Nikki rolled her eyes and looked into his eyes "you really think I want to sleep with someone who's been nothing but a prick ever since I've met him when the last person I slept with was an entitled basterd that man that you wanted to kill that gave me these fucking scars. "
Jo looks back, their black eyes focused.
"I've been a 'prick' because that's how I grew up. And I'm a morally deficient jackass, but that's besides the point. The last person I slept with literally stabbed me in the back. And you think this is just lust?"
He pauses. "I wanted to kill that bastard. You want to know why? He had the nerve to fuck around with a beautiful badass like you. He had the nerve to try and break a proud woman. He had the nerve to touch you, and he deserves death for that. Got it? This isn't just lust, sweetheart, this is love and tragedy. This is a Shakespeare play, but we get the happy ending."
Nikki was silenced for the first time in a long time she wasn't sure what to say hell she wasn't really even sure what to do she felt strange like her heart was about to explode that usually only happened when she was mad or scared and she was I supposed but there was something else something she couldn't put her finger on she nodded when he spoke about her past monster and it took everything she had to hold back tears, love? What does that even mean why would he love her?
Jo closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
"It's a fucking problem, I know. You probably don't feel the same way. But it's not something we can change: it's a simple fact that I love you, sweetheart."
Nikki was still silent waiting for him to finish talking before she spoke "i….. Your not going to leave are you? " she spoke softly none of the authority in her voice like before she looked as if she might cry
Jo lets Nikki's hands go, but doesn't move from where he is.
"If I was going to leave, wouldn't I already be gone?"
"No… "
Jo snorts.
"I don't stick around people I don't like. You either die and I leave, or I leave and you still die."
She laughed a little bit
"Damn so I have to stay around you and live? Your mean. "
Jo grins.
"And I wasn't already? You clearly haven't met me, sweetheart. I was mean from the get-go. But yeah, that's the general idea."
"Gee thanks really appreciate that. "
Jo chuckles.
"I know you do."
"Oh yeah definitely. "
Jo still has yet to move.
"So, do you have anything to say to me in response to what I said?"
"I mean…. I'm not sure.. "
Jo shifts slightly, leaning down.
"Nothing at all?"
"I've never felt love before Jo.. "
"Never once in your life have you ever missed someone with all your heart when you're not near them? Never once have you been happiest when around one person? Never once have you been hurt, and you feel better when that one person comes to help?" Jo asks softly.
//TW//
"I never knew my mother she died when I was born, my father raped my mother and then was no longer in the picture he rented her out and…. I was born into the same fate Jo I've never had time for love I'm just trying to stay alive. "
"That's not. . . I. . ."
They sigh softly, looking at Nikki gently.
"I know that, dear. I'm asking. . . if you feel that way about me, I guess." they murmur, looking away.
Nikki looked away for a second and then looked back "i- don't know what love feels like… "
Jo sighs and gets up.
"Well. . . okay. That's fine."
"Jo.. I'm sorry-"
Jo sighs and straightens their pants.
"It's fine, sweetheart."
They'd been so wrapped up in the past few minutes that they'd forgotten about their brawl.
"Fuck, I hurt. . ."
Nikki sat up and looked over at Jo "sorry… I just..you pissed me off. "
Jo snorts.
"What's new about that?"
"Nothing I was just stating. "
Jo chuckles.
"Exactly. Anyways, I have to shower again."
"Again? "
"I'm all bloody and sweaty; I sincerely doubt you're into that."