Defying Gravity

Chapter 50

Third person pov

Obito's world slowed to a stop as Ethelia shoved the letter into his hands, seeming almost relieved that she didn't have to open it and read. He could hear his heart thrumming against his ear drums, reverberating throughout his entire body. It felt deafening, but he could hear just fine. He felt disconnected, but he was hyper aware of everything around him. It was all extremely disorienting.

"You... Y-You don't have to." Ethelia assured quietly, her hands curling around the fabric of his shirt. He could see fresh tears welling up in her eyes, and he cursed himself for letting shock envelope him to such a point. "I...I can..."

"No, it's okay. I can do it." He flashed a smile he was sure was shaky, but it was a smile nonetheless. He gripped the paper a little tighter, pulling it closer towards him. He wasn't trying to stop Ethelia from reading it, but he didn't want to try and force her to look at it if that's not what she wanted. Why it was addressed to him, he didn't know. He hadn't even officially met Ethelia's dad. Not really, anyway. 

"Are you sure?" Ethelia asked weakly. She knew she was being a pansy, and she knew she needed to calm down and stop. She just... her dad was dead. He was gone, and he'd done it to himself. He hadn't gotten in an accident at work, and he hadn't gotten sick. He hadn't been mugged, and he hadn't tripped and hit something. He'd killed himself, and he'd left her. He was hurt enough to leave everything behind, even her.

"Of course I'm sure." Obito gave a reassuring grin, steeling himself in preparation for whatever was inside. He held the paper so that Ethelia couldn't quite see, but also so that she could lean over and read along with him if she decided she wanted to. Even if the letter was addressed to him, she had every right to view it as well.

He took a deep breath, unfolding the paper. The crinkle of the paper seemed indescribably loud in the entryway of his apartment, which was dead silent if you excused the occasional sniffle that came from Ethelia. He kept one hand on her back as he flipped the paper open, releasing the air in his lungs slowly. He wasn't ready for this. In no way, shape, or form was he prepared to read this note.

He did it anyway.

Dying isn't something I thought I'd ever do, but I guess that just makes me even more of a coward. I can't even write my own daughter an explanation. Pretty pathetic, isn't it? I thought so too. So instead of writing to her, I'm writing to you, Obito Uchiha. I know you care. I don't know you, nor do I claim to, but I can tell you love my daughter on some level. You're her friend, and that's something.

I am terrified, Obito. My little girl is a ninja; how could I not be? She is my little ball of sunshine, even if she acts like a gloomy rain cloud most of her days. She absolutely lights up my world. Of course she does. She's my kid, and that's what kids do. She's my little baby girl, and I love her with everything in me. But I'm scared. I'm a grown man, so I know I should be strong. For her, and for me. But I can't.

She's young, and there's so much she doesn't know, but she isn't an idiot. She has to know that ninja die. They die every month. Every week. Every day, Obito. You should see the piles of bodies they haul through the village gates. The grieving family and friends, and neighbors. What am I going to do if she dies? What can I do? I can't wait for that to happen. I don't want to see. I don't want to know. 

I also know well and good that I can't stop her, so I'm not going to. I'm going to let myself be a selfish coward. It's not going to help her. It's going to break her, and I'm sorry. I'm so, so damn sorry. I'm trusting you, now, to take care of her, because I cannot anymore. I can't stand by and wait for something to take her life. She'll get over me; I know she will. This is selfish of me too, but be there, Obito. Pick her up for me. Hold her for me. Love her for me, even if she doesn't want it. She may kick, and bite, and close herself up into a tight little fortress. Don't let that deter you. Save my little girl, because I can't save her myself.

The Coward, Oberon Syoko

Obito's hand clenched around the paper, wrinkling it as he shook. Ethelia kept her gaze trained on his face, a lump in her throat. She wanted to look at the paper. Everything in her told her to look at that damned note, but she couldn't bring herself too. So she settled for looking at Obito instead. His face was one of the most expressive she'd ever seen, and though she didn't look at many people, she'd seen enough to know that he was an open book.

His expression twisted into something that scared her. He looked determined, but scared, and so, so sad. She was even more afraid to look at the paper. Why was she making Obito do this? This wasn't fair of her, and she knew that. What right did she have to put this kind of pressure on him, anyway? What right did her father have to weigh him down with a note like... like that?!

Obito inhaled deeply, carefully setting the paper face down and closing his eyes as he tried to collect himself. Okay, so that wasn't so bad. It could have been worse. Mr. Syoko had just... been scared. He understood that. Dying didn't seem like a healthy solution to really any problem, but he... he got it. He could see why now.

"Are... you alright?" Ethelia asked. Obito opened his eyes, offering a smile.

"I'm great." He assured her, leaning forward and wrapping her in a hug. She tensed, eyes shifting to the note as her chin came to rest on his shoulder. Just what had her dad said? "You know I'm here for you, right? And that I'll always be here?"

"I...Yeah." Ethelia felt her eyes fill with tears all over again, and she returned the embrace without a second thought. "I know. I... I know."

"Good." Obito muttered, tightening his grip on the girl as tears of his own rose up. He blinked them back. He couldn't let them fall right now. Maybe later, but not right now. Ethelia needed someone strong to hold her up. Mr. Syoko had been scared, and selfish, but god dammit, Obito understood. He knew Mr. Syoko wasn't a bad man. He was just a concerned father, and even if he'd made the wrong choice, Obito was still going to carry out his final wishes. For Ethelia's sake, if no one else's.

"Are you okay?" Ethelia asked again, burying her face into his shoulder as her body shook. Her dad was gone. He was just... he was gone! He'd left! He was dead, and he wasn't coming back! Not now, and not ever. That was that. Simple, short, and all too bitter. She didn't know why he'd gone, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know. A few minutes ago, having a reason would have been nice. Now, she felt afraid to know.

"I'm perfectly fine, Ethelia. And you're going to be too. I promise." He assured her. His eyes shifted towards the letter lying there next to him. "I promise."