[Audio]

[angha_firebird]

B...Bobby?

[There's horror and traumatized fear in her tone.]

Zachariah?

Zhaneel! Varric...

[She isn't bothering to withhold her cries, or whimpers of pain. She had done something terrible. Horrible. She deserved to be punished. She deserved...]

I am... so sorry...

[Crying can be heard before she is able to switch off the audio. She doesn't

Comments

[Video]

[mister_10_below]

[Bobby clicks on the video, and there's obvious concern on his face. He's worried, both for her, and out of fear that she'll hate him for what he did to her.

There's also a hint of relief, because he'd been so freaked out she wouldn't come back.]

Aara...

[He can't do this over these things.]

Where are you? Please?

[Audio]

[angha_firebird]

[Her crying is inescapable when she sees Bobby's face--hears his voice. She can't let him see the tears streaming down her face. Her blotchy skin. She's shaking, afraid to respond, yet wants to so desperately. Finally...]

I am so... so sorry, Bobby. I promised and I did not keep my promise and I am not a good friend and I h-hurt people--

[Her cried intensify until she desperately holds her breath. She doesn't want him to hear. To feel sorry for her. She hurt him. She hurt their friendship.]

I'm so sorry...

[She's too distracted to answer his question just yet.]

[Video] --> [Commentlog]

[mister_10_below]

No, Aara, don't think that. You are a good friend, you-

[And he cuts off, because, yeah, he needs to do this in person.

It doesn't really matter that she doesn't respond to his question, because he'd already been heading for her room.

When he gets there, he knocks at her door.]

Aara? Are you in there? It's Bobby.

[Commentlog]

[angha_firebird]

[She jumps at the knock, then crumples when she hears Bobby's voice calling out to her. Drawing her legs up to her chest, Aara hides her pained expression behind her knees as her shoulders shake with trembling sobs. She tries to calm herself--to breathe--so she can call out to him.]

I... I am here...

[She hadn't locked the door.]

You can come in... if you want to...

[She honestly does not expect he would want to.]

[Commentlog]

[mister_10_below]

[His shoulders sag with relief when she's not only there, but says he can come in. He opens the door and slips in, shutting it behind him.

He takes a moment to adjust to the dark - crap, sitting in the dark is never a good sign - and then he crosses the room, hesitantly sitting down next to her.]

Aara. I'm so, so sorry.

[Commentlog]

[angha_firebird]

[She whimpers, arms tightening around her knees as he moves to sit next to her. Why was he here? Wasn't he angry with her for breaking her promise? She shudders. She doesn't want to remember it. Any of it.]

You... You did what was right.

[She hides her face, turning it away from him so he might not see her guilt or pain.]

You... protected...

[A small sob escapes, and her shoulders shake as she tries to keep other sounds from passing her lips. Hot tears form in her eyes and travel like liquid fire down the length of her face. She had shed so many tears already. She did not think any more could possibly emerge.]

I attacked you. Bit you...

[Was she a monster? Did she deserve... everything that was done to her? Even now? Did she still deserve it now?]

[Commentlog]

[mister_10_below]

[There's only really one thing he knows to do here. Bobby leans in, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her close.]

That wasn't you, Aara. It's not your fault. It can't be. It was an illness. It made you sick and you couldn't control yourself, but none of that was really you. Your mind wasn't home.

[Commentlog]

[angha_firebird]

[Expression pained, Aara just leans into Bobby's embrace, still not entirely able to comprehend how he could bare to hold her after everything that happened.]

I hurt you. I hurt... friends. I... I hurt...

[A soft whimper escapes, and Aara turns into his arms more fully, wrapping her arms around him finally and accepting any form of comfort Bobby might be willing to give.]

I hurt...

[Commentlog]

[mister_10_below]

[He keeps his arms around her, not planning on letting her go any time soon.

When she finally turns towards him to hug him back, Bobby relaxes, smoothing his hand over her hair.]

No, you didn't. Your body hurt people. I know you never would have done that, if you'd had any choice. Just like I would have never wanted to fight you.

Sometimes...sometimes bad things happen, Aara, and it's not anyone's fault. They're horrible, and they hurt, but no one's responsible.

[Commentlog]

[angha_firebird]

[She just... clings to him, for a little while. She will allow herself that.]

What if it happens again? What will we do then?

[Commentlog]

[mister_10_below]

It won't. Kloe's said she's going to be more careful.

[He's silent for a moment, just holding her.]

And we know, now. What it is. We can stop it before it gets so bad.

[Commentlog]

[angha_firebird]

[Shuddering, Aara slowly nods her head. She doesn't say anything for a moment.]

[Commentlog]

[mister_10_below]

[That's all right. Bobby's good with not saying anything, and just holding her for awhile, resting his cheek against her head. After a few minutes, he finally speaks again.]

Never believe you're not a good friend, Aara. You're one of the best I have here.

I - don't want to lose you.

[Commentlog]

[angha_firebird]

[Her heart and soul break all over again, and Aara goes limp and helpless in Bobby's arms as confusion and misery sweep through her.]

How... could you want to be my friend... after all I did?

I already broke my promise.

Are you sure... you are not afraid of me? Angry at me?

[Commentlog]

[mister_10_below]

[His hold on her tightens slightly.]

Because you're Aara. I like you. Nothing that happened changes that. You didn't do it.

And you didn't break anything. You can't break a promise if you aren't aware of what you're doing.

I'm not angry, and I'm not scared. Not of you. The only thing I'm scared of is losing a friend over something that was no one's fault.

[Commentlog]

[angha_firebird]

[Pulling away slightly to look up at Bobby, Aara lifts a hand to quickly rub at her face before she meets Bobby's eyes with quiet intensity. There is question and the beginnings of hope stirring in her gaze, but it is fragile.]

I did not break my promise?

[She stares at Bobby, eyes pleading with his for him to tell her the truth.]

I... I did not betray your trust? How...?

[He did not want to lose her friendship? He meant it. He did not... want to lose... her?]

Bobby... [Aara carefully and lightly traces her fingers over Bobby's face.] Once you are considered 'friend,' this angha will never be someone you 'lose' unless it is of your own choosing. [She had to make him understand that. Once she took him under her wing--considered him hers to care for and protect--nothing would stand in her way. ...Except perhaps some unexplained illness.]