𝖘𝖆𝖑𝖙𝖇𝖚𝖗𝖓𝖙 𝖎𝖓𝖇𝖔𝖝.

[abyssale]

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LEXI

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[abyssale]

( Lexi allows his gaze to be dragged to Dani. )

Why do you insist on caring for me? I'm the epitome of everything that's harmed you in our world.

[godspark]

[ he frowns.

it's a question he's asked himself so many times. he's not sure that he understands the answer, even now.

but he knows how he feels, so that's what he says. ]

I tried not to. But I can't help it, Lexi. I hate vampires. But you...

It's all different with you. You're all I think about. Maybe that makes me a fool, too, but if I am, then I'm your fool.

[abyssale]

( that's... there's no logic to it.

maybe that's the point. he's heard people say it over the centuries. love doesn't always follow logic. )

I love you, you fool. ( Lexi murmurs as he leans in to kiss Dani. )

[godspark]

[ there is no logic.

there's no sense to that word, either. dani couldn't explain what love is if he tried. some of his books talk about it. he's heard people say it before, too, but it never seemed real to him. not even once.

until now.

he returns that kiss, pressing into it and sliding his fingers back into lexi's hair again. when their lips break, his eyes stay closed for a moment, then slowly open. ]

I love you, Lexi. That says it better.

[abyssale]

( Lexi nods his head. ) I know you do, Dani.

[godspark]

[ he leans his head on lexi's again, smiles, and wraps the blanket a little tighter around them.

the stars are out now, and the moon is much brighter. ]

I'm going to take care of you.

[ he's looking at the moon when he says it, but he's still, very softly, talking to lexi. ]

[abyssale]

( Lexi leans in against Dani in that blanket. he looks up to the sky with him and sits on that. )

You can't.

[godspark]

[ his hands are gentle, and still warm, but his arms are solid and keep lexi against him. ]

You think not. I will, though. I'm not asking permission.

[abyssale]

( well... shit. he doesn't know how to counter that in his moment.

so he'll let Dani live with the delusion for now.

he looks out at the lake. ) She is pretty. ( he says of the moon and her reflection. )

[godspark]

[ Dani smiles. ]

She's beautiful.

I wish she could hear us. [ Nocturna. ] I wish she could see how much we missed her.

[abyssale]

Would she forgive us? ( Lexi frowns. ) Maybe it's best she doesn't hear us.

[godspark]

[ a minor little shake of dani's head. ]

No. We don't deserve it. If our world was her vengeance, she deserves to have it, and we deserve our suffering.

Humans, vampires, wolves. All of us.

[abyssale]

( Lexi sits on that a moment. then nods. ) Our world failed her.

We don't deserve the moon at home.

[godspark]

[ his head shakes again. he closes his eyes, and feeling tears behind them, he turns to press his cheek back against lexi's head. ]

I told you, looking at her makes me sad. I love her. But it always ends this way.

[abyssale]

( Lexi is surprised by the reaction. he feels... anger and pain when he sees the moon. shame even.

he reaches up to brush Dani's cheek. ) Why sad?

[godspark]

[ he murmurs at that touch, and turns his head to kiss lexi's fingers. ]

I don't know. I just am, I...

[ a shake of his head. ]

I know it's just a story. The gods are dead if they were ever real. It's made me cry all my life, even so.

[abyssale]

( he leans in to kiss the top of his head. ) It's just a story.

All we feel... it's probably just guilt the stories have pushed onto us. They're just objects in the sky. It's not real.

[godspark]

I know.

[ this emotion doesn't make sense.

but lexi says we feel. and he talks about feeling mocked, judged. that makes no sense, either. it's not just dani, it's both of them.

he opens his eyes, and looks at lexi again. that brings back his smile, enough that he leans in and kisses him again. ]

You're real. This is real. I don't know how I can be sad when you just told me you loved me, that's stupid. I'm sorry.

[abyssale]

Now you're the one apologizing. ( Lexi laughs slightly and shakes his head. he leans in to kiss him again. )

It doesn't matter. We're here together. That's all that matters.

[godspark]

[ that part, he can agree with. he nods, and leans in to kiss lexi's smile. he thinks he could kiss him all night. ]

It is.

Thank you for talking to me even though it hurt. Thank you for trusting me.

[abyssale]

Yes, so don't tell everyone I was crying. ( he teases.

but he does add more seriously. ) And the blood power I showed you. Tell no one, please. Should I need it, it's best no one expect it.

[godspark]

Lexi.

[ dani shifts so that he can look him in the eyes, and rests his hand against the side of his jaw. ]

All of your secrets are safe with me. I promise.

[ ... ]

It's a blood power?

[ he thought lexi was just moving him with his mind. that's far more involved than he realised. ]

[abyssale]

( oh.

he thought that obvious but maybe not?

he blinks at Dani. ) Was that not obvious?

[godspark]

[ how was that possibly obvious.

a minor shake of his head, while the look he gives lexi does most of the work. ]

No, there was just this...tug, pulling me to my knees and holding me there. I thought you were just doing that with your mind.

What were you actually doing?

[abyssale]

I was grabbing your blood. ( he tells him like it's the most normal thing. ) I can feel it. Even now. Not just in the way other vampires can. It's... in me somehow...

( he tilts his head, then lifts his hand. Dani's hand raises with it, and Lexi twists his fingers and Dani's fingers curl in on themselves. ) Feel it more closely. The pressure is coming from inside you. Not from an external force.