I'd Give Up The World For You

Daisy looked at the man across from her seriously. He had a somewhat desperate, pleading expression on his face and he shifted nervously, fiddling with the sleeve on his shirt. 

In that moment he looked so much more vulnerable than his usual tough self that he actually looked his age. Like a scared, needy twenty-year-old who wanted more than she was able to give. 

"Leo," she said gently. "I'm really not a good person to rely on. If I let you tonight you're going to want it all the time." 

"So what? What's wrong with wanting to be with you all the time?" 

Daisy really didn't have a comeback for that. There were a lot of reasons but she couldn't put them into words with him looking at her with those anguished eyes. They made her thoughts muddled. 

Their arrangement had been going on for weeks now and he hadn't gotten sick of her. If anything, it seemed like the more time they had together the more he wanted. Why was that? Because he needed human contact or because he needed her specifically?

It couldn't possibly be the latter. He admitted it himself that he got nightmares on his own. With how much he had moved around, he had probably bounced from person to person to help him out until he moved again. 

She didn't want to grow closer to him only to have him leave. That was exactly what she had tried to avoid by staying away from people as much as possible.

"WHY do you want to be with me all the time?" Daisy asked with her arms crossed over her chest.

"I told you. You make me happy," Leo mumbled. 

"How could I possibly make you happy?"

"You just do. It's the kind of person you are. You're warm, funny, smart, and can make anything seem interesting. I feel more at peace when I'm around you."

Daisy gaped at him. That…was not the answer she was expecting. The kind of person she was? The only kind of person she could think of being was the kind that people abandoned over and over. 

Why would he think that? He had liked her back when they barely spoke at work. She hadn't talked to him enough to come to that sort of conclusion then! Did she remind him of someone? Was that what this was? Was she some sort of replacement for a person he had left behind?

She didn't want to be a replacement even if it did mean she got treated well. She had played second fiddle for too long already. 

"You hardly know me! The last time you told me that you knew me even less. What's your deal? Do I remind you of somebody you love and you latched onto me because you can't be with them?"

Anger flashed in Leo's mismatched eyes. He laid his hands on her shoulders and forced her to make eye contact. "You listen to me, Daisy Miller. The only person in my heart is you. Don't insult me or yourself by thinking like that. You're no replacement. And no one in this or any world could replace you either. Got that?"

Daisy couldn't even process his strange wording because of the intensity rolling off of him. The only person in his heart. No one could replace her. How long had she waited to hear someone—anyone—say something like that?

But how had this happened? Was it love at first sight or what? This didn't make any sense!

"Why?" she asked faintly. "Why me?"

"Because you're special. There's no one as bright or lovely as you. I need you, Daisy. And that's the honest truth," Leo said resolutely.

There was a fire burning in his eyes. It was hard to doubt his sincerity. 

Daisy gulped. He NEEDED her? No one had ever needed her before. But if she really thought about it, hadn't she already guessed that? He did give off that impression by how much he enjoyed sitting around doing nothing as long as she was in the same room. 

This guy was seriously messed up and somehow decided that she was his calm in the storm. It was a bit frightening, really. She didn't think he was a bad person though. Simply one who had been deeply wounded by the world. 

Leo was trying to find solace any way he could, the way all traumatized people did. For Daisy it had been through plants. He had taken the more dangerous route of choosing a person. 

How she ended up being that person was beyond her but didn't this mean he would never leave? It was horrible to think that way. To even contemplate trapping someone by her side because they were desperate. 

It was tempting though. So, so tempting. 

"You really need me?" Daisy asked doubtfully. "Me. I'm probably as much of a mess as you are."

Leo let out a strangled laugh. "I seriously doubt that. Sorry. I don't have much to offer you right now but give me some time and that will change."

Didn't have much to offer? He had already given her a bizarre form of companionship, compliments, and nursing when she was sick. That was more than anyone else had ever offered her. 

What was he suggesting, anyway? They were friends! Sort of. Friends who occasionally cuddled or kissed. Oh geez, they were friends with benefits, weren't they? In a very minimal way. Her relationship with Leo somehow had more substance than all of her previous romantic entanglements combined and yet they had the weakest label.

Daisy could admit it was because she was afraid. Someone who really liked her and treated her well was offering himself up on a platter and she couldn't take it.

He had said all he wanted was to spend time with her but that obviously wasn't true. He wanted to be with her for real. She had known that from the start but fell into his trap anyway. Now she felt stuck because she did vaguely care about him and didn't want him to be miserable. 

She didn't want to catch feelings! If she opened her heart to someone who treated her better than anyone else ever had and actually thought she was worthwhile when things fell apart so would she. 

"What can you offer me?" Daisy found herself asking even though it was stupid to even consider such a thing. 

Leo's eyes lit up. "Anything you want! I'm planning on going to college and getting a degree in something like computer science or statistics so I can get a high-paying job. I won't be a burden and I can help you accomplish your dreams.

"I'm a fast learner, I know how to budget, and I can do household chores and cook. If you give me a chance I'll never let you want for anything once I'm able to establish myself here. I know you don't like promises but I'm determined to prove myself to you.

"I'll never do anything to make you feel like less than the most important person in the world. Because you are, Daisy! You are the most important person in the world and you deserve to know that."

What could she even say to that? The most important person in the world? What sort of drug was he on?! The most important person in the world. No one had ever told her something like that before. Did he mean it? He certainly seemed earnest. 

Daisy stared at him in bewilderment. This had started because he wanted to stay over tonight. Such a simple request that had somehow resulted in him essentially pledging his life to her. 

She didn't know him very well. She didn't even know what his issues were but he clearly had some form of PTSD if he was having nightmares every night and cried because of bread. 

Was she equipped to deal with that even if he did treat her well? She didn't feel up to the task. She was getting ahead of herself though. All he had asked was to spend the night. She didn't have to answer anything more than that right now. 

Daisy took a deep breath before slowly letting it out. "Okay. Don't get ahead of yourself. You can stay here tonight but that's it. I…I need to think about the other stuff."

"That's fine!" Leo was quick to reassure her. "Thank you, Daisy."

He beamed at her and she stood there suffering from whiplash. He had gone from upset to cheerful in two seconds flat. Don't tell her he was bipolar too. She didn't know how to deal with that!

He had stopped crying and even hummed to himself as he did dishes. He remained cheerful for the rest of the night and when they went to bed he held her close and kissed the top of her head with absolutely no shame. 

"Goodnight, Daisy," Leo said happily. 

"…goodnight."

Oh, what had Daisy agreed to? She wasn't sure her heart would be able to handle this! Even now it was hammering against her ribs.. He didn't seem to be affected at all because he was out like a light in two seconds flat.