Another Way

Chapter 33: Ghosts

Willow stared at Sue as the question washed over them, confusing yet clear in equal measure. They glanced away from her, expression twisting into an uncomfortable grimace as they tried to interpret it in some other way. No obvious alternatives presented themselves, but the medic wouldn't let that get to them—Sue had to have meant something else, right? Of course she had to; there was no way she'd just barge in with a topic this heavy.

Or, at least, that's what their uncertain mind clung onto as an excuse. "What 'why', Sue?" they asked, forcefully putting on a soft, tired smile. "Not sure you mean."

To their dismay, Sue wouldn't let them have said excuse for long. "Why are you supporting Root and his plans?" she clarified, trying her hardest to keep her voice from getting too accusative. She was confused, she was disappointed, and she was even angry to an extent, but that wasn't something she wanted Willow to see. Despite everything, she trusted them to engage with her as an equal, to have reasons for their actions that went beyond simple bigotry.

They had to have been different. Right?

And, fortunately for them both, the chubby medic had their reasons. They weren't comfortable thinking about them even at the best of times, and the distraction of Joy's adorable, confused self could only help so much, but they didn't run or mouth her off for daring to ask. Their paws tapped on the rough wood of the table—or on each other—as their gaze jumped all over the place, until finally hiding behind their eyelids. There, Willow had an answer, something to get Sue off their case. Hopefully. "Not me place to question forefather faith."

Sue narrowed her eyes. "But this isn't just their faith, right? As far as I understand it, D—the Pale Lady has been worshiped in this wider area for a long time, and that hasn't changed. It's not like Solstice is championing to demolish her altar. Or, say, banish all her worshipers from Moonview," she snarkily added—and cursed herself for doing so immediately afterwards.

To her relief, Willow didn't burst into anger at her jab, focusing on arguing her point instead. "Solstice still pressure our faith. But when she come, siblings still alive."

She lifted her eyebrow at their point, wondering what their siblings had to do with anything. They were their own person, and if maintaining the unbroken sanctity of their ancestral bigotry was such a priority for them, they would've been devoted to that cause from the get go. Even beyond that, their assertion still left room to be argued against.

At least, so Sue thought.

She had much less confidence about her idea than she wished she had, forcing her to take her piercing gaze off the medic to focus. Before she could get too far into it, though, she felt a tug on her arm. Joy was staring back at her, confused and uneasy at the chat going on around her.

No easy way out of this, I'm afraid.

Sue pointed back at the rest of the group, trying to suggest Joy go there instead, but the girl steadfastly refused. She was uncomfortable; she wanted reassurance; she wanted her big friend to make things right—which said friend was entirely eager to do. Sitting on her lap helped, carefully leaning on her torso and hearing her heartbeat helped even more, even if it left the toothy girl staring at her bandaged spike from an inch away. Which just left offering one hand for her to hold in the tip of her maw, the other for her to hold in her little arms, and voilà. One soothed, metal girl, trying her hardest to relax in her guardian's comfort.

By the time Sue was done comforting her, Willow had already shed much of their built-up discomfort, leaning over the table to watch Joy with a genuinely affectionate expression. Alas, it wasn't to last, especially once their eyes met Sue's once more, making them sit back down and sigh as their interrogation continued.