That was a relief, at least, but everything was crashing down around her and Daff felt the weight of it pressing on her, causing the flood gates to open. "No," She sniffled, covering her face to hide the tears as they spilled out. "I'm terrified." She admitted in a hoarse whisper, choking back the sobs with intermittent success.

"They're going to be so mad," Maybe that was why she had called upon Noble; underneath it all, she knew he wouldn't be. Or had hoped anyway. Despite their estrangement and the distance they now kept, she had known that, had needed that from someone. She needed it from him, even if she knew she shouldn't anymore.

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Noble bit his lip, glad she couldn't see it. Tentatively, he reached out one hand to rest it on her shoulder, because he couldn't not touch her when she was crying. His heart thumped against his ribcage. "We can wait to see if it works," Noble said, because like the hand on her shoulder, he was incapable of not offering. "But if it doesn't — I don't know what else to try." He wasn't a healer.

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set by Bee

The hand on her shoulder positively undid her and she collapsed forward into him, sobbing. She would regret it later, she was sure, but now she needed the contact, something, anything to keep her from feeling like she was floating away in the darkness.

It took her a moment or two longer than she would have liked, but she managed to regain her composure enough to at least nod against his shoulder. She knew she should move, should back away and get out of his space, but she desperately needed someone to hold onto and before this it had always been Noble. ”I’m sorry.” She whispered, too close for him not to hear her.

Why was this so hard? Everything was all messed up and she knew underneath it all, that she was to blame, but she just felt like everything was falling apart and she didn’t know what to do about it any longer.

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Noble moved his hand so that his arm was wrapped around Daff as she sobbed into his shoulder. It was a motion based entirely on instinct, and he already knew he was going to regret it. They were just playing at being past versions of themselves, now — nothing they accomplished today, in this conversation, was going to fix what was already broken. And besides that — Noble wasn't sure he wanted to fix it. He was never going to be able to provide her with the life she deserved; she ought to find someone else.

He couldn't tell her that, though. Not when she was already upset, and not when she probably already knew it. He gave her a squeeze with his arm. "You're alright," he said, "It's going to be alright. I promise."

Not with them, obviously. But she — she was going to be alright.

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set by Bee

Nothing about this was alright. Would it ever really be alright again? She wanted to believe him, but they both knew better and she hated it. Daff also knew she should let go, but all she could do was tighten her grip on him. Shit. This was miserable.

With her eyes squeezed tight she was scared to open them, scared to let go and she just could not bring herself to. Deep down she knew she had to however, and so she tried to take a few deep breaths, trying to dig down and find the courage. She felt ridiculous, even through the fear, standing there clinging to him like this, especially with things the way they were between them.

It took a moment or two longer than she would have liked, even from when she had originally thought to let go, but she took one last deep breath and pushed back again. Everything was still dark, but she could make out his silhouette in the room now at least. She stepped back until she hit her desk once more and sighed. Swiping at the tears she was sure were still trickling down her face, she managed, "I can sort of see the edges of things, but I should probably go to Ama's just in case." It was the smart plan and he would be let off the hook.

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He needed her to let him go. He couldn't verbalize this, because of everything he still felt for her, but he needed her to let him go. The longer he was here, the more dangerous it was for him — because it became more likely, with each passing moment, that he was going to fall back into things with her. He wasn't even sure she'd take him back, but — he couldn't try. Not with his family the way they were, not with his lack of finances.

Finally she let go of him and Noble sighed. His shirt felt damp where she had sobbed into it.

He took a step back, latched his bag. "I'll apparate us there," he said, offering her his hand.

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set by Bee