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REY

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He nods and tries to smile like he's joking. "I kinda feel like I should apologize for makin' you do... this."

He flicks his free hand at her face in reference to the tears. Instead of setting it back on the countertop, he rests it with their other hands.

"I mean, not like you've gotta worry about it or anything--it's just us here. Anybody comes in, I'll throw 'em out."

That kind of callousness is something that he'd usually roll his eyes at coming from one of his friends, but this is important. As seldom as he comes close to crying, he knows well enough that it can feel pretty damn humiliating if people see.

Face dried, Rey lowers her hand, her two remaining fingers curling over his in a shameless hand-pile.

Anything else she might've been feeling not that long ago is an afterimage as she then leans aside to rest her forehead against his shoulder. If it had been anyone else, such a thing might have been enough to give them the wrong idea. But with Firo, she doesn't even consider that possibility.

"Not worried about that, either," she admits. Not because this floor is so derelict of people but Rey also isn't the type of person to care what others think, but the gesture is appreciated nevertheless. "And you haven't done anything to be sorry for. You've already given me so much."

He smiles softly at her movement and responds by leaning his head against the top of hers, keeping it nestled there. He can't help but be surprised at someone now being deathly afraid of being seen crying, but he supposes that makes this easier.

"Oh." He nods, which is a bit of an awkward gesture with his head resting on hers, so he cuts it out quickly. "Good to know, I guess."

Firospeak for 'thanks.' He almost wants to point out that doing good things for someone doesn't cancel out the bad, just while they're on the topic. That faint uncertainty may creep through their bond, though he still tries to maintain the love faucet. He decides to keep the thought to himself as best he can--maybe it's an important thing for her to know, but he's enjoying this moment as it is.

Even if it doesn't cancel out all the bad, Rey is at least willing to compromise with what she has, and it's been more than enough. While she can't ever really dream for a life without any hardship, she's learned that sometimes it's better to just take the bad with the good.

And right now, it's pretty good, and there's no doubt that even without Firo pouring his love through their link she would still feel the same way.

"Then you should also know that, in spite of everything, I'm--" what was it he said back then? (it feels like it's been much longer than it actually has been.) "--happy. You make me feel happy."

It's more emotions stuff that would feel weird bringing up if she was talking to anyone but Firo. But as the words come out, her hand squeezes around his and Rey feels herself relax against him, like a weight's just been lifted.

Those are words he's been yearning to hear for a long time now, but it's hard to grasp them even so. He freezes, shifting slightly as if looking at her would reveal that this is all a joke or something.

"What? Are you kiddin' me?"

He sincerely hopes not. Even the thought of her being able to get to that point is enough to fill him with joy. He feels like he could jump into the air--if he weren't being tasked with the important duty of holding her now.

Raising her head a little to look back at Firo when he asks that question, Rey just smiles at first. Most people would perhaps find it unnecessary or awkward (or both) to feel the need to openly speak about such things, even if it's with a friend that she holds dear. Hell... he's her only friend in this damned place that she's ever felt this strongly for.

But she knows Firo enough to also know that sometimes she has to spell things out for him. (Which is actually most of the time, really.) She can be considerate like that.

"Told you no more secrets, didn't I? And I may be confused about a lot of things right now, but that's not one of them." Although she's still smiling, she does say this with the utmost sincerity.

The glow of happiness gets stronger at her words. "You did."

"And it's not that I doubted your or anything, I just--" he cuts himself off with a little laugh. "...I guess I'm happy too and kinda surprised. I... I was afraid it'd take a lot longer."

This is a start, right?

"Wouldn't expect everything to magically turn into rainbows, so I'd hold off the celebration if I were you." It's a good thing either way that she says this with a lighthearted tone in her voice, rather than carrying the dreary edge of the usual guilt and pain that went along with her nature.

There's a time and place for that, though. Right now, she's just enjoying her friend's company. If that isn't what one would call happiness, then it's at least enough for her.

"But I like this," she adds. "I don't know why, but I do."

"I know." He shakes his head in mock disappointment, though he really is glad that she's not immediately going all doom and gloom. Still, he thinks any victory is something you can be glad for, especially when it's this critical. "But the celebration's still on, whether you like it or not."

He taps his fingers on her hair. "Do you need to know why?"

A single light laugh escapes her. Though Rey feels she already knows the answer to Firo's question, she decides to go the other route and humor him instead, pretending to look as coy as her scar-faced muscles can possibly manage.

"Why's that?"

He sighs in mock annoyance and goes to flick her forehead. "Because."

And for a moment he pauses as if he'll leave it at that. "It doesn't really matter, does it? No matter how much you think about it, it's not gonna make you more happy, right?"

Because.

Well, Firo. When you make such a compelling argument like that...

Rey smiles, though, her nose scrunching as he flicks at her. She's not pressing him for an elaboration, and instead her expression draws more sober. "No, it doesn't. But that's okay, I don't really need to think about it."

Firo's genius shines through when he debates.

Now that he has her agreement, he's suddenly a little more open minded. "You sure? I mean, I could try explainin' it, but I think you're happier when you don't think so much."

Thinking is bad. This much he knows.

Firo's becoming open minded and Rey just confessed the state of her happiness. Truly the world has gone mad.

"No offense, but I doubt you could explain it any better now than you have already." She pauses, then adds, "It's fine, though. Not thinking so much about it is somehow easier."

That and just putting the old tired argument to rest would definitely make her happier, she believes.

Firo laughs and feigns pride in his voice. "See? Didn't I tell you?"

He has something to admit to of his own, he supposes. "I guess I gotta admit this weird brain stuff is good for somethin'."

"All right, you win on that front."

Conceding defeat on at least one thing doesn't feel so bad. Not that Rey really has the pride herself to admit otherwise; she's just stubborn, too old for that shit, and set in her ways.

"You mean to say that, of all the things you could've been doing with them, that's what you decide to do?" She's not complaining. Just teasing.

Firo grins, triumphant.

"It just--" He ducks his head; even with the lack of seriousness, he feels compelled to defend himself. "It just seemed like the more useful part, okay?"

Firo calling anything to do with emotions useful. Even more craziness.

"'The more useful part'," she echoes with a mocking laugh, shaking her head. "Why does that not surprise me?"

Rey doesn't protest, though. Instead she brings her good hand back down, twining her fingers over his and squeezing as she soaks in all of these crazy emotions. She doesn't need any empathy leaking through for the love that's there to be known.

"Can't seem to thank you enough. Really."

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[Action] laughing at those last two icons, they're sharing the same expressions oh god