FRAGILE EMOTION

Trees swayed overhead, dancing to the tune of the two people laughing. Ileana's didn't make any sound - the joy on her face sang louder than any chuckle could, and Rhodey's seemed to shake the ground. They were in unison, and the world knew it. 

"And then I say - boom, are you looking for this?" Rhodey exclaimed, shaking his head chortling to his own story. Ileana snorted, unable to wipe the grin off of her face. His laughter was too damn infectious, and she soon found that her mouth ached from how much she smiled. Unlike the many pains she'd felt in her life, this was one she was thankful for. 

Ileana struggled to get a good grip on her pen through the thick fabric of her gloves, her usual tidy scrawl messier. It was difficult to write while on the move, but it was the only way she could talk to him. It was the only sadness she found when she was with him. 

I bet that story gets you all the ladies.

Rhodey read the words, snorting. "Not the ones I want." Ileana swore that she saw him glance at her from the corner of his eye, yet when she turned to look closer he'd turned away. "I told that story to Steve and Thor once. That didn't go to plan." 

Ileana kept on smiling, stopping for a moment to lean on her thigh to write her next sentence. 

Well, their sense of humour is obviously terrible.

She held the words in front of him, her legs struggling to keep up as he propelled himself forward. As much as she protested, he wanted to be in control of his wheelchair. He wanted to be able to do something for himself. She didn't argue much after that. 

His eyes strained, and a vein on his head was close to popping out of his face. It took him longer than usual to read the words, the strain his body was under mounting up. She caught sight of the sweat building up on his forehead, yet his arms still spun the wheels forward. 

Ileana took her notepad away from his sight, tucking it into her pocket. She released a purposeful laboured breath, wiping dramatically at her head. Rhodey watched her. 

"Are you tired?" No, she thought, but nodded her head. Hidden relief flooded his face, and he smiled. "Let's find a bench." 

Again she nodded her head, seeing a park bench close by. Pointing it out, Rhodey pushed on. Ileana desperately wanted to help him, but she knew that he wanted to do this by himself. He wouldn't appreciate it, and Ileana didn't want to fight with him. 

When they got there, Ileana had to conceal her dismay. The bench was slick with water. Even with the long coat she'd bundled herself in, she still would get wet. And when you're outside in October, with no inkling of when you're going to get heat again, she wanted to avoid it as soon as possible. Rhodey picked up on her thoughts, and he adjusted the blanket tucked around his legs. 

He didn't speak for a while, and Ileana went to sit down when his arm shot out and grabbed hers. She had to pretend that his touch didn't send thousands of volts of electricity sparking within her. "Wait! You can't sit there, you'll get wet." 

Ileana gestured all around them, and shrugged her shoulders. He tilted his head slightly, trying to understand what she was saying. Sighing, she reached into her pocket and wrote down the meaning. 

It's not like there's anywhere else to sit.

"What about my lap?" Instantly he clamped his mouth shut, as though he wasn't expecting to sat what he did. A red tinge rushed to his cheeks and neck. Ileana had to contain her giggles. Playfully, she arched an eyebrow. She quickly wrote down her response, passing it him before she could lose her nerve. 

And I should because?

He stumbled over his words. "Um, it's warmer I guess. And you don't get wet - it's too cold out here - it's October for gods sake - so you won't get frostbite and die." 

As hard as she tried, she couldn't contain the grin spreading across her face. She took the notepad back off him and scrawled her reply, never taking her eyes off of him. 

So I should because I'll die if I don't? 

Rhodey's mouth dropped when he read it, the red on his face darkening. He awkwardly rubbed at the nape of his neck, looking anywhere but her. "It's been a while okay? I'm rusty. I'm still nervous around you okay - no matter how much I talk to you, you're just so... beautiful."

It was Ileana's turn to blush crimson. She shielded her face away from him, in hopes that he wouldn't see it. Her attempts were fruitless, and he grinned even wider. "I must have some moves because you're turning the same colour Tony does when he's drunk. I mean, they must be, right? They're not awful but they're pretty good if you ask m-" 

Ileana cut him off, closing the gap between them in seconds and pushing his arms aside. Carefully - as though he was porcelain - she slid onto his lap. His words slowed, the last few blowing on loose strands of her hair. His arms instinctively wrapped around her. She had no complaints about it at all. 

She stretched around Rhodey's protective hold, and plucked the notepad from out of her pocket. Nimbly, she reached for the pen behind her ear and let her hand dance across the page. 

Do you usually ramble like that when you're nervous?

Rhodey laughed, the heat from his voice sending shivers down her spine. "I could say that it was only a one time thing but we both know I'd be lying." 

Ileana chuckled, her head bowed. She didn't want to raise her eyes - the fire of his gaze was burning the back of her head, and she was afraid of what would happen. She didn't deserve someone like him as a friend, as a anything. 

What makes this time different from all of the others? 

Rhodey frowned when reading the words. He didn't know the answer himself - he'd been comfortable around her for the past few months, yet the present and smiles made him see her in a whole new light. "I guess it takes me a long time to notice what's right in front of me."

A blush raged on her cheeks again. Trying to distract herself, she joined more letters on the page, letting her hands speak for her. She was glad that she couldn't talk at that moment - she knew that she'd stutter. 

I can see you being really awkward around girls in high school.

"Not just in high school, more like my entire life!" He exclaimed, another fit of laughter taking over his body. The shock waves spread to her, and she couldn't help but copy his infectious movement. "There was one time in junior year, I was going to ask a girl to the dance. Anne McKay. She was breathtaking, full lips and these bright blue eyes that you felt trapped in. I decided that after she asked me one time in biology for a pencil that she wanted me, I went up to her and asked her out. Keep in mind that at the time I was just skin and bones, a scrawny little bastard with terrible acne. She turned me down before I could even get the second sentence out."

Ileana's brows furrowed, her hand writing down what flashed in her mind. 

I'm sorry. She really missed out on something special.

Rhodey's eyes followed the words, dedicating every curve and slant to memory. His breaths had increased, and in a spout of courage he did something he never imagined himself doing. "Ileana," he breathed out, his hand drifting towards her hair. She did nothing, keeping her head down. "Ana, please. Look at me." 

She did as he asked, her big brown eyes looking up at him. Strands of hair flew into her face, his drifting hands not consulting his brain. They pushed the hair away, his hand lingering on her dry cheek. Ileana couldn't resist nestling herself into the warmth, his palm smooth. Her eyes fluttered close, bliss melting her features. 

In that second, everything froze. 

Her eyes, open enough to make out his handsome face, connected with his wide energetic ones. The smile that had been eating at his face had stilled. He moved closer, his face mere inches from her own. She could feel the force of his breath on her skin, and smell the faint mintiness left behind from the morning. Her senses went into overdrive, the feeling of his arm holding her tickling her skin. 

He leaned closer, their lips so close to touching, so close to being apart. He whispered in a low voice, so quiet she barely caught it with the blustery winds whipping at the two of them. "Is it okay if I kiss you?" 

Ileana looked up at him from the tops of her lashes, giving a single nod. 

His smile was reanimated. Together, they closed the distance between them, lips meeting lips in a soft symphony. It was gentle, like they were petrified of shattering the other if they pressed too hard. Love does make people fragile after all.