Meaning Behind a Mask

"Interesting design you got there." Beryl spoke up.

Gaia was caught off guard by the sudden comment and nearly dropped the mask he'd just finished painting. At the moment it was just the two of them in the room, Fleet had stepped out to get a couple things. "Thanks." Gaia shrugged. "The masks are supposed to mean something so..." He trailed off.

"So what does that thing mean to you then?" Beryl sounded bored, but Gaia saw past that. The other xero wouldn't be asking if he wasn't interested in the answer.

"It's... modeled after a friend. One I helped do something with that... well." Gaia hated feeling out of his depth. This wasn't even a topic he'd really breached with Fleet yet, and here he was telling Beryl about it. A xero he was just starting to get to know. Maybe that was a sign that he should really talk about his time away from Fleet...

"I get it, you got secrets." Beryl rolled his eyes. "We all do. Must be some friend though if you're making the mask look like em. I expected you to make one look like your little partner. You're the kind of sap to do that."

Gaia chuckled. "I did consider it, but it didn't feel quite right." He held up the mask a little. "Animal masks like this represent life right? A celebration of it. That's what I want to celebrate. Sure Fleet is a very important part of my own life but..." He trailed off. "This friend feels like they... fit the role I guess."

Beryl was silent for a while. "Geeze you really are a sap." He groaned. "Why can't your reasons just be something normal like you like the colors or something?"

"You're the one who asked." Gaia snorted. "Can you really blame me for answering truthfully?"

"I guess not." Beryl sighed. "On me for askin I guess. Should have just kept my mouth shut."

"But you didn't." Gaia smirked.

"Oh lay off or I'm leavin." Beryl glared at him.

Gaia held up his free hand in surrender and the two lapsed back into silence. It did feel nice to honor the friend he'd grown so close with but it hurt at the same time. While he'd enjoyed his time traveling around with them greatly it had forced him away from Fleet for a long time. He hadn't even been able to explain himself before he left. Still, this felt right. It was a way to acknowledge it all. The whole mess that came with his time spent with them. Maybe... maybe with this he'd have the courage to come clean to Fleet, tell him what happened. No matter what he'd been advised against. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Maybe he'd see them again but for now he needed to prioritize those who were actively in his life. Step one? Explain just what had happened. For now though he'd wear the mask he'd made with pride, knowing it had finally given him the resolve to come clean.