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[dissonates]

["I think you should sleep in your own room for a while, Asch."

He hasn't forgotten those words- despite Guy saying they're okay, they haven't exactly shared much living space lately. Since being banished from Guy's room, he hasn't spent a lot of time in the house, or speaking to anyone else in particular, really. Self-exile is one of his best talents, after all. And even though he can normally handle being on his own, he can't help but feel bothered by it- after all, it's Guy himself who told him it wasn't healthy, the last time they fought. It's the only thing that's kept him from outright leaving the house.

Eventually, he's had enough, though, so early this morning he heads to Guy's room, knocking briefly as a pointless warning before opening the door and peering in, calling out as he does so.]

Guy? We need to-

[.........................................SOMETHING IS AMISS.]

Comments

[fabrecation]

[Luke clenches his fists at his sides, his own eyes narrowing a little.] It is my business, damn it! We're all living in the same house, you're both my friends and I don't want to see you two fall apart because of something that happened! Can't you see I want to help?

[dissonates]

You don't see me getting involved in every little thing that happens with you and your little girlfriend, do you?

[DISTRACTIONS DISTRACTIONS]

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[sld'fkjas;dfjiojads;oj

Luke sputters at that and turns absolutely RED. That certainly threw him off, but he's determined to not be deterred, so he shakes his head to get his act together.]

How did-ugh, never mind, I don't want to know. But I do know that if something like this ever happened to us, I'd want someone to talk to and ask for help. I know I wouldn't want to be alone, so... I don't want you to be, either!

[dissonates]

That's another difference between you and me, then. I don't want to talk. I don't want your help! Now leave me alone! Go talk to Guy if you want to help so badly, he listens to you.

[...Okay, maybe he's a little bitter. Still.]

[fabrecation]

I don't want to talk to Guy. [Because Guy is mad at Asch so his side of the story will be colored by that. He wants Asch's side... even if it is similar to pulling teeth.] I don't want him to listen to me, I want him to listen to you!

[Luke takes in a breath, shuts his eyes, then opens them again and loosens his fists a little.]

And if he won't, then I will.

[dissonates]

[Ugh, seriously? Does he really have to put up with this? The last thing he needs is Luke getting involved. Even if he thinks he'll be helping... by taking Asch's side he'll just end up making it worse. Does his stupid replica not understand that Guy already has issues with the way they talk? Or the fact that Luke's protectiveness of Asch - bizarre and out of nowhere as it is - pisses him off?

Granted, this Luke hasn't experienced the Tower of Rem yet. But Asch knows; Asch remembers.]

Telling you won't change anything. He'll still be angry, I'll still be angry, and then you'll be involved. There's no point.

[fabrecation]

[Luke just... sighs at that. Even if there's no point, he still wants to help somehow, even if it means just listening and helping try to figure out what's going on here. He doesn't like just sitting aside and doing nothing; not only does it make him feel useless and helpless, but... he saw the looks on their faces when they glared at each other - he doesn't want to come home one day and find that they fought like that again.

Luke wants to try something, anything. Even... Even if this is all he can do, at least it's something.]

What if I promise to not get involved? I'll back out and let you two handle it. I just want to know what happened, that's all.

[Then again, if it is something he needs to talk to Guy about...]

[dissonates]

[Asch scoffs at that. Promises. They don't mean anything to him, no matter who they're from. Not anymore, anyway. Least of all in a place like Luceti, where anything can be made to happen.

The kettle starts to boil, and he looks away from Luke, standing up and getting himself a mug. Tea first. Then he can pack up. Maybe if he gets rid of Luke before he finishes, no one even has to know he's going. ... Get it over with, then.]

During the last experiment I was with someone else. That's all.

[...Okay, not exactly all. It's kind of a lot.]

[fabrecation]

[And, again, Luke waits for some more elaboration. ... This time, he's surprised that he doesn't get any.]

... Wait, that's it? But... But everyone was with someone else!

[dissonates]

Everyone is not in a relationship with Guy.

[What the hell do you mean, "that's it"? How is that not enough!?]

[fabrecation]

But it was an experiment! I mean- I wouldn't have told Xion... anything if it weren't for that! And you- and he knows people who were in relationships were with other people too!

[This doesn't make sense. It was an experiment! Guy's more rational than this. He's been in Luceti far longer than Luke, so why the hell is he reacting like this?]

[dissonates]

You asked me what happened and I told you. What, do you think I'm lying? [God, it was hard enough to tell you that one little thing. Do you have to act like it's trivial when it's completely ruined everything?]

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No! I just... I don't get why he's so mad at you for something you didn't have any control over! I mean, wasn't he with someone too? [Because Luke is pretty damn sure he was, and that's just hypocritical of him.]

[dissonates]

He didn't mention anyone. [Asch pauses as he stirs his tea, brows furrowing as he thinks for a moment. Then he glances over at Luke, puzzled.] Why?

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[Luke frowns deeply and stares down at the floor. What the hell, Guy... Luke had always prided himself in feeling like he knows what Guy's thinking at times, but right now? He has no idea at all. And whatever Guy's thinking, it's hurting Asch. Damn it.]

Guy was gone just as much as the rest of us. He didn't even make us any food, Asch. When has he ever done that? [He'd wake up and there'd be no breakfast. Not even any lunch. And just for that week, too.

There's no way Guy wasn't with someone. At least, that's what Luke thinks.]

[dissonates]

[.....That's... true enough, but kind of hard to prove. Guy spends an awful lot of time at the bar, and it's not like Asch was around enough to say that Guy wasn't around.

Still... it's a little suspicious, isn't it. At the same time, he doesn't want to believe it- because that would mean that Guy's angry with him for doing the same thing he did. And that...

...is not the first time Guy's blamed him for something that wasn't his fault. Or taken his issues out on Asch. Or lie to him. Or lie to both of them. Or... hide everything because it's easier.

It takes the overspill of the tea - and prompt burning of his own hand - to make him realize he's shaking.]

[fabrecation]

[It's that little noise that makes Luke look up - and to see what happened, with the tea spilling over and over Asch's hand, and the trembling...

Luke purses his lips and narrows his eyes, partly because he's frustrated and confused over the whole situation, and partly because he's not sure what he should do now. Asch is upset... More than he's ever seen him be. Luke had never been good at things like this - oh, he'd try, but his words would never quite reach and he'd know it. Maybe it's because he's a replica... maybe it's because he never did understand things like that. Maybe that's why he always found it so much easier to talk to Xion...

Regardless, Luke can't just stand there. He takes a couple of steps to be closer, to look up (up, Luke will never get over the fact that Asch is a couple of inches taller than him) at him and hesitantly reach out to rest his hand on Asch's shoulder.]

Asch... [But what exactly is he supposed to say? He can't just tell him to talk to Guy again - Guy might not listen or maybe cause another fight. He can't say it'll be okay, not when he doesn't know if it'll be okay.]

It's not your fault. [That's all he can come up with, but he wants Asch to know it, too. Who knows, he might have spent this whole time thinking that it was. But from what Luke has heard... it wasn't at all.]

[dissonates]

[The hand on his shoulder is irritating, and he shrugs to try and lift it off, but the words irritate him even more. Not his fault? He's the guilty party here, even if Guy did end up with someone else. Asch broke off the relationship. Asch got engaged, not that he's going to tell Luke that. Just what about this isn't his fault?

Even if it was the Malnosso... he let it go too far. He went out of control.

....but...

Why... why hadn't Guy told him...?]

This is why I didn't want you to know.

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[Luke lifts his hand away, and he shuts his eyes over Asch's tone. There he went again, not reaching the people he cared about.]

I'm sorry... [He opens his eyes to pull the tea away and pour out the excess into the sink, leaving enough for a proper cup of tea and putting it back near Asch.] I promised I wasn't going to get any more involved, so... I'm not. [Even if he wants to listen to Guy about this so desperately, to try and figure out what he's thinking...]

[dissonates]

[Asch doesn't respond for a while, gaze lowered. After a moment he shifts away, grabbing the cloth and kneeling down to wipe up the tea he'd spilled, giving himself a moment to try and clear his head. He's not shaking anymore. Good... good. He's annoyed at himself for showing that to the replica, more than anything else. He can't be weak. He won't be, not ever.

With the tea cleaned, he remains on his knees at first, one hand lifting to grip the counter and pull himself up- though he doesn't, not yet.

Why would Guy...

Stop, stop. Just stop. He doesn't want to think about it anymore.]

Just don't- ... don't tell him. He doesn't need to know I said anything.

[He needs to get out of here. He can't stand this much longer.]

[fabrecation]

All right.

[Luke stares down at Asch for a moment... then kneels down so that they're at the same level, though he keeps his hand on his knee to push himself up if Asch should stand. It just... doesn't feel right to look down at Asch like that. To see him like this.]

You're going to go somewhere else, aren't you?

[dissonates]

[Asch goes still as Luke kneels, eyes widening for a moment before he glances sidelong at Luke, expression wary. He doesn't like this. Not with Luke so close, seeing him when he's... like this. The closest he's ever come to being emotionally fragile around his own replica. Or anyone else for that matter.

Except Guy. Guy's seen him at his worst. Guy...

Shut up, shut up!

Asch stands up abruptly, eyes narrowing. He needs his shell back, his shield. He needs those walls back to protect him, because feeling this way hurts more than he wants to admit.]

...I can't stay here now.

[fabrecation]

[And Luke stands when Asch does, though not nearly as abruptly. So... he was right. Of course Asch would leave - Luke wants to leave, too, and he's not even involved. But he can't just leave Guy.

He turns so that his back to the counter and rests his hands against it, then looks down at the floor. Maybe that'll give Asch time to get his shield up again.]

I'd... follow you anywhere if it meant finding you or bringing you back. You know that, right?

But I'm not going to stop you. I won't... follow you, either. [Though that one's easier said than done.] Just- Don't disappear on me. Okay?

[dissonates]

[Asch doesn't answer for a while, doesn't even look at him. Stupid replica. Why did he have to say all of that? It's not something Asch wants to hear. He doesn't want Luke to follow him, or bring him back, or take care of him, or even worry. He doesn't need sympathy or pity from Luke. He never has, he never will. If he wants to disappear, it's his right! So why did he...!

...

But... he's letting Asch go. No argument, no protest, not even a complaint. Just a request.

He can't promise. He won't. Promises are empty. Meaningless. He never keeps them. This...

...He'll think about it. His hands grip the counter, then he abruptly lifts his head, taking a step back to turn.]

...You're as sentimental as ever. How pathetic.

[And he moves to stride past Luke, ignoring the tea after all and heading back towards the hall. But as he passes, before he moves on... he rests his hand on Luke's shoulder, just for a moment. Just long enough.

He'll give it a try.]

[fabrecation]

[Luke is so used to hearing words like that that he doesn't even react to it, just keeps his gaze on the floor. This is... kind of scary, thinking about it more. Were Guy and Asch... over? No, they couldn't be. They've been so content, and now- just because of a stupid experiment, and what if Asch doesn't come back?

He'll need to talk to Xion soon. He never wants their relationship to get to this point...

But then Asch sets his hand on Luke's shoulder, and he's snapped out of his thoughts to first glance at Asch's hand, then look up at him with mild surprise. He's a little too solemn to be completely shocked, and... really, it's not that much of a shock to him.

Just before Asch moves on, Luke gives him a light, yet meaningful smile. Asch won't disappear on him. Luke knows that for sure now. He just hopes he figures everything out, wherever he's going...]