zerotohiro | Some Legends Are Told, Some Turn To Dust Or To Gold [CEREALIA INBOX]

Figures. ...okay. Fifteen minutes?

[You're definitely brothers.]

Okay.

[He doesn't text back.

He doesn't bother texting back and instead packs up and heads out to meet Weiss at the specific cafe. It would only take him ten minutes to get there, another five to get himself settled with a to-go mocha and squashing himself into a chair at a table as far away from the door as possible. Of course, when Weiss does walk through the door he shrinks down into his hoodie but lifts the coffee cup up in a gesture of a greeting. Over here, Weiss. Come at him.]

[Weiss isn't far behind him, having left the cafe only long enough to avoid Hiro's entrance. Would it be less awkward to let him get situated before talking? Maybe? She's not a people expert.

A quick scan of the room finds the crumpled hoodie that is waving at her. You're doing a great job of looking like you don't want to be here, Hiro. Though Weiss' slumped shoulders and half-cocked smile probably give off the same vibe. Either way, she makes her way across the room and sits across from him.]

Okay, so before we get started, I just want to reiterate how sorry I am that all of this happened. I recognize that you and I never really got off on the right foot. I... also recognize that that's mostly my fault. [Mostly.] I've been abrasive and unaccommodating since the very beginning, and I'd to turn that around, if not just for our sake, then for Ruby's as well.

[Also Tadashi. She would like it if she never had to apologize for almost killing her little brother again.]

[At first he doesn't say anything. He watches her closely with the most closed off expression possible. He's not bothering to give her any sort of tells. That would be far too simple.

He's still suspicious and uncertain what this is all about, what Ruby or Tadashi may have told her. So he waits for her to talk and he nods at the end.]

Yeah. I know. [To...all of that. That she's sorry. That they got off to a bad start. That she's been abrasive and kind of scary and he shifts a little in his chair under her gaze.]

What made you finally change your mind? Just Ruby? [There's a tiny smirk, the first real show of any sort of emotion. Ruby's always capable of that though even when she's not even present.]

Tadashi, mostly. Of course Ruby had a lot to do with it too, but her happiness was my major concern from the beginning, so of course I want her to get what she wants.

[As long as its something that is good for her as well. That's why Weiss hides the cookies, that's why Weiss vetted her boyfriend.]

Do you really think I'm incapable of making Ruby happy? [It's an abrasive sort of question, but one he's actually worried about himself from time to time.]

...let's start with one thing at a time. Tadashi changed your mind. [He frowns lightly.] How?

I was worried about that before I met you, but now? Yeah, you'll be just fine.

[She was worried about her partner running off with some rando she didn't know. So sue her.]

But Tadashi explained some things that... put things in perspective.

[...oh no.]

What sort of things, Weiss? You're not making a ton of sense. When did you even talk to him anyway?

I know he's dead, Hiro.

[She won't beat around the bush.]

[Silence. There's pure silence and he gives her a look that practically screams "deer in the headlights." He still doesn't say anything but soon the silence is cut by the scraping of his chair against the floor as he pushes himself from the table.

But he stops. His intent had been to walk away and pretend this never happened, but rationally...? Even if they don't talk, Weiss will know. And there's nothing he can do to change that. So he stops, staring at the table top and his coffee instead.]

Surprised he even told you that part.

[Weiss notices Hiro's attempt to leave, but is glad when he decides to stay. Running away from this would have been throwing away his last chance at her friendship.]

I guess he felt he needed to. Tadashi is a very open and honest person.

[There is the distinct possibility he just doesn't want to talk about this, much less with someone he's not entirely comfortable with. Maybe it would be worth throwing away that chance when he's very much not sure he wants to continue.

But Tadashi brought it up himself for one reason or another.]

He's always been that way. It's sort of a problem for him. [He's trying to sound annoyed, but he sounds more sad than anything. Goddamnit, Weiss. Do you really wanna do this?] I don't need you to feel sorry for me, Weiss. Is that why you brought me here? Are you trying to prove you're a bigger person by apologizing just because of our "situation" and it makes you look bad to dislike somebody who's lost his family? [The "our" of course is him and Tadashi. He doesn't mean most of what he's saying though. He just feels a little trapped suddenly. Please forgive him. He doesn't know what to say other than to lash out inappropriately.]

[She shakes her head.]

It's nothing like that. I don't know what it's like to go through what you did with Tadashi. My older sister is one of the few people I really care about, and thinking about her dying would tear me up.

[Sigh.] But that's beside the point. Talking to Tadashi made me realize how dearly you hold onto the people you love, and I just wanted to say that... I respect that.

So I don't want us to keep fighting. I'm not going to get in the way of you and Ruby anymore. We don't have to be friends, but I think she'd appreciate it if we were at least civil.

[...surprisingly, Weiss has said just the right thing to get him to ease up. Just like that, all of the fight drains out of him and he slumps back in his chair, staring at her with an expression that can really only be described as "lost." Doesn't matter if he's wearing a superhero suit and protecting everyone he can, and it doesn't matter if he's mature for his age and smarter than most people he knows. The fact remains that at the end of the day he's still a fourteen year old boy who's loved and lost a lot of people and she's right. He holds on for dear life just to make sure they won't disappear on him again.

It's a problem he's aware of, but not one he can fix immediately. He's considering Weiss's words then. They should...really do this for Ruby. They can work toward being friends in their own right, but the common denominator here is someone so important to both of them.]

...I can do civil. [He sneaks a peek up at her.] I guess I just want to say that...I care about Ruby a lot. More than almost anyone else I've cared about in my life, but you've gotta remember that when we leave this place? I'm not going to be the one who gets to go with her. It's you. And...I've gotta remember that she needs both of us. So I won't get in the way of you two either. You're her partner, Weiss. I can't compare to that.

Guess this is a truce then?

Some Legends Are Told, Some Turn To Dust Or To Gold [CEREALIA INBOX]

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