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}
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.
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[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.
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...
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.]
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[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?
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[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.]