More Difficult Than War

*Friday Night*

*Waylon and Willow*


"This is stupid." Waylon grumbled under his breath as he waited outside of the torture museum. It did look interesting, he had to admit. The large yellow and green sign, the dark veil that made it hard to see what was inside. Still, Waylon would have rather come by himself than on something as frivolous as a date. He folded his massive arms to his chest and grumbled again, "Why did I agree to this?”

“And that’s just the thing all women want to hear from a guy who asked them on a date,” His face paled as he saw Willow glaring at him. She looked gorgeous. Her curly hair was freshly washed and smelled of a fragrance he couldn’t place, but that made him want to run his hands through it. Her freckles popped against her minimal makeup, and though she was pissed, Waylon even liked the way she scowled at him as he looked her over.

"Willow I didn’t mean-”

She rolled her eyes, "Look, let’s just cut our losses and leave. I’m definitely not about to beg someone to hang out with me.”

Turning away her eyes hardened. She wasn’t going to let her embarrassment get the best of her. If Waylon didn’t want to hang out with her then so be it. He grabbed her arm, and she shrugged him off. "Please Willow. I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean it.” He rubbed the back of his neck. "I don’t date. This is a pretty new experience for me.”

She huffed and faced him, "Then why did you ask?”

"You were upset when I questioned us going out in the first place, and I didn’t want to upset you further. I-I don’t like it when you’re upset with me. I enjoy seeing your smile too much.” His face reddened at the last of his statement and he cleared his throat.

Willow shook her head in amusement. "How about we don’t put so much pressure on it? Let’s just have fun…you do know what FUN is don’t you?”

He scoffed, "Of course, I know what fun is! I have fun! I just make sure it’s relevant to my goals at hand.”

"And if it’s not?”

"Then I don’t classify it as fun.” Willow laughed, making him cut his eyes. "Well, what do you classify as fun?”

"Getting under your skin.”

"Oh har-har” Wrapping her small arm inside of his, she tugged him towards the museum.

"Come on…let your hair down a bit and let’s have a good time.”

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Willow tilted her head and looked at the woman's body being split in two on the wooden beam. Her legs weighed down by stones tied to her feet, made Willow shake her head. "What a way to go.”

Waylon watched her throw more popcorn in her mouth, "And none of this bothers you at all?”

"Should it?”

She confused him. His body towering over her, yet she carried herself as if they were the same size. "I can’t decide if the fact that all of this intrigues you, leaves me intrigued or terrified.”

Willow retched her head back in laughter, making him laugh too, "Let me ask you something. Of all the women you’ve *dated*, none of them were interested in anything like this?”

Waylon shrugged, "We didn’t really do much talking.”

"Kinky and primitive.” His face flush made her laugh again, "I’m just teasing. You don’t enjoy intimacy though?”

He scrunched his face, "Intimacy and war really don’t coexist.”

She shook her head, "I disagree.” Pointing as one of the figures illustrating torture she mused. "Those two have to have gotten pretty chummy wouldn’t you say? Dismembering a person with only something as sharp as a butterknife while they’re alive has to take patience, communication, and intimacy…all the makings of a great relationship.”

Her green eyes gleamed and Waylon found himself laughing again. He was having a great time. And the more he looked at Willow as she leaned against him, the more he realized that spending time with her was anything but frivolous.

"I’m glad you came with me today Willow. I’m having a great time with you.”

She blushed. "I’m having a great time with you too Waylon. I even made you laugh!” She added in a whisper, "Be careful Way…I might mistake that to mean you think I’m fun AND funny.”

"What did you just call me?”

Willow shrugged her shoulders, "Way…short for Waylon…you know like a nickname...another marker of intimacy in relationships of any kind.”

Seeing his eyes widened, she smirked, "Relax. That includes friendships and we’re friends, right?”

"FRIENDS?!” His loud voice boomed, causing her to jump.

"Jesus…I didn’t know the prospect of being friends with me was SO bad you had to assault everyone’s ears!” Willow sighed, "I don’t get you.”

"I didn’t mean it-”

"Like that. I know.” She looked down to her feet, "Let’s go to the gift shop and I’ll get out of your hair.”

Waylon growled in frustration, "WHY IS THIS SO DIFFICULT?!”

Willow looked at him, "WELL EXCUSE ME FOR BEING TOO DIFFICULT FOR YOU!”

"FUCKING HELL!”

His voice boomed again before he grabbed her in his arms. Tilting her head upwards, Waylon blew steam from his nose. He looked at various emotions in her eyes and then collided their lips. Feeling her immediately melt into him, Waylon pulled Willow off her feet, deepening their kiss. When he finally let her go, her face was as red as his.

He sighed, "I like you Willow that alone proves to be difficult as outside of the family, I have grown accustomed to my solitude. Meaning, I’m probably going to say things wrong as I have no frame of reference in how to readily say them correctly.” Her lips parted. "BUT I DO LIKE YOU!” He scratched his head. "That’s as far as I managed to get in my revelation…the kiss was unexpected…BUT I LIKED THAT TOO!” Willow stifled a laugh. "Don’t laugh at me. Expressing things to you is proving extremely difficult.”

Caressing his bearded cheek, she saw a small hint of a smile, "I appreciate that you’re trying, even if you get it wrong a time or two.”

He looked around. "Is it weird that we’re kissing in the middle of depictions of people being slaughtered?”

Willow laughed. "Do you care if it is because I don’t.” Leaning into her, Waylon shook his head no before they kissed again.

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"Waylon if you’re this freaked out about liking her, what the hell are you going to do when you fall in love?” Waylon’s eyes widened to the size of the plates in Eva’s hands.

"LOVE?! NO ONE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT LOVE!”

She chuckled, "Your grandfather did…literally says you are supposed to marry Willow.”

"I thought he meant that in a more fluid approach…like *hey we’re married but you live there, and I live here and we NEVER talk about feelings or go on any more dates.*”

"So, then you had a horrible time, and you don’t like her?”

Waylon grumbled and shoved his fork away, "I had-fun-and I do like her.”

"Ahh…so maybe you two can get married but it’s like an open-door policy. She sees guys who-”

Waylon blew steam from his nose. "No”

"So, then you’ll be seeing other-”

"No.”

Eva shrugged her shoulders, "Thennnn I’m confused. You like her and have fun with her, you’re not opposed to marrying her, but you don’t want to have to express to her how you feel…while expecting her to grasp the concept vividly enough to not go seeking that reassurance from someone else?”

He banged his head on the table, "It sounds absolutely idiotic when you say it back to me.”

Eva patted his hand. "Why are you all in such a rush to figure this out? I understand we’re on deadline, but that’s not the way feelings work Waylon. You like her, and she likes you. Just work at that for a while and let the other pieces fall where they may.”

Waylon nodded. Pausing, he looked at his mother, "Thank you.”

Wrapping her arms around her son, she hugged him deeply feeling him relax and exhale, "One day at a time Waylon…” Releasing him, she chuckled, "Besides…you haven’t even invited her to family dinner." Seeing the second wave of panic on his face made Eva burst at the seams again with laughter.