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It had been five years since Yonah was taken from him, five years without coming home to see his little girl's smiling face or getting hit with a really tight hug.
Five years without hearing her yell every time she saw him approach the house.
“Say there, are you alright? You've been staring at Kainé's petrified body for hours now.”
Nier snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Weiss speak up, he had almost forgotten that he had stopped on the way to see Popola and had been staring at Kainé's unmoving stone body.
“I'm fine, Weiss. Just got distracted.” Nier replied lightly, turning his head to look at Weiss only to mentally curse himself when he realized that he had turned his head to the left almost instinctively after hearing the ancient tome on that side.
Nier made a small noise when Weiss floated to move in front of him. “Your demeanor says otherwise, my foolish friend. When was the last time you slept?”
Nier raised his brow beneath the mask he had on, his tired weathered face shifting into a small frown. “Haven't been able to.” He replied curtly, turning slightly to walk past the grimoire and up the stairs to the second floor of the library.
“Now see here, my friend. You will be unable to find your dear Yonah if you die from exhaustion in some field.” Weiss said softly, floating up to block Nier's path.
Nier let his frown deepen, his remaining eye closing as he let out a sigh. “Weiss, I said I'm fi- Hey!” Nier cut off when a black and red hand burst from the tome and smacked him upside the head. He rubbed the back of his head and grumbled softly.
“Do not attempt to sell me that routine, you foolish oaf! I have watched you grow more desperate and stupid for five years, so much so that it cost you an eye.”
Nier felt his hand tighten into a fist at his side, he wanted to grab Weiss and shake him, wanted to just do something other than feel like a failure of a father. “A nap would just be a waste of time, Weiss. I can't just sleep while she's in the hands of some damn Shade.” Nier snapped, crossing his arms over his chest.
He watched as Weiss spun indignantly in the air and floated even closer to where the tome was pressed right against his face. “Lie to yourself all you wish, but do not attempt to pull the wool over my ancient eyes, Nier. Even the twins can see that you are slowly killing yourself in your desperation.”
Nier stepped back slightly to have a bit of personal space, letting out a soft sigh and a nod. “Fine. I'll try to sleep, doubt I'll be able to. Just… promise me something. If something happens to me out there, promise me you'll keep looking for her. Promise me you'll find her.”
He watched as Weiss simply hovered there silently, turning to move toward Popola's office before stopping at the door when Weiss finally spoke.
“If you fall in battle, I will continue the search for dear Yonah. Even if I must move through this desolate and dying world for a millenia in order to find her. And if I do… I will tell her how her father tried to reach her.”
Nier turned his head slightly to regard the old grimoire, letting a ghost of a smile appear on his face. “Thank you, Weiss.”