[She cuts him off before he can say anything, though he starts to open his mouth to do so. The warmth of her lips between his eyes lingers. Who's ever treated him with such sweetness, like he's a child to indulge with no motivating expectation of return, since Ai was taken from him?
Not so long ago, he'd looked at the camera, at his father behind it, and lied with everything he had.
'I won't love anyone. If someone loves me, they won't get anything back.'
Kamiki saw through it, of course, but Aqua can't say he wasn't more than half-convinced himself. He can't say he's done any good for anyone, truly, out of the kindness of his heart, in either of the two lifetimes he's lived.
And still, Lortel holds him like he's something valuable to protect. Tells him she likes everything that he is, when he couldn't name one aspect of himself that isn't borrowed to fill a gap.
He swallows, then lifts his own hand to stroke Lortel's long, bright hair. He doesn't know how to respond to her feelings; she's made it clear he doesn't have to respond at all.
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Not so long ago, he'd looked at the camera, at his father behind it, and lied with everything he had.
'I won't love anyone. If someone loves me, they won't get anything back.'
Kamiki saw through it, of course, but Aqua can't say he wasn't more than half-convinced himself. He can't say he's done any good for anyone, truly, out of the kindness of his heart, in either of the two lifetimes he's lived.
And still, Lortel holds him like he's something valuable to protect. Tells him she likes everything that he is, when he couldn't name one aspect of himself that isn't borrowed to fill a gap.
He swallows, then lifts his own hand to stroke Lortel's long, bright hair. He doesn't know how to respond to her feelings; she's made it clear he doesn't have to respond at all.
So instead, he asks softly:]
...Want me to keep talking until you fall asleep?
[He can do that, for her.]