LOOKS DOWN, ONLY THOUGHTto conceal all he is, all he has become from the eyes of his childhood friend. how FAR he has fallen now, he does not want ilima to see, would do ANYTHING to avoid the disgust, the cruel rejection that he thinks is SURE to come from revealing himself to the other. so he DOESN’T, instead offers only a shrug, keeping his eyes DOWNCAST and knowing that if he does not, there is no way he would be able to hold STRONG with the sweet temptation ilima seems to him to be. ‘ my SECRETS aren’t even safe with myself. they’ve CHASED me every day, i wouldn’t want to burden you with the details, ili. ‘ the nickname SLIPS from his lips, cheeks BURSTING to full glow before he can STOP the mark of childhood past from slipping out to the present. his ili.
This is not the Gladion he would lead from game to game, from country to country taking photos on his phone and laughing as they explored new places together. Now he explores new places alone, or with his father but it’s never been the same. Now he looks at this blond who he isn’t sure he knows anymore, but he longs to know him, longs to go back to what they were, get to where they should be. Taking a deep breath he takes a step in, tilting his head and leaning so that he can see his face. “Ili.” that’s a grin, “I have not heard that nickname in so long,” he tells him gently, “never stop calling me it?”
