Special Meaning

She really says I love you. And I really mean it. ~

The day began normal enough; at least for the two of us. I finished a photo shot and Evelyna finished up some paperwork after catching some criminals. When I picked her up at work her teammates made an odd cheering noise as she got in my car. She just laughed off what they were doing again saying they always seem to enjoy it when I came by the office. It never makes sense but she feels all right about it.

We went shopping together for a while. There is a small collection of shops she likes near her apartment. Sometimes we stop there to pick up a couple of things. It had not been a long time since we began making these trips together. We even ate dinner together. We began the last shopping pass when she said it again. “All right I’ll be right back love,” Evelyna said.

Before I knew it I had her hand in mine. “Evelyna..why do you say that?” slipped out of my mouth. ‘What am I saying?!’ began screaming in Barnaby’s mind. ‘What am I doing?’ Barnaby thought as he noticed his grip on her hand.

“What?” Evelyna asked as she turned back to Barnaby.

“You say that all the time,” I began as I was still arched over. Evelyna turned her head slightly as she tried to look in my eyes. “Love,” Barnaby muttered under his breath.

“I thought you knew I loved you guys?” Evelyna asked without hesitation even hinted in her voice.  Barnaby shot up for a moment as his face began to turn a soft tone of pink. His shoulders dropped slightly though as his eyebrows stayed up. “I’ve told you before that I love being with you and Kotetsu,” Evelyna said as she moved closer.  

“True..You did,” Barnaby agreed. ‘It was only a while back that she told me about that. Back when we were in the room of balloons. But that was not really that long ago.’ Barnaby thought as his fingers stayed on Evelyna’s. “And now you even say Love you Nii-san to Kotetsu,” I continued to recall how the two of them seem to come together rather quickly.  

“Which always make him smile and wave bye,” Evelyna chuckled into her other hand as she recalled.

Barnaby watched her for a moment. She was so relaxed and happy at the thought of how the third ‘partner’ of their little team acts. “Yeah he does.. And you began saying I love you guys when we’re all out together,” I almost muttered as the feeling inside me kept clawing at my throat.

Evelyna tried to find Barnaby’s eyes again, “Is that a bad thing?”

Barnaby’s toes tightened in his boots. ‘She’s upset! I shouldn’t have said anything. Wait.’ My mind began screaming again as I glanced back toward Evelyna. ‘No. I think she is just worried again. I should stop making her have that face,’ Barnaby thought as his eyes returned to the flooring.  “No! Not really..” was all I could mutter.

“But it makes you uncomfortable?” Evelyna asked.

My head shot up. When I made contact with her eyes there was nothing but seriousness in her. This was one of those questions she never wavered about. ‘She always seemed more concerned about my emotions that I ever did. And unlike anyone else who just drug me around wherever they wanted she always gave me a way out. She was always different that way,’ was the thought that began in my mind. For some reason though all I could do was stand there, with her hand in mine.

“All right. I’ll stop saying it,” Evelyna said breaking the silence that developed between them. “Who knows maybe it will help stop Kotetsu from trying to hock us up agai,” Evelyna continued while shrugging her shoulders. “Honestly though Barnaby I really need to pee,” Evelyna said as she pointed to her hand.

“Yeah. Go ahead,” was all I could manage. These were the only words that made it to my mouth as her hand slipped out of mine and she disappeared around the corner.  

Evelyna  took a breath before she headed out of the restroom. She made her way down the hallway to see no one waiting for her. She looked around the open area to see Barnaby was sitting on a bench. His hands were over his glasses again as his thumbs moved back and forth. Evelyna tapped him on the shoulder, “I really didn’t know that it bothered you that much.”

“No, its not that,” Barnaby began as he stood up. He picked up the bags he was holding before.  “Come here,” Barnaby said as he almost pulls them out of the main walk way. The pair ducked into a small hallway that main office written over it. Not many had ever walked down that way while the pair had ever been there. “Eve you told me that a lot of people you’ve loved never returned it. So why would you say that so often?” Barnaby asked as his anger version of confusion was coming to surface again.

Evelyna took a moment to catch her footing. Sure it wasn’t usually for the pair to run off all the sudden but this line of questioning was new. ‘Guess this is what I get for telling to ask anything that was bothering him. But at least he is talking to me this time,’ Evelyna thought as she recalled times of just watching him pout while trying to figure something out. “Because I’ve buried too many people before I would tell so many things. Regardless of it is love as a friend, thank them or how much they actually meant to me. I just want to tell them before something happens,” Evelyna said as she looked at the hand that was holding her’s. She rubbed her thumb over his as moved around to stand in front of him. “Come Barnaby with our jobs we know how much things can change in a moment. There is even odds on how many people in this shopping center right now are going to make home tonight. Did you know there was a job out there to determine those odds?” Evelyna tried to playfully question. The last thing this conversation needed to drift back to is either of their childhoods.  

“No. I didn’t,” Barnaby managed a response before going quiet. His grip through was still tight on Evelyna’s hand.

Evelyna’s eyes drifted over him. A sigh slipped through her lips. “Barnaby you weren’t raised that way were you?” Evelyna asked as she tried to take a step closer. Barnaby just shook his head. “And no one talk about this, this way with you?” Evelyna just wanted to clarify the situation. Barnaby’s eyes just drifted away. Evelyna knew it. Something was very wrong and it had been brewing for a long time. He always seemed to jump slightly when she began talking like that or when she and Kotetsu began it. Something about the development never seemed to settle right with Barnaby. That was the feeling that Evelyna was picking up on.

Evelyna could not help but think that it might be because of how they grew up.  They may have both lost their parents at the same points in their lives but that was the only thing similar in their lives. Everything after that was different. Every lesson they learned, every challenged they faced added up to make them very different people. Evelyna understood that very well.

Evelyna took Barnaby’s hands in her’s. “Hey it is ok. Everyone reacts differently to things. It can even be the exact same thing. There is nothing wrong with saying that you don’t like something. It really is fine,” Evelyna tried to encourage.

Barnaby shot off the wall as he drew a sharp breathe. His mouth opened but only a small squeaky noise made it before the rest was caught in his throat as he made eye contact with Evelyna. It just got worse as nothing could come from his mouth. His hands tried move instead his shoulder got tight. His forehead wrinkled as he felt nothing tightness curling up his body.

Evelyna’s graced his hair before rubbing his cheek. Barnaby curled into her hand. “Barnaby you are very special dear friend and I would like to keep spending time together with you,” Evelyna began as the concern of losing her friend was becoming a frightening possibility.  

“Special,” Barnaby’s eyes opened as he caught on one word.  

“Yes?” Evelyna agreed as one of her eyebrows went up. “Is there a way we can,” Evelyna began again.

“You’re special!” Barnaby exclaimed. He grabbed her hands as his eyes showed the puzzle pieces falling into place. His stance was coming back as he stood straight up and the sound of his heels almost rhythmically clicked on the floor.  

“Um.. Thank you?” Evelyna managed as she leaned back from the overly energetic declaration.  

Barnaby froze a moment as he noticed her movement. “Evelyna..Does that count as an answer?” came from Barnaby in a much lower tone as he gets slightly worried. Though, he was trying desperately to temper eagerness of putting together his puzzle.

Evelyna smiles as she watches Barnaby for a moment. She returns the grip to his hands. “Yes it does,” Evelyna confirmed before she pulls his hands down slightly just enough for him to lean down. She graced his cheek with a gentle kiss.

Barnaby took the encouragement a step further as he pulls her into him. His hands almost threw her’s onto his chest before encircling her shoulders. He tried to move as quickly as he could into the position he remembered her hugging him before. After a moment Evelyna smiles as she nuzzles into place on Barnaby. His nose dives into her hair.

A few moment passed as Barnaby stroked Evelyna’s hair. She heard him whisper something into her hair but she couldn’t make it out. He did not seem like he was going to repeat it anytime soon. Evelyna whisper, “How about I call B instead?” She heard the hum from his throat but his arms did not release their tension. “Everyone else calls you BBJ. How about I use B instead?” Evelyna clarified her suggestion as she tried to make eye contact again.

Barnaby squished her harder into him a moment. He released a sigh as his tension dropped. He almost seem to drape himself over Evelyna. “Atleast you asked first,” Barnaby said as he let some pressure loss from his grip. The pair chuckle as they curl up.

Barnaby finally released Evelyna from one arm so the other could pick up the bags at their feet. “All right. Let’s finish up here and I’ll take you home,” Barnaby said as he stroked Evelyna’s back.

“But I live really close to here,” Evelyna protested. This was the usual spot for Barnaby to drop her off.

“Yeah you really think I’m going to let you go home alone after that comment early? About how many people die on the way home?” Barnaby teased.

“It was just an example!” Evelyna almost shouted as they began walking again.