ALL YOU GIVE ME IS A HEARTBEAT && cav

[cavalrychoir]

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[div style="background-color:;border:;width:100px;overflowtretch;font-size:8.5pt;color:darkred;text-align:left;text-transform:uppercase;font-family:trebuchet ms;margin-bottom:-10px;margin-left:5px;float:left;"]CAVALRYCHOIR—

As much as Cav wanted to call her his friend, he knew he couldn't. He wasn't prepared for the mental struggle that came with having friends or anyone in his life that remotely cared about his well-being. To better keep her safe until he was able to trust himself once more, he distanced himself from her and everyone else. He wanted to be someone worthy of their friendship and as things stand now, he wasn't. Cav was doing his best to be, however. It was going to a long journey but he was prepared for it. Probably. At the moment, he was just as nervous as Delilah and it shown in the way he continuously flexed his sharp claws. He'd prefer if one of the others stayed back with them so that way if push comes to shove, it would be two against one. Not only that, but with a spectator, Cav would be less likely to lash out due to another's eyes being on him. Then again, he also would prefer to be alone with her so he could relax a bit and talk freely. But not too freely, of course. He didn't want to carelessly say anything and ruin the relationship blooming between them. To distract himself, he studied a single petal that was perched on his large paws as well as her sweet scent that seemed to envelop him like a blanket. He wasn't used to gentle touches like this and it took him all of his strength not to flinch away or put distance between them.

After what seemed to feel like an eternity, Delilah spoke. As soon as she finished, he felt his heart sink in his chest and dark optics shifting to look at her. "De..lilah..." He breathed softly, deep voice dripping with emotion. Inhaling a shaky breath, he turned his head to touch her ear with his nose. If her past made her try to kill herself, Cav had a feeling she's been through a lot. The demon could relate. Instead of killing himself, he thought many times of locking himself away somewhere. After everything he's done... He didn't deserve to be alive. But Delilah? The world needed her more than she realized. It was too early to say, Cav knew that much, but he felt like she had a personality that the world needed more of: soft, compassionate, understanding, kind, optimistic... The list goes on. "I'm... I'm glad you're still here," he murmured, doing his best not to let his voice tremble. "Please don't do something like that again. Your life is so much more valuable than you think." He wanted to wrap his paw around her but held back. Again, he wasn't used to things like that and had no idea where to go from there should he do it.

"Would you... Like to talk about it?" He asked softly, the question rolling off his tongue slowly and carefully. He didn't want to force her to recollect any painful memories and instead wanted her to feel as though she can talk to him about anything that's on her mind. He had questions... He was curious... But he cared a lot more about her than himself. And because of that, he couldn't help but voice his thoughts on her messy fur. "Shall we get you cleaned up? I can carry you if you'd like?" Came his gentle offer as he nudged her shoulder tenderly with his muzzle. He didn't care if she was covered in mud, but taking a bath might help lift her spirits.