[ it should come like a battle cry. it should fill him with heat, tenderness and sweetness— a light of pride should have sweltered. even if falco could palpate the love accompanying paul’s words, they also bring bitterness only he could see. it is a balming blanket and a painful stab that twists so slowly that it pries the puffy greenness around his eyes. his eye contact is held, but gradually—
his features hold back his crying with a stiff choke and palpable self-control. his vision sinks to his lap, where he could instead watch the colors the fires provide. ]
What’ll—[ tight-throat. cracking. stifled. ] What’ll happen when I’m not here for that?
[ alarmingly, he does not use if. he uses when. he affirms his absence, because eventually— that is what will happen. ]
no subject
his features hold back his crying with a stiff choke and palpable self-control. his vision sinks to his lap, where he could instead watch the colors the fires provide. ]
What’ll—[ tight-throat. cracking. stifled. ] What’ll happen when I’m not here for that?
[ alarmingly, he does not use if. he uses when. he affirms his absence, because eventually— that is what will happen. ]