you broke me and left these pieces

Thalassa

His reassurance is so characteristically him that she can't not believe him. The sharp teeth and swagger are too much like a threat that he intends to keep, one that she's grateful to receive. And then that gentleness that follows - the promise of safety and security on his lips - carefully pulls at the strands of her fear until she's able to shove aside most of her doubts for the moment, pushing them back down into the darkness where they've always lived. As she reaches the depths of her emotions, she brushes against her fiery snark that wants to give him a fanged grin back, to stake her claim on Asta and never let him go no matter who threatens their friendship. But it's too heavy to carry up and too light for the seriousness she feels, the edges of her lips still dragged down by the pain and sorrow. All she can manage is another tiny nod, the tightening of her features loosening in his grasp so that only the sharp glint of hurt remains in her eyes. 

Another shiver wreaks through her body, feeble and weak. With her biggest fear assuaged, the unknown number of days spent numb are finally catching up with her. Asta's warm hands stave off some of the chill, but her body aches and there's a new crushing exhaustion that graciously dampens some of her pains. Leaning forward, she folds into him without a sound, other than the soft admission, "Asta, I'm... tired."

Walk with me to the end
Stare with me into the abyss