Once they settle on the choice of that place, it slams into Yu all at once how tired he is. The thought of water and respite and safety makes exhaustion settle into his bones. Logically he knows it's because the promise of safety is draining the adrenaline from his veins, but he feels so tired all at once, and abruptly wonders how long he's been down here.
Long enough for his friends and family to notice, probably. He'd already stayed a little too long even before the floor had given way beneath him. Are they already coordinating search parties for him? What must Nanako have thought when she woke up and he wasn't there to make breakfast with her?
A sick feeling of guilt washes up his throat like bile, and he does his best to ignore it once they're upon the fourth floor and he's limping his much slower way towards the clearing. He doesn't want to overwhelm Chatterclock too much with his own feelings - his own mistakes.
He's actually a little glad of it when they reach the cozy, glowing space, and Chatterclock's thoughts unwind from his own. They feel separate again, and it lets Yu breathe, alone in a place where he can reorganize his barriers and emotions. What isn't so nice is Chatterclock's flow of magic to his ankle ceasing, and between his exhaustion and the sudden burst of pain Yu reels a little, gasping. Did he break it? He was doing a lot of jumping and running on a pre-existing injury... the chances he made it worse are pretty high.
Slowly, achingly, he limps over to the little babbling brook, It's a laborious process lowering himself beside it, and frankly, Yu gives in to his first temptation: to simply flop down onto his back and shut his eyes. Normally he'd never allow this kind of lowering of his own guard, but Chatterclock is here, too. Yu trusts him.
For a long moment he's quiet, not following up on his promise of questions and curiosity. Internally, he's debating on whether or not he wants to take off his boot and observe the damage, or just leave it on and try to make it for the surface without further treatment. He can do little more on his own, anyway. His magic reserves are pretty much spent.
Eventually, though, he opens his eyes and glances at Chatterclock. He set the sword down beside him, within reach and view, though Yu let go of him once he stretched out on the floor. Now he only looks, not reaching out to grasp that already too familiar hilt again. ]
What was that?
[ He's referring to the pact, though the vague gesture of his hand - meant to encompass everything that happened since the Hellbull crashed into Chatterclock's room - may not make that completely clear.
Or maybe Chatterclock can already read him well enough to figure it out. ]
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Once they settle on the choice of that place, it slams into Yu all at once how tired he is. The thought of water and respite and safety makes exhaustion settle into his bones. Logically he knows it's because the promise of safety is draining the adrenaline from his veins, but he feels so tired all at once, and abruptly wonders how long he's been down here.
Long enough for his friends and family to notice, probably. He'd already stayed a little too long even before the floor had given way beneath him. Are they already coordinating search parties for him? What must Nanako have thought when she woke up and he wasn't there to make breakfast with her?
A sick feeling of guilt washes up his throat like bile, and he does his best to ignore it once they're upon the fourth floor and he's limping his much slower way towards the clearing. He doesn't want to overwhelm Chatterclock too much with his own feelings - his own mistakes.
He's actually a little glad of it when they reach the cozy, glowing space, and Chatterclock's thoughts unwind from his own. They feel separate again, and it lets Yu breathe, alone in a place where he can reorganize his barriers and emotions. What isn't so nice is Chatterclock's flow of magic to his ankle ceasing, and between his exhaustion and the sudden burst of pain Yu reels a little, gasping. Did he break it? He was doing a lot of jumping and running on a pre-existing injury... the chances he made it worse are pretty high.
Slowly, achingly, he limps over to the little babbling brook, It's a laborious process lowering himself beside it, and frankly, Yu gives in to his first temptation: to simply flop down onto his back and shut his eyes. Normally he'd never allow this kind of lowering of his own guard, but Chatterclock is here, too. Yu trusts him.
For a long moment he's quiet, not following up on his promise of questions and curiosity. Internally, he's debating on whether or not he wants to take off his boot and observe the damage, or just leave it on and try to make it for the surface without further treatment. He can do little more on his own, anyway. His magic reserves are pretty much spent.
Eventually, though, he opens his eyes and glances at Chatterclock. He set the sword down beside him, within reach and view, though Yu let go of him once he stretched out on the floor. Now he only looks, not reaching out to grasp that already too familiar hilt again. ]
What was that?
[ He's referring to the pact, though the vague gesture of his hand - meant to encompass everything that happened since the Hellbull crashed into Chatterclock's room - may not make that completely clear.
Or maybe Chatterclock can already read him well enough to figure it out. ]