These Children Learn From Cigarette Burns

Azzurra's ears flicked uncertainly as Balthier nuzzled her neck and got up, instantly brighter and seemingly fine. She shifted to face him as he moved toward the door, cheerfully telling her that he could get breakfast ready for them. Her stomach twisted as she watched him go, pulling a small smile onto her face as she silently wondered if she was somehow in the wrong here, wondering if all of the things she felt were wrong. If she was the only one that thought something was wrong here and he was able to move on so easily… Why couldn’t she? Why did she still feel so conflicted about this? “Okay. Sounds good,” she said softly in response, waiting until he was gone to let her smile fade. Maybe if she just pretended everything was okay then she could start to believe it was so. That was what she told herself while she rested her head on her paws to wait for Balthier to return with their breakfast. It wasn’t really until that moment that she was laying there with nothing but her racing thoughts that she realized he hadn’t really shown her the kind of affection that he really did—not even a kiss. She looked down at her paws, fidgeting with the fur she was laying on. Was any of it even real? Or was her understanding of their relationship and their feelings for each other not what she thought they were? She put another smile on her face when he returned, hiding her feelings away for the sake of normalcy, ignoring the sinking feeling in her gut.

"Azzurra & Balthier"