...It's in the past. It won't...can't happen again. And as far as I know, it can't happen here, either.
[This world doesn't have aether in the same way as his, doesn't have the long history of the Ancients...as far as he knows. It has a million other things in their place, but not that.]
It was just a dream.
[Just a dream expressing his fear that Lighter is vulnerable to that kind of emotional brittleness.]
[... and beating around the bush with Lighter's vulnerability to that isn't going to help any of them. There's another squeeze of his shoulder, tighter. And he shifted to once more be in Maxima's direct line of sight.]
Even if it could, I wouldn't let it happen to me.
[If he were to die, he would let it be. He would allow it. What he would not allow was his soul to be lost to the pit of despair. If he was going to see his old group again it would be in heaven or hell. It would be as a whole new person with a piece of himself at their center.
Just because he was indifferent to what happened, didn't mean he would succumb now. Not after what Maxima shared.]
[He was ready to start moving on. To let the fear and anguish settle back down, another thin layer of sediment at the bottom of the river of emotions that he just tries not to stir up unnecessarily.
Then Lighter squeezes his shoulder, looks him in the eyes, and says something he simply does not know how to process. He's fairly certain his heart stopped for a second, or maybe it was just that the breath was punched from his lungs.]
...Thank you. [His voice is rough. His face feels hot. What is happening to him?] That means...more than you may know.
[Defiance, determination not to succumb, really does go a long way if they ever are faced with that song.]
[Said with a more confident smile this time, relieved that Maxima seemed to be calming down a bit. From the other room, though, a shaking could be heard. A collar clicking against dog tags and a flopping of the mouth. He could hear his Mini Shepherd already making her cute little way into the room but still called her.]
Haha, I think I've got an idea. Concha, ven paquà y buenas de Maxima! [He mostly spoke to his dogs in Spanish but right on time the tiniest little puppy came right up to Maxima and started jumping against his leg. While she had a cropped tail, it didn't stop her from wiggling her behind in excitement to get her papa's friend to smile.]
[Maxima really isn't very used to animals, but over the past few months he's been growing accustomed to Lighter's dogs. It seems impossible to remain melancholy in the face of such innocent enthusiasm, and he reaches out willingly to pet Concha's ears, a tired smile slowly spreading across his face.]
[She doesn't know too much English but she sees a smile! Smile is good, smile means papa's friend isn't sad anymore! She was a pretty quiet dog all things considered so there wasn't a bark in response, but instead delighted panting and more wiggle butt.
And you know, usually when one sees a small animal they fall into baby pet talk. Lighter was no exception.
... with his own dogs at least. The random dogs he pet were a different story but nonetheless.]
¿Ay, que linda verdad?
[While Maxima pet her ears Lighter patted her bottom gently. Sleepiness was starting to set in again since his plan worked like a charm. He let his guard down, but that wasn't a bad thing. God knows it was late.]
Don't be too surprised if you wake up with her by your feet.
[It's really charming, how affectionate he is with his pets. There's a warmth spreading through Maxima's chest that he thinks it might be dangerous to examine too closely. Camaraderie, is what it is, surely. The canine instincts' contentment at being among a tightly-knit pack, small as it may be.
With a deep breath, he relaxes and starts to settle back into the blankets.]
I'll have no complaints at all. She's welcome to stay.
When Maxima began getting comfortable again, Concha followed his lead by laying down in a little lump at the foot of the bed with her front paws crossed and her chin resting on them.
Seeing the hint, Lighter followed suit and nudged close with a hand on Maxima's hip. Just a grounding touch, no intent to go further. Just a reminder he was alive and here and breathing.]
You think you can get back to sleep? [A huffed laugh.] I don't think she'll take no for an answer. But we could prooobably sneak awake a little bit as long as we talk real quiet.
[He knew his puppy wasn't that threatening, even though he spoke of her like an ~insurmountable force~ in that moment. It was just him saying he'll stay up as long as his friend needed.]
[He appreciates the contact, and settles an arm around Lighter in return. It feels good, to be surrounded by so much warmth and affection. To be looked after. He can't remember the last time anyone took care of him this way.]
It's too early to be awake yet, so...I should try, at least. [He hesitates, unsure how much more to say.] I really am...grateful that you're here.
[That he cares. That he's him. He's not sure he could have grown so comfortable in anyone else's presence.]
[Oh. Hm. That made Lighter's heart skip a beat. Maybe he was just a little tired and feeling things. Maybe it's because there's a better chance now of his friend relaxing and his pulse didn't quite catch up.
Ah, he was too tired for this right now either way.]
You were there for me, it's the least I can do.
[It would be nice if this didn't have to happen, but it wasn't up to either of them. It's fine, this was fine enough. This was enough.]
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[This world doesn't have aether in the same way as his, doesn't have the long history of the Ancients...as far as he knows. It has a million other things in their place, but not that.]
It was just a dream.
[Just a dream expressing his fear that Lighter is vulnerable to that kind of emotional brittleness.]
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Even if it could, I wouldn't let it happen to me.
[If he were to die, he would let it be. He would allow it. What he would not allow was his soul to be lost to the pit of despair. If he was going to see his old group again it would be in heaven or hell. It would be as a whole new person with a piece of himself at their center.
Just because he was indifferent to what happened, didn't mean he would succumb now. Not after what Maxima shared.]
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Then Lighter squeezes his shoulder, looks him in the eyes, and says something he simply does not know how to process. He's fairly certain his heart stopped for a second, or maybe it was just that the breath was punched from his lungs.]
...Thank you. [His voice is rough. His face feels hot. What is happening to him?] That means...more than you may know.
[Defiance, determination not to succumb, really does go a long way if they ever are faced with that song.]
no subject
[Said with a more confident smile this time, relieved that Maxima seemed to be calming down a bit. From the other room, though, a shaking could be heard. A collar clicking against dog tags and a flopping of the mouth. He could hear his Mini Shepherd already making her cute little way into the room but still called her.]
Haha, I think I've got an idea. Concha, ven paquà y buenas de Maxima! [He mostly spoke to his dogs in Spanish but right on time the tiniest little puppy came right up to Maxima and started jumping against his leg. While she had a cropped tail, it didn't stop her from wiggling her behind in excitement to get her papa's friend to smile.]
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Hello, Concha. You are very sweet, aren't you?
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And you know, usually when one sees a small animal they fall into baby pet talk. Lighter was no exception.
... with his own dogs at least. The random dogs he pet were a different story but nonetheless.]
¿Ay, que linda verdad?
[While Maxima pet her ears Lighter patted her bottom gently. Sleepiness was starting to set in again since his plan worked like a charm. He let his guard down, but that wasn't a bad thing. God knows it was late.]
Don't be too surprised if you wake up with her by your feet.
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With a deep breath, he relaxes and starts to settle back into the blankets.]
I'll have no complaints at all. She's welcome to stay.
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When Maxima began getting comfortable again, Concha followed his lead by laying down in a little lump at the foot of the bed with her front paws crossed and her chin resting on them.
Seeing the hint, Lighter followed suit and nudged close with a hand on Maxima's hip. Just a grounding touch, no intent to go further. Just a reminder he was alive and here and breathing.]
You think you can get back to sleep? [A huffed laugh.] I don't think she'll take no for an answer. But we could prooobably sneak awake a little bit as long as we talk real quiet.
[He knew his puppy wasn't that threatening, even though he spoke of her like an ~insurmountable force~ in that moment. It was just him saying he'll stay up as long as his friend needed.]
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It's too early to be awake yet, so...I should try, at least. [He hesitates, unsure how much more to say.] I really am...grateful that you're here.
[That he cares. That he's him. He's not sure he could have grown so comfortable in anyone else's presence.]
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Ah, he was too tired for this right now either way.]
You were there for me, it's the least I can do.
[It would be nice if this didn't have to happen, but it wasn't up to either of them. It's fine, this was fine enough. This was enough.]