sparkstrikes | empatheias IC contact. (archive)

[The anxiety in the air becomes almost palpable, and he ceases any further teasing then, however gentle it may have been. His attention is fixed on her completely, his fingers loosely curled around his own cup, and he nods as she takes a brief pause in the telling of her tale. He had known that they were without their parents, as he had been without his, but he had never been told the details— and had never been quite so invasive as to ask.]

And who were you before?

[His tone is as gentle as it is curious, his expression even— he realizes that what she's sharing with him is privileged information.]

[Of course he could guess what was coming... She hadn't exactly been subtle about where this was going, but his question still makes her freeze up and drop her gaze again. To anyone else it's just a name, but for Lightning, it carries much more weight than that – it represents all of the things she was always too afraid to be: a young, naïve, and weak girl who couldn't be strong for her sister. It completely contradicts everything she tries to be on the outside, but on the inside, she's not all that different.]

It's Cl—

[No, too quiet. She's already come too far to back out now. With another deep breath, she lets it out gently, loud enough for just Ignis to hear.]

My name is Claire.

[He smiles faintly. He doesn't have to be able to see her fallen expression to know that this is particularly difficult to share, that it's something she's kept to herself for so long for good reason, and that alone makes him feel touched that she had offered it to him at all.]

It suits you.

[His own voice is soft, gentle, understanding.]

I'm honored that you trust me enough to share.

It felt like the right time.

[Ending that conversation on a lighter note – Lightning didn't want the last thing to be about how Ignis had given up everything. She smiles to herself, though it's audible enough in her voice that he should be able to hear it in her gentle reminder as she reaches for his hands once more.]

I'd... appreciate it if you kept this between us.

[Not that she trusts that he won't, but it still needs reiterating, if only to really solidify just how important it is that he keep it secret.]

There aren't a lot of people who know.

[He nods to confirm, and his hands easily curl into hers as she reaches for them, offering her a careful squeeze of reassurance in the process. Of course, there had never been any question of that.]

Your secret is safe with me. I swear.

[He won't tell a soul.]

As ever, you can trust me.

I know.

[She trusts him with a lot more than something as silly as a name.

Her grip is warm against his, either thanks to the coffee or the mutual understanding the both of them have (it's hard for Lightning to tell which), as is her smile. Even with the cold bursts of air coming in every time the door to the cafe opens, their table remains unaffected by it.]

You ever need to talk, I'm here.

[It never needs repeating, but having the reminder there is still nice to have.]

empatheias IC contact. (archive)

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we can wrap this here! ♥