She lets out a short bark of laughter; of their little traveling party, she was never the one who let herself come to smell like sweat and dirt and blood and dust, despite Weiss’ insistence on her being foul, but Nier has long since learned how to communicate with her. She doesn’t receive kindness or compliments well, doesn’t know how to— playful barbs are more comfortable. It’s a language she feels she can speak openly without making herself too vulnerable.

He’d probably be able to find her anywhere, if he put his mind to it. Just like she’d be able to find him— which she’d been on her way to do, though now that he’s here, she doesn’t know if she wants to admit that so readily.

“Guess that’s what I get for befriending a two-legged bloodhound,” she says idly, but she does manage another smile, tired and a bit forced though it may be. It’s good to see him like this— at all, really, but especially like this, in good spirits. Happy.

“How’s Yonah?” Her thoughts immediately turn to the only reason she can think of for that happiness. She can’t even entertain the thought that she herself might have played a part, but her concern is genuine. “Kid’s been through a lot of shit. She holding up okay?”