023 [Video/Action for Ecruteak] {backdated to early evening}

[soggypastry]

[Hello, Johto; it's thankfully later than the last time this feed came on, but much noisier. The hustle and bustle of a Pokémon Center is pretty recognizable, as is Lightning's face as she prepares to speak; someone's got a phone call to make, only...there's a problem.]

"Excuse me. Miss Lightning Farron?"

Yeah. What is it?

"This arrived for you

Comments

[action]

[usedroar]

[ Quietly knocking at the hotel room after work. ]

I'm coming in.

[ He knows that if he asks her if she wants company, she'll say no, so he just gently swings the door open. ]

[action]

[soggypastry]

[She would have said no because she doesn't want anyone to see her like this, but she doesn't stop the door from opening. Instead she just stays seated on the edge of her bed, both hands still wrapped around Alexander's pokéball. She looks up at Leon as he comes in, the back down at the ball. She hasn't been crying or anything like that, but...maybe it would be better if she had been. At least then she wouldn't look so lost despite her experience in this mess.]

Thought I'd be used to this by now.

[action]

[usedroar]

[ He pauses in the doorway, letting it shut quietly behind him. Barely any light filters through the curtains, leaving them in grey half-darkness. Without a word, he kicks off his boots and pads over to the bed, sitting next to her. One arm wraps around her shoulders, letting her lay her head against the fur on his collar. He knows she's strong, Light's never been the type to cry--but he knows she isn't impervious to pain, either. ]

Don't think there's ever any getting used to it.

[action]

[soggypastry]

[And lay her head against the fur on his collar she does, resting her cheek on it as her grip on that single pokéball tightens. He's right, after all. There is no getting used to it. Not when it's family that just left you behind.]

Yeah...even knowing they're safe doesn't make it easier.

[action]

[usedroar]

[ He doesn't say anything more, just lets her lean against him, the fingers of his hand grazing the underside of her jaw. ]

Is there anything I can do...?

[ He's being honest. Anything she asks, he'll do it. ]

[action]

[soggypastry]

[She shakes her head in response: he can't bring Hope back, and even if he could send her home, she doesn't want to leave now. The only thing he can do right now is something he's probably going to do anyway.]

Stay a little. Please.

[If she sounds vulnerable, it's because she feels vulnerable. Just like last time Hope disappeared, only this time she's not stalking off into the snow and punching trees. No, this time she's just pulling her feet up off the floor to place them on the bed, seemingly compacting herself as if that will ease the pain.]

[action]

[usedroar]

[ His arm catches her legs mid-swing up, and by the time they've finished their arc her knees are over his lap, her body at a ninety-degree angle to his, against his chest. Should be more comfortably for the both of them, hopefully. ]

I'm not going anywhere.

[ He had no plans to, at least. To be honest, this makes a pain in his chest flare up a little; after all, there's no telling if tomorrow, it could be him, or her. He presses a kiss to her temple, easily within reach. ]

[action]

[soggypastry]

[It's a bit surprising to be suddenly held like this, but Lightning doesn't protest this either. Instead she just keeps her cheek on his fur collar, hiding her face in his neck as if attempting to hide from the world that could tear them apart at any minute. Because it could, and at the moment, she's unwilling to face that possibility.

So she just stays like this for a long few moments, the dim grey half-light filtering through the curtains growing ever dimmer as the day nears its end, and only when it's beginning to be too dark to see does she move, sighing faintly.]

I'm okay now.

[She's anything but, actually, but staying like this won't fix anything. She knows that. Still, she makes no move to move away from the man holding her; she doesn't want to do that just yet.]

[action]

[usedroar]

[ He holds her as long as he needs, eyes closed and just enjoying the scent of her hair and skin in his arms. He pays the clock no mind, though he's half-aware of the encroaching darkness. It's just warm.

When she stirs, he wonders whether she'll move or not--but she stays, and he's content. ]

Mmmm.

[ He doesn't believe her for a second. Instead his hand moves upwards, thumb grazing her cheek. ]

Whatever you need, just...let me know.

[action]

[soggypastry]

[Instead of shaking her head, Lightning simply leans into that touch, focusing on Leon instead of on the pain spiking in her chest. She knows that with time, this will ease and things will go back to some semblance of normal, but for now...]

I have what I need.

[Just not everyone she needs. But she knows he can't do anything to fix that, so she won't ask. Even if he would try his best to get those people back here, for her sake. Because of that thought, and for what he's already done, she just leans up, pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek. It's both in gratitude and to prove to herself that they're both still here for now. And isn't now all they have?]

[action]

[usedroar]

[ Having her in his arms--that's the best thing he could possibly ask for. That she trusts him, and is willing to show it, it's more than enough. He wishes he could shoulder her pain, but he knows that would be forgetting how tough she is.

He isn't expecting her lips on his cheek--he starts briefly at the warm pressure, then turns his head to return it at the corner of her mouth. He presses his forehead to hers, calmly stroking her hair. They are alive, and they have each other, and so help him, he'll be right by her whenever she needs him. ]