PC: Lavi

[sootprints]

Comments

[sootprints]

[ still brushing glitter out of her hair. she shakes her head. ]

No, I haven't.

[bookpapers]

[he nods]

I'll share mine with you. [a beat then] On Sunday, after all this is over.

[sootprints]

You're sure?

[bookpapers]

[he nods]

Yeah.

[Yuu's not here anymore to say no.]

[sootprints]

... Ah.

[ a little smoke at that. there's already some soot staining her clothes. they're probably going to be pitch black before the day's even half over. ]

Lavi...

[ ... I don't know what to say... ]

[bookpapers]

[his neutral expression finally breaks -- looking upset and exhausted and so worn down, but he shakes his head slowly.]

...Sorry. I didn't mean it like that.

[I didn't mean to make her feel guilty. God, Yuu would kick my ass. Yuu would...]

I would have said the same thing even if he was still alive. We're running out of options, and I heard some people got useful powers that could help with trial, so I figured maybe ours could be the same -- if we're partners.

[sootprints]

It's possible, yes.

[ she reaches out to put a sooty hand on his arm. ]

But I'm sure we will solve them. With or without additional powers.

[bookpapers]

[he puts a glittery hand over the sooty one.]

That's true. We haven't failed yet.

[As long as we solve at least one. As long as we solve Yuu's.

No. Not just him -- Ron and Tsumi too. I have to be fair. I have to be neutral. I have to be neutral. I have to be neutral. I have to be neutral.]

[sootprints]

... You don't have to be neutral.

[ she'll just respond to that thought directly. even if it's rude. ]

He's important to you. There's nothing wrong with making that your priority.

[bookpapers]

[...

at that he musters a smile,]

...I know.

[But I've always been the more messed up one, between the both of us.]

But if I'm gonna pull my weight, then I should do it for all of 'em.

[sootprints]

[ Is that really true...? ]

I see. Well, you won't have to do it alone.