[And he's quietly giving her a handkerchief. It's an acknowledgement of the fact that she is weak: it's an acknowledgement that she needs this moment to herself, and that he is there for her for as long as he needs her to be.]
[ Maggie stares at the handkerchief for a while, like she's not sure what to make of it, much less do with it. Her eyes flick up to Aidan's and she breathes in and out, blinking every so often before she ducks her head, shoulders hunched as she takes it from his offered hand.
She doesn't wipe at her tears, just holds the square fabric between two sets of fingers and worries at the smooth texture.
When she finally speaks, the words are accompanied by a shrug, and her voice is so very small. ]
We always knew. [ She takes a breath. ] But it was different.
[ She smoothes out the handkerchief over one knee, remembering how her mother had asked them to both sit down on the leaf-strewn floor of earth in the middle of the forest. The way she'd been their mother one minute, a fox the next, padding over on four tiny feet and settling across her lap and Renae's.
If you're talking about being a fox like her, then yes. If you're talking about whether everything will work out for you and Renae the same way it has for her...
[ She doesn't expect that last part, doesn't expect the kindness even if she'd wanted it. Badly.
She drops her head. ]
Did he mean it?
[ She can't wrap her voice around an I'm sorry just yet, especially since the apology isn't supposed to be for Aidan anyway. But her body language, the way she feels so terribly small speaks enough. She'll have to make it up to her classmate.
[ For being a selfish brat. For not being smart enough to realize when someone wanted to make friends. For making such a fuss that you had to step in. ]
[ Both hands come up to latch onto his ( she's a small thing, she's only eight, ) fingers threading together halfway.
There's only a moment of hesitation before she pulls herself to her feet -- and the slightest tilt of her head in her brother's direction, before the motion is aborted and her full attention is back on the Voidseeker.
And because all is well now, she peers up at him. ] Do you really eat mean little children?
[ It's a... thing. Among the older students. She's seen Renae go livid at the idea of it, a total affront to the fact that her brother is in awe of the Dragon, head to tail.
She does shrink a half-second after she realizes she might have spoken out of turn, and blinks up at him with a tense and apologetic look of welp. ]
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[And he's quietly giving her a handkerchief. It's an acknowledgement of the fact that she is weak: it's an acknowledgement that she needs this moment to herself, and that he is there for her for as long as he needs her to be.]
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She doesn't wipe at her tears, just holds the square fabric between two sets of fingers and worries at the smooth texture.
When she finally speaks, the words are accompanied by a shrug, and her voice is so very small. ]
We always knew. [ She takes a breath. ] But it was different.
[ She smoothes out the handkerchief over one knee, remembering how her mother had asked them to both sit down on the leaf-strewn floor of earth in the middle of the forest. The way she'd been their mother one minute, a fox the next, padding over on four tiny feet and settling across her lap and Renae's.
Her face turns up to the Voidseeker again. ]
Do you think we will? Be like her, one day.
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[He smiles.]
Yes. I believe that you'll both be okay.
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She drops her head. ]
Did he mean it?
[ She can't wrap her voice around an I'm sorry just yet, especially since the apology isn't supposed to be for Aidan anyway. But her body language, the way she feels so terribly small speaks enough. She'll have to make it up to her classmate.
And to Renae. ]
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[If he didn't, well... Aidan wouldn't have stepped in at all.]
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And then, softly: ]
I'm sorry, sir.
[ For being a selfish brat. For not being smart enough to realize when someone wanted to make friends. For making such a fuss that you had to step in. ]
Mom's going to be mad.
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It's all right. I'll make sure to have a word with your mother about this, just to clarify things.
[And about a number of other things, of course. But Maggie doesn't have to bother herself with that.]
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--before she leans in, her forehead bumping his arm. ]
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Tell me when you'd like to go back. I'll speak to your teachers for you.
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I have to say sorry to-- [ she frowns, hard, remembering. ] Alan.
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[Standing up now, and taking just one moment out to brush the grass off of his pants before turning around and offering his hand to his companion.]
Shall we?
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There's only a moment of hesitation before she pulls herself to her feet -- and the slightest tilt of her head in her brother's direction, before the motion is aborted and her full attention is back on the Voidseeker.
And because all is well now, she peers up at him. ] Do you really eat mean little children?
[ It's a... thing. Among the older students. She's seen Renae go livid at the idea of it, a total affront to the fact that her brother is in awe of the Dragon, head to tail.
She does shrink a half-second after she realizes she might have spoken out of turn, and blinks up at him with a tense and apologetic look of welp. ]
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Now, in an incredibly serious tone:]
I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that I do.
[But if there's one thing he can't erase, it's the warmth in his eyes.]
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Do I count?
[ She shuffles her feet a little at that. ]
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[The smile is back, just to show her that he was joking.
Maybe.]
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Maggie's hands latch onto Aidan's arm and she leans her head affectionately against his skin.
Easily won, the loyalty of this one. ]