#wall-e-gorl

“I haven’t– hm.” Sterling looks back down at his hands. “I’ve been thinking about Dame Avaline’s oath.” 

“Why? She’s out of it. All’s well that ends well, as they say.”

“Yes, she is.”

Fina sighs, leaning back in her chair with her guitar. Her fingers travel idly over the strings, playing a gentle tune that joins the background noise of the inn. “What is it, then? What’s your brain stuck on. I remember how it works.”

“Huh?”

“Your brain’s just kind of on, always. I was in it for a bit, remember? What’s it on about right now?”

“Oh.” Sterling lifts the cup of tea, focusing on the warmth. “Just… I don’t understand why you and Betty and Velune were so willing to consider taking it. I know we played it up for the fake fey queen, but it’s still…”

“What, only you’re allowed to make the noble sacrifices, paladon’t?” Fina doesn’t stop playing her guitar, but her eyes don’t leave his face. 

“That’s not it at all. It’s just that for me, it would have been a clear part of my duty. None of you are bound to the throne in the way I am. Especially you, Fina, I thought you didn’t care about the king.”

“Sure, but Princess Marie’s not the king. And, like I said, it would be kind of kickass.”

“Fina.”

“Okay, okay.” Fina sets her guitar aside. “That’s not all of it. Why did you offer?”

“It was my duty,” Sterling says, with the bravado he usually puts to the idea. “But, beyond that… I couldn’t imagine any of you suffering in that way. I would sooner take it myself than allow such terrible–”

“There you go, then,” Fina interrupts.

“I’m sorry?”

“That’s your answer.”

“You all… couldn’t imagine me in that position?” 

“We all care about you as much as you care about us, Sterling. You know that, don’t you?”

“I…”

“Oh. I see.”

“I know you guys care about me,” Sterling says defensively.

“Right, but you didn’t realize how much. Alright. I’m going to fix that, but I’m only saying this once, so you better listen.”

He’s heard that one before. He frowns. “I’m listening,” he says tentatively.

“Good. Betty calls us her clan, and that means we’re a family. I, for one, agree with her. Meltyre and Velune, too. You’re one of us. That means we love you back.” Fina sits back. “Got it?”

“I… thank you.”

“Any time, pretty boy. Now, I’m going to go back to tuning my guitar, and you can stop moping so loudly over here. It was seriously distracting.”

“I was not moping!”