[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.]
I've got a feeling she's always going to be your little princess.
[Mikleo gives Sorey a playfully unimpressed look when he scritches under both of their chins. Of course, this is severely undermined since he then basically looks like the cat with how much he likes it.]
[Oh my gosh. Sorey's expression lights up as he notices Mikleo actually kinda likes that. He scritches along the side of his neck, too, and over his throat.]
[Ugh, damn it, Sorey. He can't help himself from tilting his head up and to the side as the scritching moves. Mikleo's also denying that any kind of embarrassing sound ever came from his throat at the attention to his neck. Nope.]
Yeah, I'm sure. I'd like to keep him for as long as possible. He deserves love and a good home.
[He kisses Sorey chastely, and then the mood gets interrupted by Branwen putting her furry paws on Sorey's mouth with a meow. The older man's trying so hard not to laugh. He's kind of failing to keep it together.]
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.]
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[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.
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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.]
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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I'd love that.
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At least until the kitten notices and tries to burrow between them.]
Ah, kitty--
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The princess demands attention.
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[She's rapidly growing larger, that's for sure. He scritches beneath her chin, considers, and then scritches beneath Mikleo's too.]
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[Mikleo gives Sorey a playfully unimpressed look when he scritches under both of their chins. Of course, this is severely undermined since he then basically looks like the cat with how much he likes it.]
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When did I adopt another cat?
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The same time I adopted a dog.
[So rude, he's not a cat.
He totally is.]no subject
He's very cute, and smart... and he has the most amazing eyes. I think you'd like him.
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You'd like the dog, too. He's friendly and handsome, but he does drool when he's asleep or there's mochi around. He also gets into trouble a lot.
[Smirking a little, he leans down to kiss the tip of the brunet's nose.]
He's the best dog in the world, though.
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Sounds like a real troublemaker. You sure you want to keep him?
[Possibly forever?]
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Yeah, I'm sure. I'd like to keep him for as long as possible. He deserves love and a good home.
[He kisses Sorey chastely, and then the mood gets interrupted by Branwen putting her furry paws on Sorey's mouth with a meow. The older man's trying so hard not to laugh. He's kind of failing to keep it together.]
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Mph!
[Well now he can't move because cat. She settles a bit more once Sorey relents and pets her.]
So demanding, Your Highness.
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