Eisen didn’t want to move. He was afraid that the second he got out of bed, he would start paying for what happened. Instead, he just buried his face against Rory’s skin and cried. Lexie’s words still played like a repeating record in his head and Eisen looked at Rory when he started talking. Rory just… knew him so well. He knew exactly what to say. He didn’t deny that it was a terrible situation, that they’d likely have to pay for it a thousand times over and Eisen had no illusions otherwise. Rory didn’t try to grant him any kind of illusion of safety and Eisen appreciated that.
At the same time, though, what he did do was reassure Eisen that he loved him. Eisen sniffled pathetically, leaning forward and pressing his lips to Rory’s desperately. “I love you, too,” he spoke sincerely. “And she was wrong. This is… this is different.” He didn’t know how to make Rory believe it, because he’d said something similar to Lexie in the beginning and he was completely aware of that, but… he’d prove it. He didn’t care how long it took.
“I want to be with you as long as you want to be with me,” he promised. “For the rest of our lives.” Which, undoubtedly, if half the town had their way, wouldn’t be too long. “I’m serious. And whatever happens, I’m not letting anyone hurt you.” As soon as the argument escaped his lips, he knew how preposterous it was, because really, Eisen couldn’t defend Rory any better than he could defend himself. But if nothing else, he was a diversion. No one would touch Rory as long as he was breathing.
“I really do love you. I’m sorry it took me so long to see it.”