dissonates | (no subject)

[It doesn't take a fontech scientist to know what Asch was going to say, but Guy doesn't fault him or even take offense. Instead, he slowly drags his hand through Asch's long hair, allowing the sigh this time.]

How do you think I know?

.... I know.

[Asch closes his eyes, breath evening out. He's doing well enough now to pull away, but something's holding him there, and it's not just Guy. Instead he just keeps resting against the other man, letting the wetness dry on his cheeks and against Guy's clothes, refusing to wipe them away himself. That would force him to acknowledge them, and he couldn't handle that yet.]

...Does it make you feel weak?

Maybe at first. [Guy just keeps stroking Asch's hair, keeping a rhythm. Soothing, steady, sure. Unchanging.]

But after a while you feel stronger afterwards. Just give yourself a little bit, Asch. You can't strengthen steel without bending it first.

Bend it too far and it'll break...

[The words are quiet, whispered, almost. But what comes next is even quieter, very nearly inaudible.]

Unless it's been softened.

[Why is he saying this?]

Mmm, sometimes it does soften, and sometimes it breaks. But you know what happens after that; you bend it, pound it, flatten it. Heat it, push it to the limits and when it's all said and done, you have something in your hands that's as close to perfection as you're gonna get.

[Sift, sift...Asch's hair slips through his fingers like strings of silk. It catches a bit, there are tangles. He's going to need to brush his hair when they get back home. Maybe if Asch lets him, Guy'll do it.]

But people aren't swords, or weapons. And you aren't steel.

[It hurts, a little. It hurts to hear it. But it's a simple truth, and something Asch can't deny as much as it burns him to realize it. He's not steel. He's not an invincible soldier who can keep on trucking for days, months, years, without feeling some sort of wear on his body and spirit. He's been pushing himself so hard all this time without a moment of complete relaxation and he's forgotten what it's like to be normal. To be human.

But he is. He is human.

And it's terrifying.]

This would be a lot easier if I was.

[Guy can't help but laugh a little bit at that, but it's not condescending or even amused. Just...a sound. He rests his cheek against Asch's hair, arm going around him to hold him close.]

Wouldn't it? Although I guess some people would disagree. Regardless, you can't be steel, no matter how hard you try. So you just have to be the next best thing. You know what that is, right?

...I think so.

[Asch closes his eyes, smiling faintly and just letting himself be held. He's spent far too much time caring about what other people thought of him; maybe it was time to do something for himself for once, and to hell with the consequences. If anyone made any snide comments about them, to hell with them.]

Good boy. [Guy's lips brush against Asch's temple, barely; it could or could not have been accidental.]

[Asch goes still at that, eyes widening a little. He doesn't know what to do or say, or even if he should acknowledge it. Maybe it was a mistake. Maybe Guy hadn't-

Guy didn't make mistakes like that.

Still... he couldn't think of anything to do.]

[There's a pause, a lull, and nothing happened for the span of several seconds. Then Guy cracks a smile and ruffles Asch's hair again, playfully, and pushes away from the wall to start back for the house.]

C'mon.

[There's a flash of disappointment, and then it's gone; Asch doesn't really know what to think of that, either, so he merely nods, following along behind Guy, his cheeks pink and his expression lost in thought.]

(no subject)

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