Before the Sun Sets

@ Jinx...
Leo’s smile only widened as she squealed and squirmed beneath his hands. This was easy to him, almost too easy. She looked so cute when she smiled and laughed. “I don’t need answers now, Liv.” He murmured and listened to her speak. “You wouldn’t have to stop being a photographer. I’m not asking for you full time. I’m just saying you could help people too.” He nodded and shrugged. “The offer will stay for as long as I need it too.” He said and laughed slightly. “I think you have a crush on my secretary.” He teased. Leo leaned forwards in his chair, placing a hand on her leg. “We’re gonna be okay.” He said and smiled. “Maybe I’ll do that just so I get more of you.” He said and grinned. “Okay okay I’ll let you finish your food.” He said and moved back to the bed. Leo jumped up into the bed and laid back. He placed his hands behind his head and closed his eyes as he laid back.

@ BadStreetBoys
"Thanks Leo." she said but didn't think she would reconsider. She thought it would be a better use of her time to try and break into the directors club with Tony. He could be a good reference and however this film did would be a great reflector of her ability to create images to appeal to the audience. She laughed. "Oh yes defiantly but he's just a little too young for me." she teased sarcasm thick in her voice. Bella chuckled. "We will be okay." she said reassuringly back to him. She laughed. "You'll get enough of me you'll want the space at work." she said and smiled watching him flop into the bed. She took another bit of her food finishing what she could on the plate. He gave her more than she could eat which she was not surprised with. She cleaned up then walked over looking at him resting on the bed and wondered. Was he ticklish too? She plopped herself on his lap straddling hims and running her hands down his sides in the hopes of tickling him.

@ Jinx...
Leo felt Olivia climb onto the bed then onto him. He smirked to himself at first before his eyes shot open as he felt her hands on his sides. Almost instinctively his hands shot from underneath his head to his sides and grabbed her hands and held them just a few inches off his body. He realized his grip may have been a little too tight and he let go. “Sorry.” He said and gently rubbed her wrists. He swallowed hard and looked up apologetically. He knew why he did it. He was sure she knew. But Leo didn’t want to say the words because that would make it real again. He knew that she wanted them to work on talking about things and he took another deep breath. “My dad liked to hit me in the chest and abdomen and sides because people wouldn’t see the bruises and cuts and marks there.” He said and his eyes shifted away from her. “I mean he hit me in the face plenty too, but that was his favorite. Why do you think people never knew.” He said and laughed awkwardly. “I don’t actually know if I’m ticklish because I don’t usually let people touch me there unless like, you’re hugging me or something, y’know.” Leo mumbled as he began to ramble

@ BadStreetBoys
Bella's eyes widened as he grabbed her. She started to breath a little heavier as he own instincts kicked in and adrenaline rushed trough her. His grip was a little tight but not painful. She had worse in her life. It was just stopping her and preventing her from moving. He wasn't trying to hurt her even in his reflexes. She calmed a little as he let go. She sighed as he rubbed them. "No I'm sorry." she said. Bella listened to him speak about his father. She nodded and slowly reached up caressing his cheek leaning in and pressing a kiss to his lips slow and sweet. She pulled back once she felt them both relax a little. She looked down at him. "I wasn't thinking of that when I did it. I wont do that again and will be careful about how I touch you there." she assured him. "Thank you for telling me." she said. They hadn't talked about it as kids, not like this. So him telling her was hearing it was like hearing if for the first time. She looked down at him blushing realizing she was still straddling him and moved to get off of him. Maybe sometimes in the future they could try working on that reaction together so at least with her he wouldn't react so aggressively and feel like she was attacking him.

@ Jinx...
Leo swallowed hard as he watched Olivia’s reaction, worried she would be mad at him. He relaxed as she insisted it was okay. Leo kissed back gently abs moved his hands down to her hips, holding them gently. “It’s okay.” He murmured. “You didn’t know.” He said and tapped his fingers on her back. “We both have a lot of stuff to work out together, and that’s okay. We can’t fault one another for not knowing every trigger unless we tell each other.” He said and smiled at Olivia. As much as he hated it, this was making him feel better. Although, talking about his feelings once seemed like enough for one day. “You don’t have to get off me.” He said with a teasing grin. Leo rolled onto his side to face her and looked up and down Olivia’s body. She was so hot, even in her PJs. He reached out and gently played with the ends of her hair, smiling as he noticed the color coming back to it.

@ BadStreetBoys
Bella nodded. She was glad he was finally talking to her. She giggled as he told her she didn't have to get off. She shook her head. "I know still I should." she said and watched him look her over. She bit her lip then grinned as he played with a strand of her hair. She knew he liked it red. She closed her eyes and knew it was time to tell him. Her eyes teared up just thinking about it. "I started to go by Bella because my mom use to call me Olive. I loved that nickname. But when she died she spoke my name once more. It was the last word upon her lips. So it became too painful hearing my name and after I left you it just seemed easier to tell everyone a new name. And it worked. People didn't give me a nickname that made me sad. I was able to forget a little bit. And also still feel like I was honoring her. She was my mom, my hero. Yes she was broken but it's always easier to appreciate someone when they are gone." she said and looked back at him her eyes glossy. "But maybe it's time I stop running from all the pain." she said looking at him with soft eyes.

@ Jinx...
Leo saw tears brim at Olivia’s eyes and frowned. He moved closer to her, gently placing his hand on her cheek. He was quiet and attentive as he listened to her talk. Leo was glad that they were opening up to one another. Not that they hadn’t before. But this was different. This was deeper and hurt more to talk about. All the more reason it was important to talk about it. “I’m sorry.” He murmured. “For refusing to call you Bella.” He told her and kissed Olivia’s forehead. “The only way to get over pain is through.” He said and laughed to himself. “It’s up to you though, honey.” He murmured. “You can go by anything you like. But your mother gave you the name Olivia because she loved it, and she loves you.” He told her. “We can get through and work through our pains together. You just helped me get through my hardest pain. And I’ll help you.”

@ BadStreetBoys
Bella smiled and nodded. "Then don't stop calling me Olivia. But jut give me some time before I start to transition over." she said looking up at him glad he understood now. She could keep going but she didn't want to get into her ex right now. She pressed herself into him and closed her eyes. They would talk about him plenty when he showed up and he would despite her telling him not to and that it was over, he didn't let things go. She had tried to leave him once before. The last time hadn't ended so well. She was afraid she was over looking red flags with Leo too but this was Leo, her Leo and even if it ended badly she would never forgive herself for not tying with him. "Leo..." she squeaked. She didn't know if she could get the words out. It felt like an insult to say but she ached and wanted to hear him reassure her fears. She wanted the words along with his action. She looked up at him. "You are so good for me but I'm afraid. I'm afraid of my ability to make good choices anymore Leo so... please..." She looked down. "Promise you wont hit me." she said quietly.

@ Jinx...
Leo smiled. He was glad she was letting him call her Olivia. He felt like the transition to Bella would be a hard one for him. Leo’s demeanor changed as he watched Olivia basically fold inside herself, shrinking, scared and sad. He instinctively held her closer and more protectively. “Yes?” He said softly. Though he was protective he didn’t want to scare her with assertiveness. Leo clenched his jaw at her final words. He knew she didn’t think he ever would do such a thing. “I promise.” He told her. Leo’s hand moved to her face and held her cheek in his hand. “He hit you?l Leo asked. His eyes serious and dark. He swallowed and took a deep breath. “I’m going to fucking kill him.” He told her. It wasn’t a question. It was a statement, a very serious one. Leo didn’t like men who hurt women, especially not his woman. Leo pulled her back into his chest, placing one hand behind her head and holding Olivia. “I’m never going to let anyone hurt you again.”

@ BadStreetBoys
Bella relaxed as he promised but then he read her like he should have known he would. She flushed and frowned her eyes watering as she looked to the side. "It was... it was just once." she shook her head. "Leo please." she said and clung to him. "Please don't do anything. It was a long time ago." she said bitting her lip. His words made her feel safe though her head knew it was unrealistic. She clung to him. "I don't need you to save me. I just need you to support me." She said and looked up at him blinking back more tears. "I don't want to talk about him anymore right now." she said and then hid her face in his chest. She shuttered knowing that her ex was part of the reason she had smashed Leo's bottles. She wasn't about to let the most important person in her life become something he wasn't. She closed her eyes. There was a knock on the door and she jumped. She sat up and sighed. "It's probably the RV cleaner bringing it back." she said and went to the door opening it and thanked the man taking the keys and the the receipt signing that she got the vehicle back and then closed the door. She set the keys down on the table. "We're ready to leave in the morning if you're feeling well enough." she said.

@ Jinx...
Leo held Olivia close and shook his head. He respected Olivia and in nearly any other situation he would respect her wishes. But this was different. “Olivia, I don’t care if it was only one time.” He said very calmly. “If I ever see him, I will beat his ass into a pulp.” He told her and closed his eyes as he took a few deep breaths. Leo knew Olivia needed him to be supportive and calm right now. He didn’t need to be angry and vengeful towards her ex, he knew he would have a time and place when that rage was needed. “Okay.” he murmured and kissed her forehead. Leo also jumped when someone knocked on the door. He was about to tell her he would get it but she was already halfway across the room. “I think getting back on track could be a good thing.” He said with a smile. Leo pat the bed besides him. “Now come here and cuddle with me. I finally have a girlfriend and I wanna cuddle.” He teased with a big goofy grin.

@ BadStreetBoys
"Okay but I don't want you to go to jail for assault or get hurt because of me." Bella said just wanting him to think about it. She was glad he was going to let it go for now. She knew he wanted to protect her but she was independent and could take care of herself most the time. She nodded as he agreed with her. "Great." she said loving the smile on his lips right now. She giggled as he told her to come cuddle. She walked over and crawled into the bed and snuggled into him. She closed her eyes as she breathed him in. "I love you." she said softly. Because it didn't matter if they just started dating or would end up as friends or hating each other because she would always love him, she always had.

@ Jinx...
Leo grinned as Olivia made her way over to him. He held out his arm, wide open, waiting for her to crawl in. He just wanted to engulf her in love and cuddles right now. He wanted to give Olivia all the love she missed out on from everyone else and from him all these years. He curled around her, resting his head atop hers as he closed his eyes as well. “I love you too, Liv.” He murmured and nuzzled the top of her head. “I still can’t believe this is real.” He admitted with a chuckle. It was true. If you’d told him three months ago he’d be dating his childhood love he would laugh and walk away. But here he was. With her. Sober for the first time in years. And genuinely happy again. Leo was nervous, though. Things seemed to be going too well. It made him nervous because when things started going well, they had a habit of something self destructing and taking him back to square one.

@ BadStreetBoys
Bella smiled as he said it back. She chuckled and nodded. "I know it feels like a dream." she said and looked up at him. "Do you think we have finally worked past why we where so upset at each other as kids?" She asked him. She wanted to know if he forgave her. She didn't know how she felt. On one hand he was a kid so she couldn't blame him but on the other she needed to know when things got hard he wouldn't push her away again. She looked up at him. "Leo..." she bit her lip. "Things will get hard eventually. You will get mad at me sometimes, and I will get mad at you sometimes. When you said you want to grow and work together to fix us, did you also mean you weren't going to push me away again?" She asked him taking his hand and playing with his fingers. Bella wasn't secure yet. She would know the moment it sank in and she would be okay but until then she clung to her old ways that got her through.

@ Jinx...
Leo just wanted to touch Olivia. He didn’t care where or how. As long as they had a physical connection he was happy. “I think so.” He murmured. “I understand both of our perspectives from it. I’m not mad at you anymore I don’t think it’s solely your fault.” He told her abs looked down into her eyes. He still didn’t understand everything about what happened when they were kids. But he at least held no ill will towards her. He readjusted to face her better as she continued to speak. He smiled slightly as she played with his fingers. It felt nice. “I promise to try.” He murmured. “I’d rather run away or bury my feelings. So I can’t honestly tell you I’ll be forthcoming with everything so easily. But I will try to do my best. And if I start pushing you away. Don’t let me go. I knwo I’ll come around.” He tried to explain things the best he could. Leo knew he was a deeply flawed man but he would work on that if it meant they could be a couple. “Please don’t break my heart.” He squeaked out. It felt like Leo was trapped all of a sudden. He was nervous and scared of losing Olivia.

@ BadStreetBoys
Bella nodded as he said he would try and not to let him go. She nodded and looked up at him. "I rather run away too. I'm always afraid I'm going to say the wrong thing and hurt you." she said knowing she had been working on that and though it was hard to sit with that uncomfortable feeling she was glad she waited because he often surprised her. She smiled as he asked her not to break his heart. She thought over how that could happen. If she left, if she cheated, if she shut down on him. She nodded. "I will do my very best and in return I will give you mine too. So be gentle with me." she leaned in caressing his face and kissed him softly. She felt like they skipped a hundred steps but maybe it was simply that they had already started this process a long time ago and now it was just so easy to slip into it with him. She pecked his lips once more then looked up at him. "Anything else we should get out while we're being open?" she asked him. She knew there was more for her but she was emotionally tired.

@ Jinx...
Leo smiled slightly as she said she would give him her heart too. “I will take care of it. Protect it. Cherish it.” he told her and smiled again at the thought. He trusted Olivia. He knew she would never purposely hurt him. He didn’t have any reason to worry but he still would because that’s just how he was. “Uhm.” He paused and thought for a moment. “I dunno. This is all new to me. I’ve only had like one girlfriend.” He admitted sheepishly. “Everything else was just like a fling.” He figured olivia would know. She had called him out for being a drunk and not wanted because of it. He swallowed the thought away and looked back at her. “Anything else you think I should know?” He asked and ran his hand down her side, back up, snd caressing her cheek.

@ BadStreetBoys
Bella smiled as he swore to take care of her heart too. She nodded and watched him think. She could tell he was just as emotionally raw as she was. That was enough for now. "Well I've never had a relationship where someone loved me without me giving them anything so it's new for both of us." she said and smiled softly kissing his cheek. She shook her head feeling his hands on her. "No not now. I think that's enough for now. She wanted to ask about his suicide attempt but that was too much for now. "I'm emotionally wiped and I'm starving." they had spent hours talking and just laying here. "Can we go get pizza?" she asked him really wanting to sit at some pizza parlor and have some terrible greasy huge pizza. She grinned and pushed herself up. "Oh..." she looked back at him. "Maybe pizza isn't the best food choice for you after all that." she said.

@ Jinx...
Leo nodded and was slightly relieved that they weren’t going to be talking about anything deep anymore. He felt the drain too. It was like he needed to gas up on his emotions again before the could talk about them again otherwise he wouldn’t work. “Ooh pizza.” He said and grinned. Leo shook his head. “No im definitely trying to eat pizza, babe.” He told her with a grin. “I’ll eat slow and careful that way I know if I don’t feel good.” He offered. Leo climbed out of bed snd found some clothes, getting dressed so that they could go out. When he was done he grabbed his phone from the nightstand and looked over at Olivia. “Our first real date as a real couple.”

@ BadStreetBoys
Bella chuckled. "Okay." she said and got dressed too putting on a little make up. She combed out her hair then came out and smiled at Leo. "Yeah I guess it is. Not super fancy are we?" she asked him and moved over to him grinning. She tugged on his shirt. "I'm glad you're feeling better. Do you want to take the RV or should I call an Uber?" she asked him. She was okay with walking but didn't think he was ready for that yet. She took his hand grabbing the room key. She looked up at him affectionately. How was it so easy to love him yet they had never been able to have a real relationship. She shook her head. It had to be the right time she guessed. Everything happened for a reason. Maybe they both needed to grow up a little.