[ She wraps herself around him, so small and radiantly warm, and a sharp neediness washes over and over him, threatening to swamp him with grief. For the first time in decades, his eyes prickle. He feels the unfamiliar, unexpected emotion plucking at the corners of his mouth, tugging them down. Buries his face in Pai's hair, so she won't see. He tries to tell himself it's an inevitable drift -- he and Pai have done that dizzying fade out of each other's lives before. The first time, war and conspiracy had instigated it; this time it feels more natural. Still, it's weird how two people can grow up on the same battlefield and share the same everyday sights of death, bear almost the same breed of scars, roam the same forests, share the same blood ... then one zigs, the other zags, and soon enough they've careened out of each other's orbit. ]
[ (But not completely. A small part of Pai will always hum in his bones, in the edges of his psyche.) ]
[ Detaching gently, he clears his throat. Tch's, and blinks the moisture from his eyes. Somehow, it's all Hei -- he pats her shoulder a little harder than someone normally would, like it's supposed to be a playful swat. Like they're splitting on a recon run, back in the humid jungle. ]
my kokoro hurts Dx
[ (But not completely. A small part of Pai will always hum in his bones, in the edges of his psyche.) ]
[ Detaching gently, he clears his throat. Tch's, and blinks the moisture from his eyes. Somehow, it's all Hei -- he pats her shoulder a little harder than someone normally would, like it's supposed to be a playful swat. Like they're splitting on a recon run, back in the humid jungle. ]
Watch yourself?