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[... He's relieved. The soft sigh is totally faint, and barely audible, but it's definitely there.
And then he clears his throat. Focus, Leon!!]
Then it was just one of the strange situations this place puts people in, just as the other said. There isn't anything else to it.
[He may be trying to convince himself more than anything.]
And then he clears his throat. Focus, Leon!!]
Then it was just one of the strange situations this place puts people in, just as the other said. There isn't anything else to it.
[He may be trying to convince himself more than anything.]
[... It's a critical hit.
Leon grimaces for a moment (it's a good thing Otome can't see his expression), and for a moment, the silence drags.
... He can think of plenty of reasons for Stahn to at least be wary of him, honestly. Probably not fear--Stahn wasn't the fearful sort. But... it's not like anyone should really accept a traitor back into their lives with open arms, right?
And yet...]
... You don't know anything. Don't talk about what you don't understand.
Leon grimaces for a moment (it's a good thing Otome can't see his expression), and for a moment, the silence drags.
... He can think of plenty of reasons for Stahn to at least be wary of him, honestly. Probably not fear--Stahn wasn't the fearful sort. But... it's not like anyone should really accept a traitor back into their lives with open arms, right?
And yet...]
... You don't know anything. Don't talk about what you don't understand.
[ Ah. It's time for the silence to inch by on Otome's end, if just because she's thinking. So there was something. Something Leon may not have entirely come to terms with, that she had touched upon not as gently as she would have preferred. ]
... I don't understand. I also don't intend to ask, until you're willing to tell me.
But I still believe what I said. His fear of you must have been entirely against his will.
[ Stahn didn't seem like the sort to be afraid of someone like Leon, and Leon's worry for him? There was a bond there, she's certain of it. ]
... I don't understand. I also don't intend to ask, until you're willing to tell me.
But I still believe what I said. His fear of you must have been entirely against his will.
[ Stahn didn't seem like the sort to be afraid of someone like Leon, and Leon's worry for him? There was a bond there, she's certain of it. ]
[He definitely doesn't want to talk about it, so that definitely classifies as "unwilling to tell her". Otome has been...strangely nice to him. Without good reason, really. But without any strings attached, too. She doesn't ask him for anything. She doesn't try to use her kindness against him like some sort of leverage.
He's starting to believe that this is just how she is--though of course, he'll have to wait and watch and see for a bit longer.
So... what would she think of him, if she knew? She knows Stahn, she likes Stahn. Of course she does--everyone does (everyone should, really). To learn that he betrayed Stahn, and tried to kill him... would she be disgusted? As disgusted as he is? Maybe.
He's quiet for a long moment, before he huffs, and it's only a little shakier than usual.]
Hmph. I don't recall asking for your attempts at comfort either.
[But.... even so, it helps to hear it. Stahn said it too, of course; Stahn was totally apologetic and upset over it. But even so... what if there had been something there? But if Otome thinks so too then... maybe he's just overthinking it.]
He's starting to believe that this is just how she is--though of course, he'll have to wait and watch and see for a bit longer.
So... what would she think of him, if she knew? She knows Stahn, she likes Stahn. Of course she does--everyone does (everyone should, really). To learn that he betrayed Stahn, and tried to kill him... would she be disgusted? As disgusted as he is? Maybe.
He's quiet for a long moment, before he huffs, and it's only a little shakier than usual.]
Hmph. I don't recall asking for your attempts at comfort either.
[But.... even so, it helps to hear it. Stahn said it too, of course; Stahn was totally apologetic and upset over it. But even so... what if there had been something there? But if Otome thinks so too then... maybe he's just overthinking it.]
That wasn't meant to be an attempt.
[ Softly. Don't think she didn't hear the slight tremble in his breath-- ]
Just my opinion, that's all. This event made things uncomfortable for a lot of people, and I'm sorry that it had to happen to the both of you.
[ Leon seemed so young, despite acting to the contrary, and Stahn had his own blinding sense of innocence. She could be annoyed, for what these books had done to them, to Trowa, to-- well, even Kogami.
Truthfully, she isn't happy with how things turned out at all. ]
[ Softly. Don't think she didn't hear the slight tremble in his breath-- ]
Just my opinion, that's all. This event made things uncomfortable for a lot of people, and I'm sorry that it had to happen to the both of you.
[ Leon seemed so young, despite acting to the contrary, and Stahn had his own blinding sense of innocence. She could be annoyed, for what these books had done to them, to Trowa, to-- well, even Kogami.
Truthfully, she isn't happy with how things turned out at all. ]
[It's...her opinion. He can't deny that, but even so, his response is a bristling--]
I don't want it either way.
[Opinion. Comfort. It doesn't matter. He doesn't want it. He's fine on his own--he has to be fine, right?]
I'm fine, as I've said, and Stahn is-- [...well. Stahn is sad. But... Leon is sure he'll rebound. It's what Stahn does, right?
(It's what he needs him to do, because Leon doesn't know how to deal with a Stahn that doesn't.)] --he is too empty-headed to focus on such things for long.
I don't want it either way.
[Opinion. Comfort. It doesn't matter. He doesn't want it. He's fine on his own--he has to be fine, right?]
I'm fine, as I've said, and Stahn is-- [...well. Stahn is sad. But... Leon is sure he'll rebound. It's what Stahn does, right?
(It's what he needs him to do, because Leon doesn't know how to deal with a Stahn that doesn't.)] --he is too empty-headed to focus on such things for long.
But it doesn't mean he's entirely all right now. [ Otome knows better than most that not everyone can bounce back as quickly as they act. Leon probably included, but she's not about to call his coping abilities into question. ]
I'll check up on him in a bit, but if you could also look out for him... I'd appreciate it.
I'll check up on him in a bit, but if you could also look out for him... I'd appreciate it.
[... Well. If she's not questioning him, but is asking him to look out for Stahn... he supposes he can do that. For her.
Not like he already was totally going to do that anyway, because it's Stahn and Stahn has things to do back home and Leon is going to make sure that he gets home safely to do it--
Well. It's not like it's an unreasonable request.]
... It isn't as though doing something like that will be trouble for me. So there is no need for appreciation; he is impossible to get rid of anyway.
[Honestly.... he's already living with Stahn, so.]
Not like he already was totally going to do that anyway, because it's Stahn and Stahn has things to do back home and Leon is going to make sure that he gets home safely to do it--
Well. It's not like it's an unreasonable request.]
... It isn't as though doing something like that will be trouble for me. So there is no need for appreciation; he is impossible to get rid of anyway.
[Honestly.... he's already living with Stahn, so.]
It would be rude to assume, as you've so kindly reminded me already. But I'm glad to know that he's in good hands.
[ He has Leon looking out for him, it seems. She feels a little better about things already. And if Leon looks out for Stahn, odds are that Stahn is also looking out for Leon.
And Otome, of course, will look after them both when she can. ]
[ He has Leon looking out for him, it seems. She feels a little better about things already. And if Leon looks out for Stahn, odds are that Stahn is also looking out for Leon.
And Otome, of course, will look after them both when she can. ]
[Of course he has Leon--reluctantly or not, their destinies are intertwined now, and Leon can't deny that. Either way, he's embarrassed by what he sees as glowing praise, so he just coughs awkwardly.]
Yes, well. If nothing else, nothing would take Stahn down so easily.
[... That almost sounded like praise, Leon, better be careful.]
He is too idiotic to dwell on something like this.
[That's better.]
Yes, well. If nothing else, nothing would take Stahn down so easily.
[... That almost sounded like praise, Leon, better be careful.]
He is too idiotic to dwell on something like this.
[That's better.]
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