Devero's lips quirk when Koumyou offers him that same cloth back. What can he do but take it, and use it to wipe off his own face in turn?
No one has ever wanted Devero just for himself before. Even as far back as creche, despite pediatric mantras otherwise, there have always been expectations on him. Be the child who doesn't need parental involvement, the stoic one that the others can look to as an example when their family-claimed crechemates go off on visiting days. Be the studious one, be the reliable one, be the quiet one, so the caretakers can focus their energy on the needier, more volatile children.
Join the Guard and make your creche proud. Join the Scorpions-- do what the other Guards can't. Pull your weight for your community. What can you contribute?
He's always been the supporting character in someone else's story. Chihyoon's hands, Morraine's assistant, Administrator Valdana's handsome and charming consort. How easy it would be to slip into that role again here: Koumyou's confidant, the Sanzo's doting attendant. How familiar, how comfortable.
And Koumyou doesn't want that. Koumyou thinks he's amazing. He'll learn better soon enough, her voice whispers. He'll see what you're really like. Just you wait.
He has to press the cloth against his eyes, holding it in place as if he can't even bear to look, as if this is an illusion that will break apart if he so much as sets eyes on it. "Okay," he whispers. He swallows, and says a little more steadily, "I can do that. Th-thank you."
cw abuse trauma
No one has ever wanted Devero just for himself before. Even as far back as creche, despite pediatric mantras otherwise, there have always been expectations on him. Be the child who doesn't need parental involvement, the stoic one that the others can look to as an example when their family-claimed crechemates go off on visiting days. Be the studious one, be the reliable one, be the quiet one, so the caretakers can focus their energy on the needier, more volatile children.
Join the Guard and make your creche proud. Join the Scorpions-- do what the other Guards can't. Pull your weight for your community. What can you contribute?
He's always been the supporting character in someone else's story. Chihyoon's hands, Morraine's assistant, Administrator Valdana's handsome and charming consort. How easy it would be to slip into that role again here: Koumyou's confidant, the Sanzo's doting attendant. How familiar, how comfortable.
And Koumyou doesn't want that. Koumyou thinks he's amazing.
He'll learn better soon enough, her voice whispers. He'll see what you're really like. Just you wait.He has to press the cloth against his eyes, holding it in place as if he can't even bear to look, as if this is an illusion that will break apart if he so much as sets eyes on it. "Okay," he whispers. He swallows, and says a little more steadily, "I can do that. Th-thank you."