[ It is starting to feel more and more like they're planning something. How well could he sneak up on her, could Lapis lower her guard or distract her...

...

Lapis never enjoyed taking a life, but years and years of being the one sent to kill more... troublesome targets has helped her cope with it. Hell, some of them deserved it - better to have their blood on her hands, before they hurt anyone else.

And if it's to protect those dear to her, she won't hesitate to bloody her hands again. ]

Mm, I've done the same. And if... she's still unaware of what we could do...

[ They have an advantage. That's something, at least; they'll just need to be careful of what they show around her too.

But she's snapped out of her thoughts when his hands rest on her shoulders, a soft sound escaping her as his forehead presses against hers.

And for a moment, she just blinks owlishly, processing what he just said. Then her vision blurs, and it takes her a split second too long to notice the tears falling from her eyes. ]

I... Sorry, I just... [ Lapis reaches up to rub at her eyes, desperately trying not to cry even more. ]

That means... a lot to me, to hear...