lionroll | Empatheias Inbox

I'm not a psychic
But I've got a hunch,
How would you like a Valentine lunch?

[Along with the note is a small bag, containing a couple of cookies from the bakery. The good ones, that are as big as your face and full of chocolate chips.]

[He stayed out a little longer than he meant to. He just didn't want to come back home until he'd sorted himself out over Lance leaving.]

[Another one gone. Another set of memories, another bond forgotten.]

[It hurts in a way he can't describe and he hates it. It makes him wonder why he keeps doing this to himself, why hes bothering to open up when its going to hurt this much every time they lose someone.]

[So, until hes able to work through that grief and anger, drink his coffee without it scalding him, he doesn't come back. He wants to make sure hell be able to keep it together for when he goes to find Hunk. Hunk's going to be the one really hurting, so he knew he needed to put on a strong face for him.]

[So, it's a little in the afternoon when he comes to his door, knocking gently. He's brought with him a few goodies and a mug of hot tea.]

Hey. Um- Hunk, you in there?

[Everything seemed to have been going so well. Hunk couldn't remember when he had last felt so happy, so at peace, even with some of the crazy things that had happened. Just as everything was falling into place, Lance vanished and all those little pieces began to fall apart. At first he thought he was crystalized somewhere. Then he went looking for his amulet.

Neither were found.

The confirmation had come from Allura and Shiro. Lance's name was on the wall of those who had somehow been sent back home. It was like a punch to his gut. The blue Paladin had arrived in this place when Hunk had, they'd been together from day one, and gone through so many weird, and strange events with one another.

Hunk couldn't imagine not having his best friend around. Not like this. Not where he couldn't even call out to him.

Sticking to his room the morning after crying himself to sleep, he felt groggy and lethargic. His head hurt from the excess release of emotions. The bedroom floor, and the bed itself, we're covered with the scattered petals that had been created by his sadness.

Just as he debated getting up to get something to drink, maybe take something to help with his headache, he heard the soft knock, and the familiar voice that followed. Sniffling, Hunk pushed himself up into a sitting position, his voice a bit rough when he replies-]

Yeah, come in.

[Keith bites his lip and pushes the door open. Of course seeing the state his boyfriend in was a nice sock in the gut. He really should have come back a lot sooner. He looks like an absolute wreck.]

[Well, he was here now, right? He could do something. He quietly heads over to him, offering him the mug.]

Hey, big guy. S'not a good look for you.

Wow, you sure do know how to compliment a dude.

[He gives a tired half-hearted smile to show he's just teasing a bit. Hunk knows he looks like a hot mess by now. Accepting the mug, he finds the warmth of its contents welcoming, and he holds it a bit before taking a small, cautious sip.]

Mmmm... That's good stuff.

[With a little bit of careful movement, Hunk scoots over enough so that Keith can sit down on the bed as well. Of course, he has to brush off some of the wilting petals first. He can't rely on his Dunamis training right now to get rid of them. The pain is still too fresh and he's still rather inexperienced.]

I'm nothing if not honest, I guess.

[At least it helped him smile, however small. That's kind of what he was going for. The tea is a favorite of his and Keith brewed it with as much warm feelings as he could muster.]

[He settles down on the bed next to him, setting the small bakery bag in his lap.]

Ah, good. I'm not really an expert at making tea, but I wanted it to help.

[Hearing that helps bring a sense of calm to Hunk's internal distress. Knowing that Keith isn't quite that comfortable in the kitchen, but had made something to cheer him up with is quite touching. Taking another sip he closes his eyes to focus on the way the heat of the tea travels down from his throat and past his chest.]

Thank you, it's helping a lot.

[He gives him a small smile, glad to hear it. He offers him the small bag, finally]

I brought you something from the bakery on the corner, too, if you're up to eating.

[Just a few little treats, some cookies and such.]

I have a feeling you haven't eaten much lately.

[Which is fucking worrisome, honestly.]

[Hunk carefully puts the mug on his nightstand, and gently takes hold of the bag. Opening it up the sweet smell of cookies, and pastry, wafts up and his stomach rumbles loudly in response. A soft heat colors his cheeks.]

Well, I guess I have skipped a couple of meals, heh heh. Not on purpose or anything, I just... I dunno... [His expression falls as the all too familiar burn of tears returns to his eyes. Squeezing them shut he tries to hold them back.] Sorry, I'm sorry...

[Oh geez. There he goes. He's absolutely used to Hunk bursting into tears, he's a very emotional guy. Somehow, though, this time its awful and Keith is both distraught by seeing his boyfriend this upset and anxious because he's not really sure what he can do to help him. He's never been good at comforting people. He's never been close to anyone who got like this.]

[His hands hover nervously as he tries to figure out what to do before one of them inches down to rest against his back. He cautiously rubs a few circles.]

It's- fine. You don't have to apologize. You're upset right? You're allowed to be. It sucks.

[He's been trying to keep himself together. After all, it's not as though Lance is dead or anything. The other teen just isn't here any longer. There's a chance he can come back too. So, really, Hunk knows he shouldn't still be crying over this, but part of him just can't help it. It's the part that feels like a piece of him is missing now.

When Keith's hand comes into contact with his back, moves in soothing circles, Hunk relaxes a bit under the touch.]

It, it does suck. Majorly sucks!! Why... Why'd he have to go back? Why did he go and I didn't? We both came at the same time... What if, what if I'm gonna go away next?

[The circles on Hunk's back stop dead as Hunk's words sink in. There's ice in his blood and it takes him a moment before he can even think or say anything in response to that. Of course, it's occurred to him, but having Hunk say it made it sound all the more ...inevitable.

He was prepared for the worst when they decided to date, but suddenly being thrown the possibility so suddenly, so vehemently, it makes his stomach churn. He doesn't know what to say, because now he's just as scared as Hunk is. They haven't been dating all that long, would Empatheias be so cruel to rip them apart so soon?]

[Lance's sudden departure had brought forth a lot of conflicting feelings, and thoughts. They had been in this place together to so long, Hunk had begun to assume they'd be here for the long haul, like Kevin and so many others they knew.

So, when his best friend, and fellow leg, suddenly vanished, the fear of him following after hit hard along with the deep sense of loss. It was a very potent duo. Hunk had really come to like Verens. Their home, their friends, his little Wyvern, the bakery, and even the weird emotional magic! All of it had become something special to him.

He didn't want to lose any of it.]

I don't want to go, Keith.

[That nearly does his resolve in. He has to take a long, harsh breath before he'll let himself speak at all. When he does, he looks tired and distraught, and he can't quite bring himself to look at Hunk.]

I don't either.

[He couldn't quite keep the shake out of his voice.]

I don't want any of us to go, I don't want to lose everyone and everything we have here-

[And he stops, takes another breath, tries to even his voice out again.]

But there's nothing we can do about it.

[Placing the bag of treats next to the mug, Hunk turned his body around so that he could easily pull Keith into his arms. Hugging the smaller boy to his chest, arms embracing him tightly, the tears that had threatened to escape finally spilled over. Some of them slipped down along his cheeks as water, while others fluttered down as little wilting petals.

He cried for the loss of his best friend, and for the fear of losing everything he held dear here.]

[Keith was passed the point of being alarmed by Hunk's hugs, and even still, this situation was shitty enough to warrant it anyway. When Hunk reaches for him, Keith is already putting his arms around his back, tucking his head up under Hunk's chin like he belongs there, and he let's him cry to his heart content.]

[He gets misty-eyed himself, but he doesn't his best to keep it self-contained for now. He wants Hunk to have this.]

[The tears and soft, hiccuping sobs don't last all that long. Hunk has been crying off and on since he first learned of Lance's disappearance, and his body can only produce so many tears at a time. He gradually quiets, and his shaking frame stills until he's just simply holding Keith close.

Feeling the way the smaller warrior fits so snugly against him... It cheers him up quite a bit. Keith is still here. Shiro, Allura, and Pidge as well. Lance may come back some day. When he did, they'd be there to great him with smiles, and the biggest of hugs.

Hunk keeps Keith in his embrace for another couple of ticks before finally pulling away. A small, affectionate smile brightens his face, despite the weariness around his eyes.]

Thanks, Keith. You're the best boyfriend a dude could ever hope for.

[ When Hunk wakes, he will find that his crystal is glowing! His emotion drops for the month of Octha have resonated with Empatheias' giant crystal, and a reaction has been formed.

By his feet, he will find yellow squirt gun about 12-inches long. It seems this toy never runs out of water and even reacts to Hunk's emotional state. When angry, the water becomes boiling, and when upset, the water becomes ice cold.

(Thank you for submitting to the Emotion Tracker!) ]

[It's been a hell of a week.

Kevin spends a great deal of it mostly alone, while Keith is away, so as to protect both his tender emotions and his nerves...to say nothing of protecting the feelings of the people around him. He's a worrier. He can't help it. And then Keith returns and validates all his fretting and though they both become able to smile a little again the fretting continues unabated because that is an awful lot for Keith to have to process, and also Kevin is grieving, because he never wanted this but he can't let Keith realize he's feeling this way and just -- it's a mess. It's a hell of a week and a hell of a mess.

Throughout all of it, though, there is one thing that Kevin needs to do, and he has not forgotten it. He's been putting it off, because life is awkward and terrible, and it's the sort of thing that has to be done in person. But he hasn't forgotten. So, after Keith has eased himself back into the Voltron house with his teammates, Kevin looks for Hunk.

He finds him in the greenhouse. The swordsman enters quietly, deliberately making just enough noise with the door to provide a warning, so that the boy won't be too terribly startled by his presence. Kevin imagines this conversation is going to be anxiety-inducing enough as it is.]

Hunk?

Edited 2017-11-30 02:40 (UTC)

[It is easily one of the worst weeks Hunk has had since his arrival in Verens. So much so that it had completely eclipsed all the joy he had felt in those moments before Keith slipped from his fingers. Not knowing what his boyfriend would be facing was awful. It lingered in his gut to the point that he couldn't even stress eat. Of course, it didn't help that most things he made were so infused with his tumultuous emotional state that they were practically inedible.

Unless you wanted to cry for hours after eating your scone, that it.

Even when Keith finally does return, it's not the joyful reunion Hunk had daydreamed of. Instead, Keith arrived a mess of nerves, and emotions. He had lashed out at Hunk and then ran off before the Yellow Paladin could get a word out. Not that Hunk blamed him for that. Even though it has been almost a year since he too arrived in this world, he can remember how disorienting it was.

It makes even more sense once Keith tells his story about everything he did back home. Shiro vanishing, Lotor appearing, lion shuffling, weird comets, and terrible battles... Hunk refuses to believe that Keith is dead in their world. At the core of his gut, where all his best instincts come from, he knows it can not be true.

Even with their talks, because there have been a couple already, they're not truly back at the point from before Keith left. They still have things to work through. Understandings and compromises to reach. It's why Hunk has forgone the kitchen, or his workshop, for the green house. Surrounded by the scent of growing things, of damp earth, fertilizer, and flowers, he can pretend for a few moments that things are still the way they were by the bonfire.

Gordon picks up on Kevin's appearance well before Hunk does. However, she knows her father's emotional state well, and remembers the less than positive feelings he has had about her favorite sparkle person lately. So, she quietly huffs a whine, which causes him to turn around as Kevin enters the green house. Hunk frowns when he hears his name, arms crossing over his chest.]

If Keith isn't in his room, he's probably out for a walk with Shiro.

I'm not looking for Keith.

[Stepping inside, Kevin closes the door gently behind him. He's carrying himself differently than usual today, his posture much more straight-backed and formal. The usual purple streaks in his hair haven't recovered from all of his recent grief; he's snowy and pale, but for a few bits of lavender at the tips. He looks like he could sleep for a year and still be exhausted.

He lingers by the door, though, instead of coming further into the greenhouse. Kevin can read Hunk's posture loud and clear, and he deliberately keeps his own arms at his sides as a contrast.]

I want to apologize to you, for -- what happened last week.

Edited (words are hard tonight) 2017-11-30 03:25 (UTC)

[Kevin's response surprises him. Taking the time to actually take in his appearance, Hunk finds himself taken a back by that as well. He's never seen the man as anything, but bright, vibrant, and very purple. It makes his stance relax some, eyes darting off towards the side a bit, uncomfortable.

Before he can ask what the swordsman is here for, the apology comes.

Hunk shifts his weight to the heels of his feet, and then back towards the balls in the front. After having heard, and felt just how angry Kevin had been that night, he wasn't sure what to expect of the other man from that point forward. He had never experienced anything quite like it before. Not from anyone. Eyebrows furrowing more, he casts his gaze down at the ground, focusing on some dirt resting on the floor.]

It's... whatever. Keith's back, things are... fine. It's all fine, so, don't worry about it.

Everything is not fine.

[Kevin says it almost gently, with the faintest shake of his head. And it isn't. Keith is back, yes, but having him here and knowing that his death was at least the sort of death you can respect is about all that's positive in this situation. Now all of them are mourning with the person they're mourning for is trying to cobble together a meaningful afterlife for himself, and since no one else actually saw it happen, traitorous slivers of hope can still hit them all when they least expect it. There's nothing fine about it.]

I love that boy, and...I handle loss very poorly. You frightened me very much. [For all his faults, if there's one thing Kevin almost never hides, it's just who he cares for.] Even so, it doesn't excuse such terrible behavior, and -- if I can help it, I'll not have my temper problem driving a wedge between myself and the rest of you. Things are heavy enough now as it is.

[He doesn't want the other Paladins to see him as someone to be avoided, Hunk especially. Partially for both their sakes. Kevin does genuinely like Hunk. But it's for Keith's sake, too. It will be no good if the boyfriend and the teacher are not getting along. Keith has enough to worry about, so Kevin has to smooth things over.]

And so... [Kevin doesn't bow outright, but he nods his head in such a way that it's clear that he actually might, if he didn't think it would just freak Hunk out.] I am sorry.

[Hunk knows very well that things aren't fine. Nothing has been fine since Keith poofed in front of him. Still, part of him hopes that by saying it enough, it'll eventually become true. Maybe. One day? He has to hold on to that. Just as he has to hold onto the belief that Keith isn't gone back home. Even though their relationship there is very different, Hunk knows that part of him would still feel the same. Would still feel that loss as heavily there as he does here.

No matter what world. Or time. Or reality they may be in, Keith will always be his friend. He will always be someone Hunk cares for.

Hearing Kevin admit how much he had been frightened, the guilt returns and Hunk winces a bit. Looking back now, it was so obvious what had happened, and that he should have reacted differently himself. Of course, Hunk's emotions have always been more on the... reactive side of things.

Gordon's head tilts a bit as she feels the shift in her father's feelings. Her fat tail swishes across the floor softly.]

I'm sorry too. I... I didn't mean to freak you out like that.

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