victory_road | Video; also action for the Sevii Observatory

[There isn't much audio to this one at the moment. The Gear is showing one of the Observatory's tallest telescopes, where, at the very very top, a Sobble shaking and crying. Climbing up the telescope very carefully is Matt, trying to get the poor 'mon down.]

Come on, little guy. It's alright. I'm going to help you down. Stars only know how you got up here in the first place....

[Behind the Gear there's some snickering going on. A lot of snickering. Yukishiro and Venus are enjoying their trainer's mishaps.

Sevii Observatory:

[Matt has set up a few tables inside the observatory proper where he's brought out some colored pencils, crayons, and blank paper. There's a sign on the table:

What do you think extraterrestrial Pokemon look like?

Behind the table, there's a wall where a bunch of drawings are posted, along with some actual photos of Minior, Solrock, Lunatone, and other non-terrestrial 'mons.

In some quieter moments, Matt's at a table, sitting in a chair for someone about half his size, and drawing what looks like pastel fuzzballs, with Halley floating over his shoulder.

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You're not. I... don't want this to be like last time. I don't want to make the same mistakes.

[Like the time that fell apart. Which he's been doing his best to avoid.]

I don't feel held back. I don't feel pushed anywhere I don't want to be. I love you, too.

Promise? I really don't want to lose you. Especially due to me being an idiot.

[There's a slightly worried expression on his face.]

... Guess I'm the one with insecurities today.

I promise you haven't done anything to make me feel trapped. Or... forced. Or anything.

[Would he have said so, if that were the case? Is he so desperate to make this work--?]

It's okay. That's what I'm here for. Reassuring you.

Shiro... you're happy with me, right? You're not just sticking to it because you don't want to mess something up?

[He's probably making a mountain out of a molehill, but... he has to ask. He knows what Shiro's afraid of, perhaps better than he himself does. Closing his eyes for a moment, he shakes his head.]

Sorry. Sometimes, I think I left my confidence on Kerberos.

Of course I am. [Immediate. Of course he's happy. Of course he's here because of how Matt makes him feel. There's no question there.] I love you.

[And... in the trend of honesty... he takes a deep breath.]

I am afraid of messing this up. Of losing you, or ... doing the same thing I did before. I won't lie about that. But that's not why I'm still with you. [He's basically kneeling in front of him, while he says it. Gripping Matt's hands.] I'm with you, because I want to be. Because I love you. Because... I don't feel like I have to be someone else.

And if I need to remind you more often, then I will.

I want you to be you. The silly, dorky pilot that I knew from school, who'd go off at the drop of a hat. I know we're both different than we were. We've changed, but... I know that pilot's still in you.

[Yuki jumps off of Matt's knee so he can pull Shiro closer.]

I guess I'm just worried I'm too much of a liability, that I'll try to keep you from your dreams. I don't want to do that to you.

I know -- I know. And that means the world to me. Just... having someone who wants that part of me. [As much as it still exists. Somewhere.] It reminds me, you know? That I can still be human.

[He doesn't have to be invincible or indomitable. As with everything that's happened, the loss he's still reeling from here, he needs that. More than he can say.]

You won't. You haven't yet. Okay?

[They're close enough to where he can reach up, tilt the other's chin up to meet his eyes.]

That's not what I worry about. Not with you.

I want all the parts of you, Shiro. The silly, and also the leader. I want to be there when the nightmares are too much, and when we stay up all night giggling and throwing pillows at each other.

[Matt looks up into Shiro's eyes, intensely searching.]

I'm just worried because you deserve everything, and I'm worried that I won't be able to give it to you.

And ... you have been. Ever since you got here. You have been. You forgave me for something that's been weighing on me for a long time. You gave me something I didn't think I deserved.

[He blinks, and can't pull himself away.]

Matt... right now? You are everything.

Video; also action for the Sevii Observatory

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