For a moment, Lucea couldn’t reply to Kare’s words. But when Kare’s hand fell on his shoulder, he felt like he had woken up from a nightmare. “…Yes, I know.” He knew. He knew that he couldn’t bring her back. Her sound told him everything he needed to know. She made her resolve. Nothing could change her mind. But even so,
He wished he could make her change her mind. He wished he could be strong enough to protect her, to help her.
But he’s still powerless.
He didn’t change at all since that day.
Still the same powerless child who could only watch his friend leave.
And, when she did leave, it’s when his tears poured down. “Uhg… “ He couldn’t stop crying. He knew what her sound was like. How she was in pain. And not just her. Kare as well.
“Why… is it always…” He muttered. He knew the answer already. He needed to get up. He needed to face forward. He needed to see Himegyllis. He needed to find clues to help Akane. He needed to keep himself together. He’s the leader. He’s their leader. He must not be weak. Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry.
And when those feelings overwhelmed him, he lifted his hand up, and slapped his own cheeks with both hands. The pain rang on his cheek. And he immediately wiped his tears. It hurts, the pain burns on his skin, and he wiped too hard that it hurt his face too. But, it reminded him of how his friends are in an even worse pain that these.
He took a deep breath, then looked at Kare’s direction. Blue eyes, albeit swollen, looking truer than ever. “We need to go. There’s a reason she couldn’t tell us. We need to find out.” He said.
“Whatever she’s involved in, it’s something that made her wanted by the police. Kare, it pains me to ask you, but I don’t have any other choice… Do you have any connections with an informant? Especially from that side.” He asked. Kare should know very well what he means by that side.
That wish was shared, and it was something strongly believed in by the assassin-- Even if they couldn’t get her back now, he knew one day they would, no giving up otherwise.
He thought them far from powerless in this situation. He had his own skills and ties, as did the guild. They can do this, he knows it.
A hand placed over his limiter, Kare relocked his seals, the emerald in his gaze returning, along with the prior withheld tears. With the curse no longer pushing back his emotions, the pain stung even more.
Kare wasn’t aware of Lucea’s distress over their powerlessness, but if he did, the assassin would simply assure his friend that such wasn’t the case. Sometimes, you need to wait to help matters, even if it hurts.
Upon the other’s tears as well, Kare’s frown only grew, a moment from speaking up to help reassurance, he was halted when Lucea instead slapped his own face, emerald hues widening in response.
Swiping at his own features, Kare managed a laugh, all before he carefully grasped Lucea’s arm, and pulled him into a hug.
It’s hard to be strong when all you want is to break down, Kare knows that well, and it only made his desire to bring comfort stronger. But as to not impose, he didn’t hold on for long, releasing Lucea soon after, he had been asked a question, after all.
“I know many who deal with information, more so from that side than any other... If we need to know something, they’ll find it, as long as the cost is met.”
After contacting his brother, the assassin knew he would need to reach out to some old ‘friends’ for the information he needed-- It was worth it to him, all to help Akane.