synopsychic | [Private Level 2 to basically everyone Tachibana knows well]

[[Hugs would just befuddle him, especially in his already a bit shaken state]]

[[He nods]]

I was stupid and called him by Kenzaki's name in confusion at first. Thought he was just playing around. [[a deep sigh]] He got upset when I said he reminded me of someone else... got more and more upset as we talked. [[another puff of humourless laughter]] Even said I was "just as thick" as someone else...

[[and now he's kicking himself for not putting it together then]]

He doesn't know you like this, Tachibana.... It's not a reflection on you. You got under his skin. That doesn't mean it's all over.

[Never did answer the food question, did he. Well, Shiro has some snacks in his hammerspace. He pulls out a handful of Nutter Butter cookies and a red sports drink, pressing them into Tachibana's hands.]

Eat. It'll help the shaky feeling. Take a deep breath.

I reminded him of this world's me. [[it's a soft correction]]

[[He blinks at the cookies and drink before shaking his head slightly.]] It's not-- [[A hesitation. He's not good at this explaining feelings like. Yelling about things defensively, he could do, but this? There was too much, all wrapped in a need to do something to fix it somehow. If his other self's death had caused this... ]]

Just one.

[Shiro's gently insistent. Not going to take no for an answer here, mister. You're in shock, even if it is minor, and eating gives the body something to focus on. It really will help.]

I know it's hard to talk about. Could you show me instead? Would that be okay?

[[And there's that fidgeting that was so often present when Tachibana was uncomfortable. It's a better sign than the worn look. ]]

...I don't know how to do that, on my own.

[[but Shiro had seen... basically most of the worst of his memories, in the dungeon. So at least there wasn't that fear to get in the way.]]

You and me both. [sigh.]

All right. So you reminded him of this world's version of yourself. He said as much?

[[A small, awkward hesitation as he fidgets with the cookie in his hands.]]

He didn't say who. Just that it was just the same as someone. Stopped himself before he said who.

Okay. And then you met this world's Miss Sayako.

[[Tachibana nodded, fingers stilling]]

She's... one of the stone people, here. But she still recognized me, the same shock as if it was... [[he trails off, pressing his lips together]]

She wouldn't recognize me if I never existed, in this world... And losing all hope...

[[he trailed off again]]

She's never been there, in worlds where I'm still myself... Garren's world, she had been killed... and in that world... he's who I would have been, if I had had an overlay.

Which you think means that whomever was in your place here, has passed away. She saw you, recognized him in you. Did she say anything to you before you left?

[[he shakes his head]]

...I teleported away before she could say anything...

[[and he looks very very guilty at that]]

Can you articulate why you teleported? Were you frightened?

[[He hesitates, fiddling again with the still uneaten cookie before shaking his head]] I don't think so... Not-- not like... not that sort of afraid.

[[It was hard to put into words, the feeling that had him panicking. It had been such a shock...]]

[He has an idea what it might be.]

Was it love. She surprised you, but there she was, right in front of you. You suddenly had hope. But she became a Pillar. You couldn't handle the emotional influx and needed to get away before you showed it?

[[A long silence as he continues to fidget]]

...I'm not the me she knew. What right did I have to show up in front of her like a ghost? To have the illusion of someone she'd lost back for a short time...

[[he trails off, shaking his head]] With how much it hurt, even just the memories of overlays being with her... how much crueler would this be?

You can't help being yourself. And you didn't have any way to know she was here. You didn't exactly do it on purpose.

Look at me, please.

[[There's a long, hesitant moment before he finally does, expression unsure and unhappy.]]

[He holds Tachibana's eyes firmly, tired empathy creating crows feet around his eyes.]

It is impossible. For you to have known.

[A brief pause for that to sink in. No, don't you drop your gaze, Mister.]

Let me ask you something. When you were in those other worlds. The ones where you saw Sayoko alive and well there. It hurt like the dickens, but would you have rather not seen her? Would you have rather found out after the jaunt that she'd been there and you hadn't had the chance to look at her one more time and hear her voice?

[[His hands fidget as he very much wants to look away, but he's already run away once today, which is once more than he should have.

He's silent and still a long moment before slowly shaking his head, eyes prickling with the start of tears he did not want to give in to]]

...Yeah. Come on. I don't care how manly and aloof you are. Come here.

[He reaches out an arm and beckons Tachibana over. Come get a hug.]

Garren? Do you think you could maybe bring a blanket over if he's got one?

[[Garren nods, hopping down to toddle off to one of the side rooms, the one Kenzaki had made as Tachibana just blinks in confusion, looking almost lost]] I-- what?

[[He has no idea what Shiro's on about, but he does as instructed anyway]]

Come here.

[As soon as Tachibana's close enough, Shiro pulls him in against his chest in a hug.]

I'm not going anywhere, and I'm not going to melt if you cry. You've had a bad shock. So take a breath and let me hold you and take care of you for five minutes.

Sayoko's a strong lady. She'll want to see you again. But it's okay not to be ready for that just yet. Relax for a little bit. It won't hurt anything to take a breather.

[[Tachibana's eyes widen and he all but freezes at the sudden, unexpected closeness.

But it's not more than a moment before the tension starts to melt out of his frame at the warmth and the promise of safety that comes with the arms around him. Slowly, his shoulders sag, head leaning against Shiro's chest as something inside him releases.

Just a few minutes. Just a few minutes would be fine to let his guard down... right?]]

There we go. You're safe here. No one's going to see you but me and Garren, and we understand, don't we buddy.

[Shiro helps Garren get the blanket up around Tachibana's shoulders and tucks it into place so it won't slide. Producing another cookie from the air, he offers it to the little pogemon.]

Thanks Garren. We've got him, don't we. We'll make sure he's got his feet under him again.

[He rubs his palm slowly over Tachibana's back, hoping the warmth and motion will help ease some of the instinctive tightness and let him relax a hair more.]

This stuff hits hard and fast and without warning. But we've been through things like this before, haven't we. Breathe, okay? And eat a dang cookie already.

[[There's a small, tired huff that escapes]] Always the people that matter who see me at my worst, isn't it...

[[it's tired sounding, but for once... not especially bitter. There was an odd sort of logic to it all, in a way.

...and he was realizing much rather have it be a friend with their hands on his shoulders as he's falling apart, than a stranger. Even if it had always felt like a failing that it had almost always been Kenzaki there, to see his mentor in such a state.

There's too much tension for it to fully ease, the underlying tightness such a permanent presence that it likely would never unknot, but his shoulders slump fully as he lets himself go just a bit more.

Garren sits down on the floor, lifting up his mask to stuff the cookie in his face before hesitating. With a slow, deliberate motion, he carefully pulls off the helmet, the soft, cartoonish maroon face underneath looking very hesitant and timid before he presses his lips together in determination, getting back to his feet and walking over to his Slammer. Huge emerald colored eyes look up before he closes them ad presses his face against Tachibana's side, lightly nuzzling him.

It's enough to make Tachibana blink over with confusion before he understands the intent of the gesture, one hand drifting over to rest on the back of his partner's head.

Shiro's last request, however, gets a faint huff]]

I'd get crumbs all over you.

[Private Level 2 to basically everyone Tachibana knows well]

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