Burning Tempest

     alma shrugs for a moment, before he promptly changes the subject.  “they’re good kids.  i like them, even if i annoy the piss out of them on purpose a lot.  you’d like them.  i think they’d like you.”

          “LYRA, I FUCKED UP.  pretty badly.  i wouldn’t be surprised if she never wants to see my face again.  besides, she && yuu have stopped fighting, so she can have him, rather than me.”  no, there’s no uncomfortable bitterness there.  “oh, oh, yuu got some kids to take care of.”

          “IT’S COMPLICATED.”  alma laughs softly, running a hand through their hair.  “i think she doesn’t like me anymore.  BUT I GUESS ADMITTING THAT I DIDN’T REMEMBER HER DIDN’T HELP.”

“ it’s…complicated. “

          “A VERY LONG TIME.  my bad memory isn’t exactly a friend when it comes to people.”  alma says it honestly, if not sheepishly–because being around lyra doesn’t make alma feel like his ABYSMAL MEMORY is a thing to be concerned about.

kanda voice: what no why are you leaving me here with jiao this is going to be Bad

          “WE HAVE BEEN.  && we met some others!!  do you remember jiao?”  they kiss her nose back.  they love lyra so much.

“ I DON’T DO CELEBRATIONS. “  kanda crosses his arms, completely dismissing the idea. he pauses before eyeing lyra again.  “ sorry, i guess that wasn’t something to BOAST about. “

“ um, no? “  kanda frowns at her, her reactions UNEXPECTED.  “ why would i celebrate that? “

“Well—”

She stops, gaze dropping away. It’s a promotion, yes, but it’s not as if they themselves gain anything from this so-called job.

her happiness seems to BRIGHTEN the entire room.  “ i, um, i became a GENERAL while you were away. “  kanda has never been PROUD of the title but acceptance from lyra makes him almost want to BOAST about it.

She blinks and blinks again, ignoring the nauseating nostalgia brought up at the news of promotion. Luckily, however, with her focus on him it’s easy to forget; she grins once again. “Congratulations, Yu-kun! Have you celebrated at all?”

kanda hugs her more properly before she ends up PINCHING HIM and he tenses in habit.  “ i’m not going to disappear. i promise. “

          “HOW ARE YOU?  are you hurt?  hungry?  DO YOU NEED TO SIT DOWN?”

          “WELCOME HOME, LYRA!!”  alma kisses her face once more.

he’s never been so happy to see someone from his past again. kanda pats her head as if to make sure she is TRULY HERE.  “ you can’t leave like that again. “