He hadn't expected that. Anger, yes, and fear and-- but grief is hard to predict and harder still to manage, even when it's his own, nevermind someone else's. Esteban is quick to stand up and brush his hands free of dirt. He hasn't been that close to Tidus before-- a careless touch is one thing, but this time, Esteban reaches to comfort, to offer what he can; whatever he can.
"Hey-- hey." His tone is soothing, gentle; carefully, carefully judging the reaction, as he open his arms and reaches out to the blond, a little forwards in the offered hug because he doesn't think Tidus would let it happen if he has to do anything but stand there and accept it. Even his offer is delicate and gentle, but he tries to give Tidus some privacy to his emotions with having his chin reach over the other's shoulder, hopefully.
'Dians, 'Dians, it hurts. The absence, the lack of closure. It might be shock that is keeping Esteban's head afloat into all this, or maybe he's using Tidus to distract himself from his own wounds. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter because he can't-- he knows he can't leave things hanging like this. He doesn't know what he can do, he doesn't know what he'll do. But if he has to fight all twelve of the God Eaters himself to spare the pain that had hounded Esteban for four, long, stupid years, he will.
He will.
All he needs, is a plan.
"Hey," another soft sound, hushed, despite his determination. "It's not the first time the train fucked shit up, isn't it?" he tries, because really, really, he needs Tidus right now, even if they're both hurting, even if they're both suffering from this.
"And you've managed through it." It's harder to get the name out, but he does it anyways, pushes it through a strangled throat that barely lets him breathe. "Inigo has managed through it." He doesn't say the next words, even if he thinks them. It's going to be okay.
"You just need to hang on. Just a little longer." Esteban will fix it.
Esteban will fight whatever fight he has to go through, whatever demon is twisting this reality in such a way because he cannot, cannot let his friends suffer like this, and if he has to give away his sanity, if he has to give away his mortality, if he has to give away his hoard or his wings, or his soul, he will do it in a heartbeat, because this is better, this is better than whatever comes ahead if he stands back and does nothing.
He'd always known he was doomed to a Butterfly's Death, but he will take it a hundred times over, if Inigo and Tidus do not need to suffer through this.
"I promise," he swears. "Just hang on a little longer."
Because now? Now Esteban has a train to talk to. And he will fix things.
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"Hey-- hey." His tone is soothing, gentle; carefully, carefully judging the reaction, as he open his arms and reaches out to the blond, a little forwards in the offered hug because he doesn't think Tidus would let it happen if he has to do anything but stand there and accept it. Even his offer is delicate and gentle, but he tries to give Tidus some privacy to his emotions with having his chin reach over the other's shoulder, hopefully.
'Dians, 'Dians, it hurts. The absence, the lack of closure. It might be shock that is keeping Esteban's head afloat into all this, or maybe he's using Tidus to distract himself from his own wounds. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter because he can't-- he knows he can't leave things hanging like this. He doesn't know what he can do, he doesn't know what he'll do. But if he has to fight all twelve of the God Eaters himself to spare the pain that had hounded Esteban for four, long, stupid years, he will.
He will.
All he needs, is a plan.
"Hey," another soft sound, hushed, despite his determination. "It's not the first time the train fucked shit up, isn't it?" he tries, because really, really, he needs Tidus right now, even if they're both hurting, even if they're both suffering from this.
"And you've managed through it." It's harder to get the name out, but he does it anyways, pushes it through a strangled throat that barely lets him breathe. "Inigo has managed through it." He doesn't say the next words, even if he thinks them. It's going to be okay.
"You just need to hang on. Just a little longer." Esteban will fix it.
Esteban will fight whatever fight he has to go through, whatever demon is twisting this reality in such a way because he cannot, cannot let his friends suffer like this, and if he has to give away his sanity, if he has to give away his mortality, if he has to give away his hoard or his wings, or his soul, he will do it in a heartbeat, because this is better, this is better than whatever comes ahead if he stands back and does nothing.
He'd always known he was doomed to a Butterfly's Death, but he will take it a hundred times over, if Inigo and Tidus do not need to suffer through this.
"I promise," he swears. "Just hang on a little longer."
Because now? Now Esteban has a train to talk to. And he will fix things.
No matter the cost.