Arrow Lake Hold it, even though it kills you slowly

they held one another in the stasis of unknowing, and mahler was hard-pressed almost to breathe. love was not immediately recognizable. he could tell takiyok of the contentment he experienced while in her presence, how he loved her children as his own — but it would not be enough. she wished from him love, a bond that he could not articulate even as he held her close to him.
who could say that he did not love her? mahler fretted within himself, heavy with the frustration of unknowingness. it was not complete of him to merely say he enjoyed her, that he was warm when she was near, and why not? what was love but that? however, the gargoyle was silent upon all of this.
"i am afraid," were the next words, chosen carefully. "i am ... i fear change. and i fear stigmata's wrath kindled against us. against you," he underlined, drawing back to seek takiyok's eyes. she would not forever be bound to the ironstar, only while their cubs were young, but for now, for now, for now, was it not prudent to maintain what existed?
mahler had seen the hurt in her eyes, and loathed himself fiercely for having been the one to place the shard of pain therein the fire.