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Honestly, he’s not sure what got it started; one minute he’s fine, the next he’s pressed himself into a wall squeezing his legs into himself as he heaves out sobs.
Thankfully, no one’s here. He really doesn’t want anyone to see him like this.
Not even Paimon.
Why is this happening now?
He’s crying so hard he can barely breathe.
He doesn’t want anyone to see him. Here, he’s supposed to be a hero, the Traveler everyone relies on.
He doesn’t want to be the hero right now.
He doesn’t want to be the Traveler either.
He wants someone to see him like this. He wants someone to hold him and tell him that everything’s going to be okay.
He wants Lumine.
But she doesn't want him.
Is she mad at him?
Why is she hurting so many people? That’s not her. She’s cold, but she’s not cruel.
She’d never hurt someone if they didn’t hurt her.
The sobs get harder, making it feel like his throat it’s ripping apart and bleeding.
What is he supposed to find out? Does she want him to hate everyone like she does?
He can’t do that. He wants her to come back but he can’t just hurt these people.
Why is this happening?
What happened to her?
The shaking starts, growing more intense by the second.
Is he going to have to fight her?
He can’t fight his sister!
But, she can’t hurt all these people!
Doesn’t she see how cruel she’s being?!
Why couldn’t she just go leave with him?!
Why did she leave him alone?
His heart’s racing so fast, faster than it probably should.
Is he going to die?
…It makes sense; if your heart gets ripped out of your chest, you should die.
It’s science.
A body can’t operate without a heart.
And his can’t get fixed without her.
He can’t do it.
He’s never been without her, he can’t live without her.
It hurts. It hurts so bad.
Sobs come out like screams.
Someone help him, he can’t…
“Aether?”
He looks up, sees Paimon and Amber’s worried faces.
When did…When did they get here?
He was alone.
“What’s wrong?” Amber asks, quietly, nervously.
That’s wrong, Amber’s not supposed to sound like that. He doesn’t like it when she sounds like that.
Paimon’s not supposed to be crying either, but there she is.
Like she always is.
She’s always there.
He should say something to calm them down.
He should stop crying, try to get his heartbeat under control.
He can’t.
All he can do is try to quiet his sobs down and whimper.
That doesn’t seem to be a problem, Paimon still floats on over and squeezes as hard as she can. He grips her back hard, indulging in her sympathy.
“Paimon shouldn’t have left you alone,” she says to herself. “Paimon’s sorry.”
He shakes his head viciously because he can’t get any comforting words out.
It’s not her responsibility to make him feel better.
But he’s glad she is.
“I…” he tries. “I…”
“Shhh,” Amber soothes as she walks over and scoops the two into her arms. “You don’t have to say anything right now.”
As she walks them up the stairs to the bedroom, she places a kiss on his forehead. “You just get some rest, Aether. You’ve earned it.” She gives him a small smile. “Your friends are here to take care of you now.”
He sniffles at that.
Once she lays them down on the bed, Paimon adjusts herself to cradle Aether’s head in her tiny arms.
“Paimon won’t let you get lonely like this again,” she vows. “She promises. So don’t be afraid to let Paimon know when you need her.”
And she places her own kiss on his forehead.
He’s still crying, but nods. His body finally starts to calm down, pain giving way to exhaustion.
His eyelids grow heavy as a blanket’s tucked around him.
“We’re here,” Amber whispers.
“Mmhmm,” Paimon agrees, snuggling into him.
He knows.
He drifts off to sleep before he can try to say anything.
It’s alright. They know.
And they’ll be there when he wakes up so he can try again.