dissonates | [Voice]

I sure do think that's what you need. So out with it.

No. [He shoves off the covers, sliding along the bed with the intention of getting up.]

[Guy just folds his arms and watches Asch with a raised brow.]

[Feel free to watch him get up out of bed and promptly drop to his knees, too. |D]

[And instead of darting forward to catch him, Guy lets Asch fall to his knees before getting up and reaching down to help him back onto his bed.] All right, that's a no go. Any other escape plans you'd like to try?

[Asch doesn't respond, doesn't even resist as Guy pulls him up. His head is bowed, though, and he's visibly shaking from more than just frustration.]

[Guy reaches for the glass of juice and holds it out for Asch to take.]

[Asch starts to lift his hand, then drops it, not trusting himself to hold it well enough.] D... dammit, Guy...

I came prepared. [Guy reaches for a straw tucked beneath a napkin on the tray and drops it into the glass, lifting it again.]

[Asch briefly glances over at him, then looks down again, allowing himself to drink. It's soothing, at least.]

[Guy waits patiently for Asch to finish before replacing the glass on the tray.] Want to get back under the covers yet?

[He responds with a muted sound, hand lifting and grabbing the bottom of Guy's shirt. It's a little childish, but it's more instinctive than anything else.]

[And at that Guy just drapes his arms around Asch, around his shoulders to pull his head against his chest.] C'mon.

[There's a moment of resistance, but it's extremely brief; he slumps against Guy, burying his face to his chest, and just stays like that, breathing deeply.]

[Guy's half-tempted to say "see now, that wasn't so hard," but realizes that it's insufferably patronizing and holds his tongue, just stroking Asch's hair.]

[He doesn't move or speak for a while, just indulging himself in being with Guy again. He can recall Guy's rejection from days before, and while it still hurt, he can recognize now what he did for them both, and why.

Finally, though, he lifts his head just enough to free his mouth, and whispers.]

I was scared.

Me too. [Guy rests his chin atop the crown of Asch's head.]

[He's trying not to shake, but it's difficult. He's never been so disturbed, even during his kidnappings.]

Sorry. I should've- [He shakes his head, cutting the sentence short, then tries again.] Sorry...

It's fine. [Guy squeezes Asch a bit.]

[Asch lifts his hands to grip the back of Guy's shirt, pressing his face against his chest again. He doesn't know what else to say, and even if he did, he wouldn't want to say it anyway.

He'd almost lost himself. What could be worse than that?]

[Guy huffs a little through his nose, though it's more out of helplessness than frustration. Asch will talk when he's ready.]

[Yeah you'll be waiting a while, Guy.

But not forever, or it would get old fast. Slowly he pushes back, not moving away completely, but enough to put a bit of comfortable distance between them. He brushes a hand over his eyes and lifts his head higher.]

I need to find a way to keep it from happening again.

How about you concentrate on standing first and we can work our way up from there?

[Asch gets an oddly thoughtful expression on his face, gaze drifting off to the side. After a moment, he looks back at Guy.] Are you going to let me eat yet?

Yup. [And Guy reached for the tray, balancing it on his own lap.] Need some help?

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