[ Zen would be lying if he said he wasn't conflicted about Avalon. He misses his family and friends desperately. It was an adjustment, being so far from those who were always by his side. Kiki and Mitsuhide especially. At the same time, though, the idea of leaving Rapunzel behind, to live in Avalon alone, makes his heart drop to his stomach.

Until now, he'd forced himself to stop thinking about it. He had taken thoughts of home, of Shirayuki and Mitsuhide and Kiki and locked them away in the depths of his heart. He thought it better to focus on the present than worry about the things he couldn't change. It was something he'd learned how to do well over the years, a necessary part of growing up as the second prince of a kingdom. Sometimes there were things out of his control, and worrying about them would only make the rest of his work all the more difficult.

Being faced with disappearing as he did makes it difficult to set those feelings aside this time, not when he can see just how much it's affecting Rapunzel. ]

Hey,

[ His voice is soft and warm, though he does try to pull away from their embrace so he can try and look her in the eyes. If she tries to avoid his gaze, he'll gently tilt her chin up towards him.

Zen smiles again, though this time it's less forced. ]

That doesn't make you a terrible person, Rapunzel. It just means you care. [ He brushes some of her hair out of her face, his hand coming to rest against her cheek. ] I would have felt the same, if I was the one who stayed behind.