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Shaun was already trembling the moment she’d respawned. No matter how much I try, I always manage to prove how much of a liability I am, she thought. She remained frozen in place, unable to look ahead and face Dolphin, afraid that saying anything would only fully rip their relationship that was already tearing at the seams. For the past few days, she’d had virtually no way of telling for sure if Dolphin was upset with her or not. She knew that Dolphin was good at hiding how she felt in the moment. Thinking back on it only makes it worse. How is she ever supposed to fully trust her again after Project Unknown? How could she trust that she knew Dolphin when she’s killed in broad daylight and kept it secret until the very end?
Realistically, or, at least going by what Shaun believed to be realistic (which was not very accurate), Dolphin should despise her by now. She had no way of knowing that for sure, but it was the only thing that made any sense to her. It was easier for her to believe that someone like Dolphin had no reason to want to stay around someone like Shaun, someone who lays low and avoids conflict.
Shaun hugged herself and squeezed her eyes shut, bracing to lose her most meaningful connection on the server. Hopefully she just stabs me, she thinks, it’ll be easier than having to actually talk about how much of a disappointm—
“Hey—wait, um, stop that. You weren’t obligated to win—or even fight him in the first place! It’s okay,” Dolphin sputtered from above her, a quite pathetic attempt to comfort her shaking teammate. “It’s fine. Seriously! There was no need—you didn’t have to prove yourself anyways! You’re, like, perfe—wonderful as is!” she paused, then hovered her hand over Shaun’s shoulder. “Can I… pull you up?”
…What?? Seriously? It took Shaun a few moments to process everything that Dolphin had blurted out in about three seconds, but when she’d registered it all, her eyes shot open. It wasn’t like anything she’d been expecting at all. She’d been expecting that at the very least, she’d be told to leave. But it was nothing like that. She’d looked up at her face, and Dolphin was smiling. Just slightly, like a heavy weight had been lifted off of her shoulders, but it wasn’t the last one there. Dolphin had been offering her help… again. And she’d been so kind about it, reassuring her like always.
Shaun hesitantly nodded, just slightly, like she was too afraid of being greedy for Dolphin’s affection. Like Dolphin would retreat if she noticed how selfish she was.
Dolphin put her hands to Shaun’s waist to pull her upright. Upon being let go, she started slouching, far too exhausted to sit straight. Sitting up helped the trembling, which was nice. Tears filled the corners of her eyes.
“You aren’t—You’re not.. mad at me? At all?” she muttered through sniffles.
Dolphin sat in front of her on the bed and held her wrists. “You don’t have to prove yourself to me, it’s never that serious. I don’t mind,” she said, hoping being honest would comfort her.
“But how do I know—how do I know you’re not just saying that?… Y—you’re just going to betr—leave me again…!”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t—I had no idea that was why you were so upset,” she paused. “I promise I won’t betray you. You’re enough, okay? You don’t need to overwork yourself over something like this. You should’ve told me earlier.”
“I tried! I… couldn’t. I thought I could’ve—I thought I was able to solve it myself…”
“Listen. There was nothing to solve. You’ve been perfect the entire time, and it’s my fault for making you think otherwise. Next time you have these doubts, you should come to me.”
Shaun started sobbing.
Dolphin pulled her into a tight embrace, wrapping her legs around her and rubbing her back.
“Th—thank you so much…” she mumbled, tears soaking into Dolphin’s dress.
After that, not much else had to be said.
And even if she’d never know for certain, she was pretty sure now that Dolphin didn’t hate her. She wouldn’t be smiling that widely if she did.