More than anything, Maruki wants to reach across the table. Squeeze a hand, ground him. He knows he can't, shouldn't. Won't. Akira sits back, and Maruki doesn't blame him. The distance between their souls has been closing up so rapidly every time they talk; counterbalancing that with even the tiniest bit more physical difference is probably necessary.
At piece of my soul, Maruki's eyes slip shut. They don't open again as Akira finishes speaking.
His brows crease in the middle, briefly, as if in a pained twinge. ]
If I can say one more thing first...
[ He awoke in the garden alone, frightened and furious and empty. Spent six weeks being inundated with everyone's worst traumas from realities more horrific than he ever could have imagined, each one a drop into the cavern that had split open at the back of his mind. It felt like it would never be filled again.
When Azathoth returned to him, he could have cried from relief. The days and weeks that followed were their own special brand of terrible, the castle in sudden disarray from Vash's abilities returning to him too, and then the perpetual night that seemed to stretch into eternity. But he was never scared, not really, not even when he and Venat faced down the Green Knight.
He had Azathoth, after all. What was there to fear?
Maruki's eyes open, warm and trained directly on Akira's. ]
I know how wrong it feels to be without it, and I don't want you to feel that way for a minute longer than you have to. Whatever I can do to help you regain your persona, I will.
[ Akira doesn't have to ask. Knowing him, he won't. And it won't matter. Maruki will be at his side.
He picks his head up off his palm finally, sits up straight, hands folding together once more. ]
no subject
More than anything, Maruki wants to reach across the table. Squeeze a hand, ground him. He knows he can't, shouldn't. Won't. Akira sits back, and Maruki doesn't blame him. The distance between their souls has been closing up so rapidly every time they talk; counterbalancing that with even the tiniest bit more physical difference is probably necessary.
At piece of my soul, Maruki's eyes slip shut. They don't open again as Akira finishes speaking.
His brows crease in the middle, briefly, as if in a pained twinge. ]
If I can say one more thing first...
[ He awoke in the garden alone, frightened and furious and empty. Spent six weeks being inundated with everyone's worst traumas from realities more horrific than he ever could have imagined, each one a drop into the cavern that had split open at the back of his mind. It felt like it would never be filled again.
When Azathoth returned to him, he could have cried from relief. The days and weeks that followed were their own special brand of terrible, the castle in sudden disarray from Vash's abilities returning to him too, and then the perpetual night that seemed to stretch into eternity. But he was never scared, not really, not even when he and Venat faced down the Green Knight.
He had Azathoth, after all. What was there to fear?
Maruki's eyes open, warm and trained directly on Akira's. ]
I know how wrong it feels to be without it, and I don't want you to feel that way for a minute longer than you have to. Whatever I can do to help you regain your persona, I will.
[ Akira doesn't have to ask. Knowing him, he won't. And it won't matter. Maruki will be at his side.
He picks his head up off his palm finally, sits up straight, hands folding together once more. ]
Now, I'm all ears.