[ That goes a long way toward settling his racing heart. Venat isn't wrong, not at all. That's the exact sentiment that keeps him upright.

He smiles over at her, genuine and warm. ]

True. I wouldn't trade that happiness for anything, even with the pain that came later.

[ Hm. Something to think about later, perhaps.

He turns his eyes back on the path, not wanting another undignified stumble. ]

We were visiting her family when their home was attacked. Like I said, it was just one of those freak occurrences. They were good people, they lived out in the country... There was no reason it should have happened.

[ In his darker moments, he wonders if he brought that bad luck to their door, just by virtue of the work he was pursuing. It's a paranoia that doesn't hold up under scrutiny, but it exists nonetheless. ]

Regardless of all that... It was a botched robbery. Her parents were murdered, and she was attacked. It was lucky that her physical injuries weren't worse, but...

[ Death might have been kinder, in the end.

Maruki's voice remains steady, unshaking, but there is a streak of raw pain running through it, and his hand around Venat's is tighter than he realizes. ]

She never recovered emotionally. The trauma was too severe. We tried to help her, for a long time, but.

[ There's no real end to that sentence. He takes a moment to breathe. ]