endgame overflow

[idolpro]

Who: You
Where: Game Tower => Hotel and everywhere in between
When: Day 155, evening

[ The last elevators have descended, and the doors finally open, with confetti popping as they do. Congratulations! Every unit receives 1100 points (win + bonus) for your fabulous performance! Isn't that just wonderful? Wasn't it all just worth it? ]

Comments

[romanticlove]

There you are.

[Nova crouches down to his level and drops to her knees beside him as she looks him over. Her heart rises into her throat at the sight of him covered in so much blood. She almost reaches out to touch his cheek on instinct but stops herself before she does so.]

Are you still hurt anywhere?

[She probably didn't look any better, with blood staining her school uniform. She imagines she will have a scar on her chest like his, from where Griffin had impaled her.]

[bloodyrose]

No. . . va?

[ He seems to snap out of his empty trance, eyes noticeably widening as he takes in the sight of her. ]

I'm—

[ Zero catches her hand, though loosely, before she can withdraw it. Sorry if he can't quite form any full sentences at the moment. ]

You. . . All of that. . .

[ She experienced it as well? ]

[romanticlove]

I was there as well, though I didn't see you. I'm sorry.

[She holds his hand, lacing her fingers through his.]

I wasn't able to protect anyone. I was hurt, though not as bad as you were.

[A stab wound to the heart seemed small compared to seeing him like this.]

[bloodyrose]

[ There's something to the way she returns the gesture, his own hands slightly trembling. ]

I couldn't even protect her, either. No one.

[ Kaguya. Just how many times had she died?? Sometimes right before his eyes. ]

. . . I liked it.

[ He starts again, hushed, tightening their hold as his head dips more forwards. His voice wavers, then, jaw tight. ]

I killed them. . . bit into them, and liked it.

[romanticlove]

[The way he speaks reminds her of the nightmares she would have of Ai - of wanting desperately to drain her blood until she could finally become one with her. She had felt something similar after coming back from death. She had been in such a hurry but in the end hadn't done anything. Part of her was glad for that now.

When she speaks, her voice is soft and she stares into his eyes. She wanted to be a comfort to him, if possible. She could feel his turmoil, making him tense as he spoke to her. All she wanted was to make it go away. More than anything, she wanted to comfort him.]

There is nothing wrong with what you did. We weren't completely ourselves.

[When he leans forward, her cheeks flush. It was hard to discern intent when he was this distraught, so she stays still and just listens to him while still holding his hand. She had never seen her father like this, that she can remember. It reminded her of herself.]

[bloodyrose]

[ His gaze diverts from hers, while clenching his free hand into a white-knuckled fist. ]

I know, but it's— That doesn't suddenly make it okay!

[romanticlove]

[Her voice raises slightly before she tries to lower her voice again.]

I know that! But- but the important thing is you're here.

[She doesn't know what he did but already decided to forgive him for whatever he was punishing himself for.]

[bloodyrose]

[ Nova suddenly has him without words, but instead with the feeling of his breath stuck in his throat. That same hand soon goes to his face, his efforts fruitless with how he's trying not to tear up. He's still trembling a bit. ]

. . . It's really over.

[romanticlove]

It is. It's over now.

[She wanted, more than anything, to just hug him and comfort him the way he surely did when she was a child. Reaching to gently pull his hand away from his face, so as to show him he didn't have to hide from her, she takes both of his hands in hers. The smell of blood on his skin and in his hair was heavy, but she was able to push it down. He needed her.]

[bloodyrose]

[ She's doing plenty already, even if she doesn't believe so. In the here and now, and because of how important Nova has become to him, Zero may see her as an anchor. He had lost himself far too many times in that house. ]

[romanticlove]

[At last she gives in to the urge to hug him. Hopefully he wouldn't push her away.]

No matter what you did... you're someone who protects others. I really do believe that. You haven't strayed from that. So please don't blame yourself.

[bloodyrose]

[ Initially he freezes with the sudden full-on contact. A moment after that has Zero bringing his other arm up to return the embrace around her, eyes closing as he wills himself to calm down.

Thank you. ]

[romanticlove]

[She does her best not to cry. There was no need to confuse him and she hadn't been injured nearly to the same degree as him, nor was she covered in as much blood. Childishly, she hoped just an embrace would be enough to help him through this. She wanted to be enough to help him. If she couldn't be strong enough to fight by his side yet, this would have to do. After a moment she lets him go, though she doesn't pull away from him just yet.]

Do you need me to share with you? Like we talked about before.

[She could at least offer him her blood, if he needed it.]

[bloodyrose]

[ His hold on Nova tightens slightly with her question. Despite his answer, otherwise, his head nudges in the crook of her neck— ]

I think. . .

[ Quiet, murmured against her. ]

Right now. . . I just want return to the hotel to bathe and sleep.

[ And maybe not wake for several days. Softer, still: ]

But thank you. Really.

[romanticlove]

[Her eyes close when she feels him nudge her neck. When he speaks, she swallows the breath she hadn't realized she was holding.]

Of course. I think we all could use that.

[Gently she pets his head, running her fingers through his silvery hair.]

I just feel like I was completely useless in there - [She laughs bitterly] so the least I can do is be useful to you.

[bloodyrose]

You already are. Just being here.

[ He lets out a weighted breath. The soft, gentle touch is exactly what Kaguya had done when they were growing up, and it's immediately soothing. ]

[romanticlove]

[She wants to protest that she didn't do anything special by being here, but he's already much calmer. She just keeps on petting his head absently.]

If that's enough for you, I'll be satisfied with that.