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“The deal’s off!”
As he exclaimed that, Odile dragged his feet out of the conference room. He didn’t bother looking to see if his subordinates followed suit nor did he look back at them, at Tris. His eyes and limbs felt to even make such an attempt.
It hurt him more than he could admit. To know that after many decades of not seeing each other and finally reuniting here in Demon Castle, Tris greeted him with such coldness and distrust. Most especially in regards to the monster bird chicks that the Organization, that he worked for, had specialized caring for!
How could he!
With his back slackened as if a rock had weighed down on him, he couldn’t help thinking, ‘and more than anything, it seems I’m the only one who’s happy to see him. Perhaps coming here was a mistake–’
“Odile!”
He halted in his tracks, that familiar voice shaking him out of his thoughts. But even then, he found himself still unable to meet eyes with Tris. Still, he stopped and waited for what he had to say.
“I’m sorry for shouting at you earlier,” the latter began, though it was the same voice, it surprised him to take note of the unexpected gentleness from his otherwise yet usual stern tone. This wasn’t like Tris to talk in such a way.
Then, he continued, some unsureness in his voice lingering, “but your hands have always been terrifyingly cold. I’d often forget that you were of the ice attribute, so ice blocks would form around my hands after touching you.”
In response to that, his eyes widened. He didn’t think Tris would remember after they’d grown apart for so long. But somehow, he did…
Slowly yet nervously, he placed a hand to his chest. He no longer felt his chest being squeezed in a death-like grip. Only warmth and lightness instead.
“I’ve made sure to remember at least that one…”
No, no, no. This was no good. Odile could only panic as those emotions in his chest grew. Just those simple words coming from him and yet, he was…
This happy…
Without thinking straight from all these feelings rushing through him, he ran out while screaming his lungs out, “t–then, you’d better remember!”
He couldn’t find it in himself to stay there any longer. Not if he wanted for the whole world to see the deep redness creeping onto his face and the wide smile. No, definitely not. He can’t have others seeing him like this!
In the middle of his frenzied retreat, he mused to himself, ‘to think he remembers…’
And that meant the world to him.