When I’m scared I want to hear you shout out

[cantante]

Who: Tear Grants & Ace
What: Tear had promised to explain what had happened while Ace was gone, and now it's time to fulfil it.
When: February 7th
Where: House B-14
Warning: Strong Feelings and likely death mention. Also, chocobos.

There was no measuring the immense relief Tear had felt when Ace's letter had arrived to her the night before, reassuring her that he had returned safely from his trip. She had read it over and over since receiving it, perhaps too many times, given the folds of the paper she held were now entirely flat as she sat in the sitting room of her home, waiting for any indication of his arrival just as he had promised.

Yet even with the few extra days to think about it, the girl was still somewhat at a loss for how to deliver all the information he had asked for. As much as she would have wanted to plan it, the nature of such a truth meant that there was no guarantee their conversation would go in the direction she had prepared for. Knowing this, all she could do was hope she was that she would have the strength to continue through with it no matter what happened, in delivering the knowledge he deserved to know.

However, the anxiety still twists her stomach uncomfortable when she hears someone approaching, setting down the letter and rising to her feet to answer the door. Before she does, she takes a few breaths to calm herself enough in order to face him—what would it do to him if she had insisted he go, only to return and find her in such a state? It would be almost cruel to do that.

Only when she has eased her nerves enough and he made his presence known does she open the door, a faint smile of relief ready on her lips.

Comments

[confidentia]

Greeting her would be a sight somewhat unusual, but not entirely unexpected if Tear could claim to know the person standing in front of her at least a little bit. Perched comfortably in the cadet's hair was a tiny ball of feathers painted evenly in crimson, almost matching the colour of the cape the boy always wore proudly.

And it wasn't there just for decoration, by any means. As if prompted by an invisible hand, the ball moved. A soft kweh-in-progress escaped the Chocobo's tiny beak, preceding Ace's own attempt at explaining the situation at hand - or, on his head, to risk a more literal approach. Soon, the blond realized how pointless it would be in the light of things, with the tiny guest already speaking for themselves. As the bird only gleefully continued its chirping as seconds passed, all that was left was to follow-up with a greeting.

"It's good to see you."

Although at first glance, one could rightfully accuse him of behaving tactlessly, it wasn't as if he had throughout remained oblivious to the state his friend was in. With all the good the journey had brought, its soothing atmosphere and pleasant company, nothing had been able to take his mind away from where it belonged. Here, with her.

And he knew, for a fact, that he had been able to incite a smile on her lips a couple of times, something that always gave him the strangest sense of self-fulfillment. Something that he hadn't been able to achieve before. He knew how to listen, he had been told on a few occasions, and there had been those claiming his song had given them comfort. All of these memories he held dear to his heart - but to be able to carry a bit of happiness into someone's life, as well? That was new.

With that also came the awareness that the issues ran so much deeper than he could determine on his own, and it would certainly require far more than that to put them to rest. They really needed to talk, and only honesty could carry them through - but if he could first manage to lighten up her mood in the process, that would count for something.