[Private Level 2 to basically everyone Tachibana knows well]

[triggerhappytraitor]

Sayoko--

This world's Sayoko is here. Alive.

[[There might be a bit of a note of panic in his mental voice]]

She saw me. Recognized me...!

....and she's a Pillar.



[[Anyone who comes looking will find him in the garage, sitting on the couch with his head in his hands, Garren hovering worriedly at his side.]]

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[triggerhappytraitor]

[[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.

[vrepit_no]

That's because we care. And are the last people to judge you.

[Now there's a surprise... He's never seen Garren without the helmet. But the bond between pogemon and slammer is beautifully clear, and it catches briefly under Shiro's breastbone. He needs to spend some time with Gilmore and the gang.]

[Tachibana's protest makes him snort.]

Oh no. Whatever shall I do. Peanut butter crumbs are my nemesis. I'll melt and shrivel away and need to be carried in a jar. Cookie. Eat it. You want me to taste test for you? Even Garren had one.

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[And yet always the first people he worried about judging him...

Another amused huff escapes, Tachibana's shoulders lifting slightly with the sound]]

Later. Let me rest a moment.

[[He so rarely ever rests that it feels... odd to request it. But for once, he feels like he can. It's a feeling he hadn't really had since...

A long, slow breath leaves him as he finally is able to place it. Those timid moments in Sayoko's office, the later, more relaxed ones where the exhaustion had just crept up on him, luling him to sleep even as Sayoko was speaking. Even those in between times when he had arrived to find her room empty, but her coat still hanging up.

It was that same feeling. This is somewhere safe. Safe because someone who cared was there, or would be there soon. Someone who cared that he didn't have to pretend for...

Slowly, another small knot of tension eased from his shoulders.]]

[vrepit_no]

[Shiro's voice softens and drops to a murmur as he tucks his chin down next to his friend's head.]

Sure. Take your time. Not going anywhere.