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"Get out! Leave!"
Senti hurls one of their pillows at her, but her trained reflexes allow her to catch it effortlessly before it hits her in the face.
Despite the herrscher's words, she is still here too. Usually Senti is quick to escape situations like these, yet she's still there, on the edge of the bed, sobbing in a way Hua wasn't familiar with yet.
Even if she already expected her to be somewhat like this whenever she'd flee one of their conflicts, it still stings to actually hear her sobbing.
She sighs as she walks into the room, quietly closing the door behind her, then taking a seat next to Senti, leaving just a little distance between them.
"What are you doing?!"
Her tone is accusatory, shifted up in pitch but Hua remains unfazed.
"Being here for you." She simply states. Her fingers pressing into the plush pillow that she hasn't put away yet. "If you want to talk. Or not. If there's anything I can do..."
Senti doesn't respond right away, leaving a brief pause before sniffling again.
"What's gotten you like that?"
"Huh?" Hua is initially unsure what she means but after giving it some thought, she thinks she understands what Senti's getting at. "Well, I suppose you learn from others."
Communicating, especially when it concerns feelings, isn't easy for either of them, though in different ways. Hua has been trying after picking up some things from those around her, even if dealing with Senti is a whole different matter still. At least she stands a chance with her, unlike most others. If Senti were to open up, she might just be the first to witness it.
Or it'd have to be Seele, and while Hua doesn't consider herself to be the type for jealousy, she'd be lying if she would say that she'd just be ok with that.
"Did you have a fight?" She tries, it's the first likely thing that she thinks of.
"Yeah."
"Did it get out of hand?"
"Yeah..."
"Do you want to tell me?"
"No."
"I see."
Simple, but at least she got something out of her and didn't get anything else thrown in her face, nor did the girl leave her spot. Her shoulders drooped during that simple exchange, still shivering every now and then, and Hua is unsure how to proceed. How to comfort her in some way.
She's seen Kiana giving out hugs and even kisses on the cheek. She's felt it herself, too. Knowing Senti, though, she isn't sure if that's the right approach. Besides, she'd be acting unlike herself. If anything, the last thing she wants to do is scare her off now.
Lost in her thinking, it's a while before she realizes the light brush of Senti's shoulder against hers. She's taken advantage of Hua being distracted by her own thoughts and almost closed the distance between them.
Though Hua still can't see her with the way she has her back towards her, she seems quieter than earlier. She nudges her shoulder against hers, turning slightly to get a better look at her.
Silver strands of unruly hair cover her face, and Hua has to resist the urge to brush them down and out of the way.
"Senti?"
"We fought. Like usual, nothing new, and then she got mad. Actually mad..."
"What happened?"
"Dunno. Must've said something that pissed her off... Guess I said something stupid."
Her weight presses against Hua as she slumps, and Hua adjusts to let her lean back. Senti admitting to being a little stupid is one more new thing. It might be good.
After all, the first step is ...
"Why did she have to react so stupid? There's no way I said something thát bad?!"
Ah, well. Almost there.
"Sometimes we say things that weigh far heavier on someone else than we realise or understand."
Senti scoffs.
"You're crying because of that?"
"Shut up. I'm not..."
"It's alright." Hua murmurs.
That was on her. She probably shouldn't have called her out like that, but it was hard not to. She lets out a sigh and wraps her arms around Senti's waist, the pillow dropped to the side, no longer of importance. She nuzzles her face into her soft, silver hair, and the smell of herbs fills her nose. It's unlike hair products, more like... tea? Could it be because she mentioned liking a specific blend recently?
Her lips curve into a soft smile.
"I'm glad you didn't leave."
Senti's hands ball into fists but loosen just as quickly, gripping the sheets beneath instead. It's tough on her, but Hua's warmth seeping into her back and warming her entire chest on the inside, beats bawling her eyes out on her lonesome by far.
Even if it means showing this side of her.
If it's just Hua, then...
"I do think you two should talk it over, not now, but don't wait too long either."
"Tsk."
"You deserve a friend you can talk with."
"..."
"Did I say too much?"
Hua's hold on Senti's waist loosens, but Senti is quick to grab her arms and hold her in place. A bold, decisive move coming from her that surprises Hua, positively. She relaxes, not tightening her hold but relishing in the way her hands wrap around her.
"Yes. No ... Maybe."
The old-timer is probably right, she knows, but right now she doesn't want to give her that, yet. Besides, deserving is a big word, and she already has far more than she thinks she deserves.
Just the realisation that if she were to turn around, she could bury her face into Hua’s shoulder, and she'd probably pet her back or something, has her in shambles.
“Thanks, I guess.”
“For?”
“Being here…”
“You don’t need to thank me for such a thing, unlike you, I can’t show up whenever you call my name, but—”
“Alright, that’s enough!” Senti pulls away.
Hua is almost sure she can see the tip of her ears reddening through her hair, but Senti disappears too fast, fleeing yet another situation.
Hua can’t find it in her to be disappointed.
Senti’s shown enough vulnerability in such a short span of time, perhaps holding her sleeping form in her arms isn’t as far away as she fears.
If it's just Hua, then maybe she can be (a little) vulnerable.
She just can't handle it, yet.