[Part 1]

"I'm sorry."

These simple words were very difficult to say. Not even because of some sort of pride at play - Hiei strongly believed in owning up to her mistakes, which is why she usually made sure not to make any. No, it was an entirely another thing.

Her memory might have been still shaky, but the details of what transpired in that facility came back to her in glimpses, and… And while she owed Inabayama a genuine apology, this was not just a simple mistake that could have been forgiven. No, this was far too close to an outright betrayal

The dragon was far too kind with her for her own good - the sheer fact that Gardevoir woke up here, and not in the clutches of humans, strongly suggested that. Hell, Goodra's first words to her were 'you're finally awake'. If Hiei begged for forgiveness, it would probably be granted too.

As much as she desired to be forgiven, she did not want it. No, her words had to be weighted up very carefully.

"I am sorry, Inabayama. I've hurt you. I tried to kill you. I will not make any excuses for it."

That's right, she… She almost killed the Goodra back then. The glimpses were there - the hunger, the chase, the blood. Inabayama's face twisted in pain and horror.

The dragon got up and, after slowly approaching Hiei, sat on the ground to her side. She did not look mad. Of course she didn't.

"No need for excuses, but… Talk to me?.." Goodra said a little tensely, "What… What happened back then? What happened to you?.."

She nodded.

"After getting into the heart of that facility, I got rid of the butcher, Tomohito…" yeah, she did get rid of that human. She was very throughout in that regard, "But I've spent too much energy on trying to get to him as quickly as possible. Another human used that to try to corner me, with a team of level 101s that he controlled remotely. I did not have enough strength left to both get rid of them, and find and kill that human. Which is why I tapped into my reserves."

This next part was not pretty. Which is exactly why she had to disclose it now.

"Every living being has energy reserves that are not utilised in its daily life, but can be tapped into in specific circumstances. Normally, life-or-death situations-"

"Or hibernation," the dragon guessed. She was so clever.

"Yes. I tapped into said reserves to give me just enough energy to finish both tasks at hand. But-"

"The winter ended less than a season ago. Too little energy in reserves as well. You went into your post-hibernation condition"

She nodded.

"It's… It's an all-consuming hunger, that clouds my mind until I restore enough energy. Every new victim only registers as "more food". And with how inefficient my energy expenditure is in that condition, it can become a never ending loop with enough victims in vicinity"

"I see…" the dragon nodded, "What did the human want with you?"

"Does it really matter?"

"I think it does. If it was just to kill or capture you, you wouldn't go out of your way to kill a human like that"

Why did she have to be so perceptive.

"The human… Wanted me for a new breeding program"

At this, Inabayama's eyes widened. Part of Hiei wanted to think it was a realisation of how petty, how insignificant her motivations were, but… Sadly, there was no way.

"Wait, like on the mountain?!" the dragon balked, "And they wanted YOU to go through that as well?! The hell is wrong with them?!"

Why did she have to be this way?..

"Did you at least get them?"

"I… Think I did. Killing them was the only thing on my mind before I lost my senses, and somewhere midway, it felt like that came to pass…"

"Well, even if it didn't, next time that human shows up, I'll kick them apart," the dragon smiled, turning to her.

It was then that she noticed.

"Your… Your eye…"

[Part 2]

Shit, she messed up.

Inabayama tried to be very careful not to reveal her damaged eye too soon. Hiei was painfully subdued after waking up, scarlet eyes full of guilt and embers of grim determination. Seeing these scars too soon could've sent her over the edge, and Goodra did not want that.

And yet, she messed up, and now tears appeared in those red eyes.

"Hiei, It's okay!" she tried to reassure Gardevoir, even as that green hand softly touched the scarred cheek, one finger gently brushing against the damaged tissue.

"Why… Didn't it heal?.." Gardevoir whispered, looking at her in disbelief, "Your regeneration… Did I…"

"No, you didn't break my regeneration. My other wounds got healed as quickly as usual, you know?" she tried to reason, "It's just this one."

"I… Blinded you…"

"In one eye. One, Hiei. Do you know how many I have left? Eleven. It's not a big dea-"

"IT IS!"

After that shout, the cave practically drowned in silence for a few minutes. An uncomfortable, thick silence that the Goodra was not even sure how to start cutting through. She had to try though. And… Maybe rather than uncompromising reassurance, she had to be a little bit more honest to get to Gardevoir.

"Yeah. Yeah, you're right. It kinda sucks without that eye. I've now got this big blind spot that I have to account for. Took me some time to get used to it too. But it'll be fine. I'll be fine. If anything, this was a wake-up call I severely needed. Cuz I've gotten pretty damn rusty. Been too long since I've fought anyone in my own weight category. So I've got some practice to acclimate, and began training to get stronger now. After all, what if Arceus needs to be suplexed to relinquish his god powers, you know?"

Those scarlet eyes looked at her, still ridden with guilt and hurt. But at least, Hiei was listening

"Yes, you've hurt me, and I can't say I'm happy with you for that. But this was an accident, and I'm fully aware of that. Not only did that human want you to go through that same horrible shit as your sisters, but they also sent a bloody mechanical abomination after you? Like, I wouldn't expect you to remain calm after that. If you just went out to grab me, I woulda probably gone to sort humans out, and dragged that one's sorry ass to you myself so you could tear them to shreds or whatever else you wanted to put that human through."

At this, she looked closely at Hiei.

"I want you to promise me two things, Hiei. First, that 'tap into reserves' thing sounds like it could kill you if you don't manage to eat or stop in time. Hell, you fell unconscious for over a week after snapping out of it! So promise that you won't use it, unless you absolutely have to. Like if you're in mortal danger already"

"P… Promise," Hiei nodded weakly.

"Second. Once you usurp Arceus and his godly powers, ask me if I want my eye back. I might get too used to having less by that point, and decide to keep them at this number, after all. Can you promise that?"

"Yeah…"

"Good. I'm rather partial to the scars though, so imma keep them. Don't you think they make me look vicious?" she smiled.

"You know, they actually do…" Gardevoir agreed

"Now, c'mere," Inabayama demanded, finally hugging her girlfriend, and feeling tears appearing in her own eyes, "I've missed you so much."