( it takes a second for eddie to de-escalate, but waylon can see it when he does. the rise and fall of his chest steadies, the wild look of pure rage in his eye settles. he's not looking at waylon; he's looking off to the side. in truth, he doesn't want to look at waylon, to disgusted with him for the moment. as it passes, that sense of grime passes from waylon to himself. he knows, both on the surface and deep within, that this is no way to treat a woman. yelling, shaking, cursing: that's brute behavior, and eddie is no brute.

when his eyes finally slide to waylon's face, that's a calm there. genuine, not forced. )

I'm not a monster... but when you act this way, when you bring this out of me... My love, I don't want to harm you, but... but you know how it is. Love is such a strange thing.

( outburst gone but clearly not forgotten, eddie crouches to waylon's side and presses a kiss to his cheek. )

You remember me? Truly? My name... Hearing it from your mouth, oh, how it makes my heart soar. Say it again, Waylon, please, my dearest. Once more...