Re: The Mirror/The Illusion
If it wasn't pain, they still interpreted it as such. The pathetic mewl felt like a desperate call for help, and Haven wanted to do anything possible to get that pain to stop. The didn't want to be the cause of it, even if it was in a round-about sort of way. "You can promise something else. Or nothing. It's okay." Their voice was shaky, younger-sounding for the moment.
"Why?" they whispered in return, a hush being captured between the two of them, like their words had to be kept secret and not revealed to anyone else on the train. They didn't understand magic, or what was happening. The tears that had spilled were given without pre-thought, still warm enough on their cheeks that they didn't notice at first. Not until she reached out toward them.
There was no flinching away or hesitation when her gloved thumb traced its way below their eye. Only a slow lowering of their lashes until the world was hidden from their view. It was easy, then, to focus only on her touch and the sound of her voice. It was a place that Haven very much wanted to remain in, but their eyes fluttered open again after too short of a moment (a liquid cocoa brown). "You don't have to. I'll still..." They tilted their head in. Closer. "I don't need anything in exchange for staying here with you."