bothbarrels | Duplicity IC Contact

[ 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.

[ North follows York to the room. He's bothered by the way York set his jaw, but he's not going to bring it up right away.

The covers on the bed have been placed back in place, not exactly a made bed, but not one that looks like he just climbed out of it. North reaches to pull the corner back. ]

You get in first.

[ ...of course the bed is in order. York doesn't quite smile at that, but eases up a bit and nods, sliding under the covers North's holding up for him and scooting over to the far side so there's room. ]

[ North slides in beside him, places the covers back in place, and turns on his side to face York. ]

I'm glad you're here, now that you are. It's nice having some company.

[ York rolls onto his side, too, still tense but actively trying to uncoil a little. He can see what North is doing, acting like everything's normal. It's just out of reach for him. ]

Even the Project had better beds than this, though.

[ He gives a half-shrug. ]

Every bed is too short for me.

[ Hard or soft. ]

[ Are they just making small talk about furniture now? York feels untethered in this conversation. Like he's still half stuck in the dream and can't get out. ]

Find a rich Dom who'll get you something custom.

[ He breathes out slow, trying to steady himself. ]

[ North blinks at him. That steadying breath, the shakiness as it came out...

He puts his hand on York's shoulder. ]

You don't have to act like you're okay. Not with me.

...of course I'm not okay.

[ His hand comes up over North's, holding it there for a moment. Looking at his friend's face, the light in his eyes even in the dim room. He's fine. He's fine.

York shudders anyway, remembering how the blood splattered across the Meta's armor. ]

I don't know how you can be.

[ He supposes he's accepted his own death, for the most part. Coming to terms with North's is a lot harder for some reason. ]

It's not fresh for me.

[ He says it quietly. It's been almost four months since he woke up not dead under the Dome. The novelty of being alive has started to wear off, just a tad.

With York's hand on the back of his, he lifts and separates his fingers, inviting York to interlace his fingers with his own. ]

Honestly, seriously. Hold me as much as you need to.

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