Everything You Touch Surely Dies

Checking what he figured would be ideal training places hadn't worked out well, though, had shown signs of wear. He'd even checked the woods they had met in the first time outside of Camp Jupiter, but she wasn't there either. Eventually, as fate would have it, he spotted the daughter of Jupiter. At least, he spotted her from behind, but still he was certain, he'd identified her from behind many times. The wavy blonde hair was flowing slightly in the rainy winds. He was used to seeing it tied up, but he cherished the moments when she let it down. Sometimes he wondered if she let it down because she knew he liked it.

Those days were done.

The water fell off of Dimitri as though it was falling on a duck's back. "Dominika." He said, to gather her attention from the water. Normally he would have hugged her, even ran to her, but that wasn't how these things worked. He needed her to be strong, and for that, he needed to be strong too. "I came lookin' for you. I need'ta talk to you."

The tone in her voice struck Dimitri, and even though she didn't bother to look at him, he made sure his expression was as firm as always. "Look, I know you probably don't trust me anymore, but I had my reasons." Dimitri firmly said. After everything that had happened, them being together wasn't going to work. But he still wanted to fix everything. He still wanted a future, and Dominika's safety was part of that future. "One day you'll see it. I know you will." Dimitri walked around her, to be in front of her. He wanted them to at least look at each-other while they talked. It offended him that she wouldn't even grant him that, but he understood why.

Her features were the same as he remembered them. His expression didn't move, whether or not his feelings conflicted with it. "She attacked me. I dunno know if she told you that. Heath did too." Dimitri explained to her. To have bother of her closest friend practically hunting him wasn't a fun hurdle to jump. There were so many important things hanging in the balance. "I ain't out to hurt you, I need you to know that." Dimitri told her. "Fact is, I had a tough time decidin' if I should see you. Stayin' away, avoidin' this? That's somethin' that I woulda been doin' for me, not you." Dimitri explained. "How can I help make this right between us? I want you to be happy without me. But that doesn't mean I don't recognize what you can do, Dominika. Who you are. I know you'll move on. But that don't mean I never wanna see you again."

Dimitri watched her struggle. In a sense, it was one of the hardest things he'd ever done. Fighting a monster, you only had to suffer on your own. You could keep fighting, running, or struggling until you either won or died. Watching Dominika hurt wasn't a situation where anyone could come out with victory. It hurt to see her like this, but it wasn't going to make him go, he was going to do anything in his power for her. He put an arm on her shoulder, and decided no one was watching. He willed the water that had saturated on her clothes and hair to fall off of her and onto the sand they were standing on.

"It isn't Lear's fault." Dimitri said to her. "I saw the way you looked at me that day. The way you changed your answer. Nearly begged me not to be mad. That's not on you. That's not on Lear. That's on me." Dimitri admitted, his voice remained firm. "Lotta nights I lay up, thinkin' 'bout what Nestor did, and how I wanted to kill him instead of bringin' him back home. But, fact is, I don't have to kill him. He's just gonna die on his own. That's who he is. Stupid, unskilled, and it only costed him an eye so far. It'll cost him more later. All I gotta do is wait." Dimitri said, as though it was a civil subject. "What happened between us, that ain't on you. You saw what I did to that cyclops. That ain't even the worst of it. That's me, Dominika. That's who I am." He needed her to know that. He wasn't the boy she cared for, he was long gone.

Dimitri took a step back, his expression was distressed, but he knew what he had to do. His long sleeves had been rolled up much less than usual, ever since his parents were killed. He undid the buttons, and removed the shirt he was wearing, before dropping it on the ground. There were burn marks on her upper torso, an insane amount of teeth scars on his left forearm and upper arm. Various cuts and scars existed along his body, and then some fresh bruises, most were a gift from Heath before he died. Dimitri then kneeled down and rolled up his pant-leg, revealing the scars from the teeth from the bear traps. He stood up again, he didn't feel any shame from it. "This is who I am, Dominika. I've killed people."

He didn't back away from Dominika, he allowed her to touch him. The marks were, at the very least, likely an unattractive addition to the demigod, but he didn't desire to pursue what most people did. What he had with Dominika he would never replicate, so he no longer desired to find that love anymore. They were so close now, he could feel her presence even if he closed his eyes. One of his hands gently gripped under her shoulder and above her side. He made eye contact with her, and in the moment, he was silent. For a moment, it felt like things were back to the way they were. It felt like his parents were alive. It felt like his body wasn't mutilated. It felt like he was home, and everyone he loved was there with him. It felt like the stress covering him was released. The tinge of happiness died the second he spoke, but in that moment, he felt something. Something the demigod didn't recognize.

He leaned his head closer to hers, looking her in the eye, she had to know how serious he was. "You're wrong Dominika. You are as strong as me. I know how it's been lookin' for you, for a while now, but you are strong. You just have to keep goin' forward. I know it hurts. I know maybe in your eyes it looks like I'm not hurt. I am hurt, a lot. I think about everythin', all the time now. It burns, worse than any of these marks, but it's important, y'know. Walkin' away from that hill hurt, worse than I think any hell will when this ends." Dimitri said, referencing his life. It would end one day, no matter what. "But, I couldn't go 'round tellin' people that. Y'know that, right? I couldn't. Not with everythin' everyone is goin' through. Not while Leandra is comin' over and laughin' at the whole situation and assaultin' me. Not while I know I've hurt you. I don't get to be hurt durin' this. It wouldn't be fair."

"I didn't lose everythin'. The most important thing, she was still right there. I couldn't risk anythin'. No, that night on the hill, carryin' you wasn't a burden at all. I coulda done it forever, as long as it meant you'da lived. When everythin' else started burnin', I couldn't risk losin' you in that fire." Dimitri said, he hadn't gathered intentions of revealing these things to her, but in the moment, her words stuck to him like he was glue. He gently gave her a squeeze with the hand that was connected to her. The fact that he made her feel this way tormented him. He knew they were too close, that this wasn't what friends did. Their faces were mere inches away, but Dimitri's own mind prevented him from kissing her. The desire burned within him, to feel her lips one last time. It wasn't his right. It wasn't safe.

"Bein' here now, it gives me this feelin'..." Dimitri paused. His expression hadn't changed for so long now, day after day, but suddenly, it did. He realized this girl would do anything to make him feel safe. To make him feel like he wasn't wrong. His expression changed from serious to outright miserable. Tears immediately didn't just threaten to spill from his eyes, but they actually began to spill out. "Why aren't you mad at me? After everythin' I did to you? After all the nightmares I put you through? After all the times I've made you scared of me? You're supposed to hate me. Don't you see what I am? The only thing keepin' me goin' is blood, how could you possibly stay so close to me? You were right to be scared before. Those things out there? I'm just one've them." Dimitri voice had cracked. His free hand came up to wipe the tears away. He couldn't believe he'd broken so easily in front of Dominika.

Her taking his hand only made his feelings worse. How many times had their hands been together before this? It didn't even feel like one of his hands were being used. It felt like he had found something he lost an eternity ago and was finally holding it again. His tears became more rapid as he felt her embrace. The demigod was utterly breaking down in front of the girl. He didn't even care if anyone was looking, which thankfully they weren't. Her words only made it worse. Hearing that she trusted him and knew he wouldn't hurt her, that somehow, she still loved him so much after everything that had happened. His crying now became sobbing, and then, her lips pressed against his.

Dimitri felt so many things. Passion, love, desire, sadness, misery. He emotions conflicted, but there was no way he would force himself to pull back, not now. He met her kiss, still sobbing uncontrollably, and pressed his lips back against hers. He continued to kiss her for the moment, but eventually the intensity of his emotions left him unable to stand. His typical focus of willing water gave out, and he fell to the sand too. Wet sand now covered a large portion of him, and the rain began to cover him and Dominika once more, the rain had even got more harsh in the cloudy sky.

Dimitri couldn't control his sobs. He had so many unresolved feelings. He yearned for the daughter of Jupiter, and here she was. "After everything, you still came back to me." Dimitri choked out between heavy sobs, half of his face was now covered in wet sand while he sobbed and sniffled. His words came out spaced and forced, hard to get out of his throat while he cried. "Don't leave me alone. I can't do it another night. I can't take wakin' up from nightmares with no one who gets it around. I don't want to be alone anymore."

The crying continued. When she fell with him, it made it even worse. There was no way anything bad happened, it seemed gentle, but even still, it made Dimitri cry further. She was now in the wet sand, because of him. When she closed the gap, he leaned his head into her shoulder and continued to sob, though it was muffled. "I- I'm sorry I p-pulled you down." Dimitri spoke, though he voice was slightly muffled from being pressed against her. He continued to cry, he couldn't stop himself now, he was hysterical. His arms wrapped around her, and he clung to her for dear life now. Facing her now was scarier than any monster he'd ever fought.

"We... we gotta go." Dimitri whispered to her. He was still crying, but he was beginning to become aware that some people were watching. The beach was relatively empty, but he figured it was because it was a rainy day. And within the last few minutes, it had gotten worse. It was practically pouring on them now, though, the same could be said about Dimitri's eyes. He tried to stand, but couldn't even begin to get a grip on himself. Dominika helped him stand. In the moment, he looked at her. He realized he wasn't the one who had to take charge all the time. She wouldn't leave him. She wouldn't lead him astray. She knew what she was doing, and she trusted him.

"Where are we goin'?" He asked her, he was still trying desperately to get a grip on himself. "I'm sorry. You have sand and water on you. I'm sorry."

Dominika practically had to carry him there, at least, hold him up the whole way. He felt guilty that he was making her look so foolish. He'd leaned up against a wall when she went to get the key, and even then, he missed her for those few moments. Getting up the stairs was even more rough, she continued to carry him. And even then, the concerned look on her face only made Dimitri feel worse still. He couldn't tell if he was feeling awful or relief. He wasn't emotionally stable at the moment. When they got into their room, Dominika put up the "do not disturb" sign up and suggested he go clean himself. He nodded, he'd finally at least gathered some control over his own tears. He still felt like crying, but he'd managed to shut the water pressure off, so to speak.

He nodded to her, and told himself that she was just outside in the other room. He walked into the bathroom, without closing the door. He needed her voice right now, and in case he needed her or she needed him, he didn't want their to be barriers between them, even if it was just a door. He caught a look at himself in the mirror, he didn't look nearly as strong as usual. He looked almost defeated. He wiped his eyes further, the tears left bags underneath his eyes. He still hadn't put his shirt on, he could have easily willed the water out of his clothes, but the sand was another story. He got himself out of his boots and jeans, and for once, just let them lay on the floor in the bathroom. He quickly let some water from the nozzle out in the shower, washing his torso clean of sand. The water, for the most part, retreated in the drain from his will. The barefoot demigod never realized, he'd never been in underwear around other people.

He walked back out to Dominika, he'd heard her curse a moment earlier. He still felt timid, compared to usual, and even upset in a way. "What's wrong?" He asked, somewhat silently, though he quickly saw the answer himself. Dimitri approached her. There were no sounds outside, no traffic, no yelling, only the soothing pitter patter of rain hitting the roof and window. It was like nothing existed besides them. Dimitri slowly picked up her jeans, and worked her leg out of them, placing it on the table next to the bed. "I'm sorry." He finally managed to say. He squatted down to the end of the bed, and gave the end of her leg a kiss. He rubbed his eyes before sitting next to her. He looked to her, touching her hair, it was still wet. He willed the water off of it, and tossed the newly formed ball of water into the bathroom. She deserved the world, yet all she had done was give.

Dimitri looked at her, her hair was still somewhat damp, and cool to the touch. "No, I did." He replied. "Your hair deserves queen treatment." Dimitri replied. His voice was somewhat small while he spoke, but he felt comfortable. The kiss on his hand made him smile. "I missed you too. I don't wanna be apart from you again." Dimitri said. He was showing a part of him he didn't trust anybody with, except what turned out to be Dominika. He did have fears and feelings, apparently more fears than he realized. "I just wish this would last forever." Dimitri confessed. His arm went around her back, and over her shoulder, and he scooted closer to her. Like her hair, he skin was cold to the touch, be he still yearned to embrace her. Nothing felt more safe.

"It feels like I'm gonna wake up at camp again, and all of this woulda just been a dream." Dimitri shared another fear with her. He looked directly at her, her eyes reminded him of every happy moment they shared. He couldn't resist, he leaned forward and slowly kissed her. Every moment their lips touched, everything evil in the world faded. He couldn't break the eye contact with her, his eyes didn't want to look at anything else. Tears almost began to form, but he held them back. "I'm so sorry, Dominika. I love you so much, I can't believe I was so stupid."

Dominika's assurance only made him feel better. Everything outside was bleak, but here, they were safe. There was no Lear, no Leandra, no monsters. In a way, he was even glad there was no one else he knew. He thought about what she had said to him. Their forever. They could spend every night and every morning like this? Dimitri felt the strange sensation of hope enter him. It was his deepest dreams coming true, having Dominika spend every night with him. He still couldn't break eye contact with her, he just didn't have it in him. Even if there was a shooting star and the curtains weren't down, he wouldn't waste a moment looking away.

He leaned in and kissed her, again. He didn't pull back quickly either. He kissed her until oxygen was needed, and once he refilled, he kissed her again. He kissed her yet again afterwards, and then again. "Havin' you back means everythin'." Dimitri whispered, after gathering his oxygen. "I want this to be our forever." Dimitri said, leaning in towards her further. "I really do. I've never wanted anythin' as much I wanted you. Just sitting so close to you... I don't deserve this. You're gorgeous. You understand everythin'. You forgive everythin'. I know you said you could live alone. That you would make it without me if you had no choice. The truth is, if anythin' happens to you, I'm never gonna be okay again." Dimitri gently whispered. He removed what little gap still existed between the, their bodies now pressed together.

The pair had fallen asleep early, very early for that matter. The sun hadn't even began to rise, it was likely around 2:00 in the morning. The cool air still flowed around them, and the soothing constant patter of rain against the roof still existed. They'd definitely gotten enough sleep, likely more than enough, based on how early in the day they had fallen asleep. Even still, Dimitri felt a desire to go back to sleep. Everything was perfect, while the pair slept. There was a quiet, small, snore that existed while she slept. It was the cutest thing, it only served to widen Dimitri's grin.

There wasn't a single millimeter of space between them under the blankets. Her skin was cool to the touch, yet her body felt so warm. One of his arms remained wrapped around her, but the other one bent slightly to gently run a hand through her hair. A grin plastered itself on the demigod's face while he stared at her. It was so dark he could hardly make anything out, but he knew she was there. "Hey." Dimitri whispered. He gently gave her a peck on the cheek, he wasn't sure how they had made him so happy with everything. Nothing was wrong, everything was perfect. A word he had used to describe her many times now.

"I know you still might be tryin'ta sleep, I guess yesterday took a lot outta you, huh?" Dimitri made a gentle playful tease. "I was havin' a nice dream. It was you and I, underneath some ocean. Don't remember why we were there, I just remember I hadn't heard your voice in some time. Say somethin' for me, my love. Please." Dimitri asked of her, though his grin was still plastered on. It was a relative tease, but he did want to hear her voice again. It was so distinctive, but still smooth. It made him happy.

Hearing her speak was nice, though when her gentle breaths became less audible, he was aware she had awoken. He could still see her in the dark, the outline of her features, it was still wonderful. He felt comfortable in every sense where he was, even with the extremely close contact with Dominika. After everything, he didn't think there was anything that existed that he would be uncomfortable talking to her about or sharing with her. He released a joyful sigh at her.

"Yeah, that was the end of your work." Dimitri teased back again, each time she spoke his grin grew wider. He was almost glad it was so dark, she would have thought he was a fool if she had seen just how silly his face looked now. Feeling her lips pad against his arm awoken a strange emotion in him. It made him feel like he wasn't a monster. "I love you." He repeated to her again, he felt like he could never tell her it enough now. After everything she had done for him, he just wanted to say it over and over again. Declaring it with simple words would never be enough. But he didn't have a ring, not today.

"Y'know, there's an ocean right outside." Dimitri suggested, his grin still plastered. He wasn't sure it would ever leave his face again. "In the mornin', we'll go, if y'want." Dimitri whispered to her. "I don't really wanna see the mornin' though." Dimitri admitted. "This, what we have here, is good." Dimitri vowed to her. His free hand roamed from her hair to the small of her back and all the way to her leg, where it ended. He rubbed it gently. "I don't know how this happened. You coulda chosen anyone. Yet I got to be the luckiest person alive."