Atlas listened as Belle went off on him a bit. It was common for her to do this; she was the one to tell him when he was being foolish or unreasonable. Belle was never afraid to speak her mind with him, and maybe that is why he knew he could trust her with anything that was bothering him. Her honesty and straightforwardness were qualities that Atlas admired, even if it sometimes stung to hear the truth. He valued her opinion and knew that she always had his best interests at heart. Though she also knew Adeline, his sister was a sensitive topic for him. “Adeline is still so innocent, she’s like a babe who is learning to walk, she needs guidance, she needs her brother.” These words caught Atlas’s full attention, and he looked at Belle, “You underestimate her… yes, she may be too trustworthy and naive at times, but she has a strength within her that you haven’t seen. Adeline is resilient and has the potential to surprise us all.” Atlas said a bit of annoyance in his voice. It was not that he did not care for his little sister; he just couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if she were to… never mind.
As Belle finally answered his question, Atlas smirked, as he knew her response already. “Ah, so you say now, but must we remember your big crush on Lord Augustus a few years ago?" He teased, "I remember… 'I spent the day with Lord Augustus; he is such a dream."When he felt a light kick from Belle on his ankle, he laughed and said, “All I am saying is don’t be so certain of what is to come this season; you shall be surprised at how your heart reacts to unexpected connections.” He continued as he smiled at her, becoming serious for a moment. Atlas really wanted Belle to be happy. He was afraid that if he were to actually marry one day, Belle would be all alone, and he couldn’t bear the thought of that. “As for me…” Atlas cleared his throat before he continued. "Well, you know me very well, so yes, I would love to have someone who likes the same adventures as me and to do silly things, and I can tell you that yes, I’ve found… well, maybe."He sighed, "If I am being honest, I am not really sure where I stand with this lady, but I must apologize as much as I share almost my whole life with you… this is one I have to keep to myself. At least for now."Atlas spun her around in a circle, brought her back to him, and gave her a gentle forehead kiss. “But I promise you, Belle, that no matter what happens, I will always be here for you,” he whispered.
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orp: @Kristi Belle