bothbarrels | Duplicity IC Contact

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. ]

No.

[ It's something that can be explained some other time, if York decides he needs to know. For now, it's not going to contain any information that will help either of them, though. ]

Listen...you want to stay over?

...yeah. Maybe.

[ He doesn't know if he can get back to sleep, but he wants to stay with North. And there's no reason to keep his friend awake. ]

Maybe?

[ He doesn't move to get up, in that case. He turns his head to look York a little more closely in the face. ]

I don't want to keep you awake.

[ He gives a slight chuckle. ]

The idea is for us to sleep, York.

[ The chuckle seems to irritate York, strangely enough. He huffs a little, sitting up properly. ]

You think I can just go back to sleep?

[ North's smile, as gentle as it is, drops. ]

Listen, I want to be there for you in this. You're staying. If you don't want to go get in bed with me then we're just going to sit here. Got it?

[ Alright. If he's staying they're getting in bed, then. York sets his jaw and lets go of North's wrist, standing up. ]

You might as well go back to sleep, at least. Come on.

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