My age has never made me wise

[doctor_dragoon]

Who: Night and Yukio
Where: Yukio’s bedroom in the Villa
When: Wednesday night.
Style: Starting in brackets, will follow.
Status: Closed.

[Yukio glared at the bubble hovering over his head again before he removed his glasses and set them on his bedside table. At least without his glasses the bubble was less distinct. Just an annoying blurry shape rather than a curse broadcasting everything he worked so hard to hide on a daily basis.

He’d been lucky so far, able to avoid awkward topics in public and keep out of social situations in general. Surface thoughts were easy enough to deal with and he’d had more than enough practice keeping himself composed, inside and out (mostly)… Some might call it “lying”, but it was a skill that had served him well for a very long time.

Shaking his head to himself, the exorcist gave the bubble one more frown before sliding into his bed and under the blankets, turning to rest on one side so that the curse wouldn’t distract him from sleeping. He got more of that in Nautilus than he ever had at home, but it never seemed to be quite enough.]

Comments

[doctor_dragoon]

[Yukio drops both hands into his lap, fingers curling into the sheets once more. He may not be in a panic anymore, but he's still very tense. Above him scenes from the dream replay themselves in short bursts before Yukio shakes his head a bit.]

About what?

[He's forgotten about the bubble, but to be fair it is rather late and he's had a fright.]

[darkasnight]

[He glances up to Yukio's bubble, his own replaying scenes, although a bit more fuzzy, that he witnessed from the other's dream.

The blue flames were the most prominent against everything else.]

About your nightmare.

[doctor_dragoon]

[His glances up at Night at the mention of his nightmare, eyes widening when he spots scenes from it floating over the other exorcist's head. Shit, the bubbles-...

His own bubble abruptly goes blank, showing nothing but the words he's speaking when he responds again.]

It was just a nightmare. I'm fine.

[darkasnight]

[The look on his face shows he doesn't believe that and any further assurance from Yukio won't change that.

But he sighs and glances away to the window in his room.]

You're stronger than me, then. It feels like a small part of me is taken away after every nightmare I have. [There's a hint of a bitter smile there, unwilling flashes of Pazuzu's face, all fangs and horns with eyes deep and dark as Hell itself staring into him, almost through the bubble itself. Then it goes dark.] Fear can make you stronger, though.

[doctor_dragoon]

[The words in Yukio's bubble shift to reflect the eyes in Night's, changing again into the eyes of the demon from Yukio's dream before the exorcist turns his head and shakes those thoughts away again.]

Funny, that's the opposite of what everyone likes to tell me.

[Okay, not exactly, but sometimes Yukio hears what Yukio wants to hear.]

[darkasnight]

Most people believe running away from what you fear is the better option, but it's only a short-term solution to a long-term problem. [He looks back at him.]

If you keep turning away from it nothing ever gets better. Just worse.

[doctor_dragoon]

[Their eyes meet for a moment before Yukio focuses on the sheets between his fingers.]

... Some problems can't be solved just by looking them in the eye.

[darkasnight]

[He smiles again, sadder.]

Maybe not, but it doesn't hurt to try anyways. [He brings his hands to his lap, lacing his fingers together.] For a demon like me... I have to face the fact that one day I may... absolutely lose my mind and hurt someone. [Monaka's face, smiling, appears briefly in his bubble.] Rin has to accept that reality as well.

[Night looks back at Yukio, looking down to the sheets in his hands.] Whatever is happening to you, Yukio, if you don't acknowledge your fears, they'll devour you alive.

[He takes a deep breath and starts to stand up, bones mutely cracking at the movement.] But! That's all I'll say on the matter. If you ever want to talk about it, God forbid I know, I'm around to listen. [He flashes him a wider smile and heads for the door, his tail swaying behind him.]

[doctor_dragoon]

[Rin's face, wreathed in flames, hovers overhead for a moment before the blue takes over and the image fizzles out. He can't bring himself to accept Rin's powers, so how can he acknowledge the possibility that he might one day end up in the very same boat? The prospect is... terrifying, and no good can come from his facing that fear. Not at home where any further suspicion aimed at him and his brother could be the end of both of them. For the sake of his only family and the promises he's made, he needs to remain what he's always been, no matter how much it hurts.

Yukio's not the strong one in the room right now. He hates himself for it, but he can't do anything to change it. The younger exorcist looks up when Night rises, squinting after his retreating back.]

... Thank you, Night-san.

[darkasnight]

[He stops at the door for a moment, smiling back at him.] I'm going for a walk right now. If you feel up to it you can join me.

[And with that he walks out. There isn't much he can say or do for someone who isn't ready to face themselves just yet.]

[doctor_dragoon]

[Yukio hesitates for several long moments, worrying briefly over his nightmare and the realities behind it, but he soon pushes those thoughts aside. He's not going to come to a conclusion while still jittery and at this hour. He's spent enough sleepless nights to know when to call it.

And since there's no way he'll be getting back to sleep any time soon anyway...

The younger exorcist rises without a word, sliding his glasses onto his face and catching up with Night in a few steps.]

[darkasnight]

[He wasn't completely sure if Yukio would take him up on his offer, but finds himself pleasantly surprised to see the younger man catch up to him a few moments later.

Night keeps a comfortable silence as they walk outside with no real destination in mind. Exploring an underwater city in the dead of night was just as peaceful as he imagines it to be.]