[ There's slight apprehension at first from Haru as she mulls over how time and time again her father had let her down. No apologies, no sincerity in his words and certainly no warm embrace to remind her of the love shared between them once.
Her body remembers all the wrong things first, yet misses the safety someone's arms provide.
As she rises and slips into a gentle embrace, the bustling of the street outside the cafe seems to fade into a muted hush and all she can hear is her own heart in her ribs.
All the handshakes, the little pats on her back and shoulders at the funeral, all meant to convey care rather than truly offer it.
And against Maruki, for the first time since Akira had pulled her into his own embrace upon her arrival, does she feel safe and cared for. ]
... thank you, Maruki-san.
[ She gives a gentle squeeze; maybe he needs this, too. ]
CRIES BLOOD WE CAN WRAP......... MAMARUKI HUGS FOR HARU WHENEVER SHE WANTS
[ He's grown far more used to casual affection in this reality than he ever did back home, but it still surprises him just how easily Haru fits into his arms, how comfortably she settles into the embrace. When last he saw her, she was bound and determined to put a stop to his tirade by any means possible, and now–
Now, Maruki tightens his arms ever so slightly around her shoulders, soothes one palm slowly back and forth across the top of her spine. ]
Any time. Really.
[ He stays quiet for a few moments longer, then, softer: ]
I'm sorry that you're hurting. This time, I'll won't take it from you. We'll walk through it together. That's my promise to you.
[ Sometimes the reprieve from her pain is nice. Blurred moments where she can forget watching her father's painful death on her phone screen, haunting gags as he struggled to breath echoed on every other Phantom Thief's phone around her.
Seeing it over and over online, even when she isn't looking for it.
But in their sobering reality, she remembers to embrace that pain as well; it's forced her to grow stronger, even if its method was cruel.
She nods against him, pressing further into Maruki's embrace.
It feels more like home for once. ]
I'd like to do that now then. I'm going to plant something new in one of the planters for Father... will you help me?
[ And though it isn't easy to peel herself away from Maruki, she looks forward to planting the seeds of something new with him. ]
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Her body remembers all the wrong things first, yet misses the safety someone's arms provide.
As she rises and slips into a gentle embrace, the bustling of the street outside the cafe seems to fade into a muted hush and all she can hear is her own heart in her ribs.
All the handshakes, the little pats on her back and shoulders at the funeral, all meant to convey care rather than truly offer it.
And against Maruki, for the first time since Akira had pulled her into his own embrace upon her arrival, does she feel safe and cared for. ]
... thank you, Maruki-san.
[ She gives a gentle squeeze; maybe he needs this, too. ]
CRIES BLOOD WE CAN WRAP......... MAMARUKI HUGS FOR HARU WHENEVER SHE WANTS
Now, Maruki tightens his arms ever so slightly around her shoulders, soothes one palm slowly back and forth across the top of her spine. ]
Any time. Really.
[ He stays quiet for a few moments longer, then, softer: ]
I'm sorry that you're hurting. This time, I'll won't take it from you. We'll walk through it together. That's my promise to you.
drags bloodied carcass to the end... wrapped 💝
Seeing it over and over online, even when she isn't looking for it.
But in their sobering reality, she remembers to embrace that pain as well; it's forced her to grow stronger, even if its method was cruel.
She nods against him, pressing further into Maruki's embrace.
It feels more like home for once. ]
I'd like to do that now then. I'm going to plant something new in one of the planters for Father... will you help me?
[ And though it isn't easy to peel herself away from Maruki, she looks forward to planting the seeds of something new with him. ]
WRAPT
It's only right, isn't it? When the weather turns warm again, he'll ask Haru to come help him fill the field of wildflowers on the farm once more. ]
Of course. Let's begin.