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The day had been long, filled with dead-ends and frustrating interviews. Ruth could feel the tension radiating off Sean as they walked back to the car after yet another fruitless lead. She glanced sideways at him, wondering if there was anything that could break through that stony exterior of his.
"How long do you think you can keep this up?" she asked lightly, slipping her hands into her pockets as they crossed the parking lot.
Sean didn’t respond, his eyes fixed on the pavement ahead of them.
"I mean, you’re human too, right?" Ruth pressed, her voice teasing but laced with genuine concern. "Eventually, you’re going to crack."
Sean shot her a look, eyebrow raised. "I’m not cracking."
"Not yet," she agreed, stepping around to the driver’s side of the car. "But you keep bottling everything up, it’s bound to happen. Even the strongest stones crumble under enough pressure."
"I’m not like other people," Sean muttered, pulling open the passenger door and sliding inside. "I don’t need what they need."
"Everyone needs something," Ruth said, turning the ignition. The engine rumbled to life, but she didn’t drive off immediately. Instead, she turned to him, her expression softening. "Even you."
Sean stared out the window, his silence more telling than any words. Ruth let it linger for a moment, giving him space to breathe before she spoke again.
"I’m not trying to push you," she said quietly. "But I’m here. Whether you like it or not."
Sean’s fingers tapped restlessly against his thigh, and after a long pause, he finally spoke. "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you care?"
Ruth smiled, reaching out to gently squeeze his arm. "Because you’re worth it."
Sean looked down at her hand, then back at her, his usual cold exterior faltering for just a second. He didn’t respond, but the fact that he didn’t pull away spoke volumes.
As Ruth put the car into gear, she couldn’t help but feel like maybe, just maybe, she was getting somewhere with him. One crack at a time.