[ ... is ignoring you. ]

[arcanepower]

Who: Belthazar and you!
Broadcast: Yes
Action: The Marsiva only.
When: Friday morning

[video;]

[Once again, Belthazar wakes up dazed and shivering. He quickly inspects himself to make sure there are no weird marks he doesn't remember. He still has his robes, thank goodness, but he is beginning to panic about everything else.]

No! No, damn it!

[How much time has passed? The fact that Atroma could send him home and then bring him back without any memory of it terrifies him. His father, his crew, his best friend-- all of them are gone. In this room, right now, he is alone. This probably isn't even the same cycle. He's trapped in this hell, over and over again, never to settle, always to mourn--

He screams in frustration and whirls on the closest piece of furniture. Purple lightning darts from his fingertips, scorching and then exploding his bed. The effort leaves him panting in the silence.

Then he notices his communicator and remembers that there are cameras everywhere. He does the sensible thing and freezes like a deer in headlights.]

... I-is someone there?

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[everydayhero]

I know... I woke up here and I thought I'd left you alone. But you left the same time I did.

[hiro is rubbing his back, gently rocking.]

I'm sorry. I didn't think you were coming back... I'm so glad you got here while I was still on the Marsiva.

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[arcanepower]

[That is distracting. He can feel his heartbeat slowing from 'SUPER HIGH PANIC MODE' to 'OH GOD PHYSICAL CONTACT', which is quite the improvement. While he's not usually ashamed of his tears, he feels like it's silly to cry when he has no real idea of the passage of time. As far as his memories are concerned, they've only been apart for fifteen minutes.

But he was scared for that fifteen minutes, so whatever.]

I wish I could say it was because of the promise. Maybe Atroma gives small mercies. I don't know.

[He's never going to let go at this rate.]

I don't remember anything...

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[everydayhero]

I don't care if it was mercy or coincidence, I'm just glad you're here.

[he tightens his hold on him for a moment. it feels so much better to know belthazar is here with him; spending this time alone has been hard, and thinking he might never see belthazar again was harder.]

I don't either. I went to bed, and suddenly I was here. It's been two months since we left...

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[arcanepower]

[Belthazar's grip tightens in return]

Two whole months.

[Either one of them could have left permanently, or returned without memories. The very thought makes his blood run cold.]

I-- I suppose that isn't very long, but... it could have been so much worse.

[He pulls back to look into Hiro's eyes, but something in him gives out and he ends up resting his forehead against the other boy's instead. Please ignore the tears, they've already stopped.]

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[everydayhero]

It could have.

[hiro welcomes the affection, smiling gently.]

But it wasn't. We're here, we remember, and most people haven't left. You were only late a couple days, and I'm pretty sure that's a miracle, because we're both still on the Marsiva. They're not gonna separate us.

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[arcanepower]

[He breathes in, lets it out slowly. His voice trembles, fragile and pale like Belthazar himself.]

They still could... they still could, and I--

[His knuckles turn white against the fabric of Hiro's sleeves. He's always clinging like a little bat that doesn't want to let go. He squeezes his eyes shut and tries to ground himself here, in this moment.]

Hiro, I-I need you to know something. Before I forget. Before I don't get a chance.

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[everydayhero]

[hiro freezes up a little. belthazar is calming himself, in a way, he can recognize that; but...

[is he really..?]

... Yeah?

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[arcanepower]

[He steels himself. Only when he's sure he won't let the moment run away from him does he make eye contact. His voice is small and quiet, yet strong.]

I don't-- I don't ever want to leave you. [His grip is earnest, his face, the very picture of desperation.] Kene'thil surfas. It means-- [It's obvious before he says it.] I love you.

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[everydayhero]

[the words fall on his ears, and it's a lot more honest than hiro was expecting out of belthazar. his only surprise is at the fact that he didn't hold back to try not to drive him off; but when he thinks about it, it's way more like him to just say everything all at once. he knows belth has been sitting on this for a long time, just like he has.

[and hiro smiles, when it settles in with him.]

... I-I... I love you, too. [he can't really believe this just happened.]

I thought I'd be the one to get tired of waiting first. [hiro leans in and kisses his cheek, still nervous and awkward about any kind of physical affection. but then he's pulling him into another, incredibly tight hug.]

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[arcanepower]

[Nah, he's a hundred percent impatient. He's the type to bottle it all up until it explodes and that is precisely what just happened here. Hiro's words don't quite make sense to him, they just float in one ear and out the other, until the other boy kisses his cheek.

He blinks once, then twice, and then a blush lights up his ears. Slowly and awkwardly, but gaining courage, he returns the hug.

He's smiling like an idiot now.]

You've always had more patience than I did. I can't believe you really...

[He lets out a sigh of relief and buries his face in Hiro's shoulder again.]