[h2]Esme[/h2]
When Duke looked at Esme, she looked into his eyes, holding his gaze just as he did hers. She saw the tears he was battling just like herself, not hiding them from her. She had somewhat relaxed internally because, for once, he was calm and willing to listen as she talked. As Esme looked at him, she could see that her words were getting through to him, and he confirmed it when he said he knew. Having Duke acknowledge her words and admit that things were out of control felt like a breakthrough moment for her and him. Even Duke saying it was maybe his next step felt like another breakthrough. And even before he said it, Esme knew he didn't know how to control his temper. It was also something she wanted to help him learn to control. She needed him to understand that he didn't have to deal with all of this alone anymore, and he needed to let her in instead of shutting her out because he was afraid of how it would affect her. Esme watched as Duke paused and looked at the ceiling, seeming to find the next words he wanted to say to her. 

She took this moment to reply softly to him. “I think it would be the perfect next step.” Esme continued to watch him, focusing on his face intently. She could tell he wanted to bottle everything up and focus on her well-being. That was who he was. When Duke sighed and looked back at her, Esme looked into his eyes and listened to what he had to say. She did not attempt to interrupt him, but her tired features softened, and her eyes saddened as he spoke. Duke was telling her everything she had suspected, and it broke her heart to hear it out loud. But his finally opening up to her was another step towards making their relationship work and become closer than they ever were in the past. Esme had always wanted this from Duke, and now that she finally had him opening up to her, she hardly knew what to say as her mind was racing with so many things to say to him, having Duke feel like second best and a burden wasn’t something she wanted him to think or feel. Duke was far more than second best to her, and she had always been in his corner.

Esme ran a hand through her hair, signing heavily, and closed her eyes briefly. Duke's words echoed in her mind, and she thought about how she wanted to respond. Esme stood from her chair with a wince, unable to stay sitting any longer. Taking a few steps away from her chair, she turned and looked back at Duke, her expression soft, her tired eyes sad and teary. “I don't think, I know you have. In the moment, you have always been what you thought others needed or wanted you to be. You've even done it with me when you didn't have to, and I never expected it of you.” she told Duke softly. “You don't always have to be what you think others need or expect. You are allowed to show how you truly feel. And I wouldn't call it screwing up. You just…. Tend to let your heart override your head. As do I.” Esme fell silent, stepped closer to Duke, placed a gentle hand on his, and squeezed it gently. “I know…. I know you're afraid of losing me because of what happened today…. And that nastier side of you is a bit much being an empath, but it will take more than that and getting hit in the nose to push me away.”

Esme softly rubbed her thumb across the back of Duke’s hand as she looked at him. She brought her bandaged hand up to her tight and achy chest. “And I know how much you're struggling with…. Losing Mika. The whole group is struggling. No one is expecting you to move on quickly. It’s going to take all of us time to get to a point where it doesn’t hurt so much, but we’ll never really move on fully. But you don’t have to go through this pain alone. I’m here, and I want to be there for you like you always were and still are for me. Let me in. Talk to me. Please, Duke, don’t shut me out anymore because you’re afraid of how it will affect me. We’re not just a couple. We’re a team.” The tears Esme had been fighting back spilled from her eyes, down her cheeks, and off her chin as she sniffled.