Screwed

"I told you taking her back was a bad idea."

"Shut it, Damien." Although I worded that out, even I was speechless. 

Wiping my face off with Pixie's sleeve, I barely comprehended what she just asked me.

For a boy like me who had lived most of his life like an exile, I did not even know extensively about it.

Hell, I did not have a Hollow myself —

Pixie's words… stopped both me and Damien in place.

For a second, the room turned awkwardly silent.

Even Damien, who always had something to say, just… shut up.

And then—

I laughed.

It wasn't loud or forced.

It just slipped out, shaky and broken between my leftover sniffles, but real.

A short chuckle, followed by another, until I was half-laughing, half-crying into my hands.

"You… you what?" I barely managed to choke out, looking at her through blurry eyes.