#onlinelover

                     his   face   flushes   ,   and   he's   glad   of   the   darkness   the   arcade   offers   him.   he   didn't   even   realize   the   compliment   had   rolled   out   of   his   mouth   ,   a   thought   he   meant   to   keep   to   himself   ,   how   the   hell   did   she   hear   him   ?   though   of   course   nabi   would   be   the   one   to   keep   ears   peeled   for   any   possible   praises.   he   clears   his   throat   ,   rusty   and   suddenly   dry.   “   oh   ,   i   did   ?   ”   he   hears   himself   say.   “   well   i   was   talking   about   the   way   you   acted   when   you   didn't   win   the   prize   —   your   pouting.   it   was   kind   of   cute   .   .   ”   

               "   give   me   one   good   reason   why   i   should   listen   to   you   .   "

                     “   so   ,   are   we   gonna   talk   about   the   elephant   in   the   room   ?   ”   it's   brought   up   the   moment   they're   alone   ,   the   faintest   hint   of   smirk   sitting   at   the   corner   of   the   man's   lips.   wasn't   the   first   time   she'd   displayed   such   clear   distaste   for   the   way   some   of   the   other   girls   spoke   to   him.   the   way   he   spoke   back.   “   don't   worry   ,   it's   normal   to   be   jealous   over   someone   you   like.   but   god   ,   you   make   it   so   obvious   sometimes   ,   you   should   just   go   ahead   and   say   it   out   loud.   ”

                     the   demand   alone   was   enough   of   a   red   flag   to   signify   that   this   wasn't   the   odette   he   knew   speaking   —   her   tone   was   never   this   bitter   ,   never   this   wrecked   with   hostility.   the   second   indication   is   the   way   her   eyes   flicker   between   her   own   and   the   presence   of   something   seemingly   trying   to   overtake   them.   a   presence   he'd   seen   once   before   but   had   never   dealt   with   on   his   own   ;   he   knows   exactly   what   this   is   and   tries   his   best   to   approach   with   newfound   caution   ,   taking   a   step   back   and   reaching   a   hand   out   to   show   he   wasn't   going   to   come   any   closer   until   she   wanted   him   to.   “   it's   okay   ,   ”   he   tries   to   reassure   her.   he   knows   she's   normally   a   girl   of   natural   composure   .   .   it   concerned   him   sometimes   how   nonchalant   she'd   become   about   the   whole   being   possessed   by   a   demon   thing.   but   even   this   —   he   knew   odette   was   fighting   it.   “   i'm   not   going   to   do   anything   to   you   .   .   but   i'm   not   leaving   either.   not   when   you're   like   this.   i   promised   you   i   would   help   you   that   day   i   found   you   in   front   of   the   inn   ,   and   i   meant   it.   okay   ?   so   just   ,   let   me   help   you   .   .   please   ,   trust   me   .   .   ”

                     “   i   can't   guarantee   that   ,   ”   leo   answers.   he   says   it   as   if   he's   said   it   many   times   before.   he   probably   has.   “   one   of   these   days   you'll   see   that   this   is   my   charm.   ——   so   ,   does   that   mean   it's   a   yes   then   ?   or   do   you   prefer   to   keep   listening   to   my   charming voice   ?   ”

            “  you're  my  only  compass  .  .  i  might  get  lost  without  you.  ”