it's been so long between the words we spoke {OPEN}

[shiro2hero]

Who: Shiro or Shadowmaru & YOU
Where: Various
When: During the Basculegion Swarm
Summary: Open log for Shiro and Shadowmaru's encounters with the Ghost Generating Fish
Rating: PG13 - will update if necessary


Log:

> SHIRO'S THREAD

> SHADOWMARU'S THREAD

If you'd like a custom starter, let me know! PM or redfirelight

Comments

[shiro2hero]

[Oh this is - this is very good. The hug is good, the enthusiasm - very good to take his mind off the faceless ghosts.]

One more? For all of Kanto? You're doing amazing-!

[Yes, it's very important, because he's very proud and ... Byleth is very good at kissing. Which will be returned with the slightest of laughs.]

I'm - I'm good. I'm good now. Some pokemon trouble a bit ago, but it looks okay for now.

[perfectteatime]

Thank you. I am eager to be able to go home and see my friends again.

[small> He hums in thought. ]

Is it the fish? Are you seeing things from them as well?

[shiro2hero]

I bet they feel the same about you.

[Ah - the problem with dating perceptive people. You can't hide anything. He glances around for a moment, like he's trying to find the fish... and nothing. Yet.]

Yeah. They got you too?

[perfectteatime]

Yeah. They did.

[ He pauses, looking back at Mac and Cheese. ]

I can take you somewhere we won't see them.

[shiro2hero]

Are you okay?

[Of course that's what Shiro wants to know. Forget his own faceless horde, he's immediately more worried about Byleth.]

I - yeah. Let's do that.

[perfectteatime]

I am... it's been strange but- I'm managing.

Come on, climb aboard.

[ Mac and Cheese lowers himself so they can both climb onto his back, and in a moment, they are airborne again. Flying up and out toward a more forested area. ]

[shiro2hero]

That's... that's good. Do you need...

[He trails off, with an almost helpless gesture. Because they're about to do something about it, anyway. He just wants to help...]

[But climbing aboard is also helpful. Flying is helpful.]

[... so is wrapping his arms around Byleth's waist. But that's beside the point.]

[perfectteatime]

[ They fly for a bit, before Byleth locates a suitably massive tree. Enough that Mac and Cheese can land on it without taking it down. He perches on one of the thick branches, and assists Byleth down into the dip where the branches split. Surely, there are no fish up here. Just a few startled Pidgey. ]

There we are, here, take my hand.

[ He offers, helping Shiro down to join him. There's enough space for them both to sit comfortably here. ]

Go on, you've earned it Mac, you go have fun. [ The massive bird caws happily and takes off again, shaking some leaves loose as he goes. ]

[shiro2hero]

[Oh, being in the air is good. It's very good. Especially being up here with someone else. He tilts his head back in the breeze, at one point, eyes closed. If it weren't for the faceless specters before - this would be a great date.]

[The tree is a surprise. His hand still slides easily into Byleth's as he hops down. Offering the bird a little pat of gratitude.]

Thank you. For this - [He feels like he owes Byleth some kind of explanation for the mild freak-out. But sitting here with him also sounds very, very good.] You've got a talent for finding quiet places.

[perfectteatime]

I suppose I do. Sometimes you just need to get away and above it all, right?

[ He settles himself against Shiro comfortably, resting against his side. ]

And last I checked, fish don't climb trees. Are you holding up okay?

[shiro2hero]

Yeah - yeah, I know absolutely how that goes. I... used to fly every chance I got. Get up there, nothing could touch you. Not even gravity.

[His arm slides around Byleth's waist. Leaning back into him.]

Hah. Right. Unless they sprout arms, huh? [Is he holding up okay, though? Hahah. Hah.] I've uh... been better.

[perfectteatime]

[ He pauses a moment, before shifting and pulling Shiro down to rest the man's head in his lap. One hand smoothing a thumb over his cheek and jaw, and the other nestling comfortably in to play with his hair. ]

We don't have to talk about it, but we can if it might help.

I'm here for you, whatever you need me to be. We can just sit up here for a while too. I brought snacks.

[shiro2hero]

[Oh. That's... wow. He stiffens at first, out of surprise alone, and then relaxes, immediately, realizing. This is - very nice.]

After prom, I... probably have no room to hide anything, huh? [But he's not entirely serious. He knows by now - if he needs a minute, a day, a whatever, Byleth means he can have it.]

A lot happened, before I came here. And there's a big part of it I have no memory of... that's - that's what I think those ghosts are from.

[perfectteatime]

It's not about owing me your secrets, Shiro. You can hide all you want, for as long as you want, but just know there's a safe place with me if you do want to talk about anything.

[ Byleth is very meticulous about the way he touches. Like it's all exploratory, but at the same time, steeped in comfort and care. ]

You don't remember? Maybe you blocked it out. I know when something awful happens, sometimes that's a thing people have- like it protects them. It must be hard not remembering, but still feeling like you're being punished for it.

[shiro2hero]

No, no, I know. I'd feel better if you weren't alone, sharing things.

[And it's something he needs to be better about doing in general - sharing. Speaking up and not keeping everything to himself. He's quiet for a bit, though, lost in that contact. In the touch.]

I don't. Bits and pieces came back, but... there's still so much that's just a blank. [Another pause, to gather his thoughts. He knows so much about the man he's dating, but hasn't managed to open up in return. That's not fair to Byleth, he feels.] I had a crew. Small one, just me and two others, exploring new territory. Unarmed - we weren't soldiers, we were just researchers. Explorers.

We were captured. By an empire we didn't even know existed.

[perfectteatime]

Ah...

[ That tells him plenty. A hostile empire coming out of the blue and turning everything upside down- sounds too familiar. ]

I imagine they were not kind to you to say the least. To do such things to a simple exploration team... I'm so sorry.

[shiro2hero]

"Not kind" is - yeah. That's one way to put it.

[There's probably a very, very good reason he doesn't remember a lot of it.]

And I think... I think those ghosts are prisoners who didn't make it out.

[perfectteatime]

You were tortured, weren't you?

[ Ah, he holds Shiro's face gently, still stroking his hair. Keep him present. ]

I know what survivor's guilt can do to a person. I'm so sorry Shiro.

[shiro2hero]

Something like that... I think.

[He tilts his head into that contact. But lifts his right hand, a little. The metal one. The missing one.]

Yeah, I - I'm sorry for rambling like that.

[perfectteatime]

Oh Shiro...

You need not apologize for telling me something I asked.

[ He smooths his hands down the man's chest so he can hold his hand. ]

Nobody deserves to go through anything like that. And you're such a gentle man. I hope I can at least help you feel some of the goodness you deserve. If that means holding you, kissing you, making you tea and delicious food, a kind word or-

Or other things. I'm here to shower you with affection.

[shiro2hero]

I -

[No, logically, he knows that. Byleth asked. Like he'd asked, back during prom, and listened. His fingers lace through Byleth's and he can't look away from him. From that face. He's a bit speechless, to be honest.]

[You know what though? Even if he can't really express how much that means, he can lean up. He can kiss Byleth. Slide his free hand into Byleth's hair and put all that wordless affection and gratitude into that kiss.]

... Can't believe you're real. [That this is real. That he let himself step forward and this is what he found.] Thank you.

[perfectteatime]

[ He returns the kiss readily, smiling softly when they part. ]

Is it really that amazing to have a decently supportive partner? Listening and offering comfort should be the bare minimum of any relationship.

All the same, I am glad to be able to give you this and more.

[ His smile turns a bit cheeky, and he lightly crawls his fingers down to tickle Shiro's stomach. ]

And this too.

[shiro2hero]

Hey, I... I meant it when I said it's been a while. So, yeah. It is...

[Not that there hadn't been support, in the past, but it's been so long. Add to that how Shiro absolutely buries things... yeah. Yeah.]

And I'm glad to have you.

[He was absolutely prepared for more sappy speech, but then Byleth does that and Shiro immediately curls up like a cooked shrimp. Wheezing.] Hey!

[perfectteatime]

Sorry! I just thought you could use a smile.

Besides- you have the most charming laugh.

[shiro2hero]

You - You're probably not wrong.

[He's still laughing. Oops.]

It takes a charming guy to bring it out...