For the longest time, Kanaya hadn't been okay. Rose knew it. Everyone knew it, even if they'd collectively agreed to turn their heads. But now, with Kanaya's pale green tears falling onto the hard floor, she couldn't maintain the disillusioned pretense. Rose inhaled slowly, attempting to summon words that would provide some sort of comfort. She draped her arm around Kanaya's waist and opened her mouth to speak, but it was not Rose's voice that broke the silence.
Kanaya placed her forehead on Rose's shoulder. "It's not fair, you know," she said, "That you get to be you. And I have to be me." Rose blinked as Kanaya pivoted on her right foot, forcing herself into Rose's arms. In response, Rose raised her hands, letting them find a suitable placement on the other girl's hips. Kanaya stood easily a foot taller than Rose, excluding her horns.
"I won't pretend as if I understand your dilemma in its entirety," Rose began hesitantly, her voice muffled by Kanaya's torso, "but I'm here for you. In whatever form I can possibly occupy, I'll support you." Kanaya seemed to relax at this utterance, and Rose allowed her arms to return to her own sides. With the withdrawal of her immediate presence, Kanaya appeared uneasy. Of course, Rose mused, Dave has joked about our co-dependence. She was aware of the ridiculousness their relationship embodied at times, but she also accepted it. They were an item, and that was that.
Kanaya relocated to the bed, curling her legs underneath her. Rose couldn't help but admire how elegantly her cochineal skirt folded, even in her apparent despair. "I doubt my own sanity when under these circumstances I find time to worry about such inconsequential issues," Kanaya groaned.
From across the room, Rose spoke. Her clear voice sliced through the crisp air. "If I had to hazard an estimate, I'd place you in the lead for mental stability." She chuckled. "Your internal turmoil will always be perfectly valid, regardless of any outside occurrences."
Kanaya swept the back of her hand across her cheek, removing any evidence of the tears which had fallen not minutes before. "Rose, I just need you to listen." She looked down at her hands before continuing. They rested limply in her lap, cantaloupe-colored, angular nails and all. She tapped the tips of her fingers together and exhaled quietly. Rose had materialized at Kanaya's side, much like she always managed to when she was needed. She sat beside her on the bed and waited for her monologue to ensue.
"I don't know how well I can cope with this," Kanaya began. "The dysphoric moments, I mean. They continue to grow in severity and frequency. It's entirely unacceptable. I should be able to handle this. After all that has happened, this should be a minor concern for me. And yet," she paused, "I have somehow found a way to make it the greatest." Each word was said as if it had been individually selected for its purpose in the sentence. Her singing alto voice accentuated every syllable of every word. Rose slid her right hand into Kanaya's grip without a word and rested her left on Kanaya's respective shoulder.
"I just wish I had more people to talk to. After," she chose her next words cautiously, more for her sake than Rose's, "after what happened to Vriska, there is no one but you with whom I can discuss these matters." Kanaya gently squeezed Rose's hand and turned to make eye contact. "That is not to say that I don't appreciate your audience. Because I do. More than you know. And you should know that I do worry about you. I'll be here if you need to talk about anything at all."
Rose was still and silent for a moment. This brief period of time was all Rose needed to realize that Kanaya had deliberately cut her speech short. She has no faith in my counseling abilities, was the only thought occupying her mind, but she did not say this aloud. "I expected to hear more from you."
"No, that's all."
Rose sighed. Occasionally, Kanaya would request her aid, but on even rarer instances would she divulge anything of psychological value. She was growing rather fond of the situation, although it annoyed her at times. It presented something of a challenge. A game, even. "If you ever feel compelled to receive a thorough dissection of your inner thoughts," Rose began jokingly. She was not afraid to poke fun of her interests or behavior. "I'm your girl." She winked at Kanaya before realizing that she had inadvertently precluded any potential furthering of the conversation. Rose stood and straightened her clothes. "I'll see you," she mumbled, before exiting the room.