Aubrey's hair hangs around her face like a halo.

Basil stares at her, sitting at the edge of the dock, looking slightly mournful but mostly angry. The hot light of the setting sun behind her scorches the horizon. Her hands are clenched into fists.

Without anything else to do, Basil sits behind her. The wood beneath him is firm. Comforting.

"I don't understand," is the first thing Aubrey says. Basil thinks privately that it was meant to sound intimidating, but it just comes off as a weak plea. "I don't understand why you would do something like that. I don't understand how you could go through with it."

Basil swallows, his adam's apple bobbing in his throat, searching for the right words to describe his mindset. "I can't... it was so messed up, Aubrey. People don't... they don't see Sunny the way we do. They think he's a monster."

Aubrey jerks upwards, eyes flashing with startled tears. "He's not. Even after all of this, I can't think of him like that..."

Basil nods. "Just because he doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve, they think he doesn't have a heart at all. I thought.. if they knew the truth.. they would take him away from me. They would ruin him... I couldn't let that happen. So I did something stupid - really, really stupid - because I wanted to protect him. It's not an excuse. I'm just trying to... explain."

Aubrey sniffs and wipes her nose. The soft crooning of a bird, like staccato, fills the warm evening air. Basil wishes desperately that he could enjoy the beauty of his home. That after everything, the world could still be beautiful.

"I get it." She says hoarsely. "I wish I didn't, but I get it. If I was in your shoes... I don't know what I'd do, but I also felt... feel that need to protect him. To scream at everyone who thought there was something wrong with him, including me."

Basil laughs gently. "You're really head over heels, huh?"

Aubrey starts, looking at him with her face bright red and her mouth wide open. "I - thought I was being subtle about it." She admits after a second, now pouting. Basil smiles.

"...We were kids." Aubrey says eventually.

"I don't know if I forgive you yet, Basil, but I think... one day, I can. We were only children. And... we deserved better, than what happened. That includes you."

She stands up, and offers Basil a hand.

As Basil takes it, he thinks that maybe the world will be beautiful once more someday too.