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[buryfear]

Adair dropped his backpack at his feet and stretched, rubbing his tired, red eyes and trying to smooth down his mussed up hair. The train from London (while it had been more or less comfortable for the most part) had been an exhausting journey; he'd spent most of his break going over the information YuHua had given him about his bad luck, his new

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[techtox]

Alex was sure this had been a trip of bitter nostalgia for the young man and had simply left him to do as he wished for the most part, only following along to keep him company and perhaps out of some concern on his own part.

The moment they had disembarked from their train, Alex had stayed with Adair until he'd settled into one place before he had wandered off, his bag still slung over his shoulder. To do what, it was impossible to tell until he returned.

The shade was never for words, so he simply tapped Adair on the shoulder with one of the two cups of tea he had bought, freshly brewed.

[buryfear]

"Oh...thanks."

Adair took the cup and stared into it for a few seconds. He hadn't had anything to drink for hours, it was true, but he hadn't quite noticed his thirst yet. The warmth of the tea cup was a source of comfort however, and he wrapped both of his cold hands around it gladly.

[techtox]

"You're welcome," Alex replied, ever in his deadpan. He sipped at his own tea, appreciating the warmth for being pure heat, for he could never become accustomed to the ever-present chill that seemed to hang over this part of the world.

He glanced down at Adair, who still seemed lost in his own world. "Is your friend coming to pick you up?"

[buryfear]

"I don't think so," Adair said, looking up at the spirit. The truth was that while Eri was his favourite person in - well, the < i >world< /i >, he didn't want to see him right now. There was no way he'd be able to look him in the eye for a little while.

He kicked the ground with a trainer toe again before turning back to Alex. "Why...why did this happen?"

[techtox]

The shade tilted his head, thoughtful. "Do you consider it all your fault?"

[buryfear]

"It is, isn't it though? If I hadn't had been born like this," a slight pause as he tried to vocalise how he was feeling, finding it difficult as a lump welled up in his throat. "Mum, Sammy, Liz, Dad..." he took a deep, shaking breath, "they'd still be here, wouldn't they? It's all my fault. Everything-"

He cut off, feeling a droplet hit his hand. He'd started crying.

[techtox]

Alex was quiet for a long moment, then pressed his free hand to Adair's shoulder.

"It's a lonely path," he agreed, not denying that Adair's immunity had caused the downfall of his family. "But you were obviously loved, especially during the bad times."

[buryfear]

That was right, wasn't it?

He swallowed, wiping his eyes with one hand, gripping the tea cup harder in the other. He had been loved - by his mother and his brother and sister, and when they'd been gone, there'd been his father who'd loved him despite his faults.

And now he had his room mate and Alex - people who wanted him around, people who didn't hate him. He reached over to touch Alex's hand (the greatest show of appreciation he could manage at the moment) and felt the tears begin to flow harder.

He wanted to say something like "promise you won't go," but that was weak, cheesy. Instead he sniffed and wiped his eyes again.

[techtox]

Alex watched him for a moment, then looked up and head of them, at the crowds milling around them in the train station. Drank some more of his tea.

"Take your time," he said quietly. "Then when you're ready, we'll go home."

[buryfear]

"Thanks," Adair reached out to touch the shade on the arm again unconsciously, and then stared into his tea. He took a gulp of it, despite not really wanting to. But then it would be silly of him to just let it go to waste.

[techtox]

"And we'll bring some cake. I'm sure your roommate will want to celebrate your return."

[buryfear]

"Sounds good," he said, giving Alex a wobbly, watery smile.

"Let's get moving, shall we?"

[techtox]

"If you're sure."

Alex pulled his hand away from Adair's shoulder to pull a handkerchief out of his pocket. This he offered out to him silently.

[buryfear]

"Yeah, I'm sure." Adair gratefully took the offered handkerchief and wiped his eyes. "You really are ready for anything, aren't you?"

[techtox]

Alex tilted his head, considering that. "It is good to be prepared for most things. I always keep one on me to clean up minor messes. Do not worry, it is clean."

[buryfear]

Adair handed the handkerchief back to the man. "It's fine, I don't think you'd offer it to me if it was," he said, where normally he might have made a snarky comment or pulled a face. He didn't have the energy to do something like that today.