[ Angeal feels guilty about this weakness, because he is not the only one who has been suffering in silence. He knows, now, some of it, or at least begins to understand. But, when he looks up, Sephiroth's eyes are soft at him, and, while concerned, not unhappy.
It stands to reason, he will probably consider later. Sephiroth has been strong and powerful and heroic, but his accomplishments have ever been tied to war. To hurting others. And Angeal may not have been close to Sephiroth in the ways that the other Sephiroth thought, but he has paid attention. He has seen the exquisite self-control, the kindness beneath the perfect SOLDIER demeanor, the genuine caring for those he has grown to trust, even the ones who frustrated or infuriated him... regularly.
Perhaps... this kind of protection and care is going to be good for him, too. That he can do it. That he has the trust to do it.
But those will be thoughts for later. For now, he has poured out his heart, and Sephiroth laughs, and he can't take in breath, suddenly. Even while he's still held, which is why he doesn't freeze altogether, but it still... hurts, for a moment. Except it is a normal, sweet kind of hurt, not like the frozen loneliness from before, and he welcomes even that--
Until Sephiroth's words follow, and his mouth helplessly quirks at the question. How could he forget? Those were some of the easiest memories for him to hold on to, and, over the last two years, he has cherished them so much. Does he remember? Yes, of course.
As the words follow, he remembers the training in question, and his own surprise, at being able to inflict an wound - of course, it hadn't been him. It had been Sephiroth who cut himself on Angeal's sword - in retrospect, it makes more sense. Of course he had been concerned, anyway--
No one had ever done that for me before...
He can breathe again, now, but his chest aches all the same. The fingers caressing Sephiroth's face turn into a whole palm, cupping his cheek, thumb brushing along the flawless cheekbone. ]
I won't insult you by doubting that you can differentiate love and gratitude - but I would have taken either. So long as I'm welcome by your side.
[ ... and, on the subject of taking care of Sephiroth. ]
Let's... ah. Settle somewhere more comfortable for you?
no subject
It stands to reason, he will probably consider later. Sephiroth has been strong and powerful and heroic, but his accomplishments have ever been tied to war. To hurting others. And Angeal may not have been close to Sephiroth in the ways that the other Sephiroth thought, but he has paid attention. He has seen the exquisite self-control, the kindness beneath the perfect SOLDIER demeanor, the genuine caring for those he has grown to trust, even the ones who frustrated or infuriated him... regularly.
Perhaps... this kind of protection and care is going to be good for him, too. That he can do it. That he has the trust to do it.
But those will be thoughts for later. For now, he has poured out his heart, and Sephiroth laughs, and he can't take in breath, suddenly. Even while he's still held, which is why he doesn't freeze altogether, but it still... hurts, for a moment. Except it is a normal, sweet kind of hurt, not like the frozen loneliness from before, and he welcomes even that--
Until Sephiroth's words follow, and his mouth helplessly quirks at the question. How could he forget? Those were some of the easiest memories for him to hold on to, and, over the last two years, he has cherished them so much. Does he remember? Yes, of course.
As the words follow, he remembers the training in question, and his own surprise, at being able to inflict an wound - of course, it hadn't been him. It had been Sephiroth who cut himself on Angeal's sword - in retrospect, it makes more sense. Of course he had been concerned, anyway--
No one had ever done that for me before...
He can breathe again, now, but his chest aches all the same. The fingers caressing Sephiroth's face turn into a whole palm, cupping his cheek, thumb brushing along the flawless cheekbone. ]
I won't insult you by doubting that you can differentiate love and gratitude - but I would have taken either. So long as I'm welcome by your side.
[ ... and, on the subject of taking care of Sephiroth. ]
Let's... ah. Settle somewhere more comfortable for you?