[057] After the storm

[buntails]

[This is Usagi, arms wrapped tightly around herself, unusually subdued and serious. She's seen the town in flames, her friends dead, her friends kill, and- she doesn't know how to look at anyone or what to think. She'd tried to heal Yuma, and it had made things worse (even if easier for the others to finish the battle) and her powers... her

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[freezingkiss]

[Chibiusa comes in without knocking or asking, walking in quietly and sitting on the bed next to Usagi, nudging up against her and taking her hand.]

[buntails]

[Usagi nudges back, lightly, really just to signify she notices Chibiusa's presence. It takes a moment before a soft smile follows the gesture.]

Hey. Chibiusa, let's always stick together here for as long as we're here, alright?

[freezingkiss]

[there's a mock indignant sniff, and Chibiusa sticks her nose in the air]

Please, as if you have a choice. You're stuck with me, airhead.

[buntails]

[That gets a bit of a bigger smile, and Usagi even nudges over to give Chibiusa more room. Share a blanket?]

I'm glad you're alright.

[freezingkiss]

[please and thank you]

Mm. [she doesn't respond, really, or let Usagi see how her expression darkens for a moment. Usagi will only see encouraging or happy faces.]

It wasn't your fault.

[buntails]

[This is a rare occasion which should be commemorated: these two sharing instead of hogging covers with each other.]

Mm. Thanks. I just... wish I could have really helped them. They shouldn't have had to be hurt like this.

[freezingkiss]

Neither should you. [giving Usagi a pointed look, then clasping her hands around her knees]

You didn't know. There was nothing we could've done. All we can do...is find solutions. Try to fix it. We can't undo what's already been done.

[buntails]

I understand. I'm going to be working to fix up the buildings that were damaged, and things like that. It's all I can do right now.

[freezingkiss]

[a small, sad smile] You can stop blaming yourself.

[buntails]

[Hey... no seeing through her to the overwhelming sense that things are her responsibility.

Especially right now, when it's her role to be able to save the people taken over like that, and this time.. She hadn't been able to.]

I'm not, really. I understand I didn't begin this, or wish for it. But it was still horrible and it happened right in front of my eyes. I don't know how to think about that yet.

[freezingkiss]

Mm. [Chibiusa hadn't decided to truly deal with it yet - the well-being of the others came first.]

Maybe...don't think about it for now. Just focus on rebuilding.

[buntails]

[They're soothing words, that still satisfy the need to prove herself and become what Rei especially needs when she feels she's missed the mark by so much.]

Mm. That's all we can do right now.

And I think I can do it with you here.