[Ryou leans into Atem's touch, exhaling softly. He's missed this so much, and...while circumstances could be better, he allows himself this kind of selfish thing. After all, Atem had told him he ought to be just a bit more selfish. This isn't so bad, not after so many days, right?
Thus, the cheek rub is reciprocated, however briefly, before Ryou nods.]
You're right...you, Crash, Altair, Nanami...you're all right. I'm strong enough now. I can stop anything else from harming me, if I try.
...I thought I was enough, before I decided to go with the Fog. That's where I made a mistake, but...I've taken steps. I'm going to try not to be scared anymore.
[He doesn't say "I will not be scared anymore." That's a lie, and nephilim, naga, shade, or whatever, he can't bring himself to lie about his shortcomings. But, when Atem lays it all out, Ryou quietly takes his words in, considers what he's asking.
On the whole...it's not much. He's asking Ryou to function as a person, without him. Just in case that...he leaves.
Ryou finds the prospect terrifying. Atem leaving, either because they're no longer compatible, or because Atem's been pulled back to the Sea of Stars.]
I...I need time to straighten myself out. I know you can't be everything for me. That's right, you...you can't hold all of me up. I have friends, and they're important too. I've ignored them more than I should, in my wish to be comfortable. I leaned on you, because you're so, so important to me that I--
[Without much warning, Ryou shifts his upper body forward, and presses his face against Atem's shoulder. Somehow, he swears he can still smell chocolate in the bristly fur.]
--I missed you. I missed you, Atem, I really, really missed you. Please, don't mistake that for me lying to you, but...I-I still want to be close. I don't need you to carry me, just don't leave me for a little while, let me work this out.
I'm like you, I make mistakes too. All I ask is that you give me a chance to make it right, to show you. I can, I can! I could have--as a nephilim--but I understand you needed to go, you couldn't trust me. Because I didn't inspire faith...I will though. S-somehow.
[He's rambling, as he's wont to do when he's anxious, but Ryou means it when he says he'll make this better. He won't make Atem carry the burden of a person who doesn't want to take care of themselves, who would rather submit wholeheartedly to their lover and never have a single individual thought in his mind.
Ryou doesn't pull away immediately, and instead tilts his head, laying flat against Atem's shoulder and trying to smooth out his nerves. He'll move, if he's told to. But he wants to be here, to feel and smell and take in his boyfriend who he'd missed so terribly.
...There's an odd, hard pressure as his new piercing is pressed against fur and skin. It's slight...but noticeable.]
cw; codependent behaviors, but he's trying!
Thus, the cheek rub is reciprocated, however briefly, before Ryou nods.]
You're right...you, Crash, Altair, Nanami...you're all right. I'm strong enough now. I can stop anything else from harming me, if I try.
...I thought I was enough, before I decided to go with the Fog. That's where I made a mistake, but...I've taken steps. I'm going to try not to be scared anymore.
[He doesn't say "I will not be scared anymore." That's a lie, and nephilim, naga, shade, or whatever, he can't bring himself to lie about his shortcomings. But, when Atem lays it all out, Ryou quietly takes his words in, considers what he's asking.
On the whole...it's not much. He's asking Ryou to function as a person, without him. Just in case that...he leaves.
Ryou finds the prospect terrifying. Atem leaving, either because they're no longer compatible, or because Atem's been pulled back to the Sea of Stars.]
I...I need time to straighten myself out. I know you can't be everything for me. That's right, you...you can't hold all of me up. I have friends, and they're important too. I've ignored them more than I should, in my wish to be comfortable. I leaned on you, because you're so, so important to me that I--
[Without much warning, Ryou shifts his upper body forward, and presses his face against Atem's shoulder. Somehow, he swears he can still smell chocolate in the bristly fur.]
--I missed you. I missed you, Atem, I really, really missed you. Please, don't mistake that for me lying to you, but...I-I still want to be close. I don't need you to carry me, just don't leave me for a little while, let me work this out.
I'm like you, I make mistakes too. All I ask is that you give me a chance to make it right, to show you. I can, I can! I could have--as a nephilim--but I understand you needed to go, you couldn't trust me. Because I didn't inspire faith...I will though. S-somehow.
[He's rambling, as he's wont to do when he's anxious, but Ryou means it when he says he'll make this better. He won't make Atem carry the burden of a person who doesn't want to take care of themselves, who would rather submit wholeheartedly to their lover and never have a single individual thought in his mind.
Ryou doesn't pull away immediately, and instead tilts his head, laying flat against Atem's shoulder and trying to smooth out his nerves. He'll move, if he's told to. But he wants to be here, to feel and smell and take in his boyfriend who he'd missed so terribly.
...There's an odd, hard pressure as his new piercing is pressed against fur and skin. It's slight...but noticeable.]