@aerilium if it wasn’t you—?
( *taking a breath, his lashes flutter against the light and for a moment he is quiet; trying to think around the defensive knee-jerk reaction that rises up from the most private parts of himself. )
I don’t think I would talk about it at all. I’ve never —
@aerilium him uncomfortable, moving like tar beneath his skin, and in the next moment he turns away, flexing the muscle in his jaw. )
I don’t know. it just is. but it’s not something I want you to worry about.
@aerilium yeah, I know.
( *her passion, he thinks, is one of the first things that ever became clear about her. she’s always burned as bright as a summer star. ready to help even the most hopeless of strangers. he thinks he might have wanted to be like that, once. but the thought makes
@aerilium ( *glancing over at her, the lengthening silence feels almost accusatory, and though he knows there is nowhere to hide out in the open, he still chooses half truths. looking away when he talks. )
. . .I’m alright. it’s just hard to sleep sometimes.
@aerilium yeah? well neither is it all shades of grey.
if you’re telling me you’re more outspoken now then I’ll believe it. but that doesn’t mean I can’t check once in a while that you’re really alright.