Chapter 2: Sabo/Koala: Sharing Emotions
Sometimes people change, and you have to roll with that too.
Notes: For you Xeon! Sorry it's angst
"Sabo…" Koala whispered into her pillow. The ship rolled on the waves, the smell of wood and salt and travel worn sheets entered her with each inhale. He lay next to her, back to back. He shifted, showing he was listening, there in the pursed her lips, gripping the pillow tight in her fingers. She thought once long ago that he would be easy to understand. That feeling his emotions would make his actions simple to translate, same with thoughts, words. At one time, it had been easy. As children, he'd been her light. A little ball of laughter and joy, bright like a small sun in her chest.
It had kept her going through her enslavement. Through the trauma of her reclaimed freedom. He was her rock, that joy. Even during the blank time, where she was sure her soulmate had been lost, leaving her with despair that she had never been able to reciprocate.
When they finally united on Baltigo, the happiness, or… an even keel contentment had returned and…permeated as what she liked to think was Sabo's average temperament. What had used to be his temperament.
Before the Paramount War. Before his memories came back.
Now though…"What's up?" he pressed her, there in the dark. He could feel her fear, her uncertainty, just as she could feel the disturbing…emptiness. Like a blanket inside of him. Sometimes it pulled back, revealing a roiling current of unbridled rage. A… darkness. A…
"Will you…can you…" Koala bit her lip. "Is happiness still possible… for you?"
The waves buffeted the ship, the planks creaked, the wind ruffled the sails. Sabo didn't answer.
Notes: Mmm yes bite sized angst.