[...idiot. He's an idiot. A paranoid, frightened idiot. And as Luke slams into him, as Asch feels those arms around him, the way they cling, the way his replica's face is buried, the sheer desperation flowing into the link, so forceful that Asch finally releases it, lets it settle into the back of his mind so that it's no longer so painful... as all of this happens, Asch finally realizes how much he's allowed Luke to come to depend on him. He realizes just how far they've gone, how deep into this hole they've fallen with one another.
He can't allow this to continue. He can't- it's not- it isn't healthy. What would Luke have done if he'd been sent back to their world for good? Would it have broken him entirely? This... isn't right.
Asch's hand lifts, hesitantly, shaking a little bit. It hovers over Luke's back, but doesn't touch, reluctant to encourage this any further.
They can't... depend on each other like this...
Don't leave. He knows that's what Luke is trying to say. And it hurts, god does it ever hurt, so much that it actually surprises Asch, feeling his chest ache and burn. Don't leave.
[action!!]
He can't allow this to continue. He can't- it's not- it isn't healthy. What would Luke have done if he'd been sent back to their world for good? Would it have broken him entirely? This... isn't right.
Asch's hand lifts, hesitantly, shaking a little bit. It hovers over Luke's back, but doesn't touch, reluctant to encourage this any further.
They can't... depend on each other like this...
Don't leave. He knows that's what Luke is trying to say. And it hurts, god does it ever hurt, so much that it actually surprises Asch, feeling his chest ache and burn. Don't leave.
...but... I have to.]