Noah felt the subtle shift when she pulled back just enough to meet his eyes, the loss of her warmth against his chest like the sudden absence of a fire. The rain filled that space quickly and insistently, but he didn’t move away. His hands remained steady on her, anchoring without holding too tightly, understanding that she needed both—something to lean into, and the freedom to step back when she had to.
Her words settled into him, slow and thoughtful, like stones sinking beneath the surface of deep water. “A clear canvas can be a gift.” he said after a moment, voice shaped by quiet consideration. He knew the other side of it too. How it could feel too open, too vast—like standing in a field after a storm had torn everything down, with nothing left to guide you and no path already worn in. His thumb brushed once more along her arm, slower now, grounding, as the thought settled heavily in his chest. It didn’t mean she was lost. Just that she would have to choose where the path went next.
"You get to hold the paintbrush now." His gaze softened slightly, though there was still something firm beneath it—something rooted and unyielding in the way he cared. He knew she was trying to separate herself into pieces—Frey, Ru, mother—as if they had ever truly been distinct. But they weren’t. They had always been her, woven together whether she could see the pattern or not. It only felt fractured now because she was looking at it from a place of loss, trying to make sense of something that had never needed to be taken apart to begin with.
At her admission about Deimos, Noah nodded with understanding edged with a hint of concern. He exhaled slowly, breath warm even in the rain. He wanted to say that he thought the warden would understand, in his own way, but he couldn't force the words. "You should go to him soon." Was all he managed.
Lightning flickered again, softer this time, illuminating the rain in a muted shimmer. Noah cleared his throat, eyes lifting to the grey sky before coming back to Hotaru's mismatched gaze. "Do you want to hunt? Put your mind on something else for a while?" He asked, although he felt he already knew the answer. When she gave it, together they went.
FIN
