To Tony's much surprise as his right hand was still touching the warm surface of her cheek, he sees her eyes containing an unrevealed motion of downcast. The touch of pain in those eyes pains him more than he realized before.
She uses her hand to hold his hand while her misty eyes staring soulfully at those deep depths in him. He never thought that such a poem would actually make her become so emotional all at once.
As her nose sucks in the cold air, sniffs with sadness as her voice becomes slightly muffled. It troubles him that despite his high intelligence he could still sometimes not process exactly what is going on in other people's minds. Especially when those minds are occupied with troubling emotions making it incoherent.
"So, are you saying something, hinting something to me?" She asked, those large eyes seems like at any moment at any one of his words they are going to break into long tears. Her eyes seem sad for some reason.
Her eyebrows tinged with depression maybe at the thought of Tony leaving her side once and forever like everyone else that she was close or had known before.
"Don't cry now. If you cry, I will feel really bad inside," he comments trying to wipe clear any specks of moist that gathers on her eyelashes.
"I don't want you to go. Without you I'll lose that strength that hope for any tomorrow," she suddenly closes her close to him, embracing tightly that human body in front of her. Not wanting to let got afraid that he might disappear from that hurtful ominous poem he spoke to her.
He takes in a deep breath with a sad smile watching this girl who for some reason is toxically tied together to him. Needing him for all her hope and happiness.
"You know that if I can, I would never think for a moment of leaving you," he wraps her tight that fragile body, so soft and could only handle so much pain from the world. "If any man ever has a choice, he will only choose to stay close to the girl he loves. Never leave her brokenhearted. All alone. Alone in that cold darkness of the world."
"Then why…w-why does it feel like you're contemplating leaving me when you read that poem?" Her eyes looking hopefully up at him while she leans tightly her face on his chest.
Tony could no longer bear to witness that questioning pair of aims that seeks to examine any and all secrets from him. To take knowledge of the secret pain that he's been hiding to himself this whole time.
"I would not want to hurt you dear. But all happy festivities have to have an end," he moved his away his eyes to stare at the distant darkness.
He could already see that his second mission of changing Zetian's destiny has already arrived at 59%. He knows that whenever a mission is completed, he would be dragged forcefully out of this world. It is not a choice, but a definite happening.
Then saying at her not hiding that pain he feels anymore in his voice, "I just want you to promise me you would never do anything reckless. Even if I leave one day before you do, promise me you will always love yourself, never hurt yourself."
She sniffs with a touch of burdening sadness that is placed heavily as thought burning her painfully in her throat. She takes hold of both of his hands smiling in a way that has a mixture of sweetness and tortured burdening.
"I promise. I don't know why you suddenly speak these words today. But I promise okay," she hugs him warmly resting there, finding the strength she needs to believe to hope.
After Tony has increased spiritual powers, he could definitely live beyond 200 or even 300 years. But as much as this is a possibility, he knows he couldn't do this with definite certainty for Zetian. Nor could he stay longer as much as he wishes even if he delays the mission completion.
Every day it just eats him up, knowing that he's does these missions that are setup in this way that forces him to make these harsh decisions.
"Come on, let's go now. Or else you might catch a cold," Tony smiles towards her putting his arm affectionally around her. Taking her through the path in the forest together.
On the way as they walked together with their arms linked together many things passed through Zetian's mind. Wondering through many weird situations.
Thoughts like:
'Maybe he actually a soldier who works under my dad (not even close).'
'Or he owns people money, so he got to flee. Maybe he's a wanted criminal (how did it even got to this?).'
'Maybe he's a spy that secretly works for the emperor (this one is actually pretty close).'
Tony would notice that she's secretly sneaking frequently glances in his direction. With her cheeks in slight fluster while she's holding tight to his arm.
"What are you thinking about," their eyes met when she took a peek at him again. Which made her blush really hard.
She smiles cutely with her eyes also seem to smile at the same time as her smile spreads across her face, "No it is a secret. Plus, it is really embarrassing I won't tell you."
Walking to the large old wooden door, he opened it for her to enter into, "Just one is enough."
Her eyes turn into a slow glare on his face, "Fine just one. I think you might be a secret spy that is working for the emperor."
For a moment this thought of hers totally caught Tony off guard. He turns with a slight giggle at this strange image she has of him.
She plays a feint light punch to his arm, "Hey! You're not allowed to laugh." Pouting her cheeks while feeling slight embarrassment from seeing Tony laughing at her conspiracy theories.