"Don't be shy, say what's on your mind."
Sucrose had heard that many times, she looked over to the blonde woman. Samus Aran herself was a intimidating, stoic, and reserved individual with a voice that nearly made her knees give in. Perhaps it wasn't intentional to make Sucrose feel judged by how those blue eyes tend to look down on her, but she dare not ask that lady to lower herself down to her eye level.
The height difference was already an issue, Sucrose kept her head down as her gaze was moving away from who was in front of her. Thoughts running through her mind, she blinked.
"It's nothing." She'd say.
There it was, the silence was prolonged.
Sucrose's soft ears flicked, the sound of footsteps were fading. She left.
It wasn't relief, it only made her more frustrated. Why would she not be able to say anything? She was right there! But she couldn't. How could she?
She wasn't just anyone Sucrose could observe from afar. That woman always caught her, as if it was a boring game of hide and seek. Always quick to scout her out in many hiding places without any effort. It frightened Sucrose, but at the same time she had more questions.
But would those questions ever be answered? Does the bounty hunter feel Sucrose is worth talking to? She walked away already, was it all a waste of time? Was she disappointed?
Then again, you can't just force someone to stay with you if they don't want to be around you anymore.
Maybe another time when Sucrose was sitting by herself, the skylight above was shining directly above the seat. The heat of the sun through the window was keeping her content but her mind was drifting somewhere else until the same voice called to her for a moment.
"You alright?" It was her again.
Sucrose finally noticed her glasses slipping off her face before she readjusts them with one finger, "There's no need for you to worry, Miss Aran."
"I told you, Samus is just fine." She sighed, she sounded mildly annoyed. It was a blessing Samus was still bothering to check up on her.
Sucrose's eyes instinctively looked away as her ears flicked,
"Do you mind if I sit down with you?" Samus would ask, how could Sucrose say no?
"I don't." Sucrose forced herself to speak.
That was a dangerous choice, now the situation will only get worse. Sucrose didn't know how to start a conversation, did Samus know? Will she take the lead? Both of them simply sat together for a while.
Sucrose didn't have the courage to look who was beside her. How long will the silence last? Sometimes such quality time isn't something anyone was comfortable without speaking whatsoever. But how does she know Samus would ever be into that? Can Sucrose even ask her?
Soft fluffy ears gave the nervousness away for Samus to pick up, she looked over with a look of concern. "Are you okay?"
"It's nothing."
"It doesn't look like nothing." Samus responded.
Why was that woman perceptive? Could Sucrose counter with Samus looking into body language too much, but then again it was one of the most honest indications with how others are feeling.
Sucrose wanted to say something, but the more she hesitated, the more the silence was suffocating her. Was it too late to speak now?
"Can you look at me?" Once again, Samus noticed another detail in Sucrose's demeanor that was apparently a dead giveaway.
Somebody needs to stop being so nervous.
With whatever nonexistent courage she could gather, Sucrose's golden eyes met blue ones that weren't as sharp as she'd would imagine. Maybe it was because Samus wasn't towering over such a feeble and insignificant creature with round prescription glasses on.
"You want to tell me something?" Samus would ask, with a hint of tenderness but also curiosity. Such curiosity similar to Sucrose's eagerness to know what kind of specimen she was looking at. But she wouldn't say it out loud.
"I..." Sucrose was almost lost in such gorgeous eyes, she couldn't say anything.
Samus sat for a few seconds before tapping Sucrose's shoulder, "Hey, I asked you something."
That poor thing blinked, a faint blush dusting her cheeks. "My apologies, I got distracted..."
"I could tell." Samus shook her head, there was a light smile as she pulled her hand away for a moment, "There's something going on in that head of yours."
Maybe there was. Sucrose's entire frame tensed, but she didn't say anything.
Silence lingered once more, sure Samus could pick up on how cornered Sucrose was feeling. But then again, there was something else Sucrose was feeling.
So, Samus gave Sucrose her space and sat back for a bit. The clouds drifting by felt nostalgic, but such memories from the far past almost felt...isolating. Samus could watch the clouds and leave Sucrose to suffer in silence, but she wasn't heartless to leave someone who needs help in some way.
"...You know. I'm not used to company either." Samus would begin, she could see Sucrose's soft ears lifting to her voice. She was listening.
She didn't reveal too much, but it was obvious she's spent most of her time alone as a bounty hunter. Samus herself wasn't really good with crowds as a result, preferring to stay away from larger groups bustling with overlapping voices of conversations. It was rare for her to pick up on a conversation that was to her interest, her presence slowly faded into the background. Samus was always content with that outcome than anything else in those settings.
Sucrose, who listened quietly, she took in every word. For a moment, she nearly forgot she had to participate in conversation as well, but she waited until Samus was finished with speaking about her experiences with socializing. "It must be difficult to connect with others,"
"Well, even if it didn't interest me, I've seen how you've been looking at me. You want something from me, don't you?" Samus leaned in slightly, Sucrose's response was to inch back just as quickly.
"...I...It's not-" Sucrose's eyes were moving away from Samus's gaze, "Well...if it was alright if I could ask you..."
"Ask me what? Don't be shy, say what's on your mind." Samus's voice grew gentle, almost inviting her to say whatever without judgement. But that was a dangerous temptation. If Sucrose slipped up, would Samus change her mind?
"It's nothing." Sucrose shook her head, before a warm hand was placed on her shoulder to bring attention back to Samus. She wasn't giving up on her this time.
"Talk to me, I'd like to know." Samus reassured Sucrose's frantic heart.
Sucrose's arms relaxed instead of pinning them close against her sides as she looked up to meet the eyes of someone who could be willing to embrace the imperfections that separated Sucrose from any normal and socially skilled individual could be. Sucrose didn't have to force herself to continue any sort of conversation, or feel any unspoken expectations when speaking to a stranger.
She could ask a few questions and stop for a bit, Samus would still be there. It makes her wonder if Samus even has any missions to head off to soon rather than wasting time just watching the sky in silence. That said silence silence wasn't so uncomfortable anymore.