The deep brown hues of her eyes glittered with the threat of tears that needed to spill. Her cheeks were pink with frustration at the inability to release them and she was at her wits end. Rubbing her aching palms she tried to get the phantom pain to release itself, but she knew better, it wasn't anything physical, but mental - emotional really. Pain rose in her chest, mixed with that horrible chest squeezing need to release her tears, fears, anger, frustration, happiness, every single emotion that swirled inside of her. It had been an achingly long few months. Days had passed by with such ups and downs that her mental and emotional state was at its most fragile state. Glass couldn't compare to the fragility, it was more like spun sugar.
Hours passed as she sat in bed, hugging her knees to her chest, the crying just at the brink within her grasp but no matter what she said to herself, thought about, or did, she couldn't cry. The dam was refusing to break and it just taunted her by letting just two tears fall. She screamed with frustration, over and over into the pillow until she felt exhausted. It wasn't what she needed, but it was a release to tide her over. Lying down, she drifted off to sleep, arms clasped around the pillow tightly.
Hours passed that she slept, not hearing her Master's car pull into the driveway, or the clicking of the keys in the door, and she did not hear him calling out to her. Worried footsteps clattered down the hallway, door after door being open and shut as he sought her out until he finally found her, in their bed, curled up in such a small ball, tightly hugging that pillow and unconscious. With a creasing frown to his forehead he approached her, reaching a hand out to rub along her back. It was damp with sweat, maybe from nightmares or being too hot but he just simple wrapped his arms under her, lifting her up and shifted till she was asleep in his arms. Pressing adoring kisses to her temple, he inhaled the sweet scent of green apples in her hair from that shampoo she rarely used. It was a switch from strawberries and he was pleasantly surprised, but he knew what that meant. She never switched shampoo's. Never changed the fresh and sweet strawberry scent from her body unless she was collapsing.
Anguish filled his belly at the thought his little girl, his pet, his girl was hurting and so deeply. It had taken her so much courage to try to explain to him so many nights ago about her need for what some called "maintenance scenes." A scene that would push her past her limits, and help break the damn inside. Whether she needed to scream, cry, laugh - it would help her get there. He squeezed her tightly in his arms, nesting his face against her neck and with a tender tone he spoke to her. "Kitten, wake up. Master is home."
Fingers brushed the onyx coloured strands of her hair away from her porcelain skin, and softly she began to stir. Instead of the bubbly, happy little girl he knew and loved, the one who as soon as she saw her Master would light up like a Christmas Tree, she was lethargic, barely aware and not herself. Instead of warmth in her eyes, it was nothing but pain and distance. Even her voice when she spoke those words usually filled with such love sounded dull and broken, "Welcome home Master."
His heart broke, cracking right in half at the sight. Anger flared for a moment, why hadn't she told him just how bad it had gotten? Why didn't she tell him how much she was hurting. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and shook his head. She had a hard time telling him these things about herself, and he knew that and had always extended her patience. He pushed his nose to hers and rubbed softly, and his fingers stroked her lower back in soothing circles. "Not feeling yourself I see. Did you eat today?" His eyes lingered over the bed, noticing a few random wrappers of unhealthy junk and a cup still filled to the top of probably juice or water. She shrugged. Neither confirming nor denying, just...there.
A squeeze was all he could give her before he leaned up, sliding his body off of the bed and he carried her down the hallway and into the living room sitting her on the couch. Her arms were wrapped around that pillow still, so tightly as she watched him. He moved about with a slightly quicker pace than normal, searching for things here and there and soon he was pulling a chair to the middle of the room. It was simple, and standing by it he pointed. "Kneel in front, arms up on the seat and put your hips out."
She frowned for a second, the distaste for play at the moment was clearly etched on her face, but instead of protesting, instead of using her safe-word, she pushed herself off the couch and moved to the dreaded chair. She threw the pillow to the floor, her slight attitude apparent as it just flopped down. Kneeling on it she put her arms on the seat of the chair crossed, and she rested her forehead on them. Her hips were out, and tilted up.