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Positive. That’s a word most people would use to describe Exusiai. Others might use cheerful, excitable, or any number of words to describe someone as endlessly upbeat as her.
Texas is not most people. She’s Exusiai’s partner, and that means she can see things others don’t, even without Sankta empathy.
So when Penguin Logistics reunited in Siracusa, while anyone else would’ve seen Exusiai’s smiling face and assumed all was well, Texas could tell something was wrong. She would’ve talked to her about it, but as is typical for them, they rarely got a chance to relax.
Texas pushed her worry to the side at the time. Whatever was bothering Exusiai, it clearly wasn’t impacting her performance, so it could wait.
Eventually, Texas’s business in Siracusa came to a close, and she returned to Lungmen with the rest of the girls. At Emperor’s insistence, they threw a party to welcome her back. Exusiai was apparently all too happy to plan it, and with how excited she was during the whole thing, Texas almost forgot what she was so worried about.
Almost.
The party ended, Sora and Croissant headed to their rooms, and Texas walked side-by-side with Exusiai back to their room.
Now’s as good a time as any. Texas opened her mouth to speak, but Exusiai instantly put a finger to her lips and winked. Still smiling as brightly as ever.
“If you wanna talk, we can talk in private, m’kay?”
Though it was only a few more seconds, the rest of the walk felt like an eternity to Texas.
Walking into their shared room, Texas saw how little had changed. One side was still neatly organized (albeit a little dusty), just as she had left it, while the other looked like a hungover college student’s dorm room. It brought a little smile to her face.
But the moment she turned around, that smile disappeared.
“Exusiai…?”
The angel was still standing at the door, hand still on the doorknob. Even through her gloves, it was clear how tightly she was gripping it.
“Why?”
One word, drained of all the cheerful energy she had been filled with just an hour earlier. Without even seeing her face, Texas knew that Exusiai was no longer smiling.
“Why?!” Exusiai suddenly shouted, turning to face her partner. “Why did you just leave like that?!”
In all their time working together, Texas had seen all sorts of things. But now, faced with Exusiai’s sudden anger, she froze. This had never happened before, nor had she ever expected it.
“Do you have any idea how that fucking felt?! To just wake up one morning and find you gone, without even saying a damn word?! Did you even think about how we would feel? How I would feel?! You fucking ASSHOLE!” Texas sees the punch coming. She doesn’t move to dodge it.
“If Boss hadn’t told us where you went, I…” Tears began rolling down her cheeks. Exusiai continued, softer, “I thought you were gone. That you had left us. That you had left me.”
“Exusiai…”
“I was so scared…”
“Exusiai.”
“I started thinking everyone would just-”
“Lemuel!”
Exusiai looked up in shock.
Texas closed the distance between them, and quickly wrapped her arms around the Sankta. She felt her body start to tremble, tightening her grip in response, as if to say, I’m here. Let it all out. Exusiai buried her head in her partner’s shoulder, sobbing. All the anger had been burned away, leaving behind a vulnerable girl that no one but Texas had ever known.
Texas wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, standing there in the entryway. All she knew was that eventually, Exusiai’s crying slowed, and finally stopped.
“I’m so sorry.” Texas finally cut through the silence.
“I never meant to worry any of you. I told myself I wanted you all to be safe, and that was why I didn’t say anything.” Texas felt tears begin to roll down her own face, but she didn’t care. “I was so focused on myself that I didn’t even consider how you would feel.”
“I’ve told you this before, but I’ll tell you again now: I will never, ever leave you, Exusiai. Even when we’re apart, you are the brightest star in my sky. I will always find my way back to you.”
“...that might be the most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me,” Exusiai mumbled into Texas’ shoulder.
“I meant every word.”
“I know.”
Exusiai finally pulled away enough to look her partner in the eyes. There was finally a real smile on her face; not the big, fake smile she wore before to stop others from worrying, but a small, relieved smile as she wiped away what tears were left on her cheeks.
"I, uh…I’d apologize for punching you, but I feel like I kinda needed that,” the angel said awkwardly.
“It’s fine. It didn’t do much damage,” Texas replied, feeling herself beginning to smile as well.
“Yeah, well if I wake up one morning and find you’ve Mostima’d on me again, you better believe the next one’ll really hurt.”
“That won’t happen.” Texas brought her lips to Exusiai’s, holding the kiss for a moment before parting. “Unlike her, I’ll never leave you behind.”
Tears began welling up in the Sankta’s eyes once more, but this time, the smile on her face was far brighter than even the halo over her head.
“I love you, Tex.”
“I love you too.”
She’s left the rain behind, and she can see the stars in her sky shine once more.