meouch | IC CONTACT.

[ oh.

he's surprised, but after giving it a moment's thought, maybe he shouldn't be. wanting comfort after the last few days' events is a completely normal reaction, especially for someone who may or may not be used to things like that. he feels for adrien, and he finds himself wishing that there was something he could do.

he hesitates for a moment upon being embraced, wondering how he should react. he's not entirely used to any kind of physical affection... but it's natural to return something like this, isn't it? it'll give adrien the comfort he seems to be seeking out, and hey. maybe it'll make himself feel a little better, too.

he returns the hug, gentle but firm. ]

I take back what I said. I don't think it's fair to say that you shouldn't worry... But try not to. I'm not going anywhere. I promise.

[ his voice is soft, hoping to be some kind of relief to him. don't make promises you can't keep, mr. stone. ]

Edited 2016-02-22 15:02 (UTC)

[ considering what adrien's used to, that steven is even trying to reassure him helps, especially since he's aware he might've jumped the gun with the hug a bit. but as he's being hugged back, maybe that wasn't such a bad decision after all?

though maybe he is feeling a little shy about it since it was such a sudden thing to do, and the heat rises to his cheeks at that. it's not really the impression he wants to leave on someone he thinks a lot of... but here they are. ]

I think you're the admirable one.

[ that's what adrien mumbles back first, genuinely. the one being reassured should be steven, considering what he went through.

when adrien pulls away, he rubs at his eyes with the back of his hand. he isn't crying, no, but he needs to Relax. ]

... Thanks. I'm... probably gonna keep worrying, to be honest, but as long as you're fine that's all that matters. [ so he'll push away the guilt right now, and the shock hasn't gone, yet things are settling. and that's manageable enough. ] Sorry, you're probably tired, huh?

[ okay, yeah, it was a little gun jumpy for him. but it's cool, seeing as it did actually make him feel a little better. it's not nearly as awkward as he thought it would be, which is a pleasant surprise.

he'll let adrien be the one to pull away from it first, meeting his eyes with that same smile from before. it's small, but a with a little more sincerity behind it than his usual polite ones. if anything, he's glad to know that adrien sees him that way.

he keeps a reassuring hand on his shoulder, though. ]

That's all I can ask for. [ and a light chuckle at his words. ] A bit, but I can't let myself rest just yet. I still have some unfinished business to take care of.

[ unfinished business...? ah, steven's probably got more people to see. or, at least, that's what he... assumes is what's most likely going on. this is honestly still a little surreal, and there's still a tumbling of emotions in his chest, but it's easier now that steven's really here. he can focus on that beyond anything else. ]

Is it anything I can help with? [ in case there's anything beyond just visiting that steven needs to get taken care of. adrien's a little eager to ask this, for obvious reasons. he... wants to help; even if he's not making it obvious, the weight on him won't go away for a while.

he blinks, realizing something quite suddenly. ] Wait... did you see Skarmory already?

[ that's... an important note. he wants to know that the pokémon under his care's got the relief that comes with knowing his trainer's okay. ]

[ yup. he's got four of his team members under his belt, but that still leaves the other half with their respective humans. he'll need to take some guesses as to where they are and who they're with, but he's got a fairly good idea of where to look. ]

Nothing immediately comes to mind... unless you'd like to keep me company along the way?

[ it's not much, but he'll give adrien the choice if he wants to come along. at his question, he nods and reaches to his belt, taking skarmory's poké ball in hand. ]

We met up outside. He's taking a much-needed break, but I could tell that he was satisfied with your care in my absence. You have my gratitude for taking that on.

[ ah, good. there's another small hint of "okay" that comes with that, too, if the small smile he gives the pokéball is any indication. ]

It's the least I could do.

[ and skarmory wanted that arrangement too, so who was he to say no?

adrien's a little more pensive when it comes to answering steven's question, however. the honest answer is yes, of course, since he wants to make sure steven is okay and be there to support him if necessary — but at the same time he's not sure if steven needs space. ]

... And, um, I don't mind coming along if you want. It's up to you, though.

I wouldn't mind at all. I said it before, didn't I? You're good company.

[ even if he's tired from the ordeals of the past week... it might be nice to have someone familiar to help re-adjust to, you know, not being dead. and from the looks of things, it's what adrien wants, too. ]

[ haha. that gets a worn smile from him. steven did say that, and sure, that's thinking back on the events from a couple of days ago that he honestly... doesn't want to, the fact that steven said that is one of the brighter points. ]

You're saying that even after the sudden hugging?

[ that's his light joke, even if he is still a bit self-conscious about that and everything. but the approval does help. ]

[ once you take away the dying, the dehydration, the hunger, the exposure to the elements, the monsters, and the intense mental trauma, being underground wasn't so bad! there were some good times, man. gooooood times. ]

I wouldn't quite call it a deal-breaker. You're safe for now.

[ he finds himself smiling, too. this is why he likes you, kid. ]

[ look, sometimes you've got to compartmentalize what's happening to keep from kaboooming. that steven's smiling is... nice, and adrien is honestly relieved, more relieved than words can say--that for a moment he forgets the heaviness and the guilt as he thinks, again, that he didn't lose steven. ]

For now, huh?

[ there's a pause that adrien fills with an obvious pensiveness.

and then, quietly and heartfelt with his head slightly dipped: ]

... I'm really glad you're back.

[ he takes note of that pensiveness, and hopes that he's at least managed to make him feel a little better. it'll take some time for both of them to get back to complete normalcy, but this is a start.

he hesitates for a moment, but he takes that dipped head as an opportunity to give his hair a little ruffle. it's brief, but a gesture of familiarity. ]

It's good to be back.

[ .... oh.

that's unexpected, and both hands go up to rest on his head as he lifts it to look at steven. there's a warmth that spreads across adrien's chest with that one simple action; even when it settles, his mind is still registering that event. it's honestly not much, but these aren't gestures he's used to.

judging from the smile that settles on his face, though, it's not a bad kind of surprise at all. ]

Did—

[ .... ]

—Should we go do those things you need to do? So you can get some rest.

[ ah.... ]

[ with a smile like that looking at him, it's easy to resolve himself - he can't be reckless anymore, even if it's for the sake of others. adrien is someone that he wants to protect, and he can't do that if he's incapacitated.

he's tempted to ask if he has anything else on his mind, but holds back. they've had enough heavy talk for today. ]

Yes. Let's go.

[ it'll be an emotionally-charged trip, but one that he can't even consider putting off. his team has been through enough as it is. ]

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