fourteen | [ ic / appointments ]

[The first thing Luke does once he sees that is try to reach out his hand, to lower her own back to the bed and get her to stop moving. But hers drops before he can, and he lets out a quiet sigh and brings his arm back to the pillow.]

... Okay. I'll stay, then.

[He moves closer, and he leans down enough to press his cheek against hers, moving the pillow aside so that it won't touch her. He hadn't heard the full extent of her injuries... and he doesn't want to accidentally hurt her while he's just trying to get closer to her, to give her the contact she wants.

... If he'd just been there -]

I'm sorry.

[ She shuts her eyes again, relieved when he presses his cheek to hers. She missed this so much...

It's probably a result of her condition ... she's tired, and not thinking clearly. Maybe it's the pain, too. But Luke might feel, after a moment, dampness on his cheek. The tears leaking out of her eyes are few, though... her body couldn't sustain the effort of really crying, after all. ]

What for? [ Her voice is gentle. ]

[He feels those tears against his cheek... It makes him feel even worse. Did he make her sad just now? Or did he hurt her?

The thought makes him lean back again, though he pulls the chair up closer with his foot so that he can sit down hear her head.]

For acting like such a jerk to you... For not being there. If I wasn't like that, this... maybe this wouldn't have happened to you.

[ No... she's relieved. He's finally back, they can finally...

... she can't lift her arms to wipe the tears off her face. Her expression scrunches up a tiny bit, briefly shuts her eyes -- sighs when two last tears fall. That must be why he looks so sad... and she can't even brush them away, and reassure him... it's frustrating. ]

The only person... Vanitas... he's the only one to blame. I think my time just ... ran out. [ She always knew, someday, that this would come. But it would have been nice to win, instead of nearly get killed. ] You're here now... it's okay.

[He sighs, and he reaches up to brush his thumb along her cheeks, to dry her tears for her. Her words don't reassure him at all, though, as the sad look in his eyes doesn't fade one bit. He moves his hand up, to brush her hair back, as he speaks.]

I still could've been with you. But I was so busy looking out for myself that I didn't even...

Luke... [ Her voice is a little ... fraught. She's tired and she hurts and she doesn't want to have this conversation. All she wants is to be with him, and feel his warmth, and know he's there. She knows he feels guilty, but she just...

Sue can't do this right now. The look in her eyes is quietly pleading. ]

[... He's seen that look before, and that tone of voice. On Tear, and Natalia, when he'd quietly bring up something regarding his lack of self-worth. It's always... frustrating, not just directed towards the others, but himself, too. There he went, bringing up something that no one wants to hear about again.

So, he locks it away. And he brings his hand back to place his arms on the bed - not touching her, as her shoulder is still hurt and he doesn't want to aggravate it, but close. He looks ahead, at her arm, much more quiet and subdued now.]

... Sorry. You're right.

[ Were it any other time, any other day, she'd push right now. She hates it when Luke locks things away... she doesn't want him to ever feel like he needs to keep part of himself from her.

But right now, she literally does not have the energy. She just can't. She only gives a faint, tiny shake of her head, and shuts her eyes. Her head is still tilted towards him, though... and she kind of wishes he'd go back to touching her cheek. It was reassuring.

After a quiet minute, when it seems like she migh have fallen asleep again, she speaks up, just above a whisper. ]

I'm glad you came.

[The comment makes him glance at her, somewhat in surprise, and then smile a little. It still hurts to see her like this... and he can't help still feeling guilt over it. But she's happy he's here... And for now, this is all he can do for her.

He reaches his hand down to stroke her arm, gently, for a few minutes, before he gets tired of that action. Whether or not she's fallen asleep by then, Luke leans back to place the pillow on the space between her side and the bed, then rests his head and arms on that. It's too early to be sleeping for him, but at least he'll have a little bit of comfort while he sits by her side.]

[ It's as he strokes her arm that she truly falls back to sleep. Only with the knowledge that he's there... with the comfort of his touch. She'll be out for the next few hours at least, if not longer. But if it means anything ... she fell asleep with a quiet smile on her face. ]

[And Luke had kept his promise, idly sleeping here and there, but usually awake when Xion would be, even in the dead of night. He'd leave only to get some food, or visit with Asch, or change into some clothes for the day. Today Xion had a lot of visitors, so Luke mostly hung around outside of her room, occasionally catching a few naps on the chairs outside. Because really, sitting on a chair beside her bed was not comfortable enough for sleeping, and his body made sure to let him know this.

Still, he's used to running on little sleep. And right now, he's sitting at her side again, glancing around at the gifts that people left her. He had brought a gift himself that day - an agapanthus, which sits in a pot on the windowsill. Now that it's clear for a little while, Luke crosses his arms and leans back, his gaze coming back to Xion.]

I don't know what you're going to do with all of this stuff.

Edited 2011-07-18 04:26 (UTC)

I don't know either! [ She smiles helplessly; she would laugh, but it still hurts. ] I'll have to figure something out... [ She looks at him, tilting her head. ] You'll get to help me, too.

... I'm gonna have to carry all of it, huh?

[ dis face. ]

[Is this who Luke has become? The boyfriend who carries all of his girlfriend's shopping bags while she only carries her purse?

Apparently so, because Luke just lets out a long sigh. Though she won't get away without his usual complaining.]

I'll probably have to take two trips... Man, I got hurt and all I got was a stupid cast!

[ A tiny, gentler smile. ] You still got everyone to sign it, though. That's something, right? [ always the bright side. ]

I guess so... [Except he got it taken off when he'd been reverted to his past self, and that part of him didn't appreciate it like he did. He leans over to lean his arms on the bed and rest his chin on them, a position he's taken a lot since he vowed to stay with her.]

How're you feeling right now? You're probably going to get more visitors... Are you up for that?

[ ... for a moment, she doesn't say anything, but the sudden uncertain cast to her smile should say it all for her. ]

I'm tired... It's easier to stay awake today, but my throat hurts. Part of me just wants to sleep... but I want to see them, too.

I can wake you up if anyone else comes by, if you want me to.

[Idly, he moves one arm to stroke her upper arm with the tips of his fingers lightly. He looks at her face, too. There's something he's been wanting to do for a while now... He couldn't yesterday; she was so out of it that the significance behind it might have been lost. Now...

Maybe she's still too tired.]

Mmm... okay.

[ She'll take that plan. As soon as he touches her, her smile relaxes into something fond and gentle, and she just watches him. No, she's not too tired... though she doesn't know how to ask. ]

[... And now they're looking at each other. Even with her body so injured and broken, she was still beautiful to him. Of course, that's no surprise - Luke's found her that way despite everything, even when her body was a completely different shape, or faceless. She was still Xion, after all.]

Xion, I... [He stands and moves a little closer, a hand drifting up to her cheek. He watches her for a moment... then smiles, the expression fond.] I've missed you a lot. [Not just from her being out of commission, but the time when he reverted, and when they couldn't see each other in the cells.]

[ ... color floods into her cheeks when he touches her face like that. She makes a quiet, fond sound, briefly shutting her eyes and tilting her face into his touch.

Still... something goes a little tight in her chest when he says that, and she opens her eyes again, her eyebrows drawing up and together in an expression that is almost sad. ]

I missed you too. So much.

[That expression... Was it from all of that time they were apart? How he'd push her away when he had long hair? Or... was he doing something wrong now...?

Wow. He hasn't thought like that around her in a while.

Still, the thought makes his own expression sober a little. And he... he has to lean closer, his face just a few inches from hers, and -

He's missed her.

He leans the rest of the way to press his lips against hers. It's a gentle touch; chaste and soft, slow and warm. It's like the first time they kissed all over again for him.]

[ It's ... almost like she forgot what this felt like. Not that she could ever really forget, it's just ... the way her chest tightens, the way her face feels so warm ... it feels new all over again.

She sighs a shuddering breath out through her nose and returns the kiss, tilting her chin up just slightly. It's such a quiet little thing, but filled with every last bit of love she has for him. ]

[The world seems to tilt when she returns that kiss. ... Yup, this definitely feels new again. Well then. This means he'd have to kiss her more often now that they're both back, huh?

... Frankly, Luke is looking forward to that.

After a long moment, he finally breaks the kiss, and he rests his forehead against hers and just... breathes for a second. That insecure feeling of his is fading, too, which greatly relieves him. It was strange, feeling that way around her after all this time... Maybe it was because of his reversion to his past self.

Still, he opens his eyes and leans back to smile fondly at her.]

I love you.

[Action; Early Evening of July 15th]

fourteen - 2011-07-27 04:19 (UTC) - Expand

[ ic / appointments ]

[Action; Evening of July 14th] oh emily |D

[Action; Evening of July 14th] what. 8|

[Action; Evening of July 14th] NICE EDIT.

[Action; Evening of July 14th] YES THANK YOU I THOUGHT SO TOO. B|

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