( at that question, the complexion on her face coils paler on her already milky skin, her heart takes a nose-dive deeper in her stomach to land somewhere that's unreachable. she knew the meaning behind this question, the subliminal message between the lines. if the maze shed a light and taught her anything, it was the fear he carries about losing her or being replaced for someone greater than him. that fear is mutual, jinx understood it way more than she had ever hoped. which is why she backpedals and her next words are in stammers due to her tongue knotting within itself. )

No! Nonononono. — I've always believed you when you've said it...!

( she shakes her head in a panic, indicating what he's implying is so far from the truth. jinx peels herself off of her father to sit with more sincerity, fixating in his mismatched pupils. )

Always, always, always! Your words mean SO much to me, Silco.

( she's hurting him... again. only this time, it's not physically but emotionally. her shaky hands reach to cup both of his cheeks, so he wouldn't dare to look away from her... or run away from her. )

W-We're family, remember?

( the anxious smile and the light chuckle she gives him is so out of place, but she's not sure what else to do, or to prove that she never took his words for granted. )

Y-You're my home. You'll always be my home. ...I..I love you. No one will ever replace what we have, okay?