Libra can feel the anger within Sully even though she doesn't use her words. Maybe he's just attuned to her, but he's always been empathetic. The camp at large is a mixture of regretful, angry, hurt, and hopeless, but Sully's is a particular breed of all of those things that stands out to Libra.
They've marched to a new camp and set up a little earlier in the day, something Libra feels apprehensive about considering how intense the circumstances are, how close Validar is to resurrecting Grima, but he also knows that with their hearts the way they are right now, they need a bit of time to bleed.
Theoretically, he should too, but Libra knows that the people need a level headed and forgiving priest right now. Lucina has already seen him in private begging both him and Naga for forgiveness for nearly killing Robin, but Libra cannot find it in his heart to condemn her for looking at the kind, bemused tactician and seeing her father's killer. All he could do is stroke her hair in a way too wooden to feel authentic as she cried out her shame. At the same time, Robin had not yet seen him, as if to avoid hearing what he would say. Is she afraid of him condemning her, or him advising her on a path she does not want to take?
Libra hopes he would do neither to her.
Being an effective priest is the only unique skill he offers to the Shepherds, an offering he so rarely gets to grant to people. It would be a shame if failure was all his chief tactician expected from him.
When he sees Sully curled up near a tree, eyes closed, he realizes that is the first time he's seen her all day. Though they generally have been joined at the hip, spending time apart is not unheard of even as they gravitate towards each other. Still, under such circumstances, he should at least pay her a visit. There's no way what she's thinking can be healthy.
Libra can't imagine anyone is feeling too healthy.
Sully hmms as she feels Libra's presence at the base of the tree next to her. Libra doesn't disturb her at first, looking up to assess the tree. As they're still in Plegia, the trees possess no fruit, especially not in the canyons, and the bark has chipped away from a lot of it. Curious, he hits the side of the tree with force, and more bark loosens. He's not surprised; the Shepherds have taken to the hinterlands of the hinterlands in their escape, so far away from Plegia's main roads that they will never be found- though, with Validar having stolen the keys to unlock Grima, he doubts that Plegia will put up a dedicated pursuit.
Sully doesn't stir in the commotion, and Libra closes his eyes as well. If he needs to wait for her response, he will. At the same time, she doesn't look restful. Her staying against the tree seems out of spite to herself. He knows she's bursting to the brim with words. With most people, he would not interfere and let them be, to avoid drawing their ire. However, he's lost the ability to pretend that Sully is like most people.
"I can't imagine any of this feels good."
She snorts, eyes still closed. "How'd you guess?"
Libra chuckles. "I am grateful to see that it hasn't eaten at your personality."
Sully smiles despite herself. "I try."
Libra smiles as well. The more he is around Sully, the more endeared and enamored with her he becomes. Every now and again, his thoughts drift to Sully's hands near his ears, her weight hovering over his body, her breath hot on his face, her hungry smirk, and though he feels sinful for having such thoughts in such a dire situation, he can't deny that he would- even now- surrender to her.
With that said, he puts his hand over her neck and shoulder. Her eyes shoot open as she looks at his hand like an invasive object. It is still so foreign to touch her so casually- at this point, he knows neither are quite sure about what to make of it.
"If there is anything on your mind," Libra tells her, "I would love to hear it."
Sully hmms again. "You saying that as a priest or as my partner?"
Libra chuckles. "I've been a priest all day. At this point, definitely the latter."
Sully sighs, buckling under an invisible load. "I'm so damn angry," she says. "I can't even parse it all out. I just…" She bows her head. "I didn't even see this coming. What the hell was she thinking?"
"She being Lucina?"
Sully nods. "Hell yeah. I'm gobsmacked. Far as whatever I know, Robin's been the key to this whole thing. Robin is how we know what to do to even try and stop this all. And Lucina wants to up and kill her? Is she out of her mind?" Before Libra can answer: "And yeah, I know that Robin got manipulated into sabotaging the Fire Emblem, but not only will we get it back, but that's all Robin did wrong." (Part of Libra muses that they'll never get it back if they continue to go at a snail's pace, but he keeps that to himself.) "Like we've been through so much only to not be able to handle that? Just fuckin' have her give us instructions chained to a wagon if it gets that bad."
Libra closes his eyes. If only he could pretend that he thought things were that simple. That he hadn't dealt with a woman who lost her father, her crown, and her world. That he hadn't dealt with another woman who could only shuffle around and mask her grief, the resignation in her eyes betraying that the biggest regret was that Lucina failed to do what she needed to do.
When Sully finishes with a near-hyperventilated "Lucina nearly ruined everything because she wasn't seeing straight. Robin isn't Grima. Robin isn't the enemy. Everything we know now can fix what we didn't then." She throws her hands up. "She's from the future. She should be able to see that."
Libra closes his eyes. Before he can stop himself, he says "I don't think it's nearly as simple as that."
"You don't?"
The words are a challenge unique from her to him. Still, despite himself, he obliges. "I had the chance to speak with Lucina today," he says.
"So she feels bad about it," Sully grumbles. "That doesn't mean she didn't do it."
Libra nods. "It was still a very… affirming sight to see. To see not only her remorse, but her fear. I find it easier to forgive her-"
"You forgive everyone," she points out, but for some reason, it sounds like a negative quality. Like gullibility, not mercy.
"Knowing what she went through," Libra presses on, "and that this legitimately seemed like the only option to save her father, I cannot condemn her for her regrettable actions."
"Honestly, What with all she's been through," Sully says, deep frown on her face "she scares me more than Robin does."
Libra doesn't respond.
He isn't sure he's there.
His eyes slam closed, and all he can think of is an orphan. An orphan who lost her father to the betrayal of his best friend. Or an orphan who lost his parents to deliberate abandonment. An orphan among orphans who had to balance the fate of the world on their shoulders. Or an orphan alone who stole to eat, hid away to sleep, and never knew a true home. An orphan who risked everything to save her world. Or an orphan who scraped the edge of society for life and finally found it in Naga's grace. And yet… just as one orphan struggled with a life-or-death matter of revenge, the other struggles with being exactly who Naga intended- because he can't let go of the idea that maybe Naga did sit by idly while he spent a childhood suffering.
"Surely you don't mean that," he chokes.
Sully turns to him, at once concerned and angry. "Mean what? I mean, look what she did!"
"I know what she did," he responds, angrier than he's ever been. "Robin is my friend. It would have hurt me badly. But there's no way I can see her actions as invalid. Incorrect, unacceptable, but valid."
"But what if that were you?" she asks defensively, naively. "What if you did something wrong and your friend's kid tried to kill you? What if you could understand that move? Would you let her?"
"Yes!"
No one says anything. There's no sound but the wind. Libra's chilled by how silent it is without them shouting. The press of the wood against his back is all that confirms he is alive, and absently he notices that he has not had his arm around Sully for awhile.
The next whisper is quieter than the wind: "You wouldn't really…"
Libra just nods. "I would. I mean… there's no reason I shouldn't. I have already committed my life to Naga's will. We as Shepherds have weighed our lives in the balance to defend the greater good. In comparison, my life has no worth."
"It gods-damn…"
She doesn't finish, but Libra feels nauseous regardless. Like he's gone too far. Like he's unveiled what he didn't mean to. He's spoken the truth, and he knows he shouldn't have.
"I must retire to my tent," he says abruptly, leaning up.
Sully holds his arm desperately. "Libra, just stop this, okay?"
Libra shakes his head, smiling sadly. "Don't be scared. Don't be scared of me."
It falls quiet again. Libra still feels her fingers on his arm. They're violating. "Let me go, please."
Sully doesn't respond at first, fear in her eyes. Libra tries to comfort her with his. It's not her fault she got him so upset. She didn't know. She didn't know that he's as scary as Lucina was.
Sully lets go. The look on her face wishes she hadn't. Libra smiles at her, but it doesn't reach, because it isn't authentic.
He doesn't hold onto his smile before he walks away.