[ He could feel himself forcibly pulled to the surface again and he can't quite get the hang on to whomever's got him. The voice sounded familiar in this tired mind, along with the sound of his phone's alarm alerting him that his Chroma levels were entering dangerous lows. He coughed when water attempted to make its way down his throat, but he does stop attempting to swim to Saki.
He was being stupid, it likely wasn't her. As much as she disliked him, he doubted she would cruel enough to mess with him like this. Right? Right. He turned and weakly took a hold of Cloud's arm, recognizing the spiky hair despite his blurring vision. ]
[ A sense of relief washes over the older blond when he feels Yosuke clutch at his arm. He's not completely lost...which is a relief to say the least. He's never been crystallized before (he's come close, but never began to turn), but even Cloud knew that if he didn't get him out of here now... ]
I've got you.
[ There's still some distance to the edge of the spring. But at least they're treading the surface now. However, Cloud was beginning to feel the strain and mild sluggishness that followed with being in here for too long. This was fine, he surmises. As long as they don't look back andβ ]
[ "... Cloud?" ]
[ The voice rings so crystal clear in his ears, it almost sounds like they're right here. His mako-infused gaze snaps wide, his hold on Yosuke tightening as he supports the young man. But that still doesn't stop him from spinning slowly in the water, breath hitched at what he's seeing just beneath the water's surface. She looks up at the two of them, smiling the same way she did that fateful day.
She's reaching up to him, as if to beckon him to pull her out. Set her free. Join her. ]
... .... .....
[ He doesn't dip his hand back into the water for her, the weight of something more important at his side. Someone who was here. He instead watches her beneath the surface, waiting for him.
He's already made his choice. Pushing forward, Cloud swims back as fast as he possibly can, powering through the exhaustion of deprived Chroma. Don't look back. Don't ever look back. Not ever again. Look forward. Hold onto what's actually here, Cloud.
What you still have left.
Making it to the edge of the spring, the blond wastes very little time in getting up and hauling Yosuke out of the water with him. When they're a good few feet away, the blond is careful in setting himself down with the man at his side. He removes his gloves immediately, peeling them off with a little effort and a grunt as he wastes no time in holding their hands, giving an affirming squeeze to both. ]
[ He feels Cloud tighten his hold on him, causing a small grunt of confusion even as they begin to tread the surface and he tries to get his feet to catch the ground even a little. However, while Yosuke didn't exactly hear the woman speak to Cloud, he did think he heard soft laughter and a "Hana-can!" that almost has him turning back and even in the cold water he feels something warm trail right down his cheeks.
But... no, she's been gone for over a year now. He had to keep moving forward. Yosuke leans his head against Cloud's shoulder, as his urging him on as well. They really need to get out of the water. He may not be crystallizing yet, but it was going to happen sooner or later and the teen wasn't sure if he was going to have the strength to even do as much as he has. Compared to Cloud, it wasn't much anyway but still.
Yosuke shivers as they finally get out of the water, laying down on the grass and feeling as miserable as he likely looks. Warmth is seeping back into his hands, Chroma flowing up his arms and it takes his sluggish mind a moment to realize Cloud had taken his hands into his own, holding tight without those gloves on that he usually sees him with. When did that happen? Wait, did Cloud say something? ]
[ Seeing (let alone feeling) Yosuke shivering the way he was, it only serves to bolster the blond's determination to get some Chroma back into him pronto. Something. Anything to tell Cloud that what he's doing was working. Still...it's not like this was the most potent method of getting someone back to normal. So when he gets a verbal response from the teen, it's all he needs to keep helping him as he sighs in relief.
There's no tremor to his breath. Shh. ]
Good enough. [ Letting go of Yosuke's hand, he gently slips his arm beneath the teen's back as he slowly helps him sit upright with him. Moonlacing, don't fail me now, he's thinking. ] Take your time.
[ When it's all said and done, Cloud has an arm slung over the shoulders of the taller Yosuke, gently pulling him in so that they could lean on him as much as they'd like, all while he keeps a hold of their hand in his. It's definitely more affectionate than your usual holding of hands. Like Cloud cares. This was about getting his friend back on his own two feet. The more he distracts himself with taking care of the person in front of him, the less time he can spend thinking about what he just left behind. ]
[ Yosuke is barely aware enough to realize what is going on until he's settled and his sluggish mind is catching up. At least his body answers for him in the meantime. He curls into the immediate warmth, legs drawing up to further let him curl up. Cloud is just as drenched in lake water as he is so he's not exactly afraid of getting the guy wet, whereas Yosuke's feeling the cold it doesn't seem Cloud is.
Then again, the guy wields a sword bigger than himself. So, Yosuke isn't exactly surprised.
As the Chroma levels return to a slightly less dangerous level and Yosuke becomes more aware of his surroundings and that Cloud is still holding his hand (the guy was capable of physical affection?), the brunet gives shuddering sigh. ]
Th-Thanks for saving m-my dumb ass.
[ With the returning clarity came the realization that he had been monumentally stupid and nearly got Cloud dragged in as well. But even remembering it, and Saki's voice, his brow furrows and he takes a breath to quell the rising burn in his eyes. ]
I-I just... o-other people arrive h-here when they... s-so I thought...
[ By his own admittance, while he does feel the cold, Cloud's body was also far more resilient to it. When Yosuke offers a trembling thanks, he simply lets out a gentle sigh of his own. He doesn't say anything. Not when the blond would have likely fallen for the very same thing; what would have happened if the roles were reversed? If there was no one present with him to remind him of what was more important? ]
You mean...? [ Did he see someone too? He couldn't see whoever had compelled the teen to stay. There's a moment's pause when he can see the look in his eyes. It's pain. A feeling that he's all too familiar with and threatens to swell up inside of Cloud just by looking at him.
But he quells it all the same. If Cloud hadn't experienced the things that he did, overcome his past sins...he might have dismissed this whole thing altogether. Dismissed ever seeing anything at all. Push it all to the side. But after what he's seen, and the reminiscent pain on Yosuke's face... ]
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He was being stupid, it likely wasn't her. As much as she disliked him, he doubted she would cruel enough to mess with him like this. Right? Right. He turned and weakly took a hold of Cloud's arm, recognizing the spiky hair despite his blurring vision. ]
Cl-Cloud...?
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I've got you.
[ There's still some distance to the edge of the spring. But at least they're treading the surface now. However, Cloud was beginning to feel the strain and mild sluggishness that followed with being in here for too long. This was fine, he surmises. As long as they don't look back andβ ]
[ "... Cloud?" ]
[ The voice rings so crystal clear in his ears, it almost sounds like they're right here. His mako-infused gaze snaps wide, his hold on Yosuke tightening as he supports the young man. But that still doesn't stop him from spinning slowly in the water, breath hitched at what he's seeing just beneath the water's surface. She looks up at the two of them, smiling the same way she did that fateful day.
She's reaching up to him, as if to beckon him to pull her out. Set her free.
Join her.]... .... .....
[ He doesn't dip his hand back into the water for her, the weight of something more important at his side. Someone who was here. He instead watches her beneath the surface, waiting for him.
He's already made his choice. Pushing forward, Cloud swims back as fast as he possibly can, powering through the exhaustion of deprived Chroma. Don't look back. Don't ever look back. Not ever again. Look forward. Hold onto what's actually here, Cloud.
What you still have left.Making it to the edge of the spring, the blond wastes very little time in getting up and hauling Yosuke out of the water with him. When they're a good few feet away, the blond is careful in setting himself down with the man at his side. He removes his gloves immediately, peeling them off with a little effort and a grunt as he wastes no time in holding their hands, giving an affirming squeeze to both. ]
You still with me?
no subject
But... no, she's been gone for over a year now. He had to keep moving forward. Yosuke leans his head against Cloud's shoulder, as his urging him on as well. They really need to get out of the water. He may not be crystallizing yet, but it was going to happen sooner or later and the teen wasn't sure if he was going to have the strength to even do as much as he has. Compared to Cloud, it wasn't much anyway but still.
Yosuke shivers as they finally get out of the water, laying down on the grass and feeling as miserable as he likely looks. Warmth is seeping back into his hands, Chroma flowing up his arms and it takes his sluggish mind a moment to realize Cloud had taken his hands into his own, holding tight without those gloves on that he usually sees him with. When did that happen? Wait, did Cloud say something? ]
H-Hm?
no subject
There's no tremor to his breath. Shh.]Good enough. [ Letting go of Yosuke's hand, he gently slips his arm beneath the teen's back as he slowly helps him sit upright with him. Moonlacing, don't fail me now, he's thinking. ] Take your time.
[ When it's all said and done, Cloud has an arm slung over the shoulders of the taller Yosuke, gently pulling him in so that they could lean on him as much as they'd like, all while he keeps a hold of their hand in his. It's definitely more affectionate than your usual holding of hands. Like Cloud cares. This was about getting his friend back on his own two feet. The more he distracts himself with taking care of the person in front of him, the less time he can spend thinking about what he just left behind. ]
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Then again, the guy wields a sword bigger than himself. So, Yosuke isn't exactly surprised.
As the Chroma levels return to a slightly less dangerous level and Yosuke becomes more aware of his surroundings and that Cloud is still holding his hand (the guy was capable of physical affection?), the brunet gives shuddering sigh. ]
Th-Thanks for saving m-my dumb ass.
[ With the returning clarity came the realization that he had been monumentally stupid and nearly got Cloud dragged in as well. But even remembering it, and Saki's voice, his brow furrows and he takes a breath to quell the rising burn in his eyes. ]
I-I just... o-other people arrive h-here when they... s-so I thought...
[ It was stupid. ]
no subject
You mean...? [ Did he see someone too? He couldn't see whoever had compelled the teen to stay. There's a moment's pause when he can see the look in his eyes. It's pain. A feeling that he's all too familiar with and threatens to swell up inside of Cloud just by looking at him.
But he quells it all the same. If Cloud hadn't experienced the things that he did, overcome his past sins...he might have dismissed this whole thing altogether. Dismissed ever seeing anything at all. Push it all to the side. But after what he's seen, and the reminiscent pain on Yosuke's face... ]
You aren't the only one who saw someone.