy… so confident… Determined, caring, kind… Why would someone like that be in this situation?” My voice cracks slightly, feeling my own tears starting to well up in my eyes as she shifts uncomfortably, closing her eyes. The horrible feeling of silence is present as I stare at her, waiting for some sort of answer. To be honest, we both probably don’t know what to say… I never thought in a million years that I would… ever come across a scene like this…

“I-it’s not like that…”

“Then what is it, Sunset?” I ask instantly, walking towards the window and closing the blinds. No one else should ever see Sunset in these circumstances… I don’t even know why I am being subjected to this torture… What form of humor does god take from harming her…? Taking a deep breath, I look to Sunset once more and see her shivering body, her fingers quivering and the sound of sniffling fills my ears… “I’m… I’m sorry. Please, Sunset… What’s going on here?” I slowly ask her, walking towards the bed and sitting down next to her legs. “Let me in…”

“No, I’m… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to let you see me like this, Adagio… I didn’t want you to…” Covering her face with her hand, a few more quiet sobs fall into the air, her other hand dropping the knife back onto the bed. “Please don’t hate me… I can explain…” Her voice weakly lets out each word, pleading for me to stay rather than leave her in this hole of darkness. Gently, my hand rests on her leg, her eyes finally peeking through her hands… Both of our eyes filled with tears, not a sound escaping our lips.

“I would never hate you, Sunset… Never. You made that impossible by being so kind to me… By being so friendly with me and giving me another chance. By being you…” Slowly, I move closer to Sunset, bringing my arms around her as gently as I can, rocking us both slightly. “I love you with all my heart… You’re the light to my life and I never want to see you hurt…” Bringing my lips to her cheek, I press them against her as softly as I can, trying to avoid the urge to cry into her. “That’s why I’m worried, Sunset… I love you…”

Sunset’s arms gently return the embrace as her walls crumble down, finally crying and staining my chest with her sorrow. “Y-you really mean that?” Sunset’s voice cracks as she speaks, barely able to let out the few words through her cries. “I-I know that I… I always tell you that a-and all… It’s just that…”

“You don’t think you deserve love?” I slowly interrupt, still rocking her in my arms slowly. Without saying another word, Sunset simply nods, crying a little harder into me as she holds us tightly together. “I promise, Sunset. I always mean that. Just like how you mean it when you say it to me.” Holding her close to me, I slowly hum as I rock her. “What would cause you to do this, Sunset? What hurt you this badly?” I ask as carefully as I can, using my most soothing tone.

Sunset’s sniffling slows down a bit, burying her face into me slightly and breathing in deeply. “I did…”

“You did…?” With a small nod, Sunset slowly lets go of me, wiping her tears from her face even though I’m still holding onto her.

“Y-you… remember how I was evil a long time ago?” her voice lets out in a quiet whisper, taking a deep breath in afterward. Nodding to her question, I rub her head quietly and close my eyes, listening to her scattered breathing. “I-I… I have already forgiven myself for it… I know I’m not the same person anymore, but… every time my friends and I use magic anymore, I can’t help but feel… afraid that maybe she will come back…” A deep sigh comes from her as her tears slow down and her breathing becomes a little more controlled. “Magic is the thing that turned me into that… It also turned me into better things, but… I don’t know.” Her arms wrap around me as she rests her voice for a moment, calming herself. “It doesn’t happen often… Maybe once every couple of months… I even make sure to cut in the same spot to avoid… too many scars…”

Gently scratching her scalp and feeling her soft strands in my hand, I take deep and slow breaths, rocking us both back and forth. “I understand… You do deserve love though, Sunset. Someone so pure and good… I love you so much. I don’t think I deserve love at all…” As soon as I say this, Sunset pushes away from me, locking her eyes with mine.

“What? No! No no no, you do deserve love, Adagio. You deserve so much and I… I only want to give you the world, not my problems…” Once again, her eyes avert mine, thinking of what to say, but before she can let out another word, my hand cups her cheek slowly. A smile comes across my face, tears slowly sliding down my cheeks as I nod.

“You do give me the world, Sunset~ You are my world~ I want to know about your problems and be there for you,” I slowly whisper, trying my best to hold back any urge I have to cry. Sunset’s eyes meet mine once more, her own smile coming back to her as we share a few tears. “Please… Try to rely on me more~ I will always be here for you, no matter what. Just like how you’re… here for me~” Sunset, now taking the initiative, grabs me in a hug and nods slowly, holding me as tight as she can.

“I-I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be like this or-”

“You can’t be perfect, Sunset~” For a moment, silence passes between us, nothing bothering our moment except for the sounds of our occasional movements. “You always tell me that. You’re human, Sunset~ And I love you just how you are~” Kissing her cheek once more, a sigh escapes my lips as I close my eyes. “Please, tell me when you feel like doing this again… I want to be here for you.”

“If… if you promise me you’ll try to get your confidence back…” Letting go of our embrace, Sunset cups my cheek and smiles, looking into my eyes. “Then… I’ll promise to rely on you more… I’ll try. Just promise me, okay?” she asks me with a pleading look in her eyes, her warm smile once again eating at my heart. It seems that we still have a long way to go before we’re an ideal couple, getting along as best as we can.

“I promise~” Pressing my forehead against hers, I gently rub my nose with hers, closing my eyes as I do so. “I never want anyone other than you, Sunset~”

A small chuckle comes from Sunset, the final of her tears streaming down her face as she holds onto me. “I don’t want anyone other than you as well, Adagio~”

We still have a long way to go… But I look forward to every step of the way with you, Sunset…