LET THE KIDS BE HAPPY, please omg.
Mahag Saar has messed everyone up in more ways than one. Especially Rinwell. Particularly Law.
It isn't just about Almeidrea and her dastardly plan, or how they watched an entire plaza of Dahnans be hallowed away into nothing but astral essence. It's the way that the Lady reacted, laughing at the lost lives as though they're nothing.
But it's Rinwell too and the way she responded with the fervent drive to murder the woman in cold blood. And Law gets it, really he does. Most Renans deserve every shitty outcome that's coming their way in return for the oppressive thumb they've held Law's people under but—
Law's seen a lot of messed up things in his life, what with how he grew up, but nothing quite like this— how Rinwel looked no better than any other power-hungry Renan he's met. The way that she didn't even hesitate when it came to conjuring her astral artes. How she begged and begged for him to stand aside, otherwise she'd do him in too.
Honestly, Law thought that she'd do it, end him right there to reach her goal, to finally put a rest to that dark hatred that consumes her. He's still surprised that she purposefully missed.
But most of all, he's surprised at himself because if there's anyone who knows exactly what Rinwell's going through, it's him. Law wishes the why behind his stepping in would be a mystery, but it isn't.
He thinks he'll do just about anything to never see such a horrific expression on Rinwell's face again, or hear the terrible things she'd said.
Law knows that she regrets it, the entire display of her most visceral emotions. And it isn't that everyone is walking on eggshells around her, they understand where she stands, to a degree. But no one really knows how to talk to her in the aftermath, least of all him.
Rinwell has distanced herself lately, sitting off to the side as she eats her dinner. Sets up her bedroll at the edge of camp instead of right between Alphen and Kisara. She fidgets with nervous energy, bites at her lips, and holds back whatever she wants to say.
It's so out of character for her and Law hates it. Misses the punky, cute thing whose face is covered in soft freckles and smiles like the sun itself. So he's the first to do something about it.
Rinwell's brow furrows when he drops beside her, and she moves to leave, but Law reaches out, pressing a hand to her wrist.
"Wait, don't," he requests quietly before letting go.
"Law, I don't—"
"Do you really want to waste this coffee that I brewed?"
Rinwell bites at her lip, so seemingly unsure, but then sighs and settles back against the rock she'd been leaning against.
"I know you probably don't want to hear me drone on about dumb stuff, but hear me out, okay?" Law uncorks the canteen and pours a generous amount into a mug for her, then holds it out, waiting.
Rinwell hesitates but then takes it, offering him a hesitant smile in return. "Alright," she says.
So far, so good. But then Law's the one to hesitate, trying to find the best way to express his thoughts. He's never been good with words, is terrible at subtlety, but he's going to try, dammit.
"I don't know why I stepped in," he says honestly, figuring that's the best place to start, "'Cause Lords know the last thing I'd want to do is protect a woman like that."
"Law—" starts Rinwell, already moving to stand again.
"Wait, Rinwell, please," says Law, "I'm not blaming you for anything, I'm trying to tell you that I get it."
Rinwell looks away, her brow creasing deeply as her fingers wrap tightly around her cup.
"It used to be so easy, I think," says Law quietly, "When things were black and white. All Renans were the same, and all Dahnans were oppressed. It's easy to hate someone when that's the only thing you've ever known.
"But then…" Law pauses and looks back at the rest of the camp, his eyes lingering on Shionne and Dohalim. "Things get complicated when you see the rest of the world, I guess. You start to learn that it isn't so simple, that not everyone is the same."
"I still hate them," says Rinwell, her voice still carrying that fire it normally does, "The Renans."
"I do too, you know," says Law. He knocks their knees together, trying to ease her back into the familiar feeling of the softer times they've shared. "That'll never change. But I think I've come to realize there's a right and wrong way of dealing with things, and maybe that's something I've finally learned from my Dad."
Maybe a little too late.
Rinwell's face falls slightly. "I miss him," she admits, "but I'm glad that he didn't see…"
Her like that, thinks Law. His father would've hated it, probably.
"I'll never stop fighting," says Law, "And no one is saying that you have to either. But none of us ever want to see that look on your face again. Probably the scariest thing I've ever seen."
Rinwell laughs at that, a bitter sounding thing. "That's what it takes for people to take me seriously, huh? For me to pull out all the stops?"
Law finally looks at her face, his gaze serious. "Rinwell, it has nothing to do with your magic."
She pouts at that, a little bit of her spark flaring up. "What—"
"You looked just like them, the other Lords. The same expression they wear when they want to hurt us, when they hold us beneath their feet. I—" Law pauses, rubbing at his face, sighing in frustration because this is harder to explain than he initially thought it'd be.
"What good is fighting to save the world, when the way you go about it turns out to be no better than them? Because then, what exactly is the point?"
Rinwell's lip twitches at that, wobbling just slightly and Law nearly kicks himself. She drops the mug and coffee splashes everywhere, and he can already see the tears threaten to spill.
Law reaches out to take her hand in his, squeezing it tightly. "Rinwell," he says, "You aren't like that, we know that you aren't. That's why it was scary."
"I— I don't want to be," she says in a murmur, "I'm not like them, I'm—" Her breath hitches but she holds the sob back, her voice steeling. "But then I saw her and everything went red, and I was willing to burn everything to the ground even if it was the last thing I'd do."
She doesn't pull her hand away, Rinwell looks at where Law holds it and squeezes his back. "I wouldn't have," she says to him, this time softer, "I would never have hurt you."
Law swallows thickly. "Yeah, I know."
An awkward silence falls over them. He still holds her hand and she doesn't let go. The others haven't seemed to notice, off in their own little world. Law feels that pang in his heart, where it flips just slightly at the thought of Rinwell.
"Rinwell," he starts, "I—" But then he stops, thinking this is the worst time imaginable to say something dumb and stupid.
"Shionne is different," he says instead, "Dohalim too, even if he's still learning. But, if they can learn too, then we can—"
"Find another way," finishes Rinwell, her lips quirking ever so slightly, "Surely we can."
Of course, thinks Law. They're a resourceful bunch. Still—
"You'll have to lean on us for support, you know." Rinwell looks at him, her gaze shadowed in thought. "Shionne and Alphen, and Kisara and Dohalim, too. I know that you trust them."
"And you, Law," says Rinwell, "Don't forget yourself. You're the reason I…" But she pauses, sighing something soft and tired. "I'm thankful for you. I think I would've made a very bad choice had you not stepped in, and I don't think I would've made it out of there."
Law looks away, scratching at his head awkwardly, his cheeks tinting pink. "Naw, it, um, wasn't much…"
The quiet that settles over them this time is a little less awkward than before, filled instead by unspoken feelings of like, instead of disappointment and hesitation. Law pulls at his collar slightly and Rinwell refuses to meet his face.
But she never lets go of his hand, keeping a tight grip as she pulls it into her lap properly.
It's like the subtle warmth grounds the both of them.