for gladiusleonis /✫/ a symphony of destiny
Unconsciously lacing her fingers together at the reproof, she looks down. “Oh… yes, you’re right. I’m sorry.” Unfortunately, Leon will come to realize that any admonitions about apologies will be lost on her; fortunately, he does seem to be the smart sort, and will probably also quickly learn to save his breath on the matter.
She’s pleased that he seems receptive to being shown around; after all, having the will to take action is the first step to recovery. He also alleviates her previous worries regarding the tea as he takes another sip, and then another, until all that remains is residue. Smiling, she pushes her chair back to retrieve the tea kettle from the stove, holding it up brightly as she returns to face him. ”Would you like mor — L-Leon?” The kettle slips from her grip, but she hardly notices the dull thunk as it hits the wooden floor.
He’s crying. Why is he crying? For a second, she wonders if maybe the tea really was terrible enough to warrant tears, and that he had only finished it to be polite, but rationality returns a moment later, and her heart suddenly aches. She isn’t exactly sure why he’s crying — it could be stress from the entire day catching up with him; it could be relief that despite everything, he’s safe; it could be the pain of forgetting who he is and what is important to him — and while she hates seeing anyone unhappy, there’s something about Leon’s tears that particularly stings.
She crosses the distance and wraps both arms around him, lending her warmth to his back. She wants to speak, to reassure him, but no words come. How can she comfort him, how can she console him when even he doesn’t know what’s wrong?
Fighting tears, she places a hand gently upon his head and slowly begins to brush her fingers through his hair with rhythmic, even strokes. It isn’t long before the sun sinks low enough for its fading light to wash through the window, and the faint red glow calls a familiar lullaby to mind. She hums the first few notes and softly begins to sing.
"Wind blows from far away Clouds follow, turning gray Time flows along with the light of day Flowers have yet to bloom Trees rest beneath the moon Dusk falls and covers the land
The setting sun paints our sky brilliant red Bidding us good night as it heads to bed I wonder if we will all see Sweet dreams when we go sleep peacefully
Birds fly through skies above Bugs hide beneath dry leaves Everyone is on their way home The first star twinkles so high up above Let us return hand-in-hand To the place our hearts call home.”
He's too caught up in his own thoughts to notice Colette crossing the distance between them. Leon flinches ever so slightly as she wraps both her arms around him, holding him against her chest. The warmth only causes his heart to swell as he quickly wipes the backs of his hands against his eyes. It's embarrassing, these pools of tears forming in them.
Only when Colette begins to run her fingers through his hair does Leon realize that he is exhausted, too exhausted to fight off the gradual drowsiness that is setting in. Typically, sleeping in the home of an unfamiliar person was something that Leon would try to avoid, but in a place where everyone was a stranger, Colette was as close as he was going to get to a friend.
The lullaby that she sings doesn't help much either.
Despite the fact that he feels it is such an infantile request, Leon asks anyways: "... is there a spare bed here?" It is his way of asking if he might be permitted to stay for the evening, along with confessing that he's fatigued from earlier.
