Ales' arms jerked away from his hat when he felt Lydia's arms around him. She was the only other Hero of Light that had hugged him during his entire stay in Crystallis, even if the first time was in the Sage's vision. She cared about him, thinking only the best of him, giving him encouragement with a smile. And despite everything that his Shadow was revealing, she was still here for him.
It was only because he never hurt her, he told himself.
Sephiroth's silence and Tsubomi's pleas - while not helpful - stopped him from speaking up. He wanted someone to take control of the situation while he drew into himself and forgot everything that happened. It was alright not to have friends, he wanted to say. Why would he listen to Tsubomi if he had considered that argument before? One needed power to have their voice heard.
He had forgotten about Akane. An eye poked out from beneath the brim, watching the young woman. He wasn't sure what to make of her: naive and optimistic, yet surprisingly intelligent at times like these. Her initial words lead him to believe that she was going to reprimand him for his actions as well. Proof that he will be hated if his past was revealed.
But she was telling him not to give up. His instinct was to retort that he wasn't giving up, but his voice continued to fail him. He was brilliant. He could do something. Sephiroth, Lydia, and Akane were proof that his past didn't prevent them from believing in him. Ellie believed in him.
The Shadow followed his gaze to Akane, then to Ales. "Let's listen to her. Let's be close to people again! What's wrong with having friends.?"
Ales narrowed his eyes.
"Is it Ellie? Yeah, we miss her a lot, but it was worth having someone to listen to us."
"Worth it? I could barely do anything but mope when she turned into a crystal, and that's supposed to help me?" He slid his arms out of Lydia's grasp, but instead of addressing his Shadow, he rotated his gaze at the Heroes in the room. "I can't lie, I enjoy the company of some of the people here, but how am I supposed to trust you? Why get close to anyone if it'll hurt me when sacrifices will be made?"
"We know. That's why we made that promise...not to hurt Lydia if the time ever came to betray her. No matter what would happen, Lydia has to be safe. We couldn't kill Betilla ourselves for the same reason. We wanted to be friends with them."
"I--" Ales held a hand out and paused. "No, you're right."
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It was only because he never hurt her, he told himself.
Sephiroth's silence and Tsubomi's pleas - while not helpful - stopped him from speaking up. He wanted someone to take control of the situation while he drew into himself and forgot everything that happened. It was alright not to have friends, he wanted to say. Why would he listen to Tsubomi if he had considered that argument before? One needed power to have their voice heard.
He had forgotten about Akane. An eye poked out from beneath the brim, watching the young woman. He wasn't sure what to make of her: naive and optimistic, yet surprisingly intelligent at times like these. Her initial words lead him to believe that she was going to reprimand him for his actions as well. Proof that he will be hated if his past was revealed.
But she was telling him not to give up. His instinct was to retort that he wasn't giving up, but his voice continued to fail him. He was brilliant. He could do something. Sephiroth, Lydia, and Akane were proof that his past didn't prevent them from believing in him. Ellie believed in him.
The Shadow followed his gaze to Akane, then to Ales. "Let's listen to her. Let's be close to people again! What's wrong with having friends.?"
Ales narrowed his eyes.
"Is it Ellie? Yeah, we miss her a lot, but it was worth having someone to listen to us."
"Worth it? I could barely do anything but mope when she turned into a crystal, and that's supposed to help me?" He slid his arms out of Lydia's grasp, but instead of addressing his Shadow, he rotated his gaze at the Heroes in the room. "I can't lie, I enjoy the company of some of the people here, but how am I supposed to trust you? Why get close to anyone if it'll hurt me when sacrifices will be made?"
"We know. That's why we made that promise...not to hurt Lydia if the time ever came to betray her. No matter what would happen, Lydia has to be safe. We couldn't kill Betilla ourselves for the same reason. We wanted to be friends with them."
"I--" Ales held a hand out and paused. "No, you're right."
His hand fell back to his side.
"I do like the idea of companionship."