Work Text:
It's Tamtey's laugh that gets her--Kataru's laugh, bright and warm and wild. They laughs far less often than she did, though, and when it comes their hands twitch like they want to cover their mouth. Side effects of a childhood in captivity, maybe, although Rasi is too much of a coward to ask.
Too much of a coward for many things. Too much of a coward to tell Tamtey the truth, to talk about how their mother glowed during pregnancy, how she had clutched Rasi's hand tight in the throes of birth. Rasi had gone outside afterward, to fetch Aha'ri and introduce her to her new sibling.
When she finds out how Aha’ri died, the answer will haunt her dreams. Aha'ri was not her blood, but she was still Rasi's as much as Tamtey is, and Rasi failed her as much as she failed Tamtey.
I thought you were dead, Rasi'll say, if she ever has the courage to tell the truth. I thought you were both already dead, or I would have clawed the stars open to get you back. I swear on your mother's name, your sister's blood.
Maybe she could say it, maybe Tamtey would even believe her, and then what? She watches Tamtey out of the corner of her eye, watches their lips twitch the way Rasi's own did when she smiled into the water as a child, chasing her reflection.
You must, Kataru's ghost whispers, and Rasi grits her teeth.
Soon, she begs. Soon.