...so what should I do? Tell her everything-- and risk forcing her to remember 500 years of loneliness and pain?
[The words are-- half-hearted. It's not like he disagrees with Kaeya, after all.]
If the end result is going to be losing her either way... then I'd rather it be while protecting her from something painful. Even if it means lying to her.
[Because he truly didn't know. Kaeya had the same predicament not four years ago when Crepus died and he decided to come clean to his brother. What he did had consequences. He could have continued on with the lie, only to be found out later and disowned by Diluc or come clean and get disowned by Diluc. Despite their recent truce, Kaeya wasn't sure if the result would have been any different had he waited until Diluc had enough time to grieve.
Aether was going to have to figure out when and if he can tell Lumine.]
But it sounds like you've made your decision. Just be prepared for the inevitable. Besides, the secret your keeping is not quite like mine, I'm sure she'll understand.
[Kaeya didn't need to look to see that his own had gone back to the normal deep blue. So much for a date, even if he had been half-joking about that.
He nodded, but he didn't rise from his spot. He lifted his hand in a wave, a smile on his face that didn't reach his eyes and was at fake as all could be. His usual mask for a time like this.]
See you.
[If he was certain a bar was still open, Kaeya would probably go get himself a drink or three. As it were, he stayed where he was.]
[As Aether makes his way back, boarding the train back to where he's been temporarily staying with Lumine, he plays their conversation in his head over and over again, trying to figure out when it went wrong. It was the very start, wasn't it? When Aether said he already knew of Kaeya's heritage. Or was it when he mentioned Lumine's missing memories? Or maybe the conversation was just doomed from the start?]
[Maybe he should have never opened up about himself at all--]
[The pain that surges through his chest is so sudden and so painful, that he doesn't even realize that he was screaming. It felt like his heart was being torn in half, and in an instant, he's flat on his back as concerned passengers circle around him to ask if he's okay. But just as quickly as it struck, it was over. And all Aether was left with was a distinct emptiness in heart.]
[Ah... he knows this feeling. That's twice now he's severed a bond in Nippon. He really wasn't very good at this, was he?]
[He picks himself and dusts off his clothes. And then quietly makes his return to their room, falling into bed and into a dead sleep.]
[Kaeya hadn't yet moved from his spot still. Instead, he had taken to lying down on the grass and looking up at the stars. The train ride was going to suck going back, so he would probably just need to find an inn that was still open. Maybe he could crash at Venti's dorm?
He sighed, his mind still wandering back to the conversation instead of the intended distraction he wanted. This was the very reason he hated telling the truth. Someone always got hurt. Usually himself, but this time it was Aether and--
Kaeya abruptly curled up, clutching his chest as the pain struck him hard with a sharp cry. But, it seemed to end almost as soon as it began, leaving a horrible emptiness behind.
He didn't understand what had happened, as this was the first time a bond had broken with him. But he had a feeling it had to do with Aether. He carefully uncurled himself, flopping back onto the grass. The stars blurred as tears welled up as well and he cursed.
He had a call to make, he wasn't going to be able to go back home like this.]
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[The words are-- half-hearted. It's not like he disagrees with Kaeya, after all.]
If the end result is going to be losing her either way... then I'd rather it be while protecting her from something painful. Even if it means lying to her.
no subject
[Because he truly didn't know. Kaeya had the same predicament not four years ago when Crepus died and he decided to come clean to his brother. What he did had consequences. He could have continued on with the lie, only to be found out later and disowned by Diluc or come clean and get disowned by Diluc. Despite their recent truce, Kaeya wasn't sure if the result would have been any different had he waited until Diluc had enough time to grieve.
Aether was going to have to figure out when and if he can tell Lumine.]
But it sounds like you've made your decision. Just be prepared for the inevitable. Besides, the secret your keeping is not quite like mine, I'm sure she'll understand.
[It was the only hope he could give Aether.]
no subject
I... should probably get back to her now. If I'm gone too long, she might come looking for me.
[There's a smile on his face when he looks down at Kaeya -- but the blue has long since faded out of his hair.]
Thanks again for coming out all this way. I'll... see you around?
no subject
He nodded, but he didn't rise from his spot. He lifted his hand in a wave, a smile on his face that didn't reach his eyes and was at fake as all could be. His usual mask for a time like this.]
See you.
[If he was certain a bar was still open, Kaeya would probably go get himself a drink or three. As it were, he stayed where he was.]
no subject
[As Aether makes his way back, boarding the train back to where he's been temporarily staying with Lumine, he plays their conversation in his head over and over again, trying to figure out when it went wrong. It was the very start, wasn't it? When Aether said he already knew of Kaeya's heritage. Or was it when he mentioned Lumine's missing memories? Or maybe the conversation was just doomed from the start?]
[Maybe he should have never opened up about himself at all--]
[The pain that surges through his chest is so sudden and so painful, that he doesn't even realize that he was screaming. It felt like his heart was being torn in half, and in an instant, he's flat on his back as concerned passengers circle around him to ask if he's okay. But just as quickly as it struck, it was over. And all Aether was left with was a distinct emptiness in heart.]
[Ah... he knows this feeling. That's twice now he's severed a bond in Nippon. He really wasn't very good at this, was he?]
[He picks himself and dusts off his clothes. And then quietly makes his return to their room, falling into bed and into a dead sleep.]
no subject
He sighed, his mind still wandering back to the conversation instead of the intended distraction he wanted. This was the very reason he hated telling the truth. Someone always got hurt. Usually himself, but this time it was Aether and--
Kaeya abruptly curled up, clutching his chest as the pain struck him hard with a sharp cry. But, it seemed to end almost as soon as it began, leaving a horrible emptiness behind.
He didn't understand what had happened, as this was the first time a bond had broken with him. But he had a feeling it had to do with Aether. He carefully uncurled himself, flopping back onto the grass. The stars blurred as tears welled up as well and he cursed.
He had a call to make, he wasn't going to be able to go back home like this.]