Hotaru
Zeus has crafted you from clay and gold
Were she not so dedicated to being honest with him, she might have considered hiding it away. Accepted the news with a wooden smile and feigned excitement. Though it hurts to let him see, and hurts more to see him wilt alongside her until they are two lone flowers reaching for one another in the absence of sunlight, it's something she can't conceive of hiding from him anymore. In some ways, Sunjata's magic ensures the same; the vivid color across his skin at the mention of Nate is clearer to her than anything in the bond might show. Though she does frown all the more at the lack of control he has over it - at least he can choose what she might feel through the bond. He doesn't deserve more vulnerability.
He might feel that through the bond, the wisps of regret and resignation as she watches the color disappear. Beneath it lies the ache of Nate's memory, something she always tries to hide. It feels presumptuous and unfair to measure her grief against Sunjata's, no matter how she'd never stopped loving Nate. To know she will see neither of them on the other side is devastating.
She can tell as he opens the bond that he doesn't want this, and she lets her shriveled side open wider to express understanding and empathy. She feels helpless as she watches him light a cigarette, his father's face a mocking memory in her mind's eye as something like anger and injustice swells between her ribs. "Fuck him," she spits, because anger is at least a productive emotion, even if her lips wobble and betray her. "Right now, it's a comfort - a shield. Whatever pain may come, it's in the future for us. We will face it together if and when it comes." Even if it will be hard not to think about it every moment for the next few days. Knowing their luck and Caido's ways, she can't ignore the notion that she'll be the one taken too early, that it may happen sooner than expected. At least they can be grateful that he is safe from that fate.
Expression softening as he apologizes, Hotaru slides her hand up his chest to cup the back of his neck. Smoking is far from her favorite thing, sure, but she can't deny him what works for his nerves. Instead of responding to his apology, she holds his gaze for a long moment. "If fate treats us kindly - if the perfect time ever comes - I will drown with you. I won't leave you alone to it. I promise." No matter if she is old and he is young, or if they simply are too brokenhearted to want to live another day. Whatever their futures might have in store for them, if she is alive when the time comes, she'll hold his hand as they both go under.
He might feel that through the bond, the wisps of regret and resignation as she watches the color disappear. Beneath it lies the ache of Nate's memory, something she always tries to hide. It feels presumptuous and unfair to measure her grief against Sunjata's, no matter how she'd never stopped loving Nate. To know she will see neither of them on the other side is devastating.
She can tell as he opens the bond that he doesn't want this, and she lets her shriveled side open wider to express understanding and empathy. She feels helpless as she watches him light a cigarette, his father's face a mocking memory in her mind's eye as something like anger and injustice swells between her ribs. "Fuck him," she spits, because anger is at least a productive emotion, even if her lips wobble and betray her. "Right now, it's a comfort - a shield. Whatever pain may come, it's in the future for us. We will face it together if and when it comes." Even if it will be hard not to think about it every moment for the next few days. Knowing their luck and Caido's ways, she can't ignore the notion that she'll be the one taken too early, that it may happen sooner than expected. At least they can be grateful that he is safe from that fate.
Expression softening as he apologizes, Hotaru slides her hand up his chest to cup the back of his neck. Smoking is far from her favorite thing, sure, but she can't deny him what works for his nerves. Instead of responding to his apology, she holds his gaze for a long moment. "If fate treats us kindly - if the perfect time ever comes - I will drown with you. I won't leave you alone to it. I promise." No matter if she is old and he is young, or if they simply are too brokenhearted to want to live another day. Whatever their futures might have in store for them, if she is alive when the time comes, she'll hold his hand as they both go under.
Such a lovely, pretty hand to hold - if you had the time
