victory_road

Are you sure you don't wanna talk about it?

[Because Hunk kind of wants to talk about it. But he can go to Allura or something.]

Do you need to? I'm sorry, Hunk. I I'm sorry.

[Sorry he couldn't do something to keep your BFF here. Because that's clearly Shiro's fault.]

Well, yeah.

They were my best friends and I missed so much happiness they felt here. Now they're going home and I don't know that they'll remember this. There's so much I didn't talk to them about because I didn't know how.

[Shiro can blame himself all he wants but he needs him 'cause he's 100% going to cry in Lance's pillow. Probably multiple times.]

I need someone that would understand.

[Well that yanks Captain Angst down out of the clouds. Nothing like someone needing you to kick you out of your Self Blame Bubble.]

I'm out on the beach, if you're at the house. If not, I can come find you.

I'll come find you. Or else I'm just going to get Lance's pillow more wet.

[And if that doesn't say the state Hunk is in, nothing else would. It's a warning for the red eyes he has when he finds him, frowning sadly as he rides on Dragon Roll. Which a sad big boy riding a Gyarados is it's own kind of tragic.]

Hey, Shiro. [He's not crying at this very moment, but his eyes are bloodshot. Give him a little while.] Guess we gotta get a new Miltank, huh?

[It's a poor joke and he knows it.]

Nah... She's with Keith.

["She" being the Miltank. Like they could ever be rid of that crazy pokemon. There's no rest for them.]

[Shiro's got his own Big Sad Boy going on, sitting in the sand a ways up the beach, his Aggron curled around as a backrest. He stands, though, when Hunk and Dragon Roll arrive, and offers a hand to his friend.]

Hey.

[C'mere buddy do you want a hug?]

[It's immediate. The moment Shiro offers his hand, Hunk's eyes are welling up again. And he's not even off Dragon Roll yet. But the moment he is, vision blurring by the time his boots heavily hit the ground, he runs and gives Shiro a hug.]

[It's one thing to cry alone. It's another to cry with someone who gets the loss. Even worse, Shiro's had them for years, and Hunk just got here. He isn't even alone without them! He just... He feels like it, a little bit. He didn't want to be without them for this.]

[Anyway Shiro's in another big crushing bear hug, but rather than comforting this sniffly, sobbing one is needy and hungry for support. He doesn't even say anything yet.]

Edited 2022-09-08 03:19 (UTC)

Hey... hey, it's okay. It's okay. I've got you.

[Bear hugs are expected. Bear hugs are welcome. Hunk can cry all over him as far Shiro is concerned. There isn't much else he can do, is there? He can only be here.]

[And he will be. So help him, he will be. He'll hold Hunk up for as long as he needs. It hurts, of course it hurts, but - he was there. He's been here. Hunk's just lost his best friend after being stranded in a new world...]

Let it out, buddy. It's okay. I'm sorry...

[It's a noisy, messy cry, full of all that he's feeling. The things he didn't say. The things that he should have said. The fact that he wanted nothing but the best for them and they still lost it.]

[Finally he pulls back, smearing his hands across his tear-stained face and disrupting the streaks he's gathered up. He sniffs hard before speaking in a shaky voice.]

Thanks. I'm sorry I bothered you about it.

[Because it had sounded like Shiro really wanted to be left alone. Maybe it had been selfish to go to him, but he only had Allura otherwise- sure Kieth was a team member but, you know... he was Kieth and dealt with tragedy in his own way.]

Me and Lance have always been a phone call away since we met. It's just how it's been. And... now I don't have that. I just assumed and took it for granted.

No - No, you're not a bother. Really. Needing someone isn't bothering me. It's okay.

[And it's true. Hunk's not a bother. Did he make him feel that way...? Sure, he does want to run, in a way. Distance himself from the house, and the memories. Because that's what Shiro does, really. But the others clearly need someone. They clearly need a shoulder, a person, to lean on.]

[That's more important than how he would prefer to deal with this. He puts his hands on Hunk's shoulders, letting his friend pull back, though.]

You didn't. How were you supposed to know this would happen? Lance has been here for years... none of us thought it could happen.

I know it's not like they're dead or anything, but-

[He sighs, frowning at himself, normally sweet face turning thoroughly sad.]

I know I used to be here before, but.... I really hated that I lost all of our experiences. I felt like I lost something important before I even had it. There was a chunk of history taken from me.

This is supposed to be a happy place, Shiro. But I hate this. I hate that Lance might come back and remember nothing. I hate that Pidge and he- even if they ended up together, it wouldn't be the same thing.

[He rubs his eyes and sniffs hard. Allura wouldn't be there to support them. They would have their families but they was also have the scrutiny of their families. Hunk's heart breaks for his people.]

The best thing about this place just left. [His two best friends. His two very happy best friends. He feels bad when Dragon Roll makes a sad sound, and the big Gyarados bumps his face against Hunk. This means he nudges Shiro too, but Shiro's probably used to massive Pokemon.]

But they're not here. Where you need them.

[He supplies it, gently as he can. Because he's been there. He's been there so many times, it should stop hurting so much by now. People come, they go. No matter how hard you want to hold on. No matter how much you care about - or love - the person.]

[And then Shiro's quiet, just listening to Hunk speak up. Let it out. He knows he can't fix this. He can't bring the others back... much as he would love to be able to. Much as he desperately wants to. So listening - maybe that's all he can do right now.]

You're allowed to. [Is what he says, finally.] You're allowed to hate it here, because it took away your friends. To be angry and upset.

Let yourself feel it, long as you need. Okay? [A Gyarados face bump is a bit surprising, and he releases one of Hunk's shoulders to give the big guy a pat.] Just - remember who's still here, in the end. We're here for you. We want to help, when you're ready.

At least... that's what I keep hearing.

[Instead of closing himself off, like he typically does.]

Yeah... I guess you have a point.

[He's always tried to be the level-headed one, the strong one, the one who could keep it together.]

You've always been good about taking care of us. Even when it was when one of us was in trouble and we just... y'know... needed you around.

[Because Shiro had been through so much that he just seemed to know. People say Hunk helps hold them up, but Shiro keeps them moving forward.] It's a lot to put on you, but I don't know what I would have done without it.

Hey, you're my crew. [The hand still on Hunk's shoulder squeezes. He'd said it back in the very beginning of it all - how he wasn't about to lose another crew. He couldn't. And right from then on, they were his responsibility. No matter what.]

[But - more than that...] And by now? We're practically family.

This is what you do for family.

[So he's here for them. Even though a good part of him still wishes he could leave - just for a while. Just get out of the house and out of the memories until it stopped being so raw.]

How long do people usually stay here?

[He's hesitant to ask.] You are family, Shiro. And you know how important that is to me. What do I do if something happens to you?

[Probably not what Shiro wants to think about, and a logical Hunk would know that. But he's not thinking clearly, and that's when he's at his best for saying the worst thing possible. Big heart or not.]

I... don't know. A month, a year - or ten years. We never know.

[And it's so hard. So incredibly hard. Hard to want to make plans, make connections, when you know you could lose it the next day.]

[When you could wake up one morning, and your partner is just. Gone.]

You stick with Allura. You stick with Keith. Romelle. With friends you make here. I know no one is going to ever replace the ones closest to us... but people here want to help. Your pokemon want to help.

Don't pull away from them. [Like he did.]

Yeah, I guess I still have them.

[It's true he'll need people. He's not been on his own before.]

Lance and Pidge were planning a road trip. I was gonna come along. I think in a couple of days I might go to Goldenrod for a little while and talk to people about the restaurant. So I'll have everything to set it up when the time comes.

[Because he does need something to work for. Just... maybe not where he can see their empty room for a little bit.]

But I don't wanna leave you alone after this. So if I do it, would you mind if I checked in every night? [For him, too. Just to be sure they're both still there.]

I think that's a great idea.

[It really does sound like a great way to get Hunk's mind off things. Refocus. Get him engaged in something else. Shiro had done the same. Often - when people disappeared.]

And you can contact me, any time you need to. Not just for this. Don't worry about me, really.

[It's nice to be connected to his team, no matter what's going on.] I want to know how the restaurant's going, and if I can lend a hand.

[Maybe it wouldn't be a bad distraction for a lot of them, actually.]

Edited 2022-09-15 04:26 (UTC)

It's just to get together recipes. We can make it a part of your gym.

[He finally manages to smile, even if it's a bit of a sad one.] I still want my main place to be by your gym.

Yeah?

[Oh wow, his expression brightens, right there. Almost immediately.]

I'd love that. You're sure you wouldn't want it somewhere more in town or-?

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