Enheartening
Their bodies are gone and all that is left isXigbar
Their bodies are gone and all that is left is Xaldin
Closecloserclosest--
If they were physical it would be agony; two objects cannot occupy the same space, and still exist as disparate things. They're not physical and in face of the rage outside their tiny bubble of safety there is no closeness too close.
You were mine since the day you were born.
I loved you since I was fourteen.
He remembers the little baby, so tiny even when he was that young.
Yes. I still am.
His first memory is of holding Braig's hand, some woman saying just keep holding on and nothing will hurt you.
Can't hold your hand right now, dude.
I know. It's fine. You've got my heart.
They can occupy the same space, but they can't really touch.
Except that's all they can do.
It's not enough on one level but it's so good on another one.
Yeah. And you have mine.
There is a massive profoundity to it that he can't - quite - manage to appreciate right now. It'll come to him later, he's sure.
I feel it again but I -
- I don't think I ever stopped.
Yeah. Me too.
The feeling of a hand being held.
The feeling is returned.
Good.
There are other emotions, too, fighting and SURGING and battering but - there is this. The rest can't overwhelm this.
Hold on
I won't let you down.
he says, in the face of all the--
Everything.
He never has.
He never will.
I know.
The one person besides himself who he can rely on.
Absolutely.
I missed you.
Missed you too.
Like the feeling of holding hands there is the feeling of hugging - and in his mind he's both larger and smaller than the other man.
And the feeling of a hug is returned.