He's quiet as he mulls that over--eventually, slowly, he sinks down to sit on the edge of the bed. One of his hands digs into the edges of the mattress, gripping it tightly--the other returns to press against his forehead.
If it isn't him... is that better, or worse?
(But it must be, a part of him whispers. Even if it isn't that thing, it's still his fault, isn't it? Just like always?)
He takes another deep breath, lowering his hand.]
...Just--please, be careful. Don't do anything reckless. [Like hanging out with a nexus of death and misfortune, or trying to fight a monster that can't be killed through normal means.]
[WHY DOES HE HAVE A GUN IN THAT ICON anyway leo sits on the bed and sora continues to lean against the wall to watch him carefully. he will give him space, but he's not about to leave yet either.]
That goes for both of us. I don't know what's really happening, but we have to stick together no matter what. [even if leo is a harbinger of death.] We can take care of ourselves. So we'll help take care of everyone else, too.
His mouth twists in obvious displeasure, but he doesn't argue. Mostly because there's nothing stopping him from just leaving the truck and hiding out somewhere if he wants to. (He just might, actually, albeit not tonight.)]
Promise. [It's a bit much to demand of a stranger, but fuck it. He's told Sora this much, far more than he ever would have under normal circumstances--he might as well make selfish demands, while he's adding to the list. He's too far away to grab Sora again, but his voice is ragged, intent.] Promise me you three will be careful. Please.
[They're not friends, not nearly close enough for sentiments like I can't lose you too, but--something before that point, maybe. Something like, The loss of one of you would destroy the other two, and I can't bear to be responsible for that. Perhaps even something as simple as I can't have more blood on my hands.]
[hm. they're not friends according to leo but this is sora who basically, as riku put it "decides everyone is a friend the moment they say hello." so maybe they aren't exactly friends but he can at least understand that this is important.]
We will. I'll keep them safe. [...] And I know they'll watch me, too. We'll get out of here somehow, and if this is something we brought in ourselves, we'll find a way to fight that, too.
[They will never be friends according to Leo, who in a couple of years will make a big old half-crazed speech about that very thing right before he tries to kill everyone and also himself. Don't worry about it.
That last bit gets a halfhearted, disbelieving laugh out of him. Very "yeah, sure, okay." If this really is what Leo thinks it is, then there won't be anything any of them can do about it, but he'll take this anyway. Anything to stave off the despair.]
Don't make me regret relying on you. [Don't fuckin DIE ON HIM PUNK!!!!]
He laughs again, and this one is definitely despairing. God. Please don't thank him for this.]
I wish I hadn't had to. [He wishes a lot of things. That he'd never met Elliot Nightray, for one, even if the thought makes his heart ache a little.] Don't tell anyone else, alright? If Pandora finds out, we're fucked.
Thank you. [For keeping his secret, not for being blindly determined to fix an unfixable problem.
He's not... totally calm, exactly--but he's not the frantic mess he was earlier, and it finally occurs to him that he's been melting down at the poor sap who discovered Iris's body in the first place. God, he's the worst.]
I'm sorry. [For all of--this. For potentially getting a child murdered, even if it was totally out of his control.] Go back to your friends, they'll be worried about you.
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He's quiet as he mulls that over--eventually, slowly, he sinks down to sit on the edge of the bed. One of his hands digs into the edges of the mattress, gripping it tightly--the other returns to press against his forehead.
If it isn't him... is that better, or worse?
(But it must be, a part of him whispers. Even if it isn't that thing, it's still his fault, isn't it? Just like always?)
He takes another deep breath, lowering his hand.]
...Just--please, be careful. Don't do anything reckless. [Like hanging out with a nexus of death and misfortune, or trying to fight a monster that can't be killed through normal means.]
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That goes for both of us. I don't know what's really happening, but we have to stick together no matter what. [even if leo is a harbinger of death.] We can take care of ourselves. So we'll help take care of everyone else, too.
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His mouth twists in obvious displeasure, but he doesn't argue. Mostly because there's nothing stopping him from just leaving the truck and hiding out somewhere if he wants to. (He just might, actually, albeit not tonight.)]
Promise. [It's a bit much to demand of a stranger, but fuck it. He's told Sora this much, far more than he ever would have under normal circumstances--he might as well make selfish demands, while he's adding to the list. He's too far away to grab Sora again, but his voice is ragged, intent.] Promise me you three will be careful. Please.
[They're not friends, not nearly close enough for sentiments like I can't lose you too, but--something before that point, maybe. Something like, The loss of one of you would destroy the other two, and I can't bear to be responsible for that. Perhaps even something as simple as I can't have more blood on my hands.]
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We will. I'll keep them safe. [...] And I know they'll watch me, too. We'll get out of here somehow, and if this is something we brought in ourselves, we'll find a way to fight that, too.
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That last bit gets a halfhearted, disbelieving laugh out of him. Very "yeah, sure, okay." If this really is what Leo thinks it is, then there won't be anything any of them can do about it, but he'll take this anyway. Anything to stave off the despair.]
Don't make me regret relying on you. [Don't fuckin DIE ON HIM PUNK!!!!]
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anyway. he hears that laugh for what it is, but he doesn't think much of it.]
I'll do my best. [he can be sincere enough, at least, but he pauses for a moment.] But I never did get your name.
[he can't make someone regret relying on him without knowing who he might disappoint!!!]
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I never gave it out. [Imagine if he just left it at that--but no, he won't.] It's Leo.
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but ah. there's a nod.]
Leo, then. [he'll keep that in mind.] Thanks for telling me all of this.
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He laughs again, and this one is definitely despairing. God. Please don't thank him for this.]
I wish I hadn't had to. [He wishes a lot of things. That he'd never met Elliot Nightray, for one, even if the thought makes his heart ache a little.] Don't tell anyone else, alright? If Pandora finds out, we're fucked.
[Sorry for your disney ears sora]
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Secret's safe with me. I promise. [his disney ears have been getting destroyed since day zero, it's okay.] Whatever happens, we'll fix it.
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Thank you. [For keeping his secret, not for being blindly determined to fix an unfixable problem.
He's not... totally calm, exactly--but he's not the frantic mess he was earlier, and it finally occurs to him that he's been melting down at the poor sap who discovered Iris's body in the first place. God, he's the worst.]
I'm sorry. [For all of--this. For potentially getting a child murdered, even if it was totally out of his control.] Go back to your friends, they'll be worried about you.
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They're always worried about me, I think. [it's said as an aside, like he doesn't want to get into it but he understands.] What about you though?
[he's aware leo probably wants him to leave him alone, but also, he was absolutely having a time? that's concerning.]
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It's a fair question, though, and he takes another deep breath, steadying himself again.]
Don't worry. I'll stay here.
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...all right, if you're sure. But come find one of us if you need anything, okay? We'll be close by.
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But he'll also keep his word and stay put in the truck to argue with the voices in his head, so. There's that.]
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Okay. Take care of yourself, Leo. We'll figure it out.
[off to go freak out about a dead child on his own.]
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