Taako's kind heart. Ren says it in her childishly honest, straightforward way, like it's a well known fact, and yet it's not something Lup's ever heard from anyone else. For all the ways he has of showing his kindness and care, giving advice, preparing food just how you like it, just when you need it, making you laugh when you feel like you'll never laugh again, not even their family would think to call him kind. But this girl saw all that and understood, because she doesn't need words for that sort of thing. To know that someone else recognizes and values this unseen part of her brother makes her heart swell and break at the same time.

Taako's kind heart knows loneliness and wouldn't want this for them.

It's too much, for her and for Ren too, trying so hard now not to cry. Lup wishes she could do better than this, be stronger for this extraordinary child they've decided to look out for, but all she has left in her is grief and regret. Helplessness that makes her sick in all its familiarity. She can't tell if it's any better than the bitter detachment she'd locked herself into in the caves, but she doesn't want to go back to being nothing either. So all she can think to do now is to reach out, let go of Ren's hands to wrap her arms around her shoulders and pull her closer, gentle despite the flood of emotions wracking her. "He's got to," she agrees in a choked, incongruous laugh, like he knows she's gonna kick his ass if he doesn't come home soon. "We need him here." God, she hopes he knows that too.