The question was first met with silence along with shaky breaths as Haise swallowed heavily to presumably get rid of the stomach acids burning his throat, his anxiety obviously only rising. Even still, the choice to not give an answer to Ayato, that was not an option. But out of old habit ( one he thought to have gotten rid of but hadn’t ), Haise kept his gaze focused on the ground and his feet as he gave a half mumbled answer.
“She..I..she’s alive. Killing her..I couldn’t do that..” not with the way she had tried her best to save him, not when she had that kind of expression on her face. If only he could have done more for her then, and now.
He’d known better than to do rash things like this for a very long time. His father’s disappearance, and probable death could have been attributed to not being cautious enough. And yet-- there’s no stopping the burning in his shoulder blades, nor the angry flicker in his eyes as the sclera threatened to turn. Exposing himself could mean death, but he didn’t care. Hinami didn’t need to be involved in this. She’d never wanted to be. She’d been a good friend to him, and he’d get her out even if it meant dying.
“Where the fuck is she, then? Cochlea?” Ayato hissed, digits curling painfully into his palms.
