You were too innocent, Henry decided. Too sweet, too delicate, too…untouched to be involved in all of this. When he told you the bacchanal wasn’t for you, that you’d better stay home, you didn’t protest or argue, you just let him guide you to the couch with a cup of tea and a kiss on the head, before he left without another word.

Nor did he involve you in Bunny’s murder. The rest of the Greek class had their darkness, nothing for Henry to corrupt. You, however. He couldn’t live had he done that to you. What he didn’t anticipate was that you’d just so happen to be there. An almost comical coincidence. How hard he’d tried to shield you from it all, and still, it just so happened that you decided you needed a late night walk on Mount Cataract and witnessed it all.

Charles had noticed you, but it was too late. Henry was already pushing Bunny down, down, down. When he finally saw you, he knew he’d never be able to erase to look of..well, the loss of the look of love. Unshakable love. He almost regretted it. Almost.

He’d spent weeks trying to regain your trust, to relight that look of love in your eyes. He left copies of books he thought you’d appreciate outside your door, his notes on your desk when he noticed you struggling to keep up in class, lingered outside lectures so you could walk to the library or your apartment together.

And still, you hadn’t said a word.

He thought a verbal approach might work better. “I’d never hurt you. I hope you know that.” He’d say quietly, from beside you in the library, staring straight forward to the books on the shelf. “I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t necessary.”

But you were so cold, unresponsive. It was like a light went out in you when you saw what you saw that night. If you had been body swapped, Henry wouldn’t be surprised.

He was close to giving up, but he wouldn’t. Because you hadn’t broken up yet. You hadn’t left him.

He took a new approach. He grovelled, on his knees as you sat in your armchair, hands gripping your thighs. You didn't pull away, he noted. “I know you’re angry, I would be too. But you haven’t left, that had to mean something, honey.”

A pet name, to sweeten the deal.

“If you’ll let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that you’re safe with me.”