We could go down in flames (but we'll melt the world away)

[likethelight]

Who: Allen Walker and Shouto Todoroki
What: Allen comes back after dying while purifying beast-Dabi, cue pain (:
When: Early May
Where: Farther Shores

Content Warnings: Mentions of character death, character panic over disabling injury/body failure



[ Timcanpy has been waiting very patiently.

For over a week, Timcanpy has been waiting very patiently. While new Sleepers washed ashore and remembered their features and spring began and was celebrated on the boardwalk. After they had stopped appearing and the ocean once settled into its normal rhythm, grey and foreboding, without anyone further being brought in by the tide. Sunrise to sunset and throughout the night and moonrise, he stays up in the boughs of a lone flowering cherry tree along the black sand and watches the waves.

Sometimes having company, and sometimes not. Sometimes being the one keeping company. He comes down and stays with them, letting himself be sad then and clinging on.

But he's a good omen. He'll wait as long as it takes.

It's the first night of the full moon when he stirs suddenly, rousing from where he had been not-quite dozing, like someone disturbed from their sleep by a distant sound. Staring out into the waves so quietly, so intently, like he's straining to see... before he explodes into motion. Rocketing up, zig-zagging back and forth, before abruptly taking off towards the water—

—and then coming straight back, slamming into the nearby, camped out Todoroki's head and bouncing off like a squishy sort of softball. He's right back up and fluttering around in front of his face a moment later though. _{Get up, get up! Now! Nownownow!!} ]

Comments

[swellter]

[ Forgiveness isn't something he's willing to accept. Not like this; unearned. Given by the grace of his order. Western priests dispense it in every sermon from what he knows and he can't find it in himself to take what's freely offered. Not without repentance. Isn't that how it's supposed to go? ]

It's not okay.

[ He wants to pull away and break the contact. If he wasn't buried in the crook of his shoulder he might have attempted it. Created distance, but starved of genuine human connection, he stays. Reassured by the tender touch, while finding issue with his words; a familiar contrast warring inside him somehow finding a tentative balance. ]

We killed you.

[likethelight]

[ It's easier like this, honestly. Having this sort of conversation face to face right now... no. Not just for that, but... with struggling to try and find how to best express himself -- holding on like this and trying to offer what little comfort he can while also being comforted... it's the only sort of expression of all those conflicted feelings that actually makes sense right now. That feels right and true.

Also, he's not sure if he could let go just yet.

But he bites his lip slightly at that. Killed him. He knows that, as fast and fuzzy as those literal seconds were, but... ]

Did you want to?

[swellter]

[ Shouto struggles to stay at equilibrium. Recalling all the burns he suffered, his limbs turned to ash. Paleblood ran down his side from wounds left behind by melted ice. Death delivered by the elder and the younger. Fire and ice.

Yet, he easily sweeps it aside as if it didn't matter. As if his life doesn't matter. That is what he takes issue with. Not his creed. Not his deeds but his words. Dismissive of himself. That question only exacerbates his feelings and it starts the pendulum swinging.

His head snaps up, denial in his eyes. ]

No!

[ Horror-struck. The heat stops generating and he clings to him, fingers growing cold as they dig into his skin lost for words at the very idea that he'd strike at him - at anyone - with the intent to kill! ]

[likethelight]

[ He really does literally become cold... He'd started to realize that before, the temperature gradient with his emotional swings, but it's utterly obvious like this that it makes him blink. He gives a small nod at that answer, just hugging him a little tighter at first in response, fingers splaying and threading through hair, cheek pressed to neck as he lets himself lean in. Trying to increase contact in an instinctive desire to warm the cold.

And trying to measure his response earlier. Read between the lines and understand. You don't want to forgive yourself so easily, so... ]

Then... what do you want to do about it? [ Genuine, gentle, serious.

If that is how you feel and it isn't such an easy thing you can't just say "I'm sorry" for in order to make okay... what do you want to do about it? ]

[swellter]

[ Allen pressing closer is a two-fold affair. The urge to push away the source of his objection versus the instinctual yearning to draw closer to the offered tenderness. In the end it's not the offer of warmth that sways him, but the feel of fingers threading through his hair like his mother once did.

The drop in temperature stops sliding down the scale, slowly stabilizing with his thoughts. ]

... I want to help you... recover.

If I can.

[ If you'll let me. ]

[likethelight]

[ It's honestly kind of fascinating. Experiencing such an actual, literal shift in someone's temperature -- or, rather, realizing what it means. And he closes his eyes in some relief when he stops becoming colder and seems to hesitate, just listening to the other breathe for a moment. Count heartbeats. One... two... ]

Okay. [ He gives a small nod, fingers shifting through his hair to press him lightly closer. Acknowledgement. ]

I think I'd like that.

[ Not someone helping to take care of him, in the past he's honestly hated that because of feeling like a burden a lot, but... spending time together. A part of him wants to smile and point out that Shouto did promise him they'd spend time together doing something that wasn't fighting their way through something terrible, something fun, but... this doesn't seem like the right time or place. Something still too fragile between them.

But this is okay. This is a start. ]

[swellter]

[ His muscles go lax absorbing the warmth offered by the other boy with his quirk no longer dropping his temperature. He lets himself relax, fingers loosen their grip as he falls back to equilibrium.

With his thoughts no longer bracketed by grief and guilt, he starts to notice a few things such as his water-logged state and the fact that the boy he's clinging to is likely cold due to his state of undress, which is another thing he notices but doesn't pay any mind to. Nudity is common among same-sex groups in public bathhouses and locker rooms. Not so common to cling to each other in that state but being fully clothed Shouto isn't bothered by it.

Reluctantly, he disturbs the peaceful lull. He breaks the contact by raising his head, and almost as recompense, he activates his left side to warm him. Mismatched eyes lock with his, subtle and earnest, flecked with fondness, as he asks the same question that's popped up, in various forms, every time they've met so far: ]

Can I carry you back?

[likethelight]

[ Honestly, the state of themselves and everything else is something that literally doesn't occur to Allen in the slightest until Shouto reluctantly starts to pull back. It's how it always is with him; he forgets the world when his heart is moved by what's in front of him. Sometimes forgetting an entire roomful of people might be there and spectating when he's speaking earnestly with someone. Or that some tender touch technically has an audience he entirely forgot about until someone cracks wise.

The world doesn't matter in those moments. It's why he's actually a very simple sort of person.

Except maybe the stranger thing is he doesn't actually mind. There's a reflexive sort of sheepishness when he also pulls back a little to look at him, realizing that ah right, he hugged someone while... technically not having any clothes on... and despite the eastern-style same-sex baths the Order had had nudity is decidedly not something Allen is anywhere near as used to or comfortable with... But honestly? He actually doesn't care, and just smiles lightly when Shouto's eyes settle on his; gentle and acknowledging. Even if, that request...

-- he laughs lightly at that. A small, genuine, happy, relieved sort of laugh that feels like it cracks something loose in his chest. Haha... Always, always. ]

Mm. [ It's likewise fond, head cocked to the side and a small and radiant laugh still in his tone. ] Sure.

[ Yes. This time, sure. ]

[swellter]

[ He stares, a bit confused, but he's growing used to his cheerful outbursts, so he doesn't question it, merely adding it to his ever-evolving view. He's a lot more expressive than him. Like Uraraka, Bakugou and Midoriya... and maybe a lot (all of) his friends. He's pulled back from those thoughts when another hearty laugh spills from his lips drawing his attention back to him.

He has a nice laugh.

There's an indulgent fondness in his eyes accompanied by a small pull at the corner of his mouth; a barely-there smile, faint but present. It stays there as he scoops him up into his arms and stands up easily with him in tow. Water streams down his torso and into water-logged boots but it's easily ignored in favor of taking in his radiant features.

Is this how all priests are where he's from?

He thinks he might like Exorcists if that's the case, at least the ones like Allen.

Without a word, he starts walking down the beach radiating a gentle heat to guard against the chill. ]

Thank you. For saving my brother.

[likethelight]

[ You're going to need a change of clothes too, but he'll laugh and point that out good-naturedly later. After he gets his own, you know.

He keeps his left arm looped around Shouto's shoulders to help keep himself braced up as well, figuring out a touch awkwardly how he should hold on while being picked up, all long and thin limbs in his proportions, but his expression stills a little both at the mention of Touya and that way he's looking at him. And he blinks, but then smiles more gently, before letting his gaze drop to focus on something distant and giving a small nod, head resting lightly against collarbone. His red left fingers twitch for a moment, before pressing gently and more firmly against the other boy's shoulder. He lets himself relax a little more then, the hesitancy in his muscles bleeding off. ]

I'm glad I was able to, too... [ He wasn't sure he could, with a Sleeper beast being so powerful. ...He wasn't sure either, feeling like he had made such a mess inside Touya's own soul in his attempts to understand him. Reach him. Save him.

Timcanpy drifts near again as they walk, coming closer with the delicacy of a butterfly in flight before gently burrowing face-first against Allen's chest. Wedging himself between the two of them until Allen brings a hand up to pet him lightly, calming the squirming array of wings and tail. ]

Even if I'm also still worried for him.

[swellter]

[ He reads others' expressions by latching onto their overall tone without catching the subtleties in between. It makes him easy to fool, a fact he's aware of, and often circumvents by being vigilant on the field, questioning everything. He lets his guard down outside of hero work, more so around his friends and family (aside from Endeavor). They always do and say such odd things he often misses the obvious. Like the way, Allen stills when he mentions his brother. The slight twitch of his fingers, firm press against his shoulder. He trusts him, so he trusts he'll tell him what he thinks instead of trying to discern it from his every expression and movement.

His expression remains the same, unaware of the hesitancy in the boy in his arms. Blindly trusting. He nods at the answer mirroring his own and watches Tim burrows himself between them. His lips quirk up fond of the scene. Though, his mood quickly plummets when Allen makes that last point. Falling into a pensive mood, the tender expression slowly ebbs away. ]

Me too.

[likethelight]

[ Hesitancy? Only at first, uncertain about where does he put his hands, what's okay, what isn't. It really is funny, this literally only ever happens around you... But it bleeds off him at Shouto's own wisp of a smile, and when Tim squirms close. The pervasive warmth despite the fact he knows he should be chill, and briefly was before the other used his left side. _{What a cheat. He's impressed.}

So honestly, he's content. So strangely content. Why it was easier for him to speak his mind and concern.

He glances back up when Shouto mirrors his sentiment, eyes pale and observant in light concern. It's true, now that he's recalling everything that had lead up to... that moment... he'd seen and heard a lot from Dabi. A lot of insight into that blackened sort of soul. A lot about Shouto as well. Did he... owe it to him to tell him? Did he owe it to Dabi to not? Looking at Shouto now, how his expression drops and fades into that deep kind of concern... it's hard. And Allen bites his lip for a moment, debating that.

...He'd like to at least get some clothes on first. But-- ]

...I spoke with him, you know. [ It's quiet when he finally speaks. Easy to think that maybe he hadn't been going to say anything at all in response until he does. ] Not the beast he'd become, but... through a link, I think. Something that had to do with my blood, or maybe my eye. Maybe both.

[ Quiet. Just very quiet, head resting against the other's collar and his gaze set distantly out somewhere over the shoreline. Black sand for miles and pale moonlight that catches the white foam of surf breaking. ]

I saw where you both grew up.

[swellter]

[ His eyes flick down, a visible crease digging into his brows. Spoke with him? ... Before the fight? He has his full attention, anticipation evident in his eyes. The way his fingers slightly flex in search of something intangible. He keeps walking, the heat steady. He keeps himself in check. Aware of what a flare-up might cause, he braces himself for what comes next.

A link? Questions arise. Paleblood? His gaze burrows itself at the top of his head in search of answers. His cursed eye? The one he can see the Akuma with? Moving stiffly, he keeps himself in check. Waits for him to explain himself, even as his thoughts grow concerned.

What did you see?

He wants to ask, but his patience pays off and Allen answers his unspoken question and he stops. Halts in the middle of the beach, pulse picking up. ]

How?

[ Not what did you see or why. But how. How did it happen? He can't imagine his brother would have instigated it and he knows Allen enough to know something must have happened if he doesn't even know what caused it. He doubts he'll get any more than what he's already told him - I don't know - but he needs to ask before he can move on the rest. ]

[likethelight]

[ Should have waited until he got clothes first.

"How?" He looks up at that, instantly regretting his decision a little because of having wiped that so very oddly gentle, touching sort of look from before away. But with calm and clear eyes, apologetic but steady; he knows that you also likely know that he can't answer that any more clearly than he just did... And he can tell just from his posture, the more nervous way he's holding himself, just how worrisome that is to the other boy. Even before it makes him stop dead in his tracks. ]

...I don't know. [ He shifts slightly, but is mindful that he can't really. ] And he didn't either. It's never happened before. [ He's really sorry, but he hasn't even really had time to fully question it. Let alone ask anyone. ]

Even if I can see and talk to their souls... I've never been inside of someone's before. I didn't think it was possible. That's what it felt like it was, at least.

1/2

[swellter]

[ He balks. Eyes growing wide, stunned. ]

Their souls?

[ The heat flares, not hot enough to burn, but enough to make you want to push you away, before he gets it under control.

Breathe. Is it really that surprising?

Yes.

You knew who he was.

... yes.

Kizu leaves his thoughts and Shouto is left trying to pick up the pieces of what he just heard. ]

You can see...

2/2

[swellter]

[ Souls.

He didn't believe in them... Never heard of a quirk like that. Did that mean he... saw... He gulps, throat moving.

He looks away, self-conscious. ]

What... happened?

[ The question they've both been waiting on. ]

[likethelight]

[ His breath catches slightly at feeling the temperature spike, alarmed and a little worried for a moment -- who wouldn't be gunshy with how many times he's been burned in the last few months -- but more for how that seemed to throw Shouto off-kilter. Not even the thing he thought would, but that... he could see souls? That's what alarmed him so much?

His expression becomes quiet, watching that nervous sort of flicker across Shouto's face. His throat bobbing as he swallows before he looks away. It's... so uncharacteristic of the other boy that it's actually fascinating, making him blink for a moment and consider that. Why were you...?

--oh.

He hesitates, then leans back a little to try and look more clearly at him, even if he's trying to hide his face. Studying. ]

...I can't see yours, you know. [ Spoken very calmly and gently, matter-of-fact. ] Not like this, at least. Only when someone becomes a beast, or an akuma. [ ...unless his powers really are evolving? But that's not something to dwell on right now. And he bites his lip slightly, considering the other boy's question. The very large can of worms that it is. ]

But... [ ...he fidgets. just a little. ]

...can I get some clothes first? [ Please. His nerves are starting to fray with self-consciousness. ]

[swellter]

[ He's used to public scrutiny. Strangers yelling his name, calling for him. Cheering him on. Opponents, cursing him. And he, barely even affected. No longer the shy boy of his youth, he knows how to handle being watched. Scrutinized. It doesn't bother him. But his soul... watched, scrutinized. A part of him that not even he understands. It makes him feel exposed, nervous of what he'll find. A monster hidden in the depths, the one who hated his father before the Sports Festival. Callous. Without empathy. Heart frozen over, numb to the world. Easy to anger.

A mar on his soul deeper than the one on his face.

Hearing that admission breaks the tension. A quick intake of breath. Relief. The temperature steadies back to a warm heat, unaware that it had flared because that's what it means to be resistant to the heat. The cold. A small flair is barely noticeable.

He nods, acknowledging the explanation. He hadn't turned into a beast, so his soul... the part of him that was ugly and unrecognizable to who he was now... that remained between him and Kizu.

He starts moving again, no longer stiff. Gaze still up ahead. ]

We're almost there.

[ In the distance, he can see the glowing sapling. The closer he draws to it's influence, the easier it is to let go of the image stuck in his mind - a tainted soul. ]

[likethelight]

[ It's not just that he's nervous that Allen could possibly have been seeing his soul... Or, no, it is; it's related to that. But it's... more than that. He can't put his finger on what exactly, but that quick and relieved sort of breath, pensive demeanor... There was something else about it that bothered him. Something that he was worried Allen might have seen.

Worried, he watches him for a moment but doesn't press about it. Just notes it for later and shifts his weight slightly, trying not to jostle as he adjusts the arm he'd had looped around his neck for balance. ]

Mm... [ Just enough to move his hand to rest against the back of his neck instead, lightly brushing the shorter wisps of hair there in the process. Like a spot check; a sort of are you okay? mixed with something grounding. Some it's okay, stay here silently comforting sort of gesture.

Tim squirms lightly when they get close to the tree, turning about to look at it. Allen's a little surprised too, just to see something like that blooming where normally the shores are so desolate -- and certainly he would have remembered something like it being there before -- and a little more surprised when Timcanpy breaks free then, moving ahead of them to drift back up into the branches. ]

[swellter]

[ A shift in his arms, and the hand around his neck adjusts to-- Oh. Fingers sift through the ends of his hair in a soothing gesture that lightens the load of those dark thoughts. He's been prone to them lately, the corruption influencing him more readily ever since his death. Half a year here and he'd kept its influence at bay but after what happened. The terror, guilt, and grief fed those tendrils. If it wasn't for the sapling he slept under every night, it would have taken root, spreading like a disease.

But his thoughts remain calm, soothed by a simple gesture he recalls from his childhood. When his mother was still there to soothe him with affectionate gestures that disappeared after her breakdown scarring him inside and out.

His eyes drift back down to him, no longer nervous but calm. Steady heat. Steady steps. They've reached the sapling's sphere of influence. As Tim flies ahead to perch on his branch next to Kizu's heavier bough, he reaches their destination. The snow leopard lies across its thick trunk like a queen at her throne, her tail flicking lazily as she watches their approach.

Shouto settles Allen at the roots of the tree before leaving his side, taking the heat with him. He moves over to what looks like a camping backpack. He combs through it in search of the spare clothes he promised and once he finds the small stash (inside a waterproof bag) he pulls it out and zips up the pack. Standing, he heads back to his side, crouching down in front of him. He opens the pack pulling out a set of loose-fitting sleeping clothes (a white t-shirt and grey sweats) and sets form-fitting boxer briefs on top. ]

Do you need help changing?

[likethelight]

[ He'd been wondering about that, being someone more intimately familiar with the nature of corruption. Even if his eye can only detect the corruption in someone's soul once it reaches some dangerous critical point... being what people here consider more Night Walker than Hunter, he knows the mental kind of state that can lead someone to start to plummet rapidly into it. It's another reason for that quiet, observant worry.

He's surprised to see Kizu out and waiting for them -- the first time outside of battle or some similarly intense moment -- and marvels for a moment at that. Waiting to meet her eyes, even if just to give her a very small sort of nod of acknowledgement.

It's... peaceful. Something about this place is so remarkably peaceful. It feels so very gentle, like something tangible that's in the air, even if he also shivers a touch and curls in on himself as he hadn't realized how much he'd been relying on the other's quirk to stay warm. But this feeling, it's almost like-- ]

Um... [ The question catches him slightly offguard and yeah, this time he blushes, gaze flickering back and forth between the pile of clothes and Shouto. ]

No, that's alright... I think I can manage. [ Said with a bit of a weak chuckle and smile. Maybe he technically needs help and should accept it -- he tried to pull his knees up when Shouto first set him down before realizing with some quiet panic that his legs aren't responding to him at all and opted to just discreetly keep his hands folded across his lap instead -- but... he'll try on his own first thanks.

Haha... this sucks and he'd be grumpier about it if he wasn't so anxious about why it's taking so long for him to get control of his body back. ]

[swellter]

[ In the wilds of his world, snow leopards are rare. They blend in against the backdrop of the mountains so effortlessly you'd never guess how much they roam their terrain incessantly. Rarely, do they go below the treeline where their coat becomes a liability. Yet, here one lies white against a green and pink background, easily discernable. So, obviously more than a wild cat of the mountains, the omen's sharp eyes land on them. First on her Sleeper taking note of his state, then on to the small one. Their eyes meet. He nods to her, and she stares back remembering the scent of ash that still haunts her Sleepers nightmares. A barely-there tip of her head before she settles her head on her great paws, ignoring their arrival. She's made her assessment. There's no need for more.

Shouto, lost in thought, never notices Kizu's assessment, focused on his task. Later, when he offers Allen his sleeping clothes, he gets a familiar answer. It's the same one Midoriya and Bakugou always give him, so it doesn't bother him. Still, he keeps asking - same with them - for those rare instances that it's accepted.

He nods at Allen and rocks back on his haunches before standing in one easy motion. He walks away from the exposed roots of the sapling to give him some privacy and to take care of his own water-logged state. It's not comfortable, so he raises his temperature until steam starts wafting off of him, blown away by the cooler wind. There's no open flame just a rise in temperature contained within his skin until he's perfectly dry. When he's done, he sits down on the sand, perfectly content to wait for Allen as he's done so all week. ]

the irony of being able to draw on my time in the hospital unable to use my legs to write this, lol

[likethelight]

[ He feels a tiny bit bad for it, he did say he'd let the other help him recover, help take care of him, but -- there are limits. For both their sakes so Allen can continue to look him in the eye normally later. Or, at least let him wiggle into some underwear first. But at least a t-shirt and loose sweatpants are easy enough to manage. His usual form fitting clothing with all its layers -- probably not so much.

That also begs the question he hadn't thought of before, reaching for the clothing and inspecting them for a moment, of... whose clothes are these? Most likely Shouto's, and he's a little quiet for a moment as he considers that. Only for a moment, and Timcanpy drifts back down to help him as he's always inclined to. He even holds a towel for him when he brushes his teeth.

It's... not easy, trying to hook your legs through little holes when you can't bring them up to your chest or even twist your feet, Timcanpy's valiant efforts or not, but he finally figures it out by just reaching and manually pulling his legs up with his hands instead. And Shouto can probably hear the occasional grumbling sort of tch from time to time. But having good upper body strength is a blessing, and while it takes him longer than it should he manages to shimmy his way into both underwear (similar taste in style, he's grateful for that, thanks Shouto, but right now it's also annoying) and sweats. The shirt is easy then, especially being somewhat oversized on him -- even if the pants aren't so much. And he frowns lightly to himself for a moment at that discrepancy. _{Long legs and wide hips for a boy.}

In the process... he also finally realized the reappearance of his old scar; the one on his chest. Two of them, actually. The large one almost bisecting him, and a smaller but also angry and fresher-looking one in his belly. Like someone had run him through with a sword in the most painful, twisting way possible -- maybe because this time he remembers who. And he remembers too... he had stabbed himself through with Crown Clown again, right. And maybe that was why, but...

Shaking his head slightly to clear his thoughts and reminding himself that this isn't the time, he looks up to where Shouto has his back to him. ]

It's alright. I'm done. [ He moves to push his hair free from under the collar of his shirt too, not terribly used to that still. It's been long and past his shoulders for a long time now, getting longer still and usually kept in a short ponytail, but it's getting to be a little much. Especially without a hair tie. ]

Thank you.

I hope it wasn't as bad! And they do say, write what you.... know >_>

[swellter]

[ When Midoriya's arms had been broken and put in a cast, he offered the same help, but his friend had insisted he do it himself pulling on his clothes with his teeth while a nurse helped 'a little'. Bakugou simply yelled and told him to get lost. That too doesn't bother him. Little does. He respects people's wishes only interfering when they're hurting themselves. He steps in then, firm and undeterred. Heroes are independent by nature and some need it just to feel whole. He understands that mindset because it's his own. Even when his friends are being stubborn, he doesn't interfere and lets them exhaust themselves before stepping in.

Allen too, seems to have that mindset from what he's gathered. He doesn't know the extent of his injuries or that he has no use of his legs so he's less prone to worry about him while he waits. Though, he does wonder what all the muttering is about and why it's taking him so long. Short of a robe, he gave him a fairly easy set of clothes. Was he doing something else?

Kizu for her part watches his struggle with no issue. Timcanpy tries to help but his efforts prove fruitless, though she doesn't fault the attempt. She sees the way Allen lifts the dead weight of his leg, one by one, and wiggles into the underwear. That gets the cogs of her thoughts turning. She knows as much as her Sleeper on the subject of the dead returning which amounts to 'not much'. He's never witnessed anyone's return only catching sight of them weeks later after they're fit enough to return to patrol. Somehow, Hunters tend to die quite often.

She keeps her thoughts to herself and lets Allen finish dressing in peace wondering how her Sleeper will react to the news. For now, she watches them, hearing Allen call him back and the way he turns around like an obedient pup. He plays the part well, but she knows better. He's fooled even his brother, who thinks him a puppet, a laughable comparison when he draws his morals not from pillars of authority but from himself. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so adamant to get to know a villain who had killed so many, viewed his siblings as collateral damage, and tried to kill him. She knows what lies beneath, knows him better than he knows himself. He's no canine and never will be, he's far too fickle. Like her.

Shouto treks back to the sapling where Allen waits and settles himself next to the boy without a word. He's still radiating a steady heat, back pressed to the tree, he looks out to sea. ]

I have a sweater too. If you want one.

more movement for more pain. 🙃 and precisely! silver lining! lmdfjs

[likethelight]

[ Glancing over when he moves to sit next to him, Allen relaxes a little then. Sitting back a bit more comfortably against the trunk and breathing in the light smell of cherry blossoms, he shakes his head slightly at the question. He can still feel the warmth radiating off the other boy, even if he only feels it on the side closest to him, and it's nice. He'd rather that than a sweater. ]

It's alright, I'm comfortable like this. [ He actually is; weirdly content even, despite how distracted and somber his thoughts are. There's a gentle sort of touch from the tree, something peaceful about the smell of its blossoms, and that helps. Even the moonlight has a faintly fresh smell, but he's always felt a bit more alive under the full moon.

Timcanpy peels away to settle back up into the branches, taking his post by Kizu like a quiet sort of warden, and Allen lets his eyes close. Just letting himself center and focus on the warmth. He's dressed now, and Shouto had asked before...

He's quiet for a long moment, letting his thoughts drift. Considering. ]

...he was just a boy, you know. When I saw him.

In his soul.