The shock has Esteban snap back to stare at his companion, eyes wide with his surprise at the casual mention. He hadn't expected any of it and, blindsided, he feels suddenly, startlingly out of balance as words tumble along in his thoughts. But there is warmth, somewhere between his ribs and his throat, a heartbeat running too fast for him to quite know how to catch the flutter.
"Y' have dragons in yer world too?" It's not... quite what he wants to ask, but he doesn't know the words that are pressed up against his lips and throat and spine.
"They have the best stories up in mine!" The tangent brings out a smile to his lips as he straightens up, even though Esteban is aware he's biased, knows he is biased, but at least it allows him to breathe under the sudden, overwhelming conflict of what should he say?
He's never particularly cared to hide what he is per say, preferring to dance around the words without confirming or denying anything, simply because his life had been on the move for so long, and people came and went without the need to tell them. It had been a non-issue.
But Inigo is his friend; he is precious to him, and within the same heartbeat, Esteban knows that he wants to tell him, wants to share his secret the way Inigo had shared his love of dancing with him. He wants to tell him because he wants to choose to tell him, rather than circumstances taking the choice out of his hands. He wants to tell him because he trusts him.
Inevitably, people will know; it's just a matter of time. And after his chat with Tidus and Ryo, Esteban is all the more aware that he himself might be a danger to his friends. He might not be comfortable telling the entire train yet-- but he doesn't have to be.
... and he just butchered his chance to say it. Damn it.
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The shock has Esteban snap back to stare at his companion, eyes wide with his surprise at the casual mention. He hadn't expected any of it and, blindsided, he feels suddenly, startlingly out of balance as words tumble along in his thoughts. But there is warmth, somewhere between his ribs and his throat, a heartbeat running too fast for him to quite know how to catch the flutter.
"Y' have dragons in yer world too?" It's not... quite what he wants to ask, but he doesn't know the words that are pressed up against his lips and throat and spine.
"They have the best stories up in mine!" The tangent brings out a smile to his lips as he straightens up, even though Esteban is aware he's biased, knows he is biased, but at least it allows him to breathe under the sudden, overwhelming conflict of what should he say?
He's never particularly cared to hide what he is per say, preferring to dance around the words without confirming or denying anything, simply because his life had been on the move for so long, and people came and went without the need to tell them. It had been a non-issue.
But Inigo is his friend; he is precious to him, and within the same heartbeat, Esteban knows that he wants to tell him, wants to share his secret the way Inigo had shared his love of dancing with him. He wants to tell him because he wants to choose to tell him, rather than circumstances taking the choice out of his hands. He wants to tell him because he trusts him.
Inevitably, people will know; it's just a matter of time. And after his chat with Tidus and Ryo, Esteban is all the more aware that he himself might be a danger to his friends. He might not be comfortable telling the entire train yet-- but he doesn't have to be.
... and he just butchered his chance to say it. Damn it.