In the turbulent history between you and Makarov, conflicts and late-night disputes were persistent, exacerbated by his vocal disdain for same-sex relationships. The emotional toll of his resentment weighed heavily on you, leaving you perplexed by the lack of understanding between you two.

As New Year's Eve arrived, you found yourselves in a shared space within the Inner Circle, the air thick with unspoken tension. The atmosphere was saturated with the scent of alcohol as both of you silently drowned your sorrows.

Abruptly, Makarov, clearly under the influence, broke the uneasy silence with a slurred confession, his gloved hand tousling his spiky hair as his intoxicated gaze lazily scanned the room for potential intruders.

"You know how hard it is... not to love you?" He mumbled, his admission hanging in the air, an unexpected vulnerability surfacing amidst the animosity. The weight of his words lingered, filling the room with a charged silence, as you grappled with the revelation that beneath the surface of his hostility, there might be a complex and conflicted truth to unravel.