A dimly lit hallway in a quiet part of the fortress where Tad and his team are temporarily staying. Tad walks slowly, his steps heavy with the weight of the memories that linger in his mind. He stops in front of a door—the door to Imani's room. In his hand, he clutches a small framed picture of Imani, one taken before the betrayal when she was still part of their team. His heart aches as he stares at the picture, his emotions swirling in a chaotic mix of hurt, longing, and sorrow.
Tad reaches out and gently places the picture on the floor by Imani's door, his fingers lingering on the frame for a moment as if reluctant to let go. He closes his eyes, trying to steady his breathing, but the images of Imani's betrayal flood his mind. He remembers her cold words, the way she turned her back on them, and the pain of realizing that someone he trusted had chosen to stand against him.
Tad's shoulders slump, his breathing becomes ragged, and tears start to form in his eyes. He tries to hold them back, but the pain is too much. The betrayal is still fresh, still raw, and it cuts deeper than he ever thought possible. The tears spill over, and Tad lets out a quiet, choked sob, his body trembling as he struggles to contain his emotions.
Dagenia, who had been nearby, watches Tad from a distance. She sees the way he's breaking down, the silent agony that's written all over his face. Her heart aches for him, knowing how much he's hurting. She quietly approaches, her footsteps soft on the cold stone floor. She stands beside Tad, her presence warm and comforting.
"Tad... I'm so sorry. I know how much this hurts. I know how much you trusted her."
Tad turns to look at Dagenia, his eyes brimming with tears, his voice cracking as he tries to speak.
"I just... I don't understand. How could she do this to us? To me? I thought she was one of us. I thought... I thought I knew her."
Dagenia reaches out, wrapping her arms around Tad in a comforting embrace. She holds him close, her touch gentle and reassuring as Tad finally lets the tears fall freely. He clings to Dagenia, his sobs growing louder as he allows himself to fully feel the pain he's been trying to hide. Dagenia rubs his back soothingly, her own heart breaking at the sight of Tad in so much pain.
"It's okay, Tad. Let it out. It's okay to be hurt, to be angry. You gave her your trust, and she broke it. But that doesn't mean you're weak, or that you were wrong to care. It just means you have a good heart. And that's something she couldn't take away from you."
Tad nods against her shoulder, his sobs slowly subsiding as he takes comfort in Dagenia's words. He pulls back slightly, wiping at his eyes, though the tears still come. He looks at Dagenia, grateful for her support, but the pain is still evident in his expression.
"I just... I don't know how to move on from this. It hurts so much."
*Dagenia cups Tad's face in her hands, her eyes meeting his with a fierce determination.
"You don't have to have all the answers right now. It's okay to feel lost, to not know what to do next. But you're not alone in this. I'm here. We're all here. We'll get through this together, one step at a time. And no matter what happens, I'll always be by your side."
Tad feels a spark of warmth in Dagenia's words, the heaviness in his chest easing just a little. He takes a deep breath, his tears still falling but his heart feeling just a bit lighter knowing he has someone who cares.
"Thank you, Dagenia. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Dagenia smiles softly, brushing a stray tear from Tad's cheek. She pulls him into another hug, holding him close as they stand in the quiet hallway, the framed picture of Imani resting by the door. They stay like that for a while, Dagenia's presence a comforting anchor in the storm of Tad's emotions. As they pull away, Tad gives one last look at the picture, his heart still aching but a small flicker of hope beginning to grow.
"We'll get through this, Tad. And one day, it won't hurt this much. But for now, just know that it's okay to feel everything you're feeling. You're not alone."
"But dagenia, it's hard! Now that she has the gang with her, it's too hard to control! What if...what if we lose?"
~More than anything reprise playing~
Dagenia: *singing* You've already done so much Dagenia: *singing* So many lives you've changed Dagenia: *singing* So many souls you've touched Dagenia: *singing* And in the end, if it's only me you've saved
Tad and Dagenia: *singing* There's something that I've been dying to say Tad and Dagenia: *singing* More than anything, more than anything Tad and Dagenia: *singing* Need you to know I love you more than anything Tad and Dagenia: *singing* More than anything
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