Zavien
Never regret anything that made you smile
Relief washed over him when she didn't leave. Instead of placing distance between them, she stayed, and Zavien couldn't even begin to fathom how much that meant to him. It cracked deeper into his chest, another reason why Soh somehow felt inexplicably right.
His laughter this time was sad and a little melancholy. "Regret is such a terrible word." He paused, trying to figure out what it was he needed to say for her to understand the chaos of his thoughts. After a moment, the squeeze of her hand pulled him back, words surfacing slowly as he analyzed what his emotions were saying.
"I feel guilty and a little confused, but the more I think about yesterday..." Zavien looked to her, wanting her to see the certainty in his eyes as he said, "No, I don't regret it. I just - " His gaze cast down, features twisting between disappointment and frustration, his grasp tightening unintentionally. "I'm usually so careful about considering others, and yesterday... I - I don't know. I acted without even thinking about how it would affect you or - " The name stuck in his throat, knowing they needed to address it but dreading the consequences of saying it aloud. Sucking a breath, he bit the bullet and finished, "or Koa."
He paused for another second before continuing, quietly resigned. "But I don't regret it unless you do. If I've made you uncomfortable or if this isn't something you want..." The words trailed off, unsure of what he would do if she did regret it, terrified of how he might have lost another friendship with one of the only people who understood the loss of their home.
His laughter this time was sad and a little melancholy. "Regret is such a terrible word." He paused, trying to figure out what it was he needed to say for her to understand the chaos of his thoughts. After a moment, the squeeze of her hand pulled him back, words surfacing slowly as he analyzed what his emotions were saying.
"I feel guilty and a little confused, but the more I think about yesterday..." Zavien looked to her, wanting her to see the certainty in his eyes as he said, "No, I don't regret it. I just - " His gaze cast down, features twisting between disappointment and frustration, his grasp tightening unintentionally. "I'm usually so careful about considering others, and yesterday... I - I don't know. I acted without even thinking about how it would affect you or - " The name stuck in his throat, knowing they needed to address it but dreading the consequences of saying it aloud. Sucking a breath, he bit the bullet and finished, "or Koa."
He paused for another second before continuing, quietly resigned. "But I don't regret it unless you do. If I've made you uncomfortable or if this isn't something you want..." The words trailed off, unsure of what he would do if she did regret it, terrified of how he might have lost another friendship with one of the only people who understood the loss of their home.
