๐ - to be caught staring at your muse . Takumi had not intended to stare so unabashedly. In reality, he was simply unsure as to whether or not the person he was looking at was the one he thought he was identifying. The hair color and height were right, as far as memory told...
When Elise (at least, he hoped it was Elise, or this would be embarrassing) turned and noticed him staring, Takumi's expression shifted to one of utter embarrassment.
"I apologize for staring, I just... You are Princess Elise of Nohr, correct? If so, it's a pleasure to see you again after all this time."
When Elise first noticed Takumi out of the corner of her eye, she didnโt even really notice him. Her subconscious mind just did the โhey someone is looking at youโ thing to her, but she didnโt see any reason to pay attention to it. Turning around by chance and actually noticing Takumi for real this time, Elise felt a small pang of fear in her heart that she couldnโt explain. Something about his eyes seemedโฆ weirdly familiar. Itโs probably nothing, though!
Elise smiled brightly as Takumi explained himself nodding along as he spoke. โYep! Thatโs me-โ โNohrโ. Oh no. At that word, it all clicked for Elise, every memory rushing back to her. The way he addressed Nohr with such hatred, hatred that she saw in his eyes as he jumped to what they thought was his death, hatred that only burned brighter as he returned and killed her sister.
Elise gasped, hands flying up to cover her mouth as her eyes widen in fear, same eyes beginning to water as her legs shake as though theyโre about to give out from under her as she slowly steps back. She can still hear everyoneโs pained screams as she stares at him. Still feels the pain not only emotionally from losing her sister for a moment, but from the battle when he shot her as well. Her sisterโs pain of having to fight her brother, and the remaining Hoshidian royalโs pain of losing their brothers.ย
โNo, no, no no no no no. Howโ Youโreโ no, pleaseโ Iโโ Millions of thoughts swirl around in Eliseโs head, none of which she can get out. All she can do is stand there. Her breathing is erratic, matching her heartbeat as she continues to stare and panic. The longer Elise stares, though, the less she sees in common with the Takumi she remembers. His eyes arenโt as red, his body language not as angry, same as his wordsโฆย
โฆMaybe this is what Corrin had talked about seeing when she was dead for a few minutes. Maybe this isnโt that Takumi. Maybe itโs the real one. Eliseโs tears continue to fall, and Elise herself does as well, collapsing onto the ground in front of him.
โTakumiโฆ Iโฆ I-Iโm so, so sorry.โ
