Rafisol's verbal intentions are misconstrued, so she decides that her actions are better. Helping Sig when she discovers him alone and upset is one way to prove her hypothesis. Requested by a tumblr anon! Based on the prompt: "Come here, you need a hug."

Empathic Heart

Her understanding of consolation was minimal. Seeing the world through an inversion left Rafisol unsure of how to comfort others. Her attempts usually made things worse when she offered her help. Last week she had inadvertently made Lidelle cry when she said her horns were pointier than usual, something she thought would have been a nice compliment for an imp.

The opposite effects of her kindness gnawed at her. It seemed she couldn't make anything right when it came to making others smile. Ally had promised she was doing her best, that others would see she had no malicious intent.

Unfortunately, that also wasn't the case. When she told Hohow Bird that he needed more training after a Puyo battle, he snapped that someone like her didn't know anything heroism. Mentioning that Satan didn't seem romantically interested in Rulue to try to help her move on from him left her scrambling far away from the fighter's flurry of kicks. She even earned Carbuncle's ire and a laser beam to the face when she said his curry was too spicy for her palate.

Rafisol wanted to say it wasn't fair, but Ally insisted they misunderstood her intentions. She tried claiming that her efforts were admirable, but the way she said them made others doubt her. It was more than frustrating hearing that from Ally, but she relented and sulked, her head filled with ways to express herself in different manners.

If words failed her, then actions seemed to provide the best results. She trusted in her actions more than her words even if they could be misrepresented. It was how she managed to escape her personal prison even if meant harming Ally, a consequence which still made her flinch.

But coming across Sig with his face buried in his hands certainly wasn't what she expected when she set out on her personal quest. He sat on jagged rock overlooking a pleasant stream, a few golden fish flipping up and down in the cool waves. His shoulders shook, and his back continued to arch forward, his expression masked by his scarlet hand.

Her heart panged. Such a pitiful sight wasn't lost on the girl made of dark magic. She tiptoed towards him, the singsong of bluebirds covering her steps above them. As she came closer, she heard his muted sniffling. Snotty, raspy breaths pressed against his hands and harmed her ears. When she was by his side, her presence entirely undetected, she realized he was crying.

It was a situation in which words wouldn't help. Whatever he was enduring, simple words wouldn't quell his despair. From her own experiences, she understood that far better than anyone else in Primp Town.

The reason why he was crying meant nothing at the moment. He needed to be consoled. He didn't seem to be in the mood to speak either, especially when she noted his bright red cheeks and the dark rings under his eyes.

She spread her arms, saying, "Come here, you need a hug."

Sig flipped his head to her, his mismatched eyes wide and annoyed. She sensed that he didn't want to be discovered. Knowing what she did about Sig, he kept to himself. His problems were his own, which he buried deep in his heart.

She refused to be cast aside and stepped forward. She wrapped her arms around him and brought his head to her shoulder. Remembering what Ally had told her, she smoothed down a few loose curls of cerulean hair. As a damp spot formed on her shoulder, she felt Sig loosely swing his arms around her waist, and while he cried, she remained still long enough for him to release all of his agony.

Whatever he was going through must have been private. Secluding himself in the forest, quiet tears rolling down his cheeks, not even a peep leaving him, he must have been burdened with unquestionable pain.

She understood. Her own pain was internalized for far too many occasions.

"Thanks," Sig mumbled, his voice muffled against the purple fabric of her long vest.

"You're welcome," she said, and when he didn't let go, she let him nestle closer, the only sound resonating around them being the stream's gentle waves pressing against the embankment.