[When she turns, she'll find that he just looks...tired, worn out, a little somber. It's a good thing he had been taken into this world first before this happened and then regained his memories after everything was finished. If it had been anytime inbetween... So while there is still a shadow of resentment and hatred for what happened, that's all it is: a shadow. And a small one at that, only appearing when he thought back to that time. It's much different compared to the past when he would think back to that horrific day and would have those flashes of heated anger and anguish.
Now...
Now he really could move on. Now he no longer needed to keep everything to himself, no longer needed to hesitate. To be able to more freely express himself.
And, as he looks at Tifa before he feels that comforting warmth of her embrace, be able to..."love" someone else, or at the very least to care deeply about someone so much that he can finally feel peace and quiet like this. To finally open his heart enough to let others in and allow them to become close. Of course not easily, but at least the door is finally unlocked and cracked open.
So he closes his eyes as he lets out a long breath, nuzzling her a little before continues softly.]
Because of that, I was finally able to confront everything I was trying to do on my own and tell everyone about the truth of myself. At that time I had been stuck in a place where I had started to worry and care about people again, but I was also afraid of losing them so I would still keep them at a distance. Because I wasn't being honest about how I felt, Flamek wasn't responding and awakening to its full potential. But after learning the truth and realizing I no longer had to carry everything alone... I was finally able to acknowledge everything and open up. I could place my trust in everyone.
[Not just in general loyalty, but to also get out of harm's way. That he didn't have to keep holding himself and Flamek back, didn't have to remain on the defensive when around others. Even if he could be ruthless, he was still cautious and ultimately keeps everyone's safety in mind. To think his attempts to dampen Flamek's power would almost cost them...
He pulls back slightly so he could look at her, his expression softer than before.]
That's what I meant when I said if we had met before we likely wouldn't be like this... I kept people at arm's length and didn't want to become close to anyone.
no subject
Now...
Now he really could move on. Now he no longer needed to keep everything to himself, no longer needed to hesitate. To be able to more freely express himself.
And, as he looks at Tifa before he feels that comforting warmth of her embrace, be able to..."love" someone else, or at the very least to care deeply about someone so much that he can finally feel peace and quiet like this. To finally open his heart enough to let others in and allow them to become close. Of course not easily, but at least the door is finally unlocked and cracked open.
So he closes his eyes as he lets out a long breath, nuzzling her a little before continues softly.]
Because of that, I was finally able to confront everything I was trying to do on my own and tell everyone about the truth of myself. At that time I had been stuck in a place where I had started to worry and care about people again, but I was also afraid of losing them so I would still keep them at a distance. Because I wasn't being honest about how I felt, Flamek wasn't responding and awakening to its full potential. But after learning the truth and realizing I no longer had to carry everything alone... I was finally able to acknowledge everything and open up. I could place my trust in everyone.
[Not just in general loyalty, but to also get out of harm's way. That he didn't have to keep holding himself and Flamek back, didn't have to remain on the defensive when around others. Even if he could be ruthless, he was still cautious and ultimately keeps everyone's safety in mind. To think his attempts to dampen Flamek's power would almost cost them...
He pulls back slightly so he could look at her, his expression softer than before.]
That's what I meant when I said if we had met before we likely wouldn't be like this... I kept people at arm's length and didn't want to become close to anyone.