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His gloved hand tightens on Raven's shoulder. "There's no point ruminating over things you can't change. It's done. It clearly needed to be done."

Slowly, he nods, though it's an almost robotic movement. "Rationally, I know you're right. But I feel so filthy."

He lied. He betrayed. He...

Damn it.

"...Apologies. I'm probably being a nuisance right now. I shouldn't be ungrateful. It means a lot that you would care enough to make sure I'm in safe company. I'm... sorry that Ken didn't understand your intentions."

Edited 2024-04-14 00:09 (UTC)

They walk in silence again for a while. What can he even say to that? That he was born filthy, and before he was very much older than Raven, he'd have given his eyes to feel it for something as small as betrayal?

“If I cared about being understood, I wouldn't have done ninety percent of what I've done. As I said, we play the hands we're dealt. We don't cry about the games we lost."

It sounds good. But like an iceberg...

"You're allowed to feel, Magpie. I don't want you to feel like you have to bury everything for my sake. You matter, too."

He's still clinging. What else can he do? What else can he say?

He doesn't want Magpie to leave, too.

"Trust me, I'm burying no more than I usually do."

The door to the Velvet Room rises up in front of them, and Magpie gives it a glare. On the other hand....

"If you're sure..." He doesn't want to push too hard. Doesn't want to offend. He just follows along. "I'm... sorry if I worried you. I know you weren't too happy with my involvement in the operation."

"No," he murmurs, reaching for the bright blue door, and thinking on a conclusion that's taken him time to reach. "If anything, I'd say we forget too often that you're responsible."

And then he opens the door, and they step inside. Magpie immediately looks for Igor, sitting there behind his desk, with his ridiculous nose and his sickening grin, with his puppet strings and his control and his whole supercilious ass.

His whole face distorts with loathing. "You. Why did you do this?"

Despite the pointed statement, Igor remains as calm as ever. "All I did was provide a safe haven where troubled souls can form connections and grow stronger alongside one another. I understand that today was an arduous experience, but I cannot simply snap my fingers and render everyone happy."

He shakes his head. "Doing so would be a violation of your will, and as I understand it, there are already a fair few of you who have lived such an experience."

Raven's hold on Magpie tightens. He's not sure what to say.

"That's fucking bullshit, Igor," he snaps, taking a couple of sharp steps closer. "You mutter your cryptic nonsense about connections and bonds and you think that makes you whiter than white? That it gives you the right to interfere? You pulled us from our lives! You have a duty of care to the people here!

"Why do you even bother with people who pose such a threat? That robot. The Shadow Yuki, that psychopathic version of Sakura. The Amada boy." And him, of course, always him.

"Magpie—"

Before Raven can say more, Igor lifts a hand. "All of you are victims of circumstance. All of you have suffered horrible lives, and many of you were exploited by forces beyond your comprehension. That is not to say that I wish to rob you of your agency or choice, but during your time here, you have made meaningful connections. You have learned of a preventable future and have gained tools to break free of the chains that once bound you."

He pauses, sighing softly. "I do understand that you have unfinished business. There is one you need to speak to. In time, that may be a possibility, but when reaching across time and space, I must act carefully, especially in times where he is in command. Of the two of you, I knew you were the one who needed connections the most, and so I started with you.

All of the others you mentioned equally need freedom from the oppressive forces that have used, manipulated, or otherwise placed them in precarious positions where they have far less control than they wish to believe. Amada was taken advantage by a malevolent force at his most grieving and vulnerable, and while it is not my place to spill all his secrets, his connection with the boy beside you has made a dent in his armor. Though he fled tonight, know it was not your fault."

He gives a rather pointed look at Magpie as he says that, before looking to Raven. "Or yours, for that matter."

Edited 2024-04-14 16:11 (UTC)

But Magpie has stopped in his tracks, face pinched and white. Igor still means to bring Amamiya here, to this place where–? "You're not to bring him here."

Shit, he knows it for a ridiculous thing to say the moment it leaves his mouth. "I have it in hand. He certainly has bonds in abundance, as I'm sure you know, and I have no need of him here."

"There is no shame in missing him. I believe there is a benefit to the two of you speaking in a place where time is in abundance... but it will have to wait, for now." His attention still on Raven, he adds, "For now, I believe there are those who require your more immediate support."

Raven ducks his head at that. Way to put him on the spot.

"...It's up to you. If you have more to say to him, it's fine."

Fire rushes back into his veins, driving out the ice. How dare he—who does he think he—ugh, FUCK Igor.

He turns away, drawing calm around himself on a wing and a prayer as he nods at the Inaba door. "Come on. Our prison warden is right, for once."

"All right."

Raven follows along as they return to the Dojima House.

When they approach the house, Crow opens the door, holding a warm, moist washcloth, which he offers to Raven. "Here. This should help."

Raven looks a little confused at first before he accepts it with his free hand and blots his eyes.

Crow steps aside, gesturing inside. "There's a plate with some fruit on the kitchen table, along with a small bowl of rice porridge and a kettle of chamomile tea."

Magpie is, of course, welcome to any of it.

And Magpie, of course, doesn't think twice about taking none of it; besides everything else, like the food obviously being for Raven and not for him, he's never been able to eat with this much turmoil inside him, and he has no intention of starting.

Still, he steps out of his shoes, locked up tight but catching Crow's eye. "You really should have been resting upstairs. Still, thanks for doing that." Raven needed it, after all.

Crow shrugs. "You were kind enough to support me earlier. It's only fair that I carry some of the weight. Raven deserves all the support he can get, anyway."

Raven awkwardly averts his eyes. "...Thank you for looking out for me." After removing his shoes, he slowly shambles over to the table and flops into the chair where the bowl and fruit lie.

Crow leans against the counter, crossing his arms and legs. "It's going to be all right." That goes for both of them. "Today was an exhausting experience for all of us, but we're all tenacious, and we aren't alone."

Honestly, part of Magpie wishes they were there still, out of time where nobody could see. He can't even summon a barely-there grin, not after what fucking Igor said. "Terrible timing for that one. You were as good as there in the Velvet Room, after all."

He glances to Raven, who hopefully is going to eat everything on that table, down to the bowl.

It takes a moment for Raven to start eating. At first, he just pokes and prodes at the porridge but... no. He should eat. So... fine. Porridge first.

"...I hope I didn't inconvenience you too much."

Crow waves his hand. "Don't worry about it. Ren knows just as well as we do that you need us right now. The other children are safe in bed. It's going to be all right."

"You didn't inconvenience me," Magpie adds, from where he's come to rest leaning against the wall near the front door. "I'd say we're all fairly sure that none of this is your fault."

Emphasis on your.

"It's not your fault either," Raven says, while Crow sighs softly.

"I'm going to run a bath for you. Magpie, I trust you've no objections to Raven staying with you tonight?"

...Oh. A bath would be kind of nice. Raven looks down. His legs do still hurt, and he's probably filthy from sweat.

Contemplatively, he takes an orange slice.

It's like a hand closes on his neck. "Of course," he says, pleasantly enough. "As long as you can cope with me sulking, I mean, Raven."

"If I'm allowed to sulk, you certainly are." Hmm... maybe another orange slice. Yes. "I suppose I'll have to grab a fresh change of clothes first."

"Already taken care of," Crow says. "It's in the bathroom, for whenever you're ready."

Oh. Well... that's convenient. "...Thank you."

How do they do it? Why do they want to be as dependent as this? (all the days and endless nights smiling like a doll and screaming alone, alone, alone, see me, need me, love me) Why did he ever think he wanted it?

He pushes away from the wall, stomach twisting. "In that case, I think I'll turn in while you're finishing up, if you don't mind. Just knock when you're ready to come in."

Thankfully his bedtime routine isn't as intense as the morning, not nearly.

"Fair enough. I'll try not to take too long."

While Raven finishes his meal, Crow slips over to the bathroom to run the hot water and make sure those nice bath salts are sprinkled in. When he returns, Crow takes Raven's dishes, allowing for his younger self to take care of himself.

The warm water helps soothe the aches and pains from throughout the day, offering a quiet, relaxing atmosphere.

It takes a little bit for him to clean up, make sure his hair's washed and dried, and to both brush his teeth and change into his PJ's, but eventually Magpie will hear a knock on the door.

His eyes flick up to the door, from where he's curled beneath the quilt, legs folded, arm beneath his head—not reading, not even focused for once, just going over and over and over it all. "Come in."

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