bothbarrels | Duplicity IC Contact

[ The night he sees South's memory of what happened when North died is rough. He jolts awake covered in sweat, shaking with distress. There's going to be a reckoning, South... but not right now. Not at 3am when he's this emotional and can't get into her apartment building unescorted.

York gets out of bed and goes into the bathroom to strip off his damp shirt and splash some water on his face. It doesn't do much for his emotional state, though. He's not sure anything would. Except...

He shouldn't bother North at this hour.

But when it turns out he can't get back to sleep, when he still hears the other man's cries in his memory?

He bothers North. ]

hey north

hey

are you awake?

wake up

north

don't make me actually call you man

[ There's a lot of things one could say when woken by a string if texts at 3am. One of them is not to mention the time. Something is obviously up. ]

Hey york. You okay?

no
can I come by?

Sure, if you want to, that's okay

[ North hauls himself out of bed so he can be there to answer the door. He figures whatever's up, if it would be okay, they can head back to lounge in bed while they talk. ]

[ York doesn't bother getting dressed properly -- he isn't even leaving the building. Just pulls on a fresh shirt and heads to North's apartment, knocking softly on the door so hopefully no one else hears. ]

[ North's right there and opens the door when he hears the soft rap. ]

Hey.

[ The door opens and York doesn't wait for an invitation to step inside. He's still a little pale, hair mussed from sleep where he didn't bother to fix it and expression awkward because how does he even explain what he just saw... but as soon as he sees North's face he's stepping forward and hugging his friend. Reassuring himself he's here and alive and well. ]

Hey.

[ It's a repetition, but a bit softer this time and hopefully comforting. Whatever's wrong, obviously being here helps. North returns the embrace firmly. ]

I'm sorry I woke you.

[ But he's not letting go. Just hugging North there in the doorway, face pressed into his friend's shoulder. ]

It's not a problem.

[ North always prefers to help someone who needs it, no matter what time of day. He can tell whatever is happening, York needs not to be interrupted at this, so he just continues to stay there, hanging on. ]

...okay.

[ Eventually, York lets go, stepping back and scrubbing at his face. ]

I'll let you get back to sleep.

[ North quirks a brow at him. ]

...You're not going to tell me what this is all about?

[ York hesitates, feeling the emotion rise back up into his throat thinking about it. He doesn't know how articulate he'd be, but. ]

...are you sure you want to know?

Of course I do, York. Something's obviously got you very upset.

[ He gestures into the apartment. ]

Come on, let's go sit down.

[ Ugghhhh. He should have known. Alright. York sighs but steps in, heading to the couch and claiming the corner of it, leaning against the arm. ]

I had a dream that I don't think was a dream.

[ With all the memory share shenanigans going on lately, North has a quick guess what that could mean. He moves to the couch as well, sitting alongside York, on the middle cushion. ]

South?

...yeah.

[ Does he have to tell the rest? Does it even matter? North's fine, he's right in front of York and yet. ]

I can still hear you screaming for her.

[ North doesn't really react to that, his face going neutral as he sits back against the seat of the couch. Then he licks his lips, sighs, and shakes his head. ]

I have to be honest with you, York. The sound of myself screaming for her is probably going to haunt me forever.

[ Which is just a part of why he's finding it so hard to possibly forgive her. She apologized, he knows she feels bad about it, and yet...she did it. ]

[ She feels horrible. York saw her breakdown too, the aftermath of her terrible, terrible, mistake. Betrayal. Whatever you want to call it. York isn't sure, having seen it from her perspective. They need to talk, but he isn't ready. He just wants to be with North, and hear something else. ]

I just needed to remind myself you were alive here and now. That's all.

Yeah. I understand.

[ He raises his arm, gesturing for York to come lean against him. ]

[ York breathes out, forcing his shoulders to uncoil again, and tilts until he's leaning against North's side, the height difference just enough that he can comfortably put his head on his friend's shoulder. ]

How are you guys? After... fuck, she was so fucking friendly and I had no idea.

[ He curls his arm around York's torso. ]

We're on speaking terms.

The rest? Is complicated.

Complicated. Hah.

[ York sighs again, still feeling... something. Restless and upset, even with North solid and warm against him. He reaches over and takes North's other wrist, gripping it with his thumb pressed to the pulse point.

They're fine. They're alive.

So why doesn't he feel like it's enough? ]

[ North concentrates on breathing, deep and full, so York can feel the rise and fall of his chest. He doesn't pull his arm away, allowing York to feel him out as much as he needs. ]

You want me to explain it? It has to do with alternate versions of each other we met in the worlds we were in before here.

Do you want to? I don't think it's going to make me any happier with her, or less upset about listening to you die.

[ It's a little blunt, but it's the truth. It won't help him. But he'll listen if it'd help North. ]

text; un: foxtrot12

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