Mikleo considers it, running a hand through his long hair. The thought of sleep, even after talking and getting distracted, sends a small jolt of panic through his system. Yeah, no.]
I think...I'd like some tea. [He leans over to kiss Sorey's cheek.] I'll just brush my hair while you make it?
Okay! [He's not gonna say no to that. He slides off the bed and there he goes, off into the kitchen, with tiny hungry mews following him as he opens the cupboards.
One of the more practical things he's bought recently is an electric glass kettle, so he puts that on. In about three or four minutes-- not including kitten kibble time-- he returns with two mugs of hot black tea. The purple one is, of course, made just the way that Mikleo likes it. Sorey's mug is gray though.
He gently sits beside his fiance and blows on his own tea a bit. Vanilla tea is actually the best.]
[While his fiance is off getting tea ready, Mikleo grabs his brush and starts getting the tangles out of his hair. He puts it away when he's done, returning to the bed to sit down comfortably.
Sorey gets a small, soft smile of gratitude when he comes back. Mikleo takes the purple mug, and snuggles up close to the brunet's side when he sits down. He wraps an arm around his partner's arm, hugging it gently, and rests his head on his lover's shoulder.]
[Mikleo smiles as his hair is played with. He reaches up to take that hand so he can kiss the palm of it tenderly before releasing it. The reassurance certainly helps after that nightmare.]
Yeah. You're right. [He glances up at his fiance with a fond expression.] It's already better with you here, anyway.
[Mikleo just casually sips his tea, even if he leans slightly into the touch to his hair.]
I do, but I can always grow it out again.
[Still, he closes his eyes and rests his head on Sorey's shoulder again. Between one breath and the next, Mikleo gets another flashback. It feels like a knife twists in his heart, but...god, it's so them to make that promise with each other. To promise to keep Sorey's dream alive through remembrance and wait for the silly boy to come back to him.
Mikleo just sits there and breathes for a moment, working through the lump in his throat. They're giving up a lot, but he can't deny that it's for a good cause, even if he doesn't fully understand the context.
Sorey probably knows something is wrong. He's always been able to read Mikleo like a book.]
I, um...I had another flashback. [He sits up to drain the rest of his tea and put his mug aside. His free hand reaches for Sorey's, rubbing his thumb gently on the top of his hand.] It's not a happy one.
[Sorey draws his fingers through his best friend's hair, slow and comforting. He expects to hear relaxed shallow breathing-- nothing like the hitch in his breath and an exhale of pain. The brunet sits up a bit more and sets his empty mug aside; he takes Mikleo's, too, when it's offered.]
What is it?
[He squeezes Mikleo's fingers and leans in slightly, his gray eyes concerned.
And then it hits him too.]
-- I... I had to...
[Become a vessel for Maotelus. Wait and sleep. Pray that humanity would find their way.
And Mikleo would wait for him, because he would live on.
[Sorey saying the word "die" has Mikleo automatically squeezing the brunet's hand almost painfully. He forces his grip to relax almost immediately, and swallows.]
I don't...I don't know. I just know that you'll be in something like a coma. Or something like that.
[He doesn't want to think about death as a possibility. Mikleo knows that's not a healthy response, but he just can't deal with it right now. Not after that memory of being sacrificed.]
Maybe you'll be reborn as a seraph when you wake up?
[It sounds like a desperate idea, Mikleo knows that. He hates himself for giving voice to it, but it's still a thought. They don't know what seraphic rebirth entails.]
If humanity didn't... change, then I might never wake up. That was the risk.
[He feels cold all of a sudden and it has nothing to do with the temperature of the room. Mikleo's reaction is telling enough. Sorey should shut up about it so he doesn't stress out Mikleo more, but they just went over this. It hurts to see Mikleo in pain about the very idea, but Sorey can't say he's any better. He's never been the kind of fool to throw his life away at the first opportunity. He is very keenly aware of his own place in the world-- not a big one, but an important one to the people he loves. He can't let them down. And... and he has to be here for them. For Mikleo.
For their dream.]
Maybe. I-- [His throat feels tight and raw. With their hands free again, Sorey can easily tug Mikleo into his arms-- so he does.] I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mikleo. I don't want to leave you, I never wanted to...
[He could feel that in the memory. How much he wanted to stay, how much he loved the world. There was no room for uncertainty.
Sorey now, though, is full of so many questions. He has a sinking feeling in his gut-- as he often does when it comes to his past life-- that his life as a human ended there, with something like going to sleep and then passing into this other world.]
I could feel his heart. He was so resigned to it... and kinda scared, too. I could never do what he was talking about-- not now.
[Mikleo curls up in Sorey's arms when he's pulled in. The brunet's words don't settle quite right, but he'll take the comfort of his presence. After a moment of silence, he shakes his head.]
Yes, you could.
[How much has his best friend sacrificed already? How often has he always put others before himself? How many times does Sorey throw himself in front of danger to protect people, again and again, with little thought to his own well-being?
Mikleo knows him and his past life like the back of his hand, it feels like. There are differences between them, but there are so many similarities, too.]
I know you have that kind of courage and sense of duty.
[The biggest difference is that the Sorey of the past was more confidant about it. His Sorey lacks that confidence, possibly because he's scared of it, in a way.]
[He knows Mikleo will disagree after he says those words. It's only a matter of moments before his best friend and other half argues in his usual calm way-- perfectly assured that Sorey is not a coward. But Sorey thinks otherwise.]
I'm not him. I wasn't raised to fight dragons in my backyard. The craziest thing I've done is hop a fence.
I'm not the savior of the world, I'm just...
I'm just me.
[He bites his lip.]
I'm selfish. Now that I know what we didn't have the chance to do, I don't want to give it up.
[Mikleo turns around in Sorey's arms so that he can face him. His eyes might look a bit fierce, but his hands are gentle as they cup the brunet's face, rubbing his thumb soothingly along his cheek.]
He wasn't, either. He came from a small village of seraphim, and probably never thought he'd be doing anything more than warning a friend of some danger to her. That Sorey had to find his strength.
[Just like his Sorey has to find it. He closes his eyes as he leans in to kiss his fiance's forehead.]
If you thought beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was the right thing to do, you'd do it.
[Mikleo sighs gently as he looks at Sorey's face again. His expression softens somewhat.]
That other Mikleo believed he'd come back to him. For what it's worth, I believe it, too.
[Sorey's lashes flutter at the gentle touch. Mikleo believes in him this much... maybe he's right. And even if he isn't, Sorey needs to be that strong. He needs to be that kind of person. He thinks his old self wouldn't have wanted whoever came after to shoulder the burden, but Sorey has grown to realize that there isn't any other choice.
Besides, it's not like he's doing it alone.]
... Maybe you can take our lives here as part of that promise, too.
[He breathes in and closes his eyes, then rests their foreheads together. The apartment feels familiar, smells a bit like Sorey and Mikleo both. And Mikleo is here, warm in his arms, indescribably a part of him and yet separate at once.]
I'll always come back to you. I'll find a way, every time.
[Mikleo's eyes and expression soften as Sorey rests his forehead against the older man's. He closes his eyes, and uses one hand to run his fingers through brown hair soothingly.]
This life is proof of that, isn't it?
[He smiles faintly.]
Just don't take too long or I'll be coming after you.
[He draws both hands along Mikleo's jaw and gently sinks them into his curls. His gray eyes dance in the low light. Seems he's found himself again after all.]
Why don't we lay back a bit? If you don't fall asleep, then that's okay. We can watch something.
[Mikleo's very okay with Sorey's fingers in his hair. He sighs softly in content, smiling a little. The older man curls up more in his lover's arms, wanting to be as close as possible now that they're done with the heavy conversation.]
no subject
I was about to say you should show some restraint, but....
[But this is Sorey and restraint isn't something he does.]
no subject
[He huffs a bit. They have some things to think about for sure.]
Do you want to go back to bed, or should I make some tea? [HE CAN MAKE TEA, AT LEAST]
no subject
[Jeeeeez!!!
Mikleo considers it, running a hand through his long hair. The thought of sleep, even after talking and getting distracted, sends a small jolt of panic through his system. Yeah, no.]
I think...I'd like some tea. [He leans over to kiss Sorey's cheek.] I'll just brush my hair while you make it?
no subject
Green or black? Also, I'd totally brush your hair too but you don't want it getting into your tea.
no subject
Black, please. I'll let you play with my hair when I'm done brushing it, at least.
no subject
One of the more practical things he's bought recently is an electric glass kettle, so he puts that on. In about three or four minutes-- not including kitten kibble time-- he returns with two mugs of hot black tea. The purple one is, of course, made just the way that Mikleo likes it. Sorey's mug is gray though.
He gently sits beside his fiance and blows on his own tea a bit. Vanilla tea is actually the best.]
no subject
Sorey gets a small, soft smile of gratitude when he comes back. Mikleo takes the purple mug, and snuggles up close to the brunet's side when he sits down. He wraps an arm around his partner's arm, hugging it gently, and rests his head on his lover's shoulder.]
Thanks. I really appreciate this.
no subject
I just just put tea on, it's nothing big.
[He smiles down at Mikleo. After a moment, he reaches over to play with his bangs a little, stroking and rearranging them to where they usually go.]
... Everything will be okay.
no subject
[Mikleo smiles as his hair is played with. He reaches up to take that hand so he can kiss the palm of it tenderly before releasing it. The reassurance certainly helps after that nightmare.]
Yeah. You're right. [He glances up at his fiance with a fond expression.] It's already better with you here, anyway.
no subject
I'm not going anywhere, I promise.
[He leaves the most tender of kisses on Mikleo's forehead. If he's wearing the circlet, then he'll kiss that too.]
Even if I'm forced to wander. I'll always come back to you.
no subject
I'll be waiting for you to come back. No matter how long it takes for you to find me.
no subject
no subject
Mikleo gently shoves Sorey with his shoulder. He gives the brunet a playfully indignant look.]
I'll dye my hair out of spite, now. Get some colored contacts maybe, cut my hair shorter.
no subject
But you like it long! It took you years to grow it out!
[He feebly reaches out to wrap some of it around his fingers.]
I like waking up with my face in a cloud every morning.
no subject
I do, but I can always grow it out again.
[Still, he closes his eyes and rests his head on Sorey's shoulder again. Between one breath and the next, Mikleo gets another flashback. It feels like a knife twists in his heart, but...god, it's so them to make that promise with each other. To promise to keep Sorey's dream alive through remembrance and wait for the silly boy to come back to him.
Mikleo just sits there and breathes for a moment, working through the lump in his throat. They're giving up a lot, but he can't deny that it's for a good cause, even if he doesn't fully understand the context.
Sorey probably knows something is wrong. He's always been able to read Mikleo like a book.]
I, um...I had another flashback. [He sits up to drain the rest of his tea and put his mug aside. His free hand reaches for Sorey's, rubbing his thumb gently on the top of his hand.] It's not a happy one.
no subject
What is it?
[He squeezes Mikleo's fingers and leans in slightly, his gray eyes concerned.
And then it hits him too.]
-- I... I had to...
[Become a vessel for Maotelus. Wait and sleep. Pray that humanity would find their way.
And Mikleo would wait for him, because he would live on.
... so long as I don't forget.]
... die?
no subject
I don't...I don't know. I just know that you'll be in something like a coma. Or something like that.
[He doesn't want to think about death as a possibility. Mikleo knows that's not a healthy response, but he just can't deal with it right now. Not after that memory of being sacrificed.]
Maybe you'll be reborn as a seraph when you wake up?
[It sounds like a desperate idea, Mikleo knows that. He hates himself for giving voice to it, but it's still a thought. They don't know what seraphic rebirth entails.]
no subject
[He feels cold all of a sudden and it has nothing to do with the temperature of the room. Mikleo's reaction is telling enough. Sorey should shut up about it so he doesn't stress out Mikleo more, but they just went over this. It hurts to see Mikleo in pain about the very idea, but Sorey can't say he's any better. He's never been the kind of fool to throw his life away at the first opportunity. He is very keenly aware of his own place in the world-- not a big one, but an important one to the people he loves. He can't let them down. And... and he has to be here for them. For Mikleo.
For their dream.]
Maybe. I-- [His throat feels tight and raw. With their hands free again, Sorey can easily tug Mikleo into his arms-- so he does.] I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mikleo. I don't want to leave you, I never wanted to...
[He could feel that in the memory. How much he wanted to stay, how much he loved the world. There was no room for uncertainty.
Sorey now, though, is full of so many questions. He has a sinking feeling in his gut-- as he often does when it comes to his past life-- that his life as a human ended there, with something like going to sleep and then passing into this other world.]
I could feel his heart. He was so resigned to it... and kinda scared, too. I could never do what he was talking about-- not now.
no subject
Yes, you could.
[How much has his best friend sacrificed already? How often has he always put others before himself? How many times does Sorey throw himself in front of danger to protect people, again and again, with little thought to his own well-being?
Mikleo knows him and his past life like the back of his hand, it feels like. There are differences between them, but there are so many similarities, too.]
I know you have that kind of courage and sense of duty.
[The biggest difference is that the Sorey of the past was more confidant about it. His Sorey lacks that confidence, possibly because he's scared of it, in a way.]
no subject
I'm not him. I wasn't raised to fight dragons in my backyard. The craziest thing I've done is hop a fence.
I'm not the savior of the world, I'm just...
I'm just me.
[He bites his lip.]
I'm selfish. Now that I know what we didn't have the chance to do, I don't want to give it up.
no subject
He wasn't, either. He came from a small village of seraphim, and probably never thought he'd be doing anything more than warning a friend of some danger to her. That Sorey had to find his strength.
[Just like his Sorey has to find it. He closes his eyes as he leans in to kiss his fiance's forehead.]
If you thought beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was the right thing to do, you'd do it.
[Mikleo sighs gently as he looks at Sorey's face again. His expression softens somewhat.]
That other Mikleo believed he'd come back to him. For what it's worth, I believe it, too.
no subject
Besides, it's not like he's doing it alone.]
... Maybe you can take our lives here as part of that promise, too.
[He breathes in and closes his eyes, then rests their foreheads together. The apartment feels familiar, smells a bit like Sorey and Mikleo both. And Mikleo is here, warm in his arms, indescribably a part of him and yet separate at once.]
I'll always come back to you. I'll find a way, every time.
no subject
This life is proof of that, isn't it?
[He smiles faintly.]
Just don't take too long or I'll be coming after you.
no subject
As if I'd expect anything else.
[He draws both hands along Mikleo's jaw and gently sinks them into his curls. His gray eyes dance in the low light. Seems he's found himself again after all.]
Why don't we lay back a bit? If you don't fall asleep, then that's okay. We can watch something.
no subject
I'd love that.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)