[Kyrie remembers the day she had met Nero. She remembers the sullen little boy sat apart from the other children in the orphanage, glowering at everyone. He had a bruise on his cheek and a swollen bottom lip. Mother and Father had been talking to Sister Sesta about what they could do to help support the orphanage's work, Credo had been introduced to one of his new instructors and was hanging off his every word and Kyrie had been left to her own devices to meet the orphans. She had felt uncomfortable, eyed with jealousy by a group of whispering girls slightly older than her, who made remarks about her best dress (Mother had said it was important to look one's best for these things), and she hadn't felt like stopping by to coo over the toddlers in the nursery. She had hurried over to the boy in the corner, feeling sorry for the sorry state of his face, and immediately offered him one of the chocolate coated caramels she had smuggled into the building. His eyes had lit up and he had smiled the brightest, most genuine and endearing smile she had ever seen, and she had immediately asked if he would like to be her friend.
She had never been ignorant to what people had said about him, never entertained the gossip that he was some ill-gotten bastard left on the orphanage's doorstep. She knows he was bullied, knows what it takes to earn his trust, and for him to trust deeply is something she knows takes him a long time. Even now she can count on one hand the number of people he would openly admit to trusting.
And she's so torn, because she would shout from the rooftops how deeply she trusts Nero and that will never change but this? This is so different from anything else because it's his family. Of course his judgement comes with the complicated influence of emotions added to the mix.
Her own aren't making things any easier.
His attempt at a kiss grounds her, makes her shift to brush her fingers through his hair in an effort to comfort him. He's so tense in her arms, and the way he's pleading with her to let him keep giving his father a chance to prove himself-
He loves me
Kyrie's breath catches at that, shaking as she cries against him because she can't possibly contend with that. It's family, it's his blood, it's what he's always dreamed of since he was that bruised, lonely little boy she shared her candy with with. How can he possibly think she'd want to take that away from him?
Because that so-called family nearly took him away from her. Permanently. What right does he have to muscle in and hurt him again? Nero's always kept her safe, as he says, and she has always tried to do the same in her own way. Shouldn't she stop this now, before Vergil has the chance to hurt him again?
...it's an awful, bitter thing to think and she's disgusted with herself.
It's even worse because from the outset, she herself has wanted to like and trust his father, and be liked by him in return.
Now? What can she even do or say?
She still has no words.
She kisses the crown of his head instead, and holds him tight.]
no subject
She had never been ignorant to what people had said about him, never entertained the gossip that he was some ill-gotten bastard left on the orphanage's doorstep. She knows he was bullied, knows what it takes to earn his trust, and for him to trust deeply is something she knows takes him a long time. Even now she can count on one hand the number of people he would openly admit to trusting.
And she's so torn, because she would shout from the rooftops how deeply she trusts Nero and that will never change but this? This is so different from anything else because it's his family. Of course his judgement comes with the complicated influence of emotions added to the mix.
Her own aren't making things any easier.
His attempt at a kiss grounds her, makes her shift to brush her fingers through his hair in an effort to comfort him. He's so tense in her arms, and the way he's pleading with her to let him keep giving his father a chance to prove himself-
He loves me
Kyrie's breath catches at that, shaking as she cries against him because she can't possibly contend with that. It's family, it's his blood, it's what he's always dreamed of since he was that bruised, lonely little boy she shared her candy with with. How can he possibly think she'd want to take that away from him?
Because that so-called family nearly took him away from her. Permanently. What right does he have to muscle in and hurt him again? Nero's always kept her safe, as he says, and she has always tried to do the same in her own way. Shouldn't she stop this now, before Vergil has the chance to hurt him again?
...it's an awful, bitter thing to think and she's disgusted with herself.
It's even worse because from the outset, she herself has wanted to like and trust his father, and be liked by him in return.
Now? What can she even do or say?
She still has no words.
She kisses the crown of his head instead, and holds him tight.]