teaism | I have never loved a darker blue

[The room Dextera is in now is a fair size, but a little crowded with how many people have moved into it. The floor, ceiling and walls are all white, the lights are bright, and Dextera is flanked by a soldier on either side, carrying some form of enchanted weapon. They're currently facing Kureto, who's seated on the only bed in the room, wrists and ankles chained together. Despite that, he looks serious, and he seems to be completely in charge, shooting the blonde man leaning at the side of the room a sharp and analyzing look before he turns to one of the other few soldiers in the room.

"Get Guren in here now."

"Yes sir!"

The whole building seems to be on lockdown like this, so of course when Dextera was found wandering inside of what was supposed to be protected territory, he was brought in immediately. The second Guren's name had been mentioned, Kureto's face had scrunched in brief irritation, and he'd whisked them all away to this room. Not much else has been said, so far.

Until now, when Kureto leans forward, arms resting over his legs and hands folded together in thought. Everyone in the room is watching him, not quite sure what's going to happen next. But—

"Who are you? What are you to Guren? How did you get past my men?" A row of questions all at once, from Kureto, quite seriously. Shinya looks a little troubled by this, but he doesn't say a word, turning his own curious eyes on Dextera. He wants to know, too, after all.]

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You can give it back to me later.

[Those are his reassuring words to Dextera as he meets that expression with an apologetic one of his own. Unlike in Chroma, Guren hasn't smiled once since meeting with Dextera. He hasn't smiled in a long time, even through jokes— he's busy, constantly thinking, and now there's one more thing on the pile.]

...

[What do they do now. He tells everyone to look to him for help, but then he's gotta figure it out. What do they do, what do they do...]

I should talk to Shinya in private, too. [Though he's kind of dreading that, considering how much he's been pressing their distance.] Just enough that he'll understand. We've got a lot going on right now. You saw how Kureto was chained up. He's got something trying to possess him right now, and we're on a time limit.

[Dextera knew this already from Guren's brief summary after his canon update, but he forgets this. Unfortunately.]

Things aren't going to be easy here.

I have power.

[ they talked about it, kureto knows it, and even guren said that it could be useful here. if his purification can help in any way, he’ll offer it, but he doesn’t know if it’s the kind of thing that could stop whatever is possessing kureto.

not to mention guren—the demon curse drags ever onward.

with that thought, dextera can’t help himself. he reaches out, sliding his hand against guren’s face, his palm smoothing along guren’s cheek until his fingers push into guren’s thick black hair. ]

I’ll use it for you. I’ll do anything.

[Guren watches Dextera as he speaks, as he's touched. It's warm, and it is a little comforting, but it doesn't even dent all of his worries. If anything, there are more added to them. His gaze is a little hollow for that, more than it ever got in Chroma as his demon holds more of his heart.]

I know.

[His hand lifts, resting loosely over Dextera's wrist.] But things are different here. If you're useless, you're killed, but if you're too useful, you're used, no matter the cost. That won't necessarily keep you with me.

I'm thinking it out. Let me talk to Shinya, and then I'll decide what to do. Okay?

[ dextera withdraws his hand, at a reaction like that. maybe it’s too much—maybe guren doesn’t remember, or maybe it’s just not the time. things seemed easier in chroma, or perhaps it was just that dextera was selfish there.

he nods. ]

Okay.

[ and what else can he say, really? he can’t argue here. ]

But I… I’m happy to see you.

[Hhh... Guren rubs the back of his neck, glancing away like he's embarrassed.]

Yeah. [WHY DOES HE SUCK SO BAD... But Dextera should know that dumb gay look on his face. He's happy, too. It's a flash of the most pleasant expression he's had since he's seen him again, at least.]

Sorry. There's a lot going on. I know I'm not the greatest at explaining myself, but I promise, we'll figure it out.

[Speaking of which... he looks back.]

Have you seen your brother at all? [He remembers that, at least.]

[ guren’s brief expression is enough for dextera, anyway, and he takes it as a sign that guren does—remember something. he remembers enough. dextera takes a deep breath, and at that question, he shakes his head.

is his brother still in chroma, or is he somewhere else in this world? he’ll be even worse off than dextera has been, with his combative attitude.

he frowns, his eyebrow twitching down in a brief scowl. ]

I haven’t. I don’t know if he followed me…

[ he touches the scar at his side. ]

I don’t think he’s here.

[Guren moves to grip Dextera's shoulder, at that, firmly.]

I haven't forgotten about him. We'll find a way to get him here, and alive. It fits in with what I'm doing. Don't worry.

[He'll save him, and everyone else too.]

You can’t…

[ dextera pauses, reaching up to touch guren’s hand on his shoulder. his gaze is slightly troubled, still, but he takes guren’s reassurance at face value. then, he reconsiders his words.

“you can’t” is not a good way to start a sentence with guren. ]

…I’m a part of this world now, too. So these plans…

[ … ]

It doesn’t have to be now. But I want to know everything you’re doing. Even… the painful parts. Even the things you think I’d hate.

[Ah, that...

Guren is quiet for all of that, and his eyes look hollow in how much he's holding onto. Holding up. It's probably all too clear to Dextera, just like it's clear to his other friends, but he doesn't know what to say to make it better. He doesn't know what to do.

Some things he just can't share. That's just who he is. Shinya would gladly explain this, if he had the chance.]

I'll be back in a short while. [So, he can't even comment on it, and his chest feels tight for it, but this is how he is, what he's used to. Mahiru is closing around his heart.]

Will you be alright staying here?

[ it hurts, of course. that look in guren’s eyes is something dextera can’t ever seem to wipe away completely, even if he can get warmth or a spark of joy when he does or says the right thing. guren has too much on his shoulders, especially here, where he’s inundated by his own plans. chroma, as much as it kept him away from these things and worried him for it, was almost like a vacation in comparison, wasn’t it? ]

…

[ he moves his hand to touch where guren’s heart is, but he doesn’t try to direct the conversation back to his request. ]

I’ll be okay. I might… sleep. Is that…?

[ dangerous? taboo, using guren’s bed? he’s really not sure. ]

Go ahead and sleep.

[Guren covers the hand over his heart with his own.]

Everyone knows better than to look in here for me, so you should be left alone.

[ well, it doesn’t make dextera feel better that people know not to look in guren’s room for guren, like he doesn’t spend much time relaxing at all, but it’s not really a surprise.

he twists his fingers under guren’s hand until he can grip it, and he brings it to his mouth—not a kiss, but his lips are touching guren’s fingers, definitely. ]

Then… take your time. I know you have a lot to talk about.

I have never loved a darker blue

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