[Action]

[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

[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.

[fabrecation]

[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...]