The Bonds That Bind Us (Oc x Blade HSR)

Good Morning (5)

You instantly turned around upon hearing this, and there he was. Firefly looked at you nervously and back at Aventurine. Aventurine had his usual smile on, his eyes searching yours before he outstretched his arms. Without hesitation, you ran to him, engulfing him in a tight hug. He wasted no time in hugging you back with the same intensity. “I-it… it is you… isn't it, Rhea?” he whispered, his voice shaking.
“A-aven!!” you cried, hugging him tighter. He laughed sadly, stroking your hair to soothe you. “I-its… it's me.. I'm here…” The two of you stayed like that for a bit, before you finally parted, tear stains on your cheeks. Aventurine smiled at you sadly, “H-hey… don't look at me like that… y-you're gonna get me all sappy….”
“A-aven… i-i—”
“It's okay… you can explain everything later… Lets.. just enjoy this moment, yeah?” You nodded, smiling softly at him.  “Here… why don't I grab us some SoulGlad? Maybe that will make us feel better…” He took your hand and led you a bit away to a bar in the Reverie of the dreamscape.

You two sat down together as Aventurine ordered some drinks for the both of you. “So..  where do you want to start?” he asked, taking a sip from his glass.
“I-I… I guess from wherever you want me to start?”
“Works for me… then, let me ask this… how is it you're alive?” he asked, his eyes searching yours.
“It's… kinda a long story.”
“Oh believe me, I've got time.” he said with a dry laugh.
You looked down. Looks like you're not getting out of this… And so, you decided to half lie. “... The IPC sent me into a death trap, Aven…” you muttered.
“How?”
“The area they dispatched me to… Stellaron Hunters were spotted in it only a few hours prior. They had to know danger was still present… because…”
“All of your team was wiped out, besides you.” he finished for you.
You nodded and looked down. “I… tried to get in contact, alert anyone of what was happening… but the signal was jammed.” Aventurine nodded, seemingly agreeing with your recount of events so far.
“Then… how did you manage to survive…?” he asked.
You sighed. Here goes lying… “I ran. I… don't remember how far or for how long… but I ran until I reached a more populated area of the Luofu…”
Aventurine raised an eyebrow, “Go on..?”
“There I found my friend I was with earlier—”
“A girl like that, on the Luofu? And what's with calling her a friend?” Aventurine asked, his voice laced with doubt.
“She was staying at an inn… and we luckily bumped into each other. She noticed my panicked state and offered to help… so… that's also how I got here with her…” you muttered.
“Why didn't you return back home, Rhea? The IPC wrote you off as dead weeks ago… I’ve… I've been the only one… still searching for you…” he whispered the last part, swirling his glass.
“That's… kinda what I wanted, Aven…”
“What?” His eyes widened as you said this, frantically searching yours before he let out a long sigh. “W-why..?”
“Like I said, the IPC set me up to die… i… I can't go back there, Aven…”
Aventurine clutched his glass, taking a swig of it before sighing, trying to calm himself down. “So… you just let me believe you were dead..?” he said harshly. His eyes instantly widened before he apologized. “S-sorry… just.. you do realize how fucked that is, right?”
“I'm well aware… i.. I wanted to reach out… I just..”
“Just what?”
“I didn't want you to be put in danger because of me… and I didn't want the IPC knowing I'm even alive.”
“... I… f-fuck…” Aventurine said, looking down clearly conflicted.
“I… get it if you don't believe me—”
“That's the problem, I know you're right…”
“What?”
Aventurine sighed, finishing his drink before looking at you solemnly. “They had me investigate the scene… it.. was offputting how obsessed they were to want to find your body… Topaz texted me about it… I… had my suspicions since then.”
“T-topaz?? S-she—”
“I don't think she's part of the higher ups that want you dead, Rhea. But… the whole event, looking back on it… is too much of a coincidence to write off. You getting promoted, to instantly be set on a mission for an unspecified deal? It… they definitely set you up…” he said, his voice devoid of much emotion. “I hate them for that…”
“Y-you… don't think it's them right?” you asked.
“... I wouldn't be surprised if they somehow found you.”