Leap of Faith [Mariko x Root]

You know what was one of the things being obsessive and focused on a single thing caused? Not noticing when someone was trying to hide something, such as bruises, or something that would cause him to get angry at whoever caused such marks. However, he was focused on the single goal of giving Mariko the video camera he had worked so hard in order to create for her. It was incredibly difficult, seeing as he couldn't just easily put things together like an inventor would be able to, but in the end he found a way to get her this camera, and it was fantastic. It was almost as if he didn't even make it, save for the obvious design quirks and the couples of upgrades he'd installed to help the camera work even better. Thanks to the supplies he had found from around Monoworld, and the tools he used to build it from the hobby shop, Root had finally finished his project and nothing was distracting him from giving it to the one person he struggled to create it for: the girl he loved.

Of course, outside of Monoworld his sister could still be alive, but right now Root had to live here, and he could do nothing to help his sister. All he could do was hope that she was alright and that their father was taking care of her like he always had. For now, the only real feeling of love he could really allow himself to dwell upon was the strong feelings that had built from the very beginning, from when she first introduced herself. It was odd how such strong feelings could manifest themselves in him in a somewhat short amount of time. Then again, his mom would tell him that was how it was when she met his father, something about 'sometimes when you see a person, you just know'.

Root quickly jumped up from the seat he had sat in to wait for Mariko and smiled widely at her. "I think you'll like the occasion," was his answer. Unable to wait anymore, he picked up the hidden camera, though the suspense was short, he made sure that he moved slow enough it didn't seem like he was reaching for something to quickly kill her with (what sort of impression would that give to this girl he cared for; no, he rather make sure it was safe even though he was more than a little excited). Revealing the thing he worked so long on to try to build, Root was grinning from ear to ear. "I told you I would build you a camera. You'll find that it'll store a ton of footage, and I even was able to get a feature in there where you can invert colors. It'll record sound and everything… I'm sorry it's not better, and I can continue to work on it and make it better if you want. I… was just so excited that it… works." He held the video camera out to Mariko, though his eyes didn't leave her.

His face was starting to hurt from smiling so much. He hadn't smiled this widely and with so much happiness and excitement in his heart since, well shortly before his mom died and he was getting his experiment ready which he was positive was going to work. However, this time, instead of his happiness being rewarded with a dead mom, the girl he loved more than anything else in the world at this moment wrapped her arms around him, causing him to stumble slightly, though he kept his balance. Without a second thought, he wrapped his arms around her, savoring the moment. All his work had paid off. She was happy despite everything. And this was worth all the trouble he went through to get her this camera.

"I've been working on it ever since I told you I would build you one. After the… lack of sleep… well, a week off from a project really allows one's subconscious to work on it. It was… important after all. I couldn't just forget about it, like I do many things," Root replied with an uplifting, happy tone to his voice, a warm laugh stemmed not from something funny, but the feelings that were welling up inside him seeing her strong reaction to his gift. He knew he was a complete goner, but he was accepting that fact and allowing himself to accept the feelings he felt though he didn't understand them at all. Why was it her smile was so intoxicating? How was her mere presence enough to melt his heart (not literally of course, because then he would be dead) and make him a kinder person? Even while it was hard to just let things go unexplained, he was attempting to just let allow it right now. And that was a big step for Alexander Root.

"I finished it yesterday. After I figure out how to create the photocell and store a video using the supplies I had, it was simple. The lenses were - " He stopped, having a feeling she probably didn't want all of the details on just how he finished the camera. "Anyways, it was important to you, and so it was important to me… because you're important to me, Mariko."

"I love you."

It was one of the only things he was sure about when it came to his current feelings. He loved her, with all his heart. He was so distracted in this moment that it was a miracle that he could even see anything besides her pristine face. His mind hadn't computed the blemishes on her face, at least not yet, being caught up in the moment. Everything she was saying… it was giving him confidence to say those three words. His emotions hid what he should be plainly seeing on her face. For the instant his mind cooled down from the heightened concoction of emotion all running through his mind at once. Love. Happiness. Excitement. Hope. Fear. Nervousness. Nausea built up as though he was going to throw up from the drugs his brain was releasing, adrenaline, endorphins, dopamine, and various other drugs. Yet, he didn't care.

"I… You don't have to say it back," Root said quickly, "I don't want you to think you have to say that to me. But I had to get it off my chest. Don't say it… unless you really feel it. Not because of the camera, or because of the moment or because you want me to feel better. But… that's how I feel. You make me want to be a better person, to be nice to other people. You… bring out the best in me. You can make me smile no matter what is happening. You're… the light in my life that casts out darkness." Okay, that last one was a line from one of his mom's books. How he remembered it was because it was his favorite memory of his mother was of her reading that book to him and his sister. A little bit Oedipin, but whatever. It wasn't like she would know that. "I love you, Mariko. I love you so much. I can't bear to think of a life without you. And… and I'm sorry if this makes you feel awkward… If you want to just be friends… that's… that's fine." then I'll live with it, even if it would pain me to do so.

The whole time she spoke, he could feel his heart pounding in his chest so loudly that it felt like she could hear it, even if logically he knew a heart couldn't pound loud enough for someone at her height and distance could really heart he fluttering beat of the organ that gave life. It was curious how her presence could not only affect his mind and his emotions but also how his body reacted. He knew it was the chemicals his brain produced, flowing through his blood stream to every part of his body, making him physically feel this way. Much like when a lover would die, someone could literally die from heart break, because the brain would give up. But this was the opposite.

But then she said it. Root looked at her with a look of… well he wasn't sure how to describe it. He looks happy, surprised, in love, completely and totally taken by her words and her eyes. His mind tried to connect the 'Taro's out there pistol whipping people' to everything else. The world they were in now was a dark place. But somehow, in it all, they had found love together, happiness. He couldn't let anyone snuff out her flame, else he would lose all the warmth he had gained.

"Mariko…" Root muttered as he looked at her for a moment. He reached out to her, placing his hand on her cheek, and lowered himself down to her, to press his lips against hers, a gentle caress. The connection lasted for several moments, as he savored her taste, the feeling that jolted into his mind. The extra drugs made his brain fire on all frequencies, all focused on his lips against hers, the confession she had just made seizing him. Finally, when he pulled away, he took a few deep breaths to regularize his breathing.

"Screw the bear. Screw Taro," Root said still slightly breathless, "I'll… I'll protect you. No matter what happens, I'll be there. I'll protect you from this world, from this game. I'll save you from this world we're forced to live in right now. I-I can't say I'll do anything. I-I can't kill, I'm too afraid of getting caught. I-I don't want to die. But if you want me to. If you tell me to, I will. I'll do it for you, to get us both out of here. There might not any other chance."

She wasn't - she didn't - she'd let him… It was hard to believe, really and truly that anyone could love him. Yet, when he kissed her, she didn't retreat, but she - his thoughts weren't connecting, he couldn't think a full thought before it changed, fragmenting his entire thought process. While to others his notes might seem fragmented, but at least in his head he could make sense of it all, though there were times he stumbled too fast forward in his thoughts.

"I had a feeling… that… that you wouldn't want me to… attempt it," Root said looking down at her, feeling her hand in his, the warmth, the comfort such a simple touch brought to him. He smiled once more. "Don't worry, I'll find a way for us both to make it out of here. I won't… let this game win against us." However, slowly his mind began to focus in on everything that was around him. They were in the theater. In Monoworld. Right. That was the world they were stuck in now. And he had to try to beat it, for her, and a man motivated by love was the most motivated of all. He wouldn't give up hope. He would save her no matter the cost. He would save her from this game. He would do whatever it took to keep her happy.

And that's when his eyes focused in on the blemishes on her face, on her throat. A look of worry passed over his face before anger mixed with the worry and he ran a hand over one of her bruises. "Who did this to you?" It was Taro. He wanted to see her. This is what he did to her. That had to be it. But he thought she wouldn't have met with him. What was she thinking? What was he thinking for not being there for her? He'd failed her again, over and over. How could she love a man who kept failing her? He failed to protect her and he was failing again to even notice it. How could he have missed that? He cursed himself, he beat himself up on the inside, he told himself he couldn't let it happen again. He needed to be there. He needed to live up to his promises, otherwise, he would fail her again, and this time she might not live through it. And he could never forgive himself if he allowed her to die. "It was Taro, wasn't it? Something needs to be done about that… traitor. Don't go near him, alright? I'll… I'll find a way to take care of him. So he won't do this to you again."