HOTARU
She's in a long black coat tonight
Waiting for me in the downpour outside
Waiting for me in the downpour outside
A soft noise of hurt escapes her before she can bite it back, eyes closing and turning slightly away from Nate. She can’t hide her reactions from him in this small barren room, and the grief of Atlas’ loss is still so new. He may not be apologizing or offering empathy, but it’s the first kindness they’ve offered since her arrival, and it’s an arrow straight to her already burned heart. “I hope you don’t have to feel it,” is the hoarse response, brittle and frail. It’s not a pain she would wish on her worst enemy - certainly not them, who she still loves against all reason and harm.
Roughly rubbing her palms against her face Hotaru searches for composure that doesn’t want to come. Everything is so much harder with Nate, and she wishes he hadn’t been the first to question her alone. He hadn’t been the one to betray her, aside from the general pain of choosing Sunjata, and Deimos’ claims that he had moved one quickly. Perhaps it’s intentional then that they sent Nate in first, and the idea makes her clam up, hurt and distrustful.
“I don’t know where he went. I don’t even know where he was while I was attacking the woman.” Both utterly truthful. She’d been too lost in her grief and rage to even notice him flying away. Though she admittedly hadn’t thought to add the hours after the fire to her statement, evident by the quick blink of surprise. “I spent the night on the beach. I didn’t sleep.” Staring out at the waves, crying helplessly, curled up in the sand beneath the stars. “We had a standing plan to go to Apopo the next day. I went as normal, because I didn’t know where else he would be, and he was there.” Whether he had returned to the Inn or slept somewhere outside in one of his shifts she doesn’t know. They hadn’t talked about it. They’d talked about very little.
The next question takes her by surprise, brows crinkling as she turns to look at Nate - from the corner of her eye, to make it easier. “I saw him last night before I came here. He’s in Halo. I don’t see why he’d have reason to leave.” Puzzlement is an undertone to her words, and then trepidation. They had already made their decision to ban Deimos, would they try and change their minds?
Roughly rubbing her palms against her face Hotaru searches for composure that doesn’t want to come. Everything is so much harder with Nate, and she wishes he hadn’t been the first to question her alone. He hadn’t been the one to betray her, aside from the general pain of choosing Sunjata, and Deimos’ claims that he had moved one quickly. Perhaps it’s intentional then that they sent Nate in first, and the idea makes her clam up, hurt and distrustful.
“I don’t know where he went. I don’t even know where he was while I was attacking the woman.” Both utterly truthful. She’d been too lost in her grief and rage to even notice him flying away. Though she admittedly hadn’t thought to add the hours after the fire to her statement, evident by the quick blink of surprise. “I spent the night on the beach. I didn’t sleep.” Staring out at the waves, crying helplessly, curled up in the sand beneath the stars. “We had a standing plan to go to Apopo the next day. I went as normal, because I didn’t know where else he would be, and he was there.” Whether he had returned to the Inn or slept somewhere outside in one of his shifts she doesn’t know. They hadn’t talked about it. They’d talked about very little.
The next question takes her by surprise, brows crinkling as she turns to look at Nate - from the corner of her eye, to make it easier. “I saw him last night before I came here. He’s in Halo. I don’t see why he’d have reason to leave.” Puzzlement is an undertone to her words, and then trepidation. They had already made their decision to ban Deimos, would they try and change their minds?
singing "Baby come home" in a melody of tears
While the rhythm of the rain keeps time
While the rhythm of the rain keeps time
