#funny thing is this started with me cooking up dd2 insults then it spiraled into syl having a breakdown to saying that which stuck w me

[soloavengers]

Syl & Winnie’s last night -

This should be a fanfic but I want it out of my head asap without making it a WIP that might rot and grow too long so have some fresh short unedited pain written at 6am.

A full Seafloor Shrine got a tavern somehow, was not easy to do when suppliers can’t do their thing, but the bartenders put all their existing products together and reached a deal. A temporary thing such as they hoped the life in the shrine would be. Many people rejoiced the semblance of the addition brought.

Fearfully procrastinating the last beam once he was done helping around, Syl was happy to accept Lamond’a invitation for a drink. They both changed out of their armor - unfortunately he got into a little fight before Lamond could arrive.

Winnie thought something like this might happen. Syl had been on edge since their reunion, if he wasn’t faking a smile he was wide eyed and tense, weary and off his game during fights. She doubted he slept whenever she managed to. He considered her new armor and weapon before his own. Winnie worried about him as much as he worried for the sake of the world, but unlike Syl, concern made her fight her hardest. Secretly she was mad at herself for knowing better how to fight than how to console him these days, secretly she felt heartbroken that he never spoke, for in their journey it became easy for him to speak his feelings to her.

Winnie felt like she was waiting for a dam to break, so she was ready when it finally began to. Dragging him away quietly as he continued shouting insults, she wasn’t sure what it was about, some Battahli man might have uttered something about her under his breath. She could guess what it was he said, she so hated that this was the final straw.

She kept walking, into the ruins up some stairs, at some point Syl pushed her away and began walking at a bit of a distance. Something petulant in his attitude still, she cannot help her fondness battling her concern.

“Lamond’s probably wondering-“

“We’ll go back there, and you’ll maybe apologize to that man, then have a good time.”

He wrapped his around his chest and glared, “I’m not apologizing. Pawns shouldn’t be talked about that way after all your help.”

Winnie shrugged, “I care not what they say. we don’t fight for praise, I do it for you.”

He stopped, glanced at the loyal pawn. Her face showed not a single touch of doubt in those words. Syl looked at the beam which pierced the red cloudy skies and then down at the water damaged stone.

“I’m sorry about that.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. Not to me at least.”

“Yes I do. And I’m sorry,” his voice shook, Winnie’s own heart trembled and she stepped to stand next to him. “I’m sorry you have to be with me.”

She blinked, frowning as she looked at him. Tears were soon streaming down his cheeks and — while this was a moment she had been expecting— it was not like this. Not with that nonsensical apology.

“What?” Winnie asked with harsh confusion.

As soon as her hand touched his shoulder he folded down, crouched on the ground with head buried in his arms. She knelt beside him.

“Master…”

“I don’t know what I’ve done!”

“Nothing,” She said softly, suddenly it felt as if it was the first time she’d seen a human distraught. Her heart was in her throat and she didn’t want to hear anymore from him. Dreading the sobs to come, but accepting whatever tears may fall on her shoulder.

Syl shook his head, his reddened eyes looking at her. he sniffled. “No, it must’ve been something. Nothing so cruel should be without reason.”

Spoken so softly, so mournfully, somehow only she could’ve understood his words.

“I’m sorry.” As Winnie wrapped her arms around him, his wept on her cloak.

“Stop saying that.”

He said nothing as he cried, she felt pleased with herself for having brought him somewhere with no one to see him like this. It wasn’t that she thought it shameful, but she knew what it would make some feel. Would seeing the Arisen like this make anyone’s heart ache as much as hers did?

“I wished this an illusion. Some sick humor,” he sniffled. “What is left to do now? What will be of our world — why did you have to be here?”

“I-“ She always knew what to say, what to do. Winnie prided herself in knowing humans well, in understanding him most of all. But at that moment she felt so painfully clueless as her own tears fell on him.

“What will become of you? Why did you have to be dragged down with me?” It felt no longer like sad ramblings, she needed to say something. Even if it wouldn’t ease his pain.

“You wanted me.”

His cries against Winnie shook her, a fist clinched her cloak, she rubbed a hand up and down his other arm.

“I don’t want you anymore,” the words shook with sobs, so he repeated them over and over til the crying won out, and all he could do was wail his misery away in her arms.

Winnie understood what he meant, she understood it perfectly and thought he might try and wish that upon a thousand stars and yet nothing will make it true. He’d never mean it, so nothing can take her away from him. Nothing can take him away from her. Not even the end of the word, so long as she lives, not a single thing could dare. No matter the curve their journey took, memories and their bond could make her brave anything, Winnie wished he could find strength in that as well. Ever he was lead by good intentions, she had enough hope for the both of them.

She told him as much, she softly spoke until he calmed.