A Masquerade Game

A New Twist and An Old Tale

Stressed fingers ran through the strands of Zora's locks as he huffed out an exhausted breath. He slumped back in his chair with his other arm resting on the armrest, undecided but clearly showing he wishes he wasn't the person on the receiving end of this information.

"So?" Henry said to Zora, pressing the tips of his fingers together. He swayed back and forth in his handmade chair, sat the table of the dining room directly across from Zora.
Zora narrowed his eyes at him for a moment, trying to see if he was faking it, but knowing he wouldn't break.

"I didn't sign up for all this," The masked man finally said with a sigh, rubbing a hand down his face.

"I-I'm sorry.....Zora.... I just...don't know what.....else to...do?" the blue haired man responded.

"Yeah, but lavender boy-"

"Langris" Henry corrected him.

Zora side-eyed him for a moment, and then continued. "Right, anyways he's been sending letters to the house, he's already half in love with you so what's the issue?"

Henry pinched the bridge of his nose with his index finger and thumb, a tight grimace struggling to stay on his lips. "I don't...like him...."

Zora raised an eyebrow at him. "What?"

"I want...to be his...friend..." Henry mumbled, resting his mouth on his chin with flushed cheeks. Zora watched his gaze turn downward as he chewed slightly at his pale knuckles. He drummed his own knuckles against the table impatiently.

There was something he wasn't telling him.

"But?"

"I don't... like.. boys.." he whispered. Zora paused his drumming and looked up at the boy in front of him.

He looked terrified.

"What?" Henry looked down at the wooden table allowing a blue nest to frame around his face. Zora allowed himself a few moments to process the situation laid before him. "Why didn't you say anything?" he asked.

"I didn't.. want to...let anyone...down," He mumbled, his eyes turning glassy as he looked back up at the red haired man. "I'm..sorry". Zora let out another sigh of breath as he traced the tips of his fingers over the edge of the table.

"What do we do now hmm?" Zora muttered, eyes calculating the man in front of him who looked five seconds away from bursting into tears.

Henry clearly cannot continue to lie to someone, and having a conscious like his that rivalled mother Theresa herself, the guilt of lying and leading someone on was undoubtly going to eat him alive.

He needed to think of a viable solution but all he wanted to do was tell Finral.

Despite the clear abandonment issues masked with a somewhat respectful sense of humour, an unyielding need for affection and hair dye, Finral had crept his way into the crevice of Zora's objectively brilliant mind and continued to remain haunting most of his decisions lately.

But telling Finral that Henry is upset because of something they had a hand in was out of the question. It's clear Finral's need for reassurance of seniority stems from a maternalistic need to take care of everyone in his squad and for some sick twisted reason, Zora did not care to see any water pool those vibrant purple eyes that held nothing but kindness and acceptance.

But that was an issue to address on another day.

Vanessa, despite not caring too much about being a role model per say, still felt an unwavering amount of guilt towards this whole situation and Zora cannot see her knowing much more information being of any beneficial use.