[Beneath his robes, he feels his knees shake, but Ion tries to retain his composure as he steps slowly closer, as if afraid acting too quickly will somehow obliterate the moment, completely.]
I wanted to tell you the second you chose me...there are so many times I wanted to reveal myself, but I needed to know that I could prove myself. I wanted you to trust me...just for what I had to say.
Was it a trick? Ion was--but so was he. Guy said he hadn't seen him for two years. So it was as likely as he was.
Except, one of them was a god.
As the gap between them closes, Luke stays rooted to the spot, barely daring to breath, in case the mirage, this bubble, a vision of his friend, pops, leaving him with only memories and a handful of nothing—again.
But Piety--Ion speaks, and the barely-registering quiver in his voice, conversely, helps Luke find his own.]
I did trust you--I mean, I do!
[Taking a few tentative steps of his own forward, he meets Ion halfway. Proof. Proof of self. Proof of ability. Proof of trust, of friendship. It was understandable. But...]
...But... you don't need to prove yourself to anyone. Especially not to me.
[Luke takes Ion's hands reflexively in turn, and smiles at the squeeze. It was Ion. It was Ion all along. It felt like taking a drink of water after being parched for hours, days. It was Ion all along who--
...
He starts to chuckle—and then laugh.]
There's nothing to say sorry about! I'm just... happy you're here!
[It must be how Guy felt, when he saw him at the courtyard that first day. After so long...
This time, it's Luke who gives Ion's hands a squeeze, his face genuinely elated.]
Ha, I can't believe you managed to keep quiet when I was talking to you about... you!
[The look on Luke's face is contagious, and Ion laughs, too, soft and serene.]
It made me happy. I never questioned how important we were to each other, but...still, to hear you say things about me that I feel about you, as well...
[He looks down at their joined hands. His own, pale and small, are so warm inside of Luke's.]
[Genuinely elated, he huffs happily, cheeks coloured with emotion, the excitement finally setting in.]
I wish you would've told me on day one! [He laughs again, realising something.] And I picked you out of everyone!
[The anger, adrenaline, shock, and confusion of mere minutes before seem like a distant dream. Here and now, with Ion, it's the happiest he's been since he was brought to the game.]
So that's what you meant by divine intervention, huh? [He grins, clearly tickled at the idea now that he understands the meaning a little more.] Maybe that's just the... proof of how strong our friendship is, or something like that!
[beat;]
Or fonons. Could be fonons.
[He's half-making an attempt at a joke! Still...]
But artes don't work here, so... probably just us. [the friendship thing.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
it's me ya boi
[Beneath his robes, he feels his knees shake, but Ion tries to retain his composure as he steps slowly closer, as if afraid acting too quickly will somehow obliterate the moment, completely.]
I wanted to tell you the second you chose me...there are so many times I wanted to reveal myself, but I needed to know that I could prove myself. I wanted you to trust me...just for what I had to say.
HE!!!!!
Was it a trick? Ion was--but so was he. Guy said he hadn't seen him for two years. So it was as likely as he was.
Except, one of them was a god.
As the gap between them closes, Luke stays rooted to the spot, barely daring to breath, in case the mirage, this bubble, a vision of his friend, pops, leaving him with only memories and a handful of nothing—again.
But Piety--Ion speaks, and the barely-registering quiver in his voice, conversely, helps Luke find his own.]
I did trust you--I mean, I do!
[Taking a few tentative steps of his own forward, he meets Ion halfway. Proof. Proof of self. Proof of ability. Proof of trust, of friendship. It was understandable. But...]
...But... you don't need to prove yourself to anyone. Especially not to me.
no subject
[Instinctively, Ion reaches out and takes Luke's hand in his, squeezing them like he always had as Piety.]
I'm sorry to have made you wait. I hope...you can forgive me.
no subject
...
He starts to chuckle—and then laugh.]
There's nothing to say sorry about! I'm just... happy you're here!
[It must be how Guy felt, when he saw him at the courtyard that first day. After so long...
This time, it's Luke who gives Ion's hands a squeeze, his face genuinely elated.]
Ha, I can't believe you managed to keep quiet when I was talking to you about... you!
no subject
It made me happy. I never questioned how important we were to each other, but...still, to hear you say things about me that I feel about you, as well...
[He looks down at their joined hands. His own, pale and small, are so warm inside of Luke's.]
I've thought about you every day.
no subject
I wish you would've told me on day one! [He laughs again, realising something.] And I picked you out of everyone!
[The anger, adrenaline, shock, and confusion of mere minutes before seem like a distant dream. Here and now, with Ion, it's the happiest he's been since he was brought to the game.]
no subject
[The last three weeks would have been very, very different, that's for sure. Ion can't stop his face from lighting up, his pale cheeks warming.]
When you did--I'd never been so relieved. It's like some part of us knew just how to call out for each other, don't you think?
no subject
[beat;]
Or fonons. Could be fonons.
[He's half-making an attempt at a joke! Still...]
But artes don't work here, so... probably just us. [the friendship thing.]