while you were sleeping

[replicatedcourage]

Who: Sola and Psiioniic
Where: Signless and Psiioniic's hive
When: Backdated to the day after this. (22nd I guess?) Mid-afternoon.
Style: Action or prose, idc
Status: Closed

It had barely been any time since Izaya and Laharl had woken from their comas when Sola found out that Signless had succumbed to one of his own. He felt as if he had failed somehow, not realizing when Signless had fallen asleep on him in the plaza while waiting for Karkat that there was something more afoot, not that he could have known, but Sola had come to regard Signless as family, as a father, and being unable to do much was weighing on him. It seemed his whole life was stagnant. Waiting, watching, wishing there was something to be done but knowing it was someone else's job and not his place. At least now, after Ion and Signless had calmed him down in the aftereffects of the curse and let him know that he was loved, Sola had the drive again to search for a purpose, but it's a shaky, uncertain thing.

But he has to do something. Signless is his friend, his mentor, someone so important.

He knocks on the door, having gotten the address from the residency listing and found with very little surprise that Psiioniic lived there too. It's a pleasant thought; Psiioniic is calm, patient, and knows a great deal. With a pang, Sola half wishes he had asked to move in with them instead, but he is still generally happy living with Izaya, Ion, and Laharl, even if he and the demon prince tend to butt heads on occasion.

Sola knocks again, wondering if Psiioniic's not home to let him in. Maybe he should have called first...

"Psiioniic?"

Comments

[p2iioniicii2t]

He glances over at the light touch as Sola reaches for his hand, but he doesn't pull away. Instead, he reciprocates the gesture recognizing that almost automatic need for reassurance for what it is.

"I do not often leave hith thide," he murmurs after a moment. "But if you athk if we are quadrant mateth; we are not."

[replicatedcourage]

"What's a quadrant mate? Is that like a soul mate?" Sola looks up at Psiioniic curiously. For all he's talked with Trolls lately he hasn't been introduced to their romantic structural differences. He only asks Psii since his devotion to the other Troll is above and beyond and looks like love to him.

Of course, Sola has a relatively narrow world view just now, but he'll learn.

[p2iioniicii2t]

"In it'th way. When he awaketh, it would be better if he told you of our culture than I," he notes softly. The glow of his eyes dims considerably. "There ith one that you could call that, but hith motht beloved ith no longer in Vatheon."

There is an obvious mournful note in his voice.

[replicatedcourage]

"Really? But he still usually seems so happy..." Sola ponders this, finally deciding that Signless is probably lucky that he doesn't have to see the person he loves all the time and not be with her. He feels that maybe things would be easier on himself if Zelda was gone.

The Hylian sighs and quietly walks to Signless's bedside, idly touching the surface of the cover hanging off the edge of the bed. Seeing the Troll like this, even knowing he's just sleeping, somehow makes Sola very sad. He looks back at Psiioniic with a lost expression. "What are we supposed to do?"

[p2iioniicii2t]

He sighs, bowing his head. That was the question, wasn't it? What did they do now, bereft of the calm counsel and the love of the Signless? In all his existence here in Vatheon, he had not been faced with this.

"Wait. Hope. I do not know..."

[replicatedcourage]

Psiioniic's down turned face made Sola ashamed. He'd been so preoccupied by the loss of his mentor that he'd overlooked just how similar Psiioniic's own reaction is. The replica walks back beside the other Troll and takes his hand again in a tight grasp of what he hopes is mutual comfort.

"Is there anything I can do for you? I know you don't want to leave him so I can run errands and things for you, if you want."

[p2iioniicii2t]

"...if it that would be what you dethire." The Helmsman wonders if he sounds as terribly lost as he feels right then. Signless was the reason he was even able to try to be independent even if just in little ways here in the bubble. Now, he's completely adrift and unable to decide anything.

"No matter what, I will not leave him. I cannot."

[replicatedcourage]

"I want to help, and that seems like the best way." Sola looks again at Signless's slumbering form. "He'd be helping you, so I should too, especially while you stay here and keep him safe."

The replica squeezes the older man's hand and offers a small smile. "I can get food or take care of your bees or something. All I want is to be able to come see him every day."

[p2iioniicii2t]

He nods, eyes quite literally brightening as he manages to look back up to meet the young man's gaze. That Sola would so willingly offer, when he had little to benefit from such an action. Surely he knew that he would be able to see Signless whenever he wished during this time, after all.

"You are a kind child, Thola. You will alwayth be welcome here."

[replicatedcourage]

The improvement in Psiioniic's expression told Sola he had said the right thing and he couldn't help but be a little proud of himself. He was helping, instead of ruining things and making people worry. He wondered if Signless would be proud, were he awake.

Sola hugs Psiioniic around the waist, pressing his cheek into the taller man's chest. They're kindred spirits in the absence of Signless and Sola recognizes it, wanting to be close for mutual comfort. "Thank you. You're kind, too, you know. Everything will be fine, he'll wake up."