Healing isn't always easy | Eden

He could hear the slight way that Eden spoke, but he couldn't be certain if it was worry or something else. And for now he was just trying to make sure that his husband knew a bit more. The insistence by Saige didn't surprise him, chuckling softly, before he frowned and turned more serious. "Did she threaten you?" He then asked, because he knew her well enough to know that if she didn't get things her way then she would turn to threats. Most were usually not meant as harsh as they came out, but the few times that she had to act out, it hadn't been good. Romeo knew she did it from a place of caring, but she could be a little intense.
The question of whether she could help made him hum, "well when she last helped me, it wasn't that severe," he admitted, looking down at his fingers. His nails were constantly cut short to eliminate a way of self-harm. Not that he would scratch himself bloody, but some patients might. Thinking it through for a while, he made up his mind, "I don't see any harm in trying .. she's always been there for me, and we were supposed to do yearly check ups anyways," he hummed.

Romeo could hear the bitterness now, frowning a little because he couldn't understand. Had he said something wrong? He wasn't sure he wanted to think about that too much if he was being honest. The suggestion of forwarding her number made him hum, "good idea .. but I'm working on getting it so you can come visit me very soon," he said, smiling as he hoped that would help. Though if Eden still felt unsure of himself, then wouldn't it just be stressful to him? Sighing softly he wasn't even sure what to think anymore. "I miss you," he admitted in a vulnerable voice. He touched his ring gently and with the care he would've touched his husband's hand. "Every day that I don't get to see you feel so pointless," maybe it wasn't the best way to view it, but it was true. Closing his eyes for a little bit, he just tried to imagine Eden being there with him. That he would soon enough wrap his arms around him and pull him into a nice big hug. But opening his eyes he was very disappointed. "I just want to see you."

Romeo felt a knot in his throat as Eden seemed to think that he was more of a stress factor. That couldn't be further from the truth, if Romeo had to decide. "You're my husband," he argued, but he didn’t truly had a point, looking down at his pants, pulling his legs up to sit with his arm around them. Then he spoke of the lycan not liking it. That couldn't be further from the truth. But had Romeo really been much around him as a human? Not really. "I didn't marry you solely based on looks," he reminded him, "I married you because you see me for me, and I have a feeling that I see you for you." But maybe Eden could easily brush that off. Romeo knew how easy that was. Breathing out in a sigh, "would you care for me any less if I was suddenly a human? Or a vampyre? Or a seraph?" He then asked.

He felt like though their struggles were different, they were also oddly similar. Hearing how he struggled with getting used to what he now was hurt, but he supposed it hurt too because he could recognize that issue. "I feel different too .. I'm gaining weight, and have to cope with my body changing too," he said, poking his stomach a little. He hadn't gained a lot, but when he was weighed he just felt his obsessive mind going crazy. "I'm gaining mostly muscle of course, but it's so strange to see my sweaters fit me differently; and my comfort shirt doesn't even give me comfort anymore because I feel like my shoulders look weird," he knew he shouldn't be info dumping him like this, but maybe he could see that he wasn't alone in his struggles. That at least it could be some sort of comfort. "But if you ever think I would love you any less, then you're being stupid, Eden Gabriel Altieri," he reminded him, saying his full name because he clearly needed to be reminded of who he was. He was his husband, he was the most brilliant and caring man he knew, and while things were rough right now, Romeo was still hopeful for the future. "Look on the bright side .. when I take you to Italy, we might both get a tan," a light tease, but also to let him know that he was still intending on keeping their life together intact.

Romeo was smiling as he sat there on his bed. He could almost imagine the vampyre's confusion, but it was rather endearing to him. He sighed, closing his eyes, "you can get creams that protect your skin from getting color; sun block - you just have to use a high enough factor for it to work that way," he said, hoping that it would give Eden a bit of comfort. "It won't make the current color go away, but it will fade over time," so he couldn't expect immediate effect. However the mention of socialite parties made him lay back down. A pit in his stomach as he felt guilty for not being there. This had been his idea. It should've been both of them going out and doing this; schmoozing up to investors and then celebrate when they got home. "Good idea," he said, trying to sound encouraging, but he couldn't really hide how it affected him. He felt tears under his eyes, burning a little as he tried rubbing them. "I'm sorry," he just said, feeling his throat knot up.

He hummed at the sweet notion of finding a substitute, and he mentioned a few brands that made a fair few items that were oversized. He asked for a hoodie as well as a shirt and a long sleeved one. Just to have a bit of variety. He of course thanked him for being kind about this. Truly he couldn't express just how grateful he was to have Eden in his life.
However the conversation soon turned to a somewhat tender topic for him. Maybe it was because he felt like he had to put in the work, because Eden brought so much experience. But then again, he would've felt awful at those parties if he had gone there right now, and timing was everything with an investor. "No .. no, it makes sense .. everything is just a mess with me right now," he said. He felt so out of touch with his emotions, and once a small bad thing happened he just felt like crying his heart out. It was hard for the lycan, but his therapist had ensured him that things would sort themselves out the more in touch he got with his body. But he felt that was such a hard thing to do.
He took a deep breath, doing one of his breathing exercises that he felt always worked. It took a bit of time, but he eventually calmed down. "I guess I was just really looking forward to going out and doing this together .. I know I'm supposed to be focusing on myself, but I feel stuck and like you're already moving on to the next step without me," he admitted, hoping that Eden could see his side of the coin.

"I think you should do what you deem is good for the firm we'll be trying to build," he admitted, wanting to make it clear that he was just a little off these days. He apologized a few more times, but the silence was the worst. Normally they could be silent together, and it would be the most calming experience, but this felt unnerving in a sense. The verdict of Saige's number made him frown, but he just hummed softly in agreement, but it still felt so off. The call wrapped up rather quickly after than and he was left alone with the deafening silence almost ringing in his ears. He just closed his eyes, trying not to think of that off feeling, but he couldn't help but worry. Was he upset about something? Had he really been looking forward to getting out of the house and now the lycan was holding him back? Romeo's thoughts simply started to spiral, and he hid away, refusing to eat dinner that night, which might've made the nurses very worried. Especially because he had been making so much process. But, as with everything, it took time, and Romeo just hid away under the covers.
He did eventually reach out to Saige, and she came to visit him rather often. He appreciated it a lot, and he got to talk to her about things that he didn't feel he could talk to anyone else about. They wouldn't really do much, just talk, do some exercises and a form of meditation that helped him a lot. He had partitioned for Eden to be allowed to visit, and as Romeo finally hit the right weight goal he felt so accomplished. The former vampyre would of course be notified that he could come visit the lycan whenever he wished for it. Romeo felt nervous, mostly because he wondered how Eden was, how he was doing with the changes. He hadn't heard much from him, as he seemingly had been busy. And when they did talk he sounded so tired that Romeo didn't wish to keep him awake for too long.

Romeo had asked for the visitors' list almost every time he could, but he was thoroughly disappointed each time. He felt insecure now. Was Eden doing alright? Had something happened? And when he couldn't really get any answers, he felt sad as all their conversations seemed so indifferent to the former vampyre. Was he second guessing everything now? Did Eden not want to see him because of his change or even worse, Kareema's words had come true? No! He couldn't allow himself to think like that, but he had brought it up to Saige. He had asked her to go and check up on Eden. Maybe see what was going on with him and if something had happened. He also gave her a small envelope for her to give to him. It wasn't something special but Romeo didn't really have access to much here, so he had to make due.

Saige had agreed to help Romeo out. Of course she had. She cared about him a lot, and nothing could take away that bond they had. They had known each other for as long as they could both remember, so it really wasn't that odd. Showing up at the apartment complex, she asked for Eden at the door, and the bell to the apartment was rung, seeing if he was even home. The security guard of course was staring at her a little dismayed, but she tried to ignore him. She had a tote bag over her shoulder, dressed once more in a rather sporty outfit, but this time with a large sweater on. A sweater that Romeo had had, but it had gotten too uncomfortable for him to wear, so he had simply gifted it to her. Hoping he would at least pick up his door phone she spoke, "special delivery~" She almost sang into the microphone.

There wasn't an answer, making her frown lightly, but she tried calling him a few times to no avail. Maybe the door phone was broken? Weird for a nice building like this, but not unheard of. However soon the human showed up in the lobby, and it was clear he wasn't in a good mood. Saige didn't need a lycan touch to know that. The question sounded standoffish, but she remained calm and with a smile on her lips to hopefully signal that she was here in good faith. "Well I came here because Romeo asked me to," she said. Would he truly turn her away knowing that his husband had sent her? She hoped not, but again she couldn't demand his attention nor that he would just trust her all of a sudden. "Could we talk in private? This isn't really for everyone to hear," no she knew Romeo well enough to know that he didn't want anyone knowing his business even if it was complete strangers. She could almost see him hesitate, "please, it would mean a lot to him." Hopefully making his answer sway in that direction.

Romeo had asked her to come? Somehow he should have seen that coming eventually but it wasnt exactly something that made him feel more at ease. Whatever she saw or picked up on, would just be delivered right back to Romeo? She asked to talk in private and he exhaled through his nose, thinking about it for a moment before he frowned. He was rather clearly hesitating and though she insisted, he bit the inside of his cheek before he nodded. "I have a moment." he finally said, nodding for her to follow. He took her up to the apartment, unlocking the door for them, gesturing for her to go ahead. The shirt that she wore was annoying him endlessly, but beside appearing a bit tense, did he seem fine.

Saige's features softened up as he agreed and lead the way up to the apartment. Heading in she took off her shoes to be polite, even if he didn't want her around long. Yeah, she knew when she wasn't wanted. But she had come here with something specific, and she wouldn't take no for an answer. Looking around she smiled softly, happy to see that Romeo had a nice home and sharing it with someone he really cared about. She was very happy for him, and it clearly showed, even if where he was right now wasn't the best of places. "Alright, I know you're a busy man, so I'll make it very brief," she said, digging into her tote bag taking out the small envelope. She handed it to him, but it was clear she had no idea what was written in it. "He's doing alright .. but if you could come join us for one of his sessions, then I think he would finally open up more," she explained. Of course she wasn't sure what the lycan had written, as that was a personal matter. "Romeo is still struggling deep down, but he won't let me go too deep .. and I need someone there whom he trust more than anyone," she said rather sincerely. "He's sensitive, and while he's doing really good, I know he could do a lot better .. my offer still stands that I can help you too, as he's mentioned you're struggling adjusting."

She could take off her shoes but Eden wasnt too keen on hospitality. He was still quite used to having servants do his every bidding, so it wasnt like he thought to offer her anything. He hoped that she would make it brief like she said, looking at the envelope she presented. He grabbed it and looked at it as she explained how Romeo was doing. Eden was quiet, looking at the envelope with a thoughtful look in his eyes. But as she mentioned still offering to help him too, he frowned and looked at her. "I dont need your help." he said, a little harsh in tone, but he meant it. And as for Romeo. Eden did feel that she was already overstepping, at least his boundary with how she spoke of the lycan. "If he doesnt want to open up, then I'll not tag along like some kind of ploy to force him." he said, finally lifting his eyes to look at her. "I get that you want to help Romeo. I can really feel that. But I dont like you. Dont come into my house and talk to me as if I dont know my husband!" he said rather seriously if not even cold and rather calm at the same time. But he was fuming inside, really needing to restrain himself.

He was rather standoffish still and she wasn't sure what to say about it. At least she could commend him for being consistent. Not a lot of people were these days. As he spoke and finally looked at her, she frowned slightly, because he sounded so defensive. What was up? And then it seemed like he had read her mind, speaking firmly but not quite yelling. But his words did have a certain power behind them, and yet she couldn't blame him for that anger, because she could see he was hurting too. "You do know him .. how he is now," she said, just as calm and sweet as before. She wasn't here to make enemies and after finding out who Eden was and how serious Romeo truly was about him, she couldn't really get angry at him. He was trying to protect him too. "But I grew up with him .. I know him too because we've kept in contact, but I need someone who really knows him now if he's ever going to get better," she said. She looked down, frowning a little as she knew what would come next. He would probably get more mad. But she had to be honest with him.
"I was the one who helped him through his abuse .. helped him through his breakdowns, the beginning of his eating disorder, his anxiety attacks .. I was there for all of them before he left for Churchill," she said, but would he even believe her at this point? "What's happening right now is that he's gaining weight and muscle, and that is great, but he needs to heal from the inside, and he's not doing that right now." She was worried that if it continued like this, then he would just relapse as soon as he got out. If anyone she knew how obsessive a mind could get. "I wasn't allowed to come with him to Churchill because his uncle deemed me as a vulnerability to him, so I stayed back and focused on my studies, but I know now how I should've pressed to go with him." She had a lot of regrets, and a lot of it was about how she was kept behind when he had went off. "I know you love him, and it's that kind of love that can reach him .. to him I'm just like a sister or a cousin."

He didn't even speak to her! Honestly she was starting to wonder why Romeo had fallen for the guy. He seemed so uptight and proper. Why was he like this? And then he ordered her out. She scoffed, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Just because you're hurt doesn't mean you have to be cruel .. but maybe you only care about yourself," she said in a calm tone, though less sweet this time around. She nodded, signaling a brief goodbye before she went and grabbed her shoes. She didn't even bother putting them on before she was down in the lobby. Heading outside she looked up to the apartment, shaking her head a little before she headed down the street. At least she hoped he would read the letter. Otherwise she supposed it would be best if he at least called the lycan.