I believe [ autoplay ]

     Baron glanced back at Haru, and he instantly tensed again.  His eyes flicked over her expression, over her posture.  Had he said something wrong?  She looked like she was going to cry.

          Was he that bad at being nice after all this time?

“     I  ” Baron stumbled over his words as he stared at Haru, not quite sure how to proceed.

“…yes…?”

     He cleared his throat and straightened his posture a bit.

“     I would have expected you to have been completely consumed by melancholy by now, but you have been…remarkably resilient and irritatingly optimistic about this whole affair.  In spite of seemingly hopeless circumstances, you have found…well, hope.  That takes true strength.”

She sucked in a sharp, shuddering breath, wrapping her arms around herself as she tried her hardest to keep the tears from falling. She wasn’t very successful in her efforts though, and she furiously wiped at her eyes with her paws, forcing out a shaky laugh.

“Sorry, sorry...I don’t know why I’m crying,” she managed to choke out. He’d really blindsided her with that genuine praise. “I’m not sad, I don’t think. I’m...happy. No one’s ever said something like that to me before.”

Even before she’d been brought to this place, compliments had felt so few and far between. She had been just a normal girl, struggling with low self-esteem and constantly seeming to make mistakes or make herself look bad. She had been clumsy and awkward, but Baron thought she was strong. 

     Baron bristled and narrowed his eyes at Haru.  It was a habit, a defense almost.  But he swallowed the instinct to disagree, to reply with a sharp ‘No I don’t.’  

     Partially because he recognized how childish that would sound.

     So he forced himself to relax.  His shoulders lowered, and he turned his gaze back out to the expanse of the Cat Kingdom.

“     I was simply…curious.” His voice was level and curt.  Still not friendly, but not cruel either.  

“You have been here for some time now.  You have…adapted far better than I thought you would.”

          He glanced at her again.

“     -You are….strong.”

     He quickly turned his gaze away again.  

Her eyes twinkled with amusement at the look on his face, a soft laugh leaving her lips. This was definitely progress of some kind, especially when no biting remark followed her comment. It was a welcome change from their usual conversations--even if those conversations were really just Haru talking at him rather than with him.

This was different though. It was rare for him to be curious about her. He guarded himself so carefully behind those walls. She wondered if she’d actually managed to knock them down, though putting a crack in them was more likely. 

“I don’t think I had much of a choice. It felt wrong of me to just...sit around and mope, especially after all Lune and Yuki have done for me.” Any other person might have come to regret the action that started all of this but...she’d never regret that split second choice to dart out into the street to save the prince’s life. “I don’t regret the choices that led me here, even if they got me stuck here. When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, right?”

Her brain absolutely short circuited at the next words he spoke though. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Had she heard that right? Was she hallucinating? Was this a dream? Her heart thundered in her ears, slamming against her ribcage. Baron had just complimented her. The ever grumpy, brooding Baron who always had a sharp comment to make and was never kind to anyone...had just complimented her. Her, of all peo--er, cats! 

Haru couldn’t help but stare dumbly at him, even if he seemed to be pointedly avoiding looking at her right that minute. “Do you...really think that?” she asked tentatively. 

you’re doing amazing <3

     He was silent for a moment, as if processing the information.

     Though processing wasn’t the right word.  In truth, his earlier question had been more of a lead-in than an actual question.  He knew the answers already.  Just because he himself did not make many interpersonal connections did not mean he could not spot them.  He saw how she’d befriended the Prince and his fiancee.  He saw how the castle staff adored her, and she them.  

     He just had to hear it from her.

“…and if you could leave?” he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. “Would you, if you were given the chance?”

That question stopped her cold, eyes widening. She’d long since given up on ever being able to leave. Would she leave? She dropped her gaze to her paws, her mind absolutely whirling with conflicting emotions. Could she leave? Thinking of the friends she’d made here, the life here that had become hers...could she leave it behind now that she had gotten used to being here?

“I...” her voice caught in her throat, wavering almost uncharacteristically. Somehow, she felt terribly guilty, even though she knew Lune and Yuki would support her. She knew that no one would hold it against her, no matter what she chose. In fact, they’d tell her to choose what would make her happy. 

They knew, probably better than anyone, how hard it had been for her in the beginning before she’d decided to accept that this was going to be her life now. She did miss home though. Her mother, Hiromi, even school... Things that felt like she’d taken them for granted had been out of her grasp for...how long had it even been? 

“I would,” it was a quiet, barely audible whisper before she cleared her throat and tried again. “I would. I don’t..mind it here but...if I had the chance to leave, I’m sure I’d take it.” She paused momentarily and looked down at herself, the strange, not quite complete cat version of herself. “Well, I’m not sure where I’d go...Looking like this, I don’t really think I could go back home. But maybe there are other places a not-quite cat can visit.” 

@haruxyoshioka

“     You’ve grown…attached to this place, have you not?”

     He still wasn’t quite friendly with her.  He wasn’t friendly with anyone.  But he certainly wasn’t being as cold or hostile as he has been.  

     He’d deny it if asked, but he’s warming, at least a little.

     He kept a good amount of space between them.  His hands were clasped tightly behind his back as he stared stiffly out the edge of the balcony they’re standing upon. 

     He was tense, but whatever other thoughts were going through his mind he kept carefully concealed.

Haru tilted her head to the side, letting the question sink in. If she was being honest, it wasn’t something he’d usually ask. But really, as of late, she’d noticed a difference in his demeanor, even if he refused to admit it. If her words had gotten through to him, then it was worth it. At the very least, he was warming up to her. It made her happy, when she thought of it like that. 

“You could say that,” she nodded once she’d collected her thoughts. “Lune and Yuki are very dear friends to me now, and the castle staff are always kind.” If it wasn’t for them, she was sure she’d have had a far harder time adjusting.

If it ever becomes common knowledge among the Bureau about Muta being Haru’s dad, I feel like Toto and Baron would constantly shade Muta for being a bad example for Haru

constantly torn between “loving haru and not wanting to change who she is” and “attacking everyone who speaks a small slight against us is a Bit Much”

Muta would totally egg her on

he would and it’s made all the more funnier because i’m pretty sure that i had gone the headcanon route that muta was haru’s dad but changed into a cat for one reason or another. i’d have to go digging through my blog to double check but 

eventually baron just. has to accept that This Is Haru and he Cannot Stop Her. He sighs and sits back and just. drinks some tea while she tears the latest offender to shreds.

Haru Cannot Be Tamed and baron is just going to have to live with this. the sooner he accepts it, the better

creatxn replied to your post: creatxn replied to your post: ...

oh god they’re literally that old “what did you say??? hold my flower” “you get ‘em baby i got your flower” meme

ok but him trying to do that when he’s figurine size and she’s Normal Person size. he’s so helpless then what’s he going to do sit on her head and try to control her with her hair like ratatouille??? he’s too polite to even TRY that. he just has to accept that she’s going to destroy that person. he has to start writing out funeral invitations.

SDFKGKGHK this is such a funny mental image sjdfjfg baron continually fretting, trying to figure out a way to calm her down but she will not be persuaded and muta is only encouraging her and it is a Mess.

baron: i fear we have become a terrible influence on miss haru

she’s so Aggressively Supportive I love her

she is!!! she would absolutely do anything for any of them. 

I feel like Haru would do this sometimes even if she didn’t have Dragonborn powers XD