‘ just focus on my voice. that’s it. you’re okay. we’re okay. ’/ botw jo !!
Lin’s voice was like a lighthouse standing bright in the midst of a tempest, breaking though the heartbeat pounding in Joey’s ears and the sound of his harsh, panicked breathing. It brought him back. Tear-filled eyes rose to meet Lin’s own, and that only caused another sob to rise in his throat. The fright just wouldn’t relinquish its hold on him just yet. To think that he’d almost lost him–
The guardian had popped up from no where, came over the hill before either of them knew what was happening. Joey had heard of them from locals and visitors at the stable: huge, ancient machines that walked like spiders, could follow one’s every move, shot beams of light that could end a life in seconds. The rumors sounded downright terrifying, but coming face-to-face with one, Joey felt that ‘terrifying’ couldn’t entirely cover the feeling. Couldn’t encompass how bone-deep the fear reached.
Joey had been anchored to the spot, struck by the sheer size and presence of the giant. Its one solitary eye had locked onto Lin, the red beam bright on his clothes, its beeping so loud it almost drowned out Jo’s heartbeat. Joey only got knocked out of it by Lin finding the strength to move. He could feel himself instinctively reaching out, sword forgotten, mind only on Lin. In the span of seconds, their hands met, and Joey’s mind could only latch onto one thought: Run.
Stray tree branches scraped against skin and clothes as they ran into a nearby wood. They needed cover, something to come in between them and the guardian. Those six legs couldn’t maneuver as well through the forest, and within time, the sound of beeping and the crunch of underbrush beneath metal feet eventually died down. But Joey hadn’t processed it; he couldn’t stop running. Lin had to be safe. He had to be okay. Joey had to protect him.
By the time they had stopped, Joey was hyperventilating, tears unstoppable, lungs as frozen as ice. The adrenaline in his blood ebbed away, taking all feeling in his legs with it.
Lin’s reassurances could only work so much. Trembling hands grabbed at Lin’s snowquill tunic, tugging him close enough for Joey to wrap his arms around his shoulders. Fingers slipped into brown locks, and Jo tucked Lin’s face into his neck. This was where he was most protected, where he was the safest. As long as Joey had him in his arms, no guardians, no bokoblins, no harm could reach him.
“Listen, kozu. If you want other people in this world to notice you, to take a romantic interest in you, you cannot act as those pathetic people in your romance novels do. Those are petty idealations of love,” he used the wrong word, but hopefully its point wasn’t lost.
“Love and romance can be sappy, of course, but there’s more to it than just chippy one liners and saying the exact right thing at the exact right moment. No! Love values honesty and openness! It values sloppy first kisses and awkward encounters! It values exposing the vulnerabilities of one’s soul and spirit! There is no such thing as a perfect love, only a love that is perfect for you. The sooner you get that through your head, the sooner you’ll find the courage to romance, to suyuu!”
“Hey there!”
Anpu grinned, wrapping
an arm around the other. “Linus,
right? Or, sorry, you said when we were
texting you prefer Lin right? I’m Anpu, nice
to meet you. You know you’re a lot taller than I
thought you’d be.” He really hoped this was the right guy or else it’d be pretty awkward.
Zack had done a very poor job of stalking this one. The other had clearly heard his footsteps following behind him - the sound his weapon made as it scraped against the concrete where it produced small sparks. Not like he was trying to be sneaky, he quite loved watching the fear crawl up his victim’s spines.
If this guy was going to turn around and give him that look of utter desperation and fear, then Zack had gotten what he came for. That and to drive his blade right into this sad, pathetic face when it stared at him all teary eyed.
from exams & trying to survive life in general , ryou had been far too emotionally & physically stressed to even think about contacting anyone. isolating himself completely , as he usually does. so when he’s recharged , his first thought goes over to lin who he assumes have been anxious about his state & wraps an arm around lin’s shoulders. pretending he haven’t just disappeared from the earth’s surface for around 1 & a half weeks.
@vessuvius said: loop ; drape an arm around their shoulders.
--- “Hahh..” They release a breath when their friend comes up to them.. Nao slumps a little under the other’s weight, but it is a pleasant thing. They’ve quickly found that Lin is an affectionate kind of guy. With the lack of physical affection { or any kind of affection, really } in their own home and surrounding environment, Nao can appreciate it. “Hey, you’re wet..” They complain with a smile. “It rained, or you were just too lazy to dry your hair after showering?” They could see it going either way, but they did hear rain on the forecast that morning, which means Linus gets the benefit of the doubt.
“Speaking of wet... I have swimming after class today, do you want to come?” They thought, since they used to do swimming in Japan in high school, they might try out the college team. For fun, not competition, necessarily.
