Richter thinks he loves Aster.
He's not in love with Aster. Richter doesn't care so much that Aster loves him back, but that Aster's happy.
He catches himself sneaking glances at his friend and, on the occasions Aster notices and gazes back, doesn't turn away. There is something about Aster's eyes that calls out to him. Richter's not sure exactly what though.
It's not just the way the brightness compliments the warm tones of his skin or how they shine with quiet, but evident, intelligence. His eyes are unlike any other that Richter has seen. Aster's eyes are kind.
And although he scoffs at Aster's patience with others, Richter cannot help but respect his determination to see things to their end.
Aster catches Richter scrutinizing him again, and smiles back, innocently.
These days, he's taken to memorizing Aster's face, as if he may never see it again.
Richter thinks that Aster's beautiful.
Aster thinks that Richter is beautiful.
It's not just the way he carries himself with pride, or the way his glasses bring out the angles in his face, or how the color of his hair is a decidedly unrelenting red. It's something much deeper than physical appearances, as attractive though his may be.
This puzzles Aster more than his research ever will and he can figure out neither answer nor question.
And one day, after witnessing Richter hold his ground in a debate that spiralled into cutting remarks, Aster pieces the following things together.
Richter is brilliant. Aster has always known this, but never realized the full extent of his brilliance. Richter is blunt. It doesn't matter how unpleasant the truth is. He never softens the blow and calls people out whenever they shrink from his words. Most importantly, Richter is uncompromising. He holds himself to his ideals, refusing to bend to others who cannot do the same. And he never pretends to be someone he's not.
The person he presents to the world is the person he is on the inside is the person that Aster cares about. And suddenly he has both question and answer.
Aster thinks he loves Richter.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Just playing around some more with characterization, since Aster didn't have too much of it ingame. I haven't written fanfic in a long time, but these two inspire me and I hope I've done their characters justice.