The shudder that escapes Lucy when the hated name comes up prompts Musashi to rub the Edgerunner's back, a calming, reassuring gesture. Smasher is out there, in the city somewhere. Later will come the news stories that a hover car broke the cordon around the mall, footage of Smasher boarding it on the roof, taken from nearby buildings, his chassis scorched and half his face gone, disappearing into the depths of the city. Someone hurt him. The full-borged boogeyman might have had his fun, but there on the screen is the proof he's not invincible. He got hurt. Musashi will want to know who did that. It's someone she will want to introduce to Lucy.
But that will come later. Now, Musashi will offer comfort, a gesture of reassurance he isn't here, can't take this moment from them.
When Lucy studies her face, staring deep into Musashi's eyes, the Berserker leans into her touch, gently nuzzling her cheek against Lucy's hand, smiling contentedly at the sensation. Lucy has nice hands.
The laugh is painful, but relieved, and yet a painful reminder of what Musashi's impetuous action did to Lucy. "I'm sorry. I never wanted to make you think I was gone. I knew I could trust Tenma, but...if I had stopped to think for just a moment, I might have realized...I never want to be the cause of your tears."
She runs a hand through Lucy's silvery hair, letting her fingers brush lightly through, with a thoughtful expression. Time to be brave. To more properly articulate the wish she'd spoken of before, on the aXess.
"Hey, Lucy...I know there's pain in your past. Hard things. I know you've lost people." Rebecca she knows, saw the memory of her last conversation, felt the weight of Lucy's regret of all the things left unsaid, and how brightly she died, a last moment of defiance.
Smasher killed her, but Rebecca did not give him her fear, wouldn't let him have that which he craved. And that defiance is worthy of respect, from one warrior to another.
But Rebecca wasn't the only one, of that Musashi feels in her bones. Lucy has lost so many more than just her, and each loss deadened her sense of hope. And the way Rebecca's voice glitched, concealing a memory so deeply, tightly locked away that not even the sword could draw it out unbidden, speaking of a loss beyond all others.
And the shadow of someone Musashi had not realized she had been standing in the whole time as she and Lucy grew closer.
"I wanna be the one you can share that with." Musashi continues. "To know your sorrows as much as your joys. I wanna to know about the ones you cared for, because they're the people who helped you become you."
She pulls back a bit, sliding her hands down to take Lucy's in her own. "You've carried so much for so long...more than anyone should have to bear. So, if there ever comes a time when you think you can speak of them, I'd like to listen. So I can help you bear it all. And...help you keep their memories alive, if you'd allow me that privilege."
She smiles again, and her own eyes are glistening now. Musashi has jumped into battle against deadly, unimaginable odds without hesitation, yet to ask for this, to help ease Lucy's pain...this, Musashi feared. Feared that it might cause her to lose Lucy, to drive her away for good.
Maybe if she'd been braver, they could have been ready when Smasher was air-dropped into their lives like a nightmare made real.
no subject
But that will come later. Now, Musashi will offer comfort, a gesture of reassurance he isn't here, can't take this moment from them.
When Lucy studies her face, staring deep into Musashi's eyes, the Berserker leans into her touch, gently nuzzling her cheek against Lucy's hand, smiling contentedly at the sensation. Lucy has nice hands.
The laugh is painful, but relieved, and yet a painful reminder of what Musashi's impetuous action did to Lucy. "I'm sorry. I never wanted to make you think I was gone. I knew I could trust Tenma, but...if I had stopped to think for just a moment, I might have realized...I never want to be the cause of your tears."
She runs a hand through Lucy's silvery hair, letting her fingers brush lightly through, with a thoughtful expression. Time to be brave. To more properly articulate the wish she'd spoken of before, on the aXess.
"Hey, Lucy...I know there's pain in your past. Hard things. I know you've lost people." Rebecca she knows, saw the memory of her last conversation, felt the weight of Lucy's regret of all the things left unsaid, and how brightly she died, a last moment of defiance.
Smasher killed her, but Rebecca did not give him her fear, wouldn't let him have that which he craved. And that defiance is worthy of respect, from one warrior to another.
But Rebecca wasn't the only one, of that Musashi feels in her bones. Lucy has lost so many more than just her, and each loss deadened her sense of hope. And the way Rebecca's voice glitched, concealing a memory so deeply, tightly locked away that not even the sword could draw it out unbidden, speaking of a loss beyond all others.
And the shadow of someone Musashi had not realized she had been standing in the whole time as she and Lucy grew closer.
"I wanna be the one you can share that with." Musashi continues. "To know your sorrows as much as your joys. I wanna to know about the ones you cared for, because they're the people who helped you become you."
She pulls back a bit, sliding her hands down to take Lucy's in her own. "You've carried so much for so long...more than anyone should have to bear. So, if there ever comes a time when you think you can speak of them, I'd like to listen. So I can help you bear it all. And...help you keep their memories alive, if you'd allow me that privilege."
She smiles again, and her own eyes are glistening now. Musashi has jumped into battle against deadly, unimaginable odds without hesitation, yet to ask for this, to help ease Lucy's pain...this, Musashi feared. Feared that it might cause her to lose Lucy, to drive her away for good.
Maybe if she'd been braver, they could have been ready when Smasher was air-dropped into their lives like a nightmare made real.