OH REALLY?

♔ “2015… well then.” He then took a moment to tap at his fingers, looking to the sky before he responded. “That means I’m 200 years in the past.” He stopped and stared at Nero. “I’m 200 years in the past…” He put his hand on his head and kind of chuckled nervously. “That explains a lot then. Why I don’t recognize the scenery and why you’re so young. Wait, then that means this is waaaay before Duke adopts me, so to you he’s not my dad at all.” He then smiled.

        “...uh... yeah-- I know them...” Nero had no clue how to react to any of this. What was this guy talking about--?! “I-I guess?” Face contorted in confusion-- the blonde backed away from the other a bit. Hesitant about letting this kid touch him. He was saying some really crazy stu--

♔ “W-well you’re Nero, but younger. Like, that’s your soul and your face, but so much younger. Wait… what did happen before I got here anyway?” He stopped and attempted to think. “I was with Atticus and you and then… uhhhh… I can’t remember, that’s bad uhhh.”  He stopped speaking for a moment, his face getting serious for a moment. 

      “Uh... it’s 2015.” Voice filled with confusion-- Nero tried desperately to register the situation. Which-- didn’t work out to well... All he managed to do was hurt his head. 

♔ “Lost… yeah, that’s it.” He said, rubbing at his eyes, trying to get his vision to focus. Clearly he was not getting the results he desired very quickly and his frustration showed slightly. 

        The blonde was just about to reach out to the other-- when he called his name. Confusion overtook his expression, as he peered at him with suspicion. 

♔ “I see…and although you may think that I don’t need to apologize. I do…and, well I always do.” He shrugged, slowly reaching his hand out again, this time gently touching Nero’s shoulder. He force himself to smile, though it was clear he didn’t feel like it at all. 

         Hearing a soft voice behind him-- the blonde turned. Eyes holding confusion, he looked at the stranger that now stood unsteadily before him. A smile soon stretched across the blondes lips. Skipping towards the other to close the short distance between them-- his attitude seemed all around cheery and full of life.

♔ Shou heard him coming closer and he slowly moved to look. Unable to keep his head down as he got closer. Despite how he got nervous looking at others, he did feel that he needed to give Nero such attention. After all he was trying so hard to cheer him up and well… he was giving him so much attention.

        “Like I said-- it’s fine.” A smile remained on the blonde’s face as he stood. “I know I’ll have to deal with it-- I’ve known you for longer than you know, remember?” 

♔ “I see…” He nodded, looking at Nero and sighing softly. “Even though… even though you say that, I can’t help feeling guilty. ITs just in my nature to do things like that, you know that, maybe?” He spoke, sighing. “I… I just am not able to do anything without feeling guilty. Like… hugging someone, and then not letting them do it back, or do it again. Its been like that my whole life…” He took a deep breath and shook his head. 

         “I know... It’s part of who you are, and like all the rest of you-- I accept it.” A smile made it’s way onto the blondes face yet again. “I know it makes your feel bad-- and that you can’t help it... I know the way your mind works. What you’ve been through, what you’ve done-- etc.” 

♔Shou sat in silence as the other spoke. Waiting for him to finish with what he was saying before responding. He wanted to sort out his thoughts, as well as listen to what Nero had to say. Even after all he thought of Nero, he still trusted him in this life time. With some of his biggest secrets and his most personal thoughts without personally knowing why he was like this.

       The blonde stood silent as the other spoke. Listening to his words as they flowed from his lips unsteadily. Nero knew all of this. Knew why he didn’t like to be touched, knew that in reality-- he didn’t want it to be that way. Nero had lived through this time before, and knew what it brought.         Nonetheless...

♔ Shou continued to sit there, staring at his hand that the other held. Somehow he didn’t feel odd about it. He didn’t feel the need to pull away, or make the other let go. To be honest, he even felt the need and then even proceeded to hold onto Nero’s hand in return. Somehow this felt good, this felt better than Nero just holding his hand. 

     The blonde was a bit surprised when he felt the other’s hand move. Thinking that he was just causing the other moderate discomfort with his touch. He allowed the other to pull his hand away after a moment-- looking a bit curiously up at the other. Had Nero triggered something in the other...? Grabbed-- and pulled a bit of Shiloh to the surface--?       No-- that was wishful thinking, and insanely absurd.      “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” A small smile came over the blondes face. Rising to his feet- he went to lean against a nearby wall.      “I am well aware of how you feel about lying...” A small chuckle rose from his throat. He had known him for how long now...? Nero knew the other’s personality in and out-- so to speak-- “... and I am well aware of how you must view me.” His smile dampened slightly. “I am aware of this... and I am aware that what I’ve been doing has ultimately hurt you--” Indirectly of course. “--made you feel guilty, etc... Honestly-- I cannot blame you. I would feel the same as well.” In other words... Nero hated himself. 

♔ “But still. When I got mad at you, I said some hurtful things. Things I would never have said if I had known.” He clearly wasn’t taking this too well. His always thinking and over thinking mind clearly taking control of what he was saying. Being who Shou was, this should have been predicted. 

      A sigh left the blonde’s lips. Looking down at the hand he held-- Nero remained silent for a moment. Thinking.       “... There is also the fact that I didn’t want you to know...” His eyes seemed distant. “There are many things I can’t tell you. About you-- about me-- about everybody...” 

♔ Shou looked at him with a bit of a confused look. He was going out of his way to make him feel better… because he loved him, right? What a weight it was to know that. It was a good thing, he guessed, but still… He must have been causing Nero, his Nero, so much pain as he had fawned over Namihiko for all that time, the one who ended up not accepting or even acknowledging his feelings anyway.

     A sigh left the blonde’s lips. There the other went... thinking so much that his head started to hurt. Overthinking things, and blaming himself for things he could not control.       A small chuckle rose up in the blonde’s throat. It was kind of cute-- really.      “How I could be kind to you...? Again-- it’s because I love you.” 

♔ Shou sighed softly, looking up at Nero as he walked away, shaking his head. “I still feel guilty… regaurdless.” He pressed his face to his hand. Ah, could he never be okay with thinking about himself? Apparently not. The more he reminded himself that he was doing this all for himself, the worse he felt. 

     “Of course it is. It always was, and never won’t be.” Turning now, Nero leaned against the sink as he spoke. “However, there are people like me that will try to show you the truth of the matter. That your not a weight upon anyones shoulders. Your a person that stands by their side. Not a burden, nor a weight.” 

♔ Shou nodded, looking down and taking a deep breath. Though Nero seemed to be fine with all that he was doing, Shou was slightly burdened by his own actions. Yes, he had made this choice for himself. To get away from everyone while he was trying to sort things out, but he felt so guilty. He felt even more guilty thinking that Nero had feelings for him and he just didn’t know how he felt toward him kind of bugged him. 

     “... You really can’t be I suppose--” Another sigh escaped the blonde’s lips. “However, all the same it sometimes becomes necessary for you to do things for yourself. To be self-centered.” Standing up from the table now-- Nero picked up both of their plates. Taking them over to the sink to wash them. 

♔ “Still…” He sighed. “That really wasn’y my point but…alright, if you say so. As long as your feelings aren’t hurt I guess… I’d rather not hurt you if I can help it.” He sounded a bit distressed by needing to say that, but he continued to munch until he was done with his food before looking at Nero again. Looking away almost immedeatly. A bit of guilt in his look.

     “... No-- I did get the point of it...” Another sigh-- “Just... I don’t want you to feel any pressure in terms of my feelings for you. Weather it is to return them, or reject them. Do with them as you like, it won’t change anything-- nor will it hurt me. Thats what I’m saying...” Chewing on his food-- he soon finished as well. Staring down at his hands. 

♔ “I see…” He looked down and shrugged, eating some more. So it was an accident due to being here, out of his time. Visiting a time that had long since passed. This must have been a lot for him.

     “It’s fine. I don’t expect you to return my feelings-- not with the way I acted during this time...” A sigh escaped his lips-- “I am nothing if not realistic. I know where I stand with you, especially during this point in time.”

♔ Shou nodded and looked at Nero with an understanding gaze. He got that the other had to let him know he would be there, even if he didn’t take him up on that offer… at least for now, after all.

     “I don’t recall it...” The blonde thought for a moment-- “Than again, there are countless memories circulating in my head-- it’s hard to keep track of them all... I sometimes mix them up-- ” Glancing away from the purplette-- a bit of pink rose to the blonde’s cheeks. “Thats... um-- how I accidentally confessed to you earlier--” 

♔ “If you say so…” He muttered softly. Trying his best to push his thoughts aside, but being who he was, it was hard to do. All he could do was attempt to focus on the conversation and answer Nero instead of staring off into space, wallowing in his thoughts of what he was doing wrong by doing this, now that Nero had brought those facts up.

      “I know you will-- but I must at least say this to you. So that you know.” Picking up his sandwich, he took a bite out of it. Waiting until after he’d swallowed to speak once again. “No problem. Its the least I can do for allowing me to stay here.” 

♔ Shou listened, staring at Nero at first, but before long he found himself gazing back out into space as he listened. It was almost expected that Nero would understand him due to how he probably had to live, considering human lives were so short, among other things, but until now it hadn’t really hit him that Nero was hurting all that badly. Wondering why, he could only figure it was because he always smiled and teased him that he hadn’t really thought about what the other was feeling. Thinking about that, that was probably rather stupid of him, but still… 

     “I know-- and I’m choosing to stay here as long as you need me to.” The blonde began. Picking up two plates of sandwiches and carrying them over to the table. “... It is best if you never know what I’ve been through, honestly.” A sigh enacted from his lips. Tucking a bit of hair behind his ear. “Even so... that goes without saying that I brought this fate upon myself.” Looking directly at the other now-- Nero’s expression was blank. It was a mask.