Hazel knew it was probably a bad idea, but when had that ever stopped her? Certainly not when it hurt the most important person in her life. Even still, she hesitates in front of the door, hand shaking as she reaches for the door. Hazel begins to feel a churning in her stomach but fights her instincts and knocks on the wooden door of Zero's room.
Things went...relatively well the last time they spoke, albeit that could have just been because of Percy. Honestly Hazel didn't remember much of what they spoke about, the sight of Zero without her necklace being seared into her mind. No matter how much she tries to push the image away, she sees it every time she closes her eyes.
I can't blame her, not after what I did. Maybe she really does-
Hazel's self-loathing is interrupted by the creak of the door in front of her. She quickly brushes the thoughts to the back of her mind and tries to steady herself. Hazel's tail slowly begins to wrap around her own leg, a nervous habit. The Au Ra glances down and sees...her. Zero.
And she wasn't wearing the sun necklace.
The Voidsent in question seemed shocked by the sudden appearance of Hazel at her door. Neither of them know quite what to say, the silence hanging in the air. Hazel opens her mouth as if to speak, only to find the words choking up her throat. She was too scared to even speak. "...Hi," Hazel manages weakly after a spell, "do you um, mind if I come in?" She keeps her head down and averts her gaze from Zero, nervously picking at her sleeve. Zero's expressions were always hard to read, Hazel had no clue what the glints in her eyes meant as the Voidsent wordlessly nods and invites her in.
It was a quaint little room in the Rising Stones, Tataru allowing Zero to stay free of charge...for now. Hazel slowly shuffles her way over to the fireplace, currently crackling away in the dead of night. She watches the flames flicker and dance while she catches her breath, trying her absolute hardest to calm down.
Zero silently walks up beside the Au Ra and looks Hazel over up and down. Her shoulders were hunched, hands curled into tight fists, her tail was hanging lifelessly. And her face...Hazel looked moments from breaking down. Zero had never seen her like this before. She knew how Hazel felt about what happened a few weeks ago, hearing Hazel's previous plea, though never responding to it.
Well, perhaps now was as good a time as any. "...Hazel, I-" and before Zero could get another word out, she felt the breath forcibly leave her lungs as Hazel takes her into a vice-like hug. She'd been hugged by the Au Ra before but this was different, possessive and...scared? Hazel's hands were still trembling as she dug her nails into the Voidsent's back. The Au Ra pulls her to her chest and rests her head atop Zero's, eventually feeling the drop of something in her hair.
The room fills with heavy breaths as Hazel begins to let loose streams of tears. "Zee…I'm-" she can barely get words out between her own sobs. "I'm so sorry. I just, it was just…so lonely. I-I didn't even-didn't, didn't even giv-give you a choice." Zero feels pushed back, catching her own footing as the Au Ra's legs buckle and place more weight on her. "And-and now," Hazel's tear filled rant continues, "now everything's going wrong, a-and feels wrong. Everybody's in-in danger and I-I…I…" Her words trail off for a few seconds, Zero having no clue how to respond.
"Please don't hate me…"
Ah, so that's what fears she has been carrying in her heart. Hazel fully breaks down, holding the Voidsent tighter and repeatedly saying she hurt Zero and asking for Zero not to hate her over and over between bouts of tears. Slowly Zero begins to wrap her arms around Hazel. She delicately returns the hug, nestling her head in the crook of Hazel's neck. "I don't hate you, Hazel. I would never hate you. Everything is going to be okay." Despite her words Hazel's chanting continues. The two stay there for what felt like hours and fall into silence, leaving only the crackle of the fire to fill the air.
