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Mm...

[ That doesn't really make him feel better now, but he believes her. If anything, he can count on Rita not to sugarcoat anything.

Like her using "abandoning" there. He doesn't even need to piece together what she saw; if it wasn't in the City, there's only one time it could be. His mouth is pulled in a straight line as he thinks of it. ]

That...That was a few years ago... Before we started travelling together.

[ He's not sure if he ever told her about that, though. ]

[She's definitely not one to sugarcoat it. Not that she feels any better about this, either, watching his reaction. She doesn't think he ever told her about it...It's like there are so many things she doesn't really know about him, after all.]

So that really happened...Then they're all real.

[Her expression falls grim. Not so much because of this vision, but the other one she saw.]

Tyr...The other one--I saw you fighting. It was your father.

[ He hates this curse and everything it's told them about each other. He should have expected that she'd see the two of the most shameful events in his life. It's not that he doesn't trust her with his experiences; he just didn't want anyone to know.

But he can admit to it with her. ] ...Yeah. That really happened, too...

[They haven't made her think any less of him. She doesn't really know what to make of his desertion--not knowing exactly what he left behind--but in a fight to the death with his father...She can't begin to imagine how awful he must have felt. She can't believe it actually happened; she feels stunned.]

But...Why?

[ He doesn't really want to answer that, but she's beside him. She'd know he didn't just forget his device if he didn't answer. And he can't hide how tense just talking about it makes him. If anything, he's learned denying it doesn't change the facts of what happened. ]

Because we had to...

[ He lets his head fall to her shoulder. Partially to hide how blank his eyes are as he stares at the wall. Partially because he feels better like this. ]

Back then, we were just generals. So...

[ Someday he'll learn how to talk about these things. Someday. ]

[Seeing how tense and miserable he seems, she knows she can't keep asking him, even if it doesn't make sense to her. It didn't seem like they were "just" generals--not just enemies facing each other in battle.]

I just...didn't get it.

[She moves her arms around him to hug him.]

Sorry. You don't have to talk about it.

[ He reciprocates the hug instantly. She needs it just as much as he does even if she doesn't know all the secrets he knows about her. With his face buried in her shoulder, he can feel everything coming back again. He won't let himself cry, but for all he wants to detach himself, he can't. ]

You don't need to be sorry... And you don't need to talk about that other vision, either...

[ Since he really does want to know... She deserves to know what she saw first, though. ]

[She holds him tightly, not so much wishing she hadn't found out--as that wouldn't change the fact that it happened--but hoping she can alleviate some of his sadness.

And although she has a feeling it's bad, she has to know what he saw...She keeps her voice quiet as she asks.]

What was it?

I don't know... You told me things got better...

[ Did he admit to seeing two visions? Because he'll be denying that now. He knows her feelings, and he doesn't want to bring them up to her again. She doesn't deserve to be in that kind of pain.

As for his own sadness, he wishes Rita could take some of it away. ]

Oh, that one...Yeah. It did. I smacked him a good one later.

[She actually doesn't mind talking about it. It might help take his mind off of things...

But he definitely admitted to seeing two visions earlier, so she presses-]

Tyr, what was the other one?

[ He scoffs at that, patting her back. That's his Rita. ] If you didn't, I would have to.

[ But...he can still play dumb. ]

The other what?

[At least that sounds a little more normal.] If he ever comes back, you can. Everyone took their turn.

[She shifts her head a little curiously, but keeps it buried in Tyr's shoulder. Was he just agreeing with her about seeing the visions, then?]

Vision. Did you see any others?

[ He rubs her back a little more. Mostly because he wants to. ] Just point him out to me and I will.

[ As much as he wants to lie about it, he can't do it with Rita. He'd feel too guilty. With some difficulty, he confesses: ]

...Yeah, I saw one other... But you don't need to remember it, either. I don't want you to keep feeling guilty over something that's not your fault. [ He wraps an arm around her head. ]

I will, if he ever pops up. [She sounds less like she hates him and more like she misses him a bit. She only ever sees him on that visitors' day now.

And when he says that, she's quiet for a moment. But she wants to know.] Guilty...? Tyr?

[There is something she thinks of when it comes to guilt, though. Is that what he saw?]

[ She really does. He must have been her friend when he betrayed her, too. He still had no right to do that to her. ] He might sometime...

[ He wasn't there when it actually happened. All he could do was send her help after everyone else had taken her down and saved...whoever was left to be saved. His hand starts stroking her back before he answers. ] I don't know... When I saw those visions, I could feel something, too...and you shouldn't feel that way still...

He was when I first got here, so, yeah... [She hadn't realized exactly how he'd become her friend until he betrayed them, and it really did hurt...It hurt so much at the time.

She sort of wishes he'd just come right out and say it clearly, but she thinks she gets it. She wonders what he felt...And now she holds him a bit more tightly.]

So...it was that. When I was different.

[ His voice is a little hopeful for her. As long as Raven is her friend, he wants her to see him again. ] So there's a chance.

[ When he returns the embrace, it's completely for her. ] It wasn't you at all. No matter how things could have gone, you were just being controlled then.

[She nods. She knows she will--one way or another.

This is a pretty crappy curse, Rita's decided. She keeps her head resting in his shoulder, knowing he's right, even though she can never quite get rid of the sense of guilt--or the fear.] I just don't want it to happen again.

I know... [ He cuddles against her shoulder. ] If it happens again, I'll find a way to stop it... You won't need to be forced to hurt anyone.

[She holds him tight and nods. His reassurance does make her feel a little better, and she trusts him to do what he has to if it ever comes up.] Thanks...

[ He doesn't know if he'd be able to kill her now if that needed to be done. There have to be other ways to stop her, though. His response is just a mumble against her shoulder. ] And don't forget how important your life is.

[As long as he can stop her without getting hurt himself...Regardless of how it would happen, that's all she wants.] Huh? Tyr...?

[ Maybe he should buy his own wind rune... Otherwise, he doesn't know how he'll stop her without brute force. ]

Just that... [ He wraps his arms around her more tightly. ]

[There are so many feelings she has around that curse, she can't even guess what Tyr felt. But she nods against his shoulder, anyway.] I'll remember...

Thanks... [ He presses a little kiss against her neck. It was a weird thing to say, but more than anything, he hated that feeling. ]

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