[ Trahearne dutifully follows, though he keeps his gaze downward, at the ground. Normally he would catch up with Zhongli, stand beside him as he usually does; this time, he lags behind. He isn't sure what to make of the odd swirl of emotion in his chest. Apprehension? Fear? ...Betrayal?
It's only now that he realizes how thoroughly he has trusted Zhongli, and it feels as though a small part of his reality has been torn apart. Only now, when he starts to question the cracks in stone, does he realize how deep his foundation goes.
It's a...strange combination of feelings, and Trahearne doesn't know how to take them.
They come to the tree, but Trahearne doesn't bother looking at it. His eyes rest on Zhongli, as though trying to read between the lines of his words. He hugs the book to his chest, unconsciously trying to protect himself.
In all honesty, he's a little scared.
But he listens calmly, because at the end of the day, he still trusts him. He wouldn't have come all this way just to metaphorically hold his hand on this objectively simple task if he had any intent on harming him, no? And so when Zhongli turns to look at him, Trahearne's gaze is there, ready to greet him.
He blinks at the admission. He shifts with the book at his chest, unsure of what to make of this, or how to voice what he feels. ]
...In all honesty, I wish I'd heard the truth from you first.
[ That's the crux of it, isn't it? To learn of another's secret from someone else.
He appreciates Zhongli's consideration for his past with dragons. Dragons are so closely associated with death and destruction in his mind, it's hard to imagine a dragon god that hasn't done the same. But...that doesn't change who he is, does it? Zhongli has been nothing but kind and caring towards him since the very beginning; he has also been a dragon since the very beginning. Should this change anything?
Trahearne shifts again in slight realization, his eyes unblinking. ]
—Please don't get the wrong idea. I am fond of you, Zhongli, very much so, and I doubt that will change. I know you harbour no malice or ill intent towards me, but... [ His frown deepens, the hurt shining through in his eyes. ] ...Were you ever going to tell me?
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It's only now that he realizes how thoroughly he has trusted Zhongli, and it feels as though a small part of his reality has been torn apart. Only now, when he starts to question the cracks in stone, does he realize how deep his foundation goes.
It's a...strange combination of feelings, and Trahearne doesn't know how to take them.
They come to the tree, but Trahearne doesn't bother looking at it. His eyes rest on Zhongli, as though trying to read between the lines of his words. He hugs the book to his chest, unconsciously trying to protect himself.
In all honesty, he's a little scared.
But he listens calmly, because at the end of the day, he still trusts him. He wouldn't have come all this way just to metaphorically hold his hand on this objectively simple task if he had any intent on harming him, no? And so when Zhongli turns to look at him, Trahearne's gaze is there, ready to greet him.
He blinks at the admission. He shifts with the book at his chest, unsure of what to make of this, or how to voice what he feels. ]
...In all honesty, I wish I'd heard the truth from you first.
[ That's the crux of it, isn't it? To learn of another's secret from someone else.
He appreciates Zhongli's consideration for his past with dragons. Dragons are so closely associated with death and destruction in his mind, it's hard to imagine a dragon god that hasn't done the same. But...that doesn't change who he is, does it? Zhongli has been nothing but kind and caring towards him since the very beginning; he has also been a dragon since the very beginning. Should this change anything?
Trahearne shifts again in slight realization, his eyes unblinking. ]
—Please don't get the wrong idea. I am fond of you, Zhongli, very much so, and I doubt that will change. I know you harbour no malice or ill intent towards me, but... [ His frown deepens, the hurt shining through in his eyes. ] ...Were you ever going to tell me?