⠀
❪ The knight would wait silently, slowly lifting his mask as she began to prepare the soup.
Raimundo didn’t mind if she saw, and how would he eat anyway? His face would be a sign of what he survived against. ❫
⠀
⠀ 𝕽𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐎.⠀
No, no. For her, that simply wouldn't do.
"Give me a few minutes at most, okay?"
Immediately after, Stela went inside to grab some ingredients and started preparing a soup right away. She cut some vegetables & cooked them in chicken broth before preparing noodles in a pot of boiling water.
.✦ ݁˖ Stela .✦ ݁˖
⠀
❪ Returning his hands to his sides before speaking, reaching under the mask to wipe at his face. ❫
〝 I have not eaten properly for months…nor have I slept well. The nightmares are more intense, unfortunately. 〞
⠀
⠀ 𝕽𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐎.⠀
His words took her by surprise, pulling her out of this determination for just a moment as she let go.
"I just... say and do what I feel is right, and Meta Knight is important to me too."
And so she'd carry this burden for his father.
"Anyway... you need rest. And have you eaten today?"
.✦ ݁˖ Stela .✦ ݁˖
⠀
❪ The moment his hand came into contact with hers, he quickly looked over. Even through the visor, he was visibly tired, weak, and very much holding himself together. For his son…
His gaze softened upon the other, patting her hand gently as his voice shook. ❫
〝 You have a beautiful soul… 〞
⠀
⠀ 𝕽𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐎.⠀
Seeing Raimundo in this vulnerable state and hearing his words brought something out of her heart. Stela immediately kneeled down at his level, taking his hand in both of hers.
Her voice was soft but determined, her gaze on him.
"This nightmare will end, and we will get your son back. I promise."
.✦ ݁˖ Stela .✦ ݁˖
⠀
❪ A sigh, weak and shaky around the edges.
Raimundo quickly darted his eyes away, he hasn’t eaten properly ever since, which has been a good while. He didn’t take her hand, afraid he’ll crumble. ❫
〝 He’s the only family I have left. I want to see him ALIVE by the time it’s all over. Or… 〞
⠀
⠀ 𝕽𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐎.⠀
Her eyes widened a bit when she heard his relation to the knight, and she held a hand out.
"I know, it's... not good, but him and I have met and got along well, and I want to get him back just as much as you do."
She then sighed, her arm lowering. "I'll do my best to make sure he's okay."
.✦ ݁˖ Stela .✦ ݁˖
⠀
〝 Raimundo Vasquez, I am Meta Knight’s father. The current situation is… 〞
❪ He trailed off, clenching his fists before taking a deep breath, which was accompanied by a growl. Safe to say he wasn’t happy, but also anxious. ❫
⠀
⠀ 𝕽𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐎.⠀
Stela noticed the shift in his voice, and she knew she had to see his garden one day. She nodded faintly, her expression gentle.
"Absolutely, we will. Oh, and my name is Stela. It's nice to meet you."
.✦ ݁˖ Stela .✦ ݁˖
⠀
〝 I know she would appreciate it…a lot. 〞
❪ A very noticeable softness was heard in his voice at the mention of his wife, but also pain behind his eye, as the other was simply a prosthetic. ❫
〝 We shall see one another’s gardens someday, no? 〞
⠀
⠀ 𝕽𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐎.⠀
"That's... absolutely beautiful. I'd love to see your garden and how you take care of it, and I'm sure your wife really appreciated having the cacao tree around.
"I also grow flowers, including some hydrangea shrubs that I take great pride in, as well as herbs."
.✦ ݁˖ Stela .✦ ݁˖
⠀
〝 Flowers, fruits, and vegetables. I also have a cacao tree beside my home.
Had it for years, my wife was in love with chocolate, even during the times of war. 〞
⠀
⠀ 𝕽𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐎.⠀
"A fellow gardener...? That's wonderful! What do you cultivate in your garden?"
.✦ ݁˖ Stela .✦ ݁˖
⠀
〝 I garden as a hobby, so I can concur with this. I take it quite seriously. 〞
⠀
⠀ 𝕽𝐀𝐈𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐎.⠀
"You know, I feel like it's really easy to see a person's character from the way they treat nature. If they go out of their way to avoid stepping on flowers or small insects... it shows a caring heart deep down, whether they want to admit it or not."
