[ he gives her the most sceptical look in the world at the first part, though it's clearly just giving her shit. he also wants to support the kids. however, he would not do that by eating a crayon.
but for the rest: ]
's alright. Neither were most of our crew. Myself included. Heismay lived in a bloody cave alone, for god's sake. [ fondly. ] And it rarely feels that way, anyhow; it's one of the things I treasure about our group. We're a team.
[ his arm squeezes just so around hers again. ] We're not following so much as walking side by side. [ And I'll be walking right there beside you. ]
that's a relief. he's already told her this a lot, and she feels a little stupid needing to be told again, but I'll be walking right there beside you makes her feel a little less like she's adrift. vi sucks in a breath, and then exhales it out slow, shaking out the last bits of it. don't be greedy.
she's getting better. it's a long process, but she's getting better, and all of her most pathetic thoughts just stay thoughts. ]
Guess I won't see until I get there, but... okay. [ she's not used to working in a team either, but she thinks she could get used to it. that she wants to. ]
[ there's a hum in answer - he takes the lean easily, walks to accommodate any limp she might have with her injury. side by side, step by step. it's nearly over, now. ]
Going back with you, I mean. Don't - don't let me tell you no. Okay?
[ because she knows herself well enough - because every time someone asks her to talk about her sister, she has to go through the seven levels of grief and responsibility and pain, and she doubts herself, and she thinks, maybe I don't deserve the freedom. she wants to save him, she wants to go back to euchronia. she just needs to not talk herself out of it. ]
[ he - snorts, a little, but it's soft, and fondness colors the way he shakes his head. ]
The day you out-stubborn me in a fight's the day I keel over for real.
[ but this is lighthearted and warm, and when he turns his head to look down at her, the conviction of his words that follows is just as easy. ]
I won't. If I have to knock you out and drag you there myself, then so be it. [ and, head turning back again, this time - a little vulnerability of his own. ] I'm counting on you to catch me, after all.
he glances down at her, and she meets his gaze for that second. for that second, her heart hurts - squeezes, tightens, because she's not sure when he started to be synonymous with home, but... he is. she takes a deep breath, and slides her arm around his waist instead, half hugging him as they walk.
counting on your to catch me. yeah. it's that, that phrase, that makes her resolve solidify back in place. ]
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but for the rest: ]
's alright. Neither were most of our crew. Myself included. Heismay lived in a bloody cave alone, for god's sake. [ fondly. ] And it rarely feels that way, anyhow; it's one of the things I treasure about our group. We're a team.
[ his arm squeezes just so around hers again. ] We're not following so much as walking side by side. [ And I'll be walking right there beside you. ]
no subject
that's a relief. he's already told her this a lot, and she feels a little stupid needing to be told again, but I'll be walking right there beside you makes her feel a little less like she's adrift. vi sucks in a breath, and then exhales it out slow, shaking out the last bits of it. don't be greedy.
she's getting better. it's a long process, but she's getting better, and all of her most pathetic thoughts just stay thoughts. ]
Guess I won't see until I get there, but... okay. [ she's not used to working in a team either, but she thinks she could get used to it. that she wants to. ]
Hey, um. Leon.
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Mm?
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[ she says, rubbing at her face a little. ]
Going back with you, I mean. Don't - don't let me tell you no. Okay?
[ because she knows herself well enough - because every time someone asks her to talk about her sister, she has to go through the seven levels of grief and responsibility and pain, and she doubts herself, and she thinks, maybe I don't deserve the freedom. she wants to save him, she wants to go back to euchronia. she just needs to not talk herself out of it. ]
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The day you out-stubborn me in a fight's the day I keel over for real.
[ but this is lighthearted and warm, and when he turns his head to look down at her, the conviction of his words that follows is just as easy. ]
I won't. If I have to knock you out and drag you there myself, then so be it. [ and, head turning back again, this time - a little vulnerability of his own. ] I'm counting on you to catch me, after all.
no subject
he glances down at her, and she meets his gaze for that second. for that second, her heart hurts - squeezes, tightens, because she's not sure when he started to be synonymous with home, but... he is. she takes a deep breath, and slides her arm around his waist instead, half hugging him as they walk.
counting on your to catch me. yeah. it's that, that phrase, that makes her resolve solidify back in place. ]
... Thank you.
[ softer, genuine. ]