(Untitled)

[pristinestar]

Characters: Red and vatheon
Location: Streets!
Time: Morning.
Style: Any.
Status: Open.

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[libraria]

Nodoka, too, has been here for a long time, but saying goodbye was never easy. She learned that from her own short disappearance; her friends had been devastated and it was the same for her when they left. It never got easier for Nodoka, but she tried her best to work her way through it and make do with what she was allowed to keep. She couldn't be greedy, not when she was blessed with so much in Vatheon.

Still, walking helped ease things. The bite of the cold forced her to wrap warm and keep herself warming, making herself feel comforted for the first time in a few days. The crunch of the ground under her feet was distracting and she glanced down, smiling at the gravel as it made little noises. She twisted her feet a little, laughing at the odd, familiar noise it made. It was something she had known for as long as she could remember and it gave her an odd sense of peace.

It was only then that she saw Red.

For a moment, she smiled and lifted a hand to wave - but then she noted the tears. She hesitated, but then she rushed over, falling to her knees beside her friend as a hand reached out to touch his shoulder. "Red-san?" She turned her head so that she could glance at his eyes, worry all over her features.

[pristinestar]

Red didn't recongize the voice at first, only because his consciousness was floating about as he just tried to straighten himself during these moments. But when he felt the touch on his shoulder, he shortly noticed that familiar voice.

"Nodoka..." he replied with a dazed gaze. But it was shortly replaced by a tiny smile and that familiar will to want to assure his friends. He lifted a hand on top of hers, then secured it in place as his smile grew a bit more.

"Sorry, I didn't mean..." he tried to continue his words, but they just trailed off completely when a few more tears felt his eyes. He lowered his head afterwards.

[libraria]

Nodoka shakes her head, settling down next to her friend. She breathes out, the cool air making a light fog appear where her breath was before she smiles at him, holding his hand lightly. After a moment of silence, she turns back to him and speaks softly.

"It's sad when the people we love go home, Red-san, but it's okay. Because they're not really gone - they never will be. Because they're always right here." Shifting, she takes her free hand and presses it against his chest lightly - right over his heart. She smiles, though she looks a little teary-eyed herself. "We'll always have our memories of them, and no one can take that away. Not forever, at least."

[pristinestar]

That was the part of him that was hurting the most right now. When Nodoka placed her kind hand against his heart, it easily made it thump quickly. His eyes widened only because of the wandering hurt in him. Her words and gestures definitely made him feel warmer, even against this cold morning. He wanted to smile, but instead the opposite expression grew against his face.

He felt so bad for showing this side to Nodoka, he wanted to remain strong, after all. Or perhaps that is the reason why the pain doubled for him. He forgot about his own feelings that built up over time... It's finally leaving him. Tears kept falling as his body trembled a bit against Nodoka's hand. She's right. And he believed it, too. He never believed that anyone here could take away their memories.

Every memory that they made here will always be with them, and that will connect everyone...

[libraria]

Nodoka understood wanting to remain strong, but sometimes being sad was just easier than pretending to smile. She moved, shifting closer to her friend, wrapping her arms around him and drawing him close into a warm hug. She knows it's hard, she understands, but that doesn't make it any easier for the both of them; Red had lost a friend and Nodoka felt as though she had lost one too. So close but so far away... Shivering a little, she held onto her friend tighter.

"It's okay to cry, Red-san," Nodoka whispered. "I promise I won't tell anyone. Sometimes you just have to cry, right? Can you keep a secret?" She laughs softly, resting a head on his shoulder. "I've cried a lot too - not because my friend is gone, but because I pushed him away. That's s-silly, right? Because he's still here, but I was hiding from him? But it felt so bad... But then I remembered that he was still my friend and no matter what happened we had happy times."

The girl maintains the hug as she speaks, doing her best to comfort one of the people she felt closest to in this torturous city. They all had each other, in the end, and they always had their memories. That made parting easier, if only for a little while. "We can go for ice cream when you're ready, if you want."

[pristinestar]

Red didn't immediately embrace her back, but as he listened to her words, his heavy eyes faintly blurred out. He closed them, then finally returned the embrace as he did his best to nod at her. He'll keep that secret between them. Silently, he tightened his hold, just wanting Nodoka to stay with him for a while longer. She's warm, and that was all he needed right now... It's enough.

Eventually, he managed to start speaking again, "... Thank you, Nodoka. And I don't think that's silly. I'm sure... you have your reasons. And, we believe in you, too."

Red meant those words as he smiled a little now, but remained in the same position. He had enough strength to have his hand move up and stroke the back of the girl's head.

"... But we won't understand until these feelings are expressed. I hope that things look up for the two of you soon."

After saying that, he opened his two eyes again and then pulled back. He rubbed his face now, able to calm down after a while.

[libraria]

Nodoka was half sure her words wouldn't do anything to comfort her friend; their situations were different, but... But she'd felt the pain of people leaving before. She was sure she would feel it again; she had been here for so long and seen so many different kinds of people come and go. It was almost inevitable that someone she loved would disappear too. Still, she hoped that her embrace would offer him some comfort.

"... Thank you, Red-san, b-but it's okay," She smiled at him as he pulled away. "We'll all work things out, I'm sure. It just takes a little time and a little strength." She didn't have much courage, or she didn't feel as though she did, but admitting things made her feel a little better. Just holding onto Red for a moment more made her feel stronger - he believed in her too, just like Negi-sensei and Craig-san... She just had to believe in herself.

When he pulled away, Nodoka grinned a little brighter. "I'm sure they will! A-And... I'm sure your friend will be missed, but... You'll always be in each other's hearts. You just have to remember it." Nodding her head, Nodoka looked up at the sky. "Hm... I was going to ask if you wanted some ice cream, Red-san, b-but it's a little too cold. Hot chocolate?"

[pristinestar]

Red nodded to that, a good expression coming to him slowly. He'll definitely keep those in mind. He'll also be hoping the best for Nodoka's own state. But for now, the mere mention of food was certainly helping him lighten up. A smile crossed him, then a faint laugh as his tears stopped for now.

The smallest breath left him as he glanced out, once again he tried to strengthen himself.

"... I miss your cooking, Nodoka. Is it okay if we had waffles today?" he requested with a faint grin.