The minute Ame begins to break down, Harley rushes after her, worry shining strong in her eyes. She takes Ame's free hand, while cupping her cheek in the other. Her hands are as warm as ever, reaching out for her lover.
"Meemee, Ame, look at me!" She pleads, her heart sinking alongside Ame's. "It's okay, it's okay. I already knew. I've known for a while now, so you don't need to apologize."
Yuki's brows furrow in bewilderment. She fully expected Ame to get angry enough to attack her outright, not unlike how Harley would've reacted if she was on the receiving end. But no, Ame just breaks, a raw wound full of fear and anguish.
Disappointing, yet also a familiar sight for her.
"What do you mean you knew? You told us her previous partner wasn't treating her well." She asks, a cautious expression tugging at her features. She's met with a scorching hot scowl from Harley, baring her teeth like a lioness ready to fight for her kin, before she elaborates.
"I did think P was real, at first. But I've been over at Ame's a million times now, and I... noticed things." She runs her fingers through Ame's hair, calming herself enough to explain. "It was like P was barely there at all. No clothes, no belongings, no pictures of them together. She didn't even beg Ame for a second chance, nothing. She only existed whenever Ame talked about her, so I just..."
Harley finally meets Ame's gaze, her own heart racing as her hands slide down to her shoulders.
She's trembling, remembering how poorly it's gone the last two times she was really honest about her feelings for a girl. She wanted to immortalize herself as that adorable, sexy succubus who Ame could go to for warmth and protection. The cutest, funniest, most clever lover...
And also one who could get territorial. Though Ame caught a glimpse of her possessive tendencies, the lengths Harley would go to just to ensure Ame wouldn't leave her... scare her.
"Ever since we had our first sleepover, I didn't wanna lose you. Not to anyone, or anything. I... I wanted to be better than her. Better for you. I wanted to prove that I was the best girlfriend for you, and make all your other options look stupid. But... the more I knew you, the more that changed."
"I started worrying about if I was really doing right by you. If you were happy together, what you thought of me. I just wanted to make sure that you wouldn't regret choosing me, over her."
"Even if it meant... you'd forget about her."
Sage is speechless, utterly dumbfounded and not even sure where to start with processing any of this. Much less reconcile with how Yuki only managed to wring that out of Ame by backing her into a corner. Like a confession only given for fear of death, or worse.
Yuki recognizes this too, turning away from the group. Disturbed by seeing her own reflection in someone she'd considered untrustworthy, she clenches her fists and swallows her own flurry of emotions.
"Right, I got what I wanted. I'll... take my leave."
She heads towards the door, twisting the knob before Harley's pointed words stop her for a second.
"Where do you think you're going? You started this."
"And it's finished, now. I know the truth. That's all I needed."
Her tone remains aloof, but a strain in her voice speaks to a sharp sting that tugs at her heart. She leaves without another word, heading down the hallway to her own apartment.
Sage puts her head in her hands, letting out a long sigh. Madison gently rubs her back, in an attempt to reassure her.
"I told her this was a bad idea..." She mutters, before she musters the energy to get up. "I'll go talk to her. Sorry that this whole thing turned out to be such a mess... I'll let you know how it goes."
She starts to follow after her friend, before stopping for a second. Swallowing down her fear, she gives Ame an apologetic glance.
"Take care, Ame." And closes the door behind her.
Madison, who's been silent during the exchange, however, connects the dots quickly. They stand up from the couch, beckoning Grayson to their side. They look to the couple with concern, but their face doesn't speak to any ill will.
"Even the most introverted of us need company. We're social creatures, after all." Their voice is soft, soothing with cool kindness like a flower sharing its spoils with the bees. "Don't worry, I'll work on putting the food away."
They do just that, letting the two have their space.