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[ It's still loud despite Yosuke's silence, but he can see through the noise. Yosuke is here. There's someone here, wishing to support him. He needs to snap out of it, but how can he, when he's one step closer to becoming a monster and ravaging all the worlds that exist? When he worked so hard to--

...

Yosuke will feel something cool wash over him, as if he's trying to breathe while panicking. Let everything go. Calm down. ]

"... Yosuke."

[ He's still curled up. ]

[ oh, buddy... he truly hates the sensation sharing half because it feels weird and half because he doesn't actually like knowing hien feels this way. or that he's trying to forcibly chill and struggling about it. ]

Yeah. I'm still here. [ he doesn't quite touch him again, but he hovers close and seems to actively be focusing on deep breaths and trying to clear his head. he doesn't understand how red string works but he's trying. ] What can I do to help you?

[ He sure is struggling. Hien finally looks up. He didn't cry, but sometimes he just wants to let go. Even then... it doesn't happen. ]

"... A hug."

[ He feels no shame in asking this for the sake of himself. he's just worried about Yosuke. ]

[ he's doing better than yosuke whose response to being hugged by yu while crying was "you dumbass, that's for girls." he's matured since then, and even if he's still not always good with knowing how to give physical affection he does at least know hugs have made him feel better (to his chagrin) and hien is clearly losing a battle here. what the hell is he worried about yosuke for?

so what this means is he kind of looks at him for a few seconds before he concedes. it's a little awkward at first like he's not sure if this is correct, but after a few seconds he actually pulls him closer. do as you wish. ]

[ He's fine with awkward hugs, because once Yosuke pulls him closer, Hien returns the hug with his hands almost clawing at his back. He buries his face into Yosuke's shoulder. He doesn't cry, but he wants to. He works so hard and fails repeatedly. He tries making lives better for what? The sake of his ego? He'll eventually eat all these worlds, so why does it matter? It's just to satisfy himself, but it'll never be enough. Never enough. He just stays like that for a little longer. ]

[ that pretty much makes it less awkward immediately, because hien's busy practically clinging to him and he'd have to be an absolute asshole to ignore that. he doesn't push him off or anything, and he doesn't complain about the hands gripping tight or the warmth of hien's face in his shoulder even if he's mildly worried he's a little too bony to be that comfortable.

instead, he's adjusting his arms to hold him tighter and sort of lets himself think before one of his hands comes up to stroke the back of his hair. that seems right? a slow, repetitive motion to try and calm him down.

there are plenty of other people who are probably better than this, and he's a little sorry this is what hien gets when he can't entirely measure up to what he might need, but he's at least doing his best because he's done his best for yosuke. it's only right. so basically he really can stay all he wants while he falls apart a little and can't quite crawl out of this pit, yosuke's going to keep hugging him until he decides he wants to pull away. ]

[ He has no standard expectations on anything ever, but that's just his personality at work and not because of being jaded. He just simply is.

He quietly breathes in and out. In and out. The hair stroking does work, because Hien thrives off physical affection and that is one thing that will never change. He calms down a little, more natural this time, as he just... stops clawing his back, but the hug stays.

Hien would never want to pull away, so he keeps staying like this. ]

"... Thanks. You feel really warm."

[ Even if Hien is also always warm. ]

[ hien your expectations.... well. guess yosuke just lives here now because if hien's not pulling away he's not pushing the guy off? he's getting some comfort out of this and to be honest, yosuke is just glad he's able to offer that much to him. he'll continue with the hand smoothing over his hair idly and lean back a little to be more comfortable but otherwise he remains solid and secure.

even if that sentence gets a tiny laugh from him. ]

At least I'm good for something. [ it's a joke, but he is a little concerned. ] Are you cold right now? We can go inside if you want. But I'm okay with this, too. [ maybe the river also took hien's body warmth, he doesn't know. he also isn't really pushing for them to go back yet because sometimes you need to just be away for a bit while you're freaking out. relatable content. ]

"'m not cold... Just like warmth."

[ Like how cats will just curl up in front of the heaters or vents. ]

"You're good for more than that. You're good for so many things."

[ He mumbles. ]

[ he can be a cat, fine by him. me as cats as well. but he's only mildly surprised by that statement and he's not sure what to say, so there's a brief hum of acknowledgement. ]

... thanks. [ this isn't about him though, so he can ruminate on that later. ] I know it's not the same, what you're going through right now and what happened last week. But I want to help you however I can.

[ whatever that may look like. ]

"I don't care that it's not the same. Stuff weighs on everyone differently. So I really..."

[ He draws in a breath. ]

"Really... appreciate it."

[ He can never get enough of hugs, but he lets Yosuke go. He seems calmer than before, and the feeling inside turns relatively stable... and then there's void. Emptiness. Hien seems fine though. ]

[ there's a brief little chill, like the kind that settles over you when you don't actually want someone to pull away but you get used to it. ]

... I'm glad you let me be here. [ stuff weighs on everyone differently. ]

"I wanted you here..."

[ Stupid!! Hien sighs and feels the chill.

He cuddles with Yosuke as if on reflex. ]

--ack! [ listen here, yes, he is stupid and he does like affection selectively, as it turns out, but this doesn't mean the sudden resumption of cuddling doesn't surprise him. ]

Okay, okay, jeez. I get it. [ ... allows this anyway and immediately feels content with it. idiot. ]

I'm sorry. I should've told you about the river before.

"... It's fine. I don't think telling me about the river would have prevented this."

[ Would he have eaten the keys anyway? Yeah.

Hien does feel a little more like himself... calmer... ]

[ good. all this is teaching yosuke is that cuddling is the answer to making him feel better, actually. ]

Should I be more worried about you spite-eating stuff in the future?

[ It's a good temporary measure, but temporary nonetheless. Yosuke has done good. ]

"Yes."

[ He won't lie about it. ]

Dude. [ just a snort. then again, his best friend tends to eat shit he probably shouldn't so you know. ] Not even gonna pretend? Well, I guess that's okay. Just another part of who you are.

"There's no point in pretending that I won't, because I know I will. I know myself."

[ He rests his head on Yosuke's shoulder. ]

"... Thanks."

And the thing I do like most about you is that you're yourself, so what am I complaining for? [ haha. but he reaches up to kind of pet over his scalp like you would a dog. ]

But anytime.

[ yosuke he likes you so much he will cook you meat stew one day

but hien ends up getting better and it's largely thanks to yosuke. yippee

frees u ]

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