Three weeks. That's how much training Oriana missed with her mission in the South. She could already hear Mereoleona's roaring knock on the hideout door and the flame magic on her head. At that rate, she would never be able to reach level zero or fight alongside her squadmates. Certainly, there had to be some way Oriana could compensate for the time lost. Those thoughts rushed through her mind on her way back to the hideout, up in the skies of the common realm. She didn't even notice how much stronger she had gotten from her fight with Michimiya. She was not even realizing she defeated a dark mage on her own. She felt like she still had catching up to do. She could see their back towards her, as they moved forward and got stronger while she was left behind.

However, there was something else she had to do. Before anything else, she wouldn't be able to focus on her long term objectives if she didn't talk to Zora. While in Miyagi, it was different. She had other worries, but in the Clover Kingdom it was harder not to think of him. Nearly impossible as everything would spark his memory. It had been a while since they last saw each other. They weren't in good terms either, but Oriana had to believe there was a way to fix it. To make amends, one last time. She was determined to leave everything out in the open, no more lies, no more half truths. She was going to say it how it was and after that, it would depend on Zora.

Her head was a mess because, even though duty called her, there was nothing she wanted more than to be by Zora's side.

She didn't need to go a long way to find him. It was easier than she thought it would be. Never had she expected to find him seated on the same stool she sat on the last time she was there, when she told her story to the Black Bulls. After all the things they went through, he was right there, back turned to her, he didn't move a muscle as he held on to this glass of water. She knew for a fact that he could feel her presence, but she didn't care if he decided to say nothing.

It had been too long since she felt Zora's presence herself. She wasn't sure what to say, but in that moment, something pulled her to him. She dropped her bags in the middle of the common room. Her eyes were blurry. She hadn't noticed how much she truly missed him. She walked softly towards his back and wrapped her arms around his torso as she rested her head on the nape of his neck. Oriana smiled when there was a hand on top of hers. Suddenly, she could breathe easier.

"You can tell me." Zora's voice was filled with hesitation.

He was just like her, trying to desperately reconnect the pieces that once were the picture of them together.

Oriana straightened her back and freed Zora of her embrace, but kept pressing her hand against his as she sat on the stool by his side. She rested her elbow on the balcony for support as she leaned to look at Zora's face and searched for his eyes. His face was unreadable when he looked up to her and even as she told him everything. After that day, Oriana could finally let go of her past. That was the last day this topic had to be brought up. So, she held on tight to his hand, afraid that at any moment he would let go. She didn't want him to, not yet. She was aware that it was his decision to make, but just not yet.

Every single excuse she had ever made to herself, she threw them away. She searched Zora's eyes, but they showed no emotion as she spoke of her past. By the time she was over and got to the point where he came for her in Japan, her voice was low and croaky and silence reigned.

"Aren't you going to say anything?"

His silence was unusual. He didn't comment or make any noise while she spoke. Suddenly, his hand fell from Oriana's as he blinked and looked away from Oriana's bleak expression. Her mind entered a panic state. The possibility she might have blown it all to flames became very real when Zora's hand fell from hers.

"They say people are the reflection of their parents," Zora paused and looked Oriana in the eyes. "From what you just told me, you're the spitting image of your father."

Oriana gasped as she put some distance between Zora and herself. In disbelief, she couldn't look away from Zora's accusing eyes. Oriana searched from some hint of sympathy in them, anything that would tell her there was hope for them, but there was nothing.

"Why would you say that?" her voice was brittle.

"You father lied to your sister and everyone around your family about how he was treating you. He lied about your death when he knew very well you were alive." he explained. "From my perspective, you lied just as much as he did. To your squad, to your friends, to me. You put on this facade, gave it a name and refused to tell us who you really were."

"My father is an abusive and manipulative son of a bitch." with tears in her eyes, Oriana jumped from her stool, fists clenched by her sides. "He treated me like shit, like an object that belonged to him! I had to escape on my own, I was terrified he would ever find me! Don't you fucking dare to compare me with that monster!" she shouted.

"And after all these years, were you ever going to tell us about it?"

"It's not that easy!"

"Didn't you manipulate everyone here and your friends in Japan into thinking you were someone you were not?" he questioned, his eyes pierced through Oriana's. "The same way your father manipulates his household."

"I never used you! Or anyone! How can you say something like that?"

Oriana's tears spilled from her eyes, rolled down her features and fell to the floor between them. Her breath was loud and wavered.

"I would never use you."

If she respected him in the least, she would have told him. She should know he would be able to handle it. He would have never abandoned her in a scenario where Oriana told him the truth. Oriana had been disrespectful towards him, she couldn't feel the same way Zora did. He wished he could just erase those feelings. It was like a never ending routine of forgiving Oriana only so another piece of her secretive past would surprise him and change everything he knew about her. The first time, he lied to himself because he genuinely believed she felt the same, but Zora wasn't so sure anymore.

After she told him everything, or so she claimed, he wondered if there was even a point to it anymore. She clearly didn't feel the same. How could she? At that point, she didn't have to love him. He just wanted Oriana to be honest with him for once.

Zora found the way Oriana handled her whole love life disrespectful. If she hadn't taken his heart already, if he hadn't touched her skin, then maybe they could get a brand new start.

He rose from his seat, but was still undecided if the argument was worth having. If he should just leave her there, like he did in the Clover Palace. Or maybe they could actually talk it through. He wanted to rub away her tears, but if he touched her again, he would fall for her one more time, so he kept his hands in his pockets.

"I just feel like you are … over us." he Zora admitted. "You're not taking it seriously, not like me. You would have told me sooner if you were."

"Are you really going back to that?"

He couldn't delete or erase his feelings. He didn't need them either. He couldn't handle them anymore. He didn't know what to do with them. He had been falling into pieces ever since she left for her mission. She left him in the Clover Kingdom without a word. Again.

"Zora, if I didn't love you, do you really think I would go through all this trouble? Do you think I would have taken the time to explain myself to you?"

Just let go. It's easier.

"I want to make it up to you. I want to make amends, but I need you to want the same." Oriana continued. "Let's make this work."

She was looking for his eyes, but the honesty shown in her own made Zora look away. He wanted to believe her, but he was so tired of being used.

"Why are you trying so hard?"

"Because I love you! Why else would I be here? When you went to the South to bring me back, that's when I knew where I belonged. Here. With you."

His mind contorted in confusion with the many words he wanted to say to her. However, he could manage to say three,

"I need space."

Idle chatter filled Oriana's ears as her head felt dizzier with every mug she emptied. She was supposed to get one drink with Sugawara to relax from what happened that evening, but once she started, it was difficult to stop. The drink she had already asked for was yet to come when she finished her sixth… seventh...eighth…? Who was even counting at that point?

"What am I supposed to do now?" Oriana wondered out loud as she stared at the bottom of her empty mug.

"He asked you to give him space, right? Then do that." Sugawara exhorted with a tone of dismissal.

"What if he never comes back?"

"Just relax! Everything will sort out eventually."

Oriana lifted her eyes to her also very drunk friend. He was great at keeping up with Oriana and her drinking. It had been so long since she had a good drink of ale, that those went down like it was water.

"I feel like I fucked up big time. But he won't give a chance!" her tone was louder and louder with every sentence. "We live in the same place, he can't just pretend I'm not there! If he doesn't want to forgive me he should just say it!"

"Oriana…"

"I know it's my fault, dammit!" she lifted her forearm and rested her forehead on the palm of her hand, once again she faced the table. "This sucks."

"It will be fine! The guy likes ya!"

"I really hate how dismissive of everything you get when you're drunk."

"I'm sorry," he started, more sincere. "I can't always know the answer."

Oriana groaned in response.

There was something missing that night. There were no stars in the sky or in her eyes. The way his features caught the light, the hurt in his voice. Oriana knew Zora was being serious about needing space, but what could she do about the feeling of missing something? How was she to deal with the comfort she found only in her drunk fantasies. That he would fly through that door and hold her like he always does. The chains of the past held her down for so long, but Zora was always there to make it better. That night the chains were gone, but so was Zora. It was impossible, it would never happen, but she wished that he was still in that stool, back in the hideout, waiting for her to get back, with an answer on his lips.

A/N:

Before anything else, I want to remind everyone that this story will get a second installment, so please refrain from violent behaviour. I did warn you that the story would have a unsatisfying ending if it ended here!

About their argument, I wanted to include Oriana's and Zora's POV because I wanted to make clear that both were hurt and both had a rough past. If you think Zora was being rough, take in consideration his story before the Black Bulls and his character overall. I feel like in this situation he would be really conflicted and need time to think about things. Oriana already made it clear she wants to be with him, she is just waiting for him to make up his mind. All that will be for the next installment coming... some point in the future. Also, yes, the line "They say a child is a reflection of their parents" was taken from Zora's filler episode, in case that was soundig familiar to you.

I'm still planning and outlining the next installment, but I can say I'm really excited and I have many, many ideas! It's going to be fun and angsty. Basically I'm going to keep the same vibe, so be prepared for that. Also, while we are still being fed fillers in the anime, I will not touch the war/fight/idk with the demon, although I will be using some of the ideas presented in the fillers and take advantage of that. If I will ever follow the cannon in a future installment is still debatable. It will really depend of how the arc goes and if i can figure out a way to include Oriana in it.

Meanwhile, there is another fic from me you can read. It's a My Hero Academia story that I have shamelessly plugged here before. Also, I'm planning a new crossover. And that's all I'm saying about it, haha.

Keep safe and wear a mask!

Hello! It's me from the future. I wanted to let you know that the first chapter of the second installment of Dishonesty has been published! The second installment is called "Heiress" and it's available in and on AO3. Have fun!