His eyes were locked on hers, and hers were locked on his. She looked away before he did; his gaze settled on her lips. Once she noticed, she blushed, it was ever so slight, he didn’t see, but they were mutually in like, even when neither would believe. He stared at his ceiling every day, rethinking about how pretty she looked, how nice she was; how he admired her. Once he met her, he was _hooked_. It was love at first sight when she saw him, even if she didn’t tell anyone, not a soul. First it was looks, but then, it was more. She liked how he loved with his heart whole. He admired her skill and her growth, because once she was weak; now she was one of the strongest. He loved how she was unique. She admired his devotion and care, no matter to who, he was always there. He did what he was told and did it right, he knew when exactly was the time to fight. He noticed her eyes start to focus in, she stopped looking his way, she stopped. She didn’t try to talk to him as much, instead her gaze was always locked. Her friends said, “Hard to get works.” She scoffed but tried it anyway. It turned out, it didn’t work at all, but her focus was on, and it stayed. He wanted to drift away, _she didn’t care._ His friends told him to get over her presence, but one day he noticed that she was in pain. He wanted to help, but his friends forced him away. Her breath was knocked out of her, she was gasping so hard, she couldn’t breathe. She looked at him for help, he was nowhere. Instead, his friends stood and seethed. _She was making a scene._ __ He wanted to help, so eventually he did.__ It never did take long for him to cave, even when his friends told him not to. By her side, he was quick to save. He knew then that he loved her, because even alone, she was brave. When he helped her, the sky looked clearer. Her eyes met his, and his eyes met her eyes. Time seemed to slow, and she was okay, for a moment, they stilled, clear of lies, clear of words, and roaming the skies. For a moment, it was _each other,_ they could truly, sincerely see. And that moment was the reason love was something he could believe. And that moment was the reason that she could finally breathe. That moment was each other, as the two stared at one another. It seemed too little to say “thank you.” Because it was not only them two, but it was their lives growing better. That moment was the reason love was something he could believe. That moment was the reason that she could finally breathe.