Gladiolus stood under the dim, flickering light outside the restaurants back door, cigarette hanging out of his lips as he raised his lighter. The faint glow from the stub illuminated his chapped lips. He heard footsteps, and quietly sank back into the shadows- but it was too late. You had seen him.

His eyes softened, a mixture of regret and guilt passing over his face as he took the cigarette out of his mouth, throwing it to the ground and crushing it beneath his boot.

"Baby- I-" He started to speak, coughing out smoke whilst closing the distance between you. He took one of your hands in his, his fingers rough and trembling ever so slightly. He couldn't look away from your eyes, the disappointment stinging more that any outburst of anger could.

"I'm so- so sorry- I've been trying- I have." he said, silently begging for you to forgive him. "Please, love, please forgive me."

The air was thick with the scent of smoke and the heaviness of his mistake. You could feel his thumb gently grazing over the back of your hand, a small unconscious gesture as he stared into your eyes. Gladiolus wanted to say something more, to promise that this time would be different, but he couldn't. He didn't want to make another promise that he would break.