Lan Fan: 14
Ling: 15
He could hear her crying every night.
He could see the tears she held back every day.
They crossed the desert in silence, as she carried the body of her dead grandfather, his mask strapped to her head.
The mask of the eldest.
Trying to comfort her resulted in searing burns on his hand from the hot automail. He only could imagine how much the arm was burning her.
She was all alone in the world, her mother and father gone, her grandfather gone. He couldn't tell her that he was there for her. He had once sworn to protect her, and he hadn't. What would she think if he tried promising that to her again?
He would fail her again.
Right?
"You don't need to say anything to her." His sister pointed out, watching him struggle. "I think you can do something that can make much more of an impact."
"Shut up, Chang." He did have to admit that she was right though, maybe... He grinned. Just maybe...
This time, kissing Lan Fan didn't go so smoothly.