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"raine," eda cautions, a hand outstretched toward the curled figure, hovering above the other's knee, not quite touching them, but not quite away from them, either, "how old are you right now?"
to some, there's a glaringly obvious answer; if the white streaks in their hair don't tell it all, then the experienced wrinkles on their hands and the corners of their eyes did. to eda, however, there isn't a clear answer — not now, at least. she has a few to go off on, even a sneaking suspicion for fewer, but it isn't up to her to decide on another witch's age. that would be weird, even for the boiling isles. besides, she always lets raine speak first in moments like these; it's just how they rolled.
back pressed against the wall, raine takes a moment for two deep, shuddering and sniffly breaths between their knees. their voice, though muffled, is fragile when they attempt to murmur: " 'm– i-i'm– i'm–" an attempt that doesn't make it to a full sentence before they whine, clutching a fistful of their red pants.
"it's alright, rainstorm," eda says, in that soft tone that's since been preserved for only an upset king and luz. "can you use your fingers, instead?"
raine doesn't loosen their grip immediately — actually, they don't loosen their grip at all. instead, another whine comes from high in their throat, followed by a choked sob and a stiff headshake.
"you don't know, huh?" she asks, far from condescending. that could mean one of two things: they're too small to tell, or a tad too grown to say for sure. something tells her the latter is very quickly fading away. "that's okay, too." separated for as long as they have, her knowledge never left. her hand still hovers above their leg. "can i touch you?"
slow as it is, raine's head moves from its spot between their knees, peeking tearfully from behind their arms. she offers them a smile. "it's okay if you don't want me to, raindrop. i'll still be here."
maybe it's her smile. maybe it was her words, or the nickname. maybe all three, maybe something different entirely, but raine's eyes fill with new tears, overflowing and marking fresh streaks down their cheeks, soaking into their white sleeves. another whine leaves their lips, but in a way that sends an old surge through her chest, a surge awakened time and time again with her two rascals turning her grey hair impossibly greyer, while simultaneously breaking her with their trembly voice.
"oh, baby." eda scoops them into her nest from underneath their outstretched arms, dodging their glasses strewn beside them, cradling them in her lap. they stuff their face in her chest, digging their fingers in the fabric of her shirt so tightly she swore she heard it rip as their whimpers grew louder. a ripped shirt didn't matter, though. raine mattered. "it's okay, dewdrop, i've got ya. mama's got ya."
"mama," they croak again, so quiet they might as well have been silent at that point. eda sways forward and back, rubbing circles on their back.
yeah, they're small. it tears her apart, unaware of what's bothering them, unable to get an intelligible answer. stress, brewing anxiety, being a coven head. all three, maybe two, perhaps things entirely different. it eats away at her like a fairy.
eda hugs them closer, surprised that was even possible in how close their proximity already is. "you'll be okay, raine. it'll be okay."
i'll do my best to help.