He isn’t crying. He’s very proud of how much he’s not crying, actually. He’s standing across from Acatl in his sister’s compound, facing him down like an enemy instead of someone he loves, and though his voice is tight with (grief) rage, he isn’t crying. There can be no space for tears in a heart turned to stone, for stone is what he must be if they’re to have any hope of removing his brother from the throne.
“You’re mad,” Acatl spits out.
“Not mad. Desperate. It isn’t the same.” His voice cracks. He hopes Acatl doesn’t notice. Please listen, he thinks. Please work with me. I need you. I could leave my sister’s house today if you were with me, I wouldn’t need her power or her magic if you were by my side.
But Acatl is bitterly furious, and he’s barely holding it together, and in the end—
Obsidian & Blood, Teomitl
He isn’t crying. He’s very proud of how much he’s not crying, actually. He’s standing across from Acatl in his sister’s compound, facing him down like an enemy instead of someone he loves, and though his voice is tight with (grief) rage, he isn’t crying. There can be no space for tears in a heart turned to stone, for stone is what he must be if they’re to have any hope of removing his brother from the throne.
“You’re mad,” Acatl spits out.
“Not mad. Desperate. It isn’t the same.” His voice cracks. He hopes Acatl doesn’t notice. Please listen, he thinks. Please work with me. I need you. I could leave my sister’s house today if you were with me, I wouldn’t need her power or her magic if you were by my side.
But Acatl is bitterly furious, and he’s barely holding it together, and in the end—
In the end, when he’s alone, he cries anyway.