Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Bethany]

The reaction Carver gets from his comment is probably not reassuring. Nor is her reluctant reply. "I... I know. Ari and I... well, someone made a pass while we were out trying to drum up clients for the brothel. It... He..." She trails off, touching her nose absently. Right where there's a thin white mark, more a line, on the tip. Hard to see, but with his attention drawn to it...

[Carver Amell]

Carver's hands ball into angry, clawed fists. "You got hurt." A moment later, he pulls back, turning away from her in anger and disgust. "I wasn't there."

[Bethany]

"Because I was afraid you wouldn't accept my choices," Bethany agrees, disgusted with herself as well. "I'm sorry."

[Carver Amell]

"If you have to do this, if you have to put yourself in danger, at least let me be there. At least let me protect you. You can't, you can't have it both ways, where you can do anything you like but I'm only allowed to also do thing you like."

[Bethany]

"It's not the same," Bethany protests. "What I'm doing is just me, but what you like is me not doing- or doing stuff. That doesn't- let me try again. I love and trust you, but that doesn't mean you can decide what I do. Just like I can't decide what you do- unless what you want to do is control my actions."

[Carver Amell]

He shakes his head. "That's not what I -- look. If you're going to do this, then you can't tell me not to guard you, to walk with you, to try and protect you from things. If you're going to be in danger, I'm going to do my very best to stop you getting hurt, even if that means putting myself between you and danger. Okay?"

[Bethany]

"I certainly can," Bethany says with a flat look. "I have the right to decide whose company I keep. But I do want to keep yours. I mean, I don't like you trying to say I have to, but I want to anyway. If you want to be my... bodyguard while I'm, uh, working, then that's fine. Errr, just... not, you know... too closely, right?"

[Carver Amell]

He shudders. "Fine. I'll stand outside and guard. You just shout and I'll come stab someone, okay?"

[Bethany]

Well, at least we agree on that much. The thought of having sex in front of her brother is... just no. "Agreed. And you'll talk to me again? Really talk to me, about how you feel and... if you have problems with things? Even if it might worry me?"

[Carver Amell]

"Why? You'll ignore me anyway. Just tell me what you plan to do and I'll figure out how to make it safe."

[Bethany]

"Red Bandanas!" Bethany snaps at him. "Just because I disagree sometimes doesn't mean I never listen Carver."

[Carver Amell]

"Fine. Now we have to get going or you'll be late."

[Bethany]

"I..." Bethany stares at him, aware she's hurt him- again- but not understanding exactly how. "...alright Carver," she whispers forlornly, rising to her feet. Not even a full minute and we're already breaking... heh. Actually, he never agreed so I guess it didn't even last that long really.

[Carver Amell]

Carver lapses into silence as they walk. Finally, as the temple comes into sight, he stops, with a sigh.

"I love you," he says quietly. "I want you to be safe. But I guess... I want you to be happy, and if doing this makes you happy, then... as long as I can protect you, it's okay."

[Bethany]

"It..." Bethany is quiet a moment. "It's not the... whoring itself. It's the brothel. It feels... it feels like I'm helping people no-one else will help. Like I'm making a difference. The other thing is just part of that," she tries to explain. Looking over to met his gaze, she smiles wanely. "I love you too. Knowing you're with me... I wouldn't have the courage to even get out of bed some days if I didn't know you were waiting for me."