>>5207757"Hey Mel? Mind taking the kids on to their gravity training for me?" you ask her telepathically, not taking your eyes off your daughter. She doesn't reply for a moment, no doubt looking to you then to Caulifla and no doubt getting it.
"Of course." she replies, then aloud starts calling the remaining kids' names while also talking telepathically to you. "Be careful hun. She's hurting.”
“I will.” you tell her, ending the psychic link and floating over towards Caulifla as she holds herself looking dejectedly downwards. She's clearly deep in thought, and doesn't even notice your approach until you wrap her up in your arms.
“Ah-? D-Daddy?” she asks, startled as you hug her to you. You don't say anything at first, feeling unsure what to say to her. But it seems to have been for the best, as after a few seconds she starts sobbing against your chest. As her ugly sobs wrack her body, she tries to speak through the tears. “Why? Why did you let him go? I could have saved him, I know I could have. Grandpa didn't have to die and leave us, I-I coulda healed him!”
“I know you could have kiddo.” you say in a hushed tone, holding her tight with your left arm while gently patting her on the back with your right hand. “I know. It's okay Cauli.”
“It's NOT okay!!” she shouts, slamming her fist against your chest in frustration. “He didn't have to go! I...I didn't want him to go!”
“I know you didn't kiddo. I didn't want him to leave us either.” you tell her, and Caulifla pulls her head back and looks up at you in shock. She's clearly confused by this, but remains quiet waiting to see what you say. “But as hard as it is to hear, that is what he wanted Cauli. He knew it was his time to go.”
“Everybody keeps saying that, but it WASN'T!” she snarls, pushing back against you to get free. And instead of grabbing onto her you let her push away, fists clenched in impotent, helpless rage. “Why doesn't anyone listen to me? I could have saved him!”
As she shouts, you see her Stand Triumph floating a bit away behind her materialize, and it's body becoming flames once more in response to your daughter's outrage.
“I could have fixed him! Whatever was wrong I could have healed him, and fixed him up good as new!” she exclaims, screaming out in frustration and helplessness. “He would have been happy, and could have stayed with us! With me! I didn't want him to go...”
And at this her rage seemingly dies out, her Stand disappearing as swiftly as it'd appeared.
“Why did you wanna go?” she says through her tears, her entire body trembling as she sobs helplessly. “Why did you wanna leave us and go away?”
cont
