These Children Learn From Cigarette Burns

Balthier had left her alone for hours, he needed the time for himself. It actually wasn't unusual really, but not after something like this. He had never yelled at Azzurra before, he had probably never shown any sort of discomfort to anyone. He was usually more neutral than anything, but especially with his family, especially with Azzie, he had never turned a coin like that.

When he returned from the overnight though you couldn't really tell because of the moon, he brought back another kill to see the one from the evening prior still outside the door. He hadn't expected Azzie to take care of it or eat it, but it did hit him with a different guilt than the kind after he had taken her. It had festered in him long enough, and he felt like he hated this guilt more than the last.

He dropped the new kill outside over the old one before entering the den yet again, standing with his back to her after he closed the door. Lingering like he was scared to even turn to face her. But he did after a few seconds, "Azzurra... Azzie." He reached his paw up hesitantly to gently brush against her shoulder, "I'm sorry." He felt more apologetic than he sounded, but he definitely didn't sound arrogant. He deeply regretted yelling at her, and making her feel how she did in the aftermath of the beautiful moment they shared together. Part of it he just couldn't help, and part of it he was just being stubborn not to confess.

"Azzurra & Balthier"