The Dragon Master’s breath catches in his throat, a knee-jerk reaction that only serves to heighten your confusion and concern.
The silence that lingers after that question hangs heavy between the two of you. He refuses to look back at you, refuses to answer aloud for far too long.
It makes your mind wander, as he mulls it over- clearly, he knows many things that you don’t. What exactly about Red would have him go so quiet? After how open he’d been about everything, why was he…?
“It’s nothing against him.”
Lance’s voice cuts off your thoughts. Ah- you’d started to space out. He’s looking at you again, a more somber expression on his face.
“Then what is it? If something’s wrong with MY brother, don’t I deserve to know?” you ask in turn, when he fails to follow up on his words.
“There’s nothing WRONG with him,” he answers quickly, seeming to bristle a bit. “It’s just…”
“Just what?”
“I- I can’t exactly provide a clear answer to you, miss. You and your brother are people that I can’t understand like other things. That’s what unsettles me so much.
Neither of you belong in this world. I can’t see the two of you like I can everything else. Him especially. Only what’s occurred while you’re both within this place. So I’m…”
Lance trails off again. You tense your jaw, frustration bubbling in you.
Breathe, Leaf- in, hold, out, hold. Repeat. Breathe.
Though your attempt to calm only does so much- your next words still coming out with an audible bite:
“Get to the point.”
“I’m SCARED for you!” he finally snaps back, before sighing heavily and pinching the bridge of his nose.
“… Red is NOT someone to be scared of,” you reply while the man regains his composure, “you don’t know him like I do.”
“I understand that well. Don’t assume I don’t. I might as well have a sibling of my own- I know how those things are.”
His walking slows down, and he runs a hand over his face and back through his hair.
“This just… it doesn’t sit right with me. What he said to you back there, to ‘keep going’… He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He doesn’t belong here. Doesn’t know this place, or what lies ahead. And if he does…”
He swallows thickly.
“… I’m scared that he doesn’t have your best interest in mind. You should be going back, not forward.”
“You don’t know anything about him, then,” you spit, glaring at Lance.
“He’s already saved me multiple times! He’s never done or told me anything that wasn’t in my best interest. He LOVES me, I KNOW it-”
“You didn’t seem very sure of that in Mr. Fuji’s home.”
Your words die in your throat.
…
“… But I trust him,” you insist, your voice weaker than you’d wanted it to be.
“I… I trust him. You don’t have to. But I do. And I will never, ever stop. The… the amount of times, that he’s saved me- even just helped me- in weird ways, with stuff he really shouldn’t know… I couldn’t even begin to count. Why would this suddenly be different? Why would he turn against me now?”
You look down, finally breaking eye contact with the older man.
“… So I’m gonna keep going. No offense, but… I trust him more than I trust a guy I just met that’s a weird version of someone who only cared about me as a challenger.”
“…それ以上に君のことを気にかけていたんだ、リーフ。”
“Huh?”
“Nothing,” he sighs, shaking his head.
“I know my words have no sway over you in regards to this- and I won’t be able to travel beyond this void. I’m just begging you- please consider another way. I don’t want you to end up like… I- I don’t want you to get hurt.”
You look up at him again, meeting the man’s pleading eyes. Even though you still feel that bitterness crawling inside of you…
You can’t deny the sincerity in his eyes.
“Well…” you mutter, finally caving just a little.
“If it gives you peace of mind… I’ll be careful. Just have a little faith in me, okay? I’m confident that everything will be alright.”
“… Of course. I… I believe in you. I know that you’re a strong girl- it’ll take more than this to topple you.”