` for all my love

“ Now, now…” Hand resting on his shoulder, he lightly pushes on him in order to prevent him from getting up. There was nothing to worry about – though he only has a lone eye, not much escapes his sight. Though, as tempting as it is … he can’t get into bed with him now, not after accidentally disturbing him. His hand, undoubtedly rough from his years of wielding a weapon, wander down from his shoulder - just barely the lightest touch along his arm, taking his hand soon enough to provide a reassuring squeeze. Nothing was wrong, so there was no need to get up. If anything, the only problem NOW would be helping the other back to sleep. He seemed so peaceful, enough that a slight twinge of guilt entered his heart for disturbing him.

“ Buongiorno, bello. ” He greets him, as though it were second nature. It was always a habit, even if it weren’t truly morning yet. Hearing his voice still adoringly laced with sleep, he seats himself next to him. Canting his head in the other’s direction, a gentle smile graces his expression.

“ Nothing’s wrong. I woke you up by accident, so it’s best if you go back to bed… ” Oh, is your dreaming expression my favorite, he wished he could say. But now isn’t the time for voicing such things.

     It might as well have been words falling on deaf ears. Though the other was right beside him, and though his voice was clear and recognizable, not a single thing made just as much sense. He caught words with great focus and tried to make sense of them with a furrowed brow and drowsy eyes. Even tried to repeat them in his mind but came up with an empty vocabulary. What he did manage to assign some meaning to were the actions. They seemed to be saying ‘ go back to sleep ’ as he leaned his head against the guard’s shoulder.

          And oh he would have, but after a yawn and a few blinks, the blonde was finally conscious enough to register what was going on. A small frown found his lips where usually a smile resided. “ But what about you ? Aren’t you going to sleep ? ” Unconsciously, he found himself gripping onto Cassata’s hand in worry. It wasn’t exactly that he was incapable of sleeping without him, but it was always more comforting to have someone beside him. Moreover, someone that knew how to help when the night was restless. Perhaps it was selfish of him. Cassata surely had his own troubles to deal with or maybe he didn’t want to watch over him tonight.

               “ I SUPPOSE… Though — I hope you know that only really applies during work hours. ”

❛❛          s m i l e    ?         ❜❜          her  head  tilted  in  confusion     ,     just  what  was  the  food  soul  asking  from  her    ?    perhaps    ,    he  wished  to  see  her  smile    ?    ————————    inugami  simply  stared  at  the  other  for  a  long  moment  before  pressing  her  sleeve  closer  to  her  lips    .           ❛❛         that  is  something  you  do  a  lot    .          ❜❜        

                                                                    @tragicallymade    / / /    starter ~!

     “ I guess it is ! But I want to see you smile.” He knew the Fallen Angel very well might not, but he still thought it worth trying for some reason. It was something important to him— to make everyone he came across smile. When he thought about it, it was seldom if ever he saw a Fallen with a smile untainted by manic delight.

Seaweed Soup: Mentions reincarnation

    It wasn’t something to be expected, but it wasn’t anything he would’ve searched for either. A simple hug was all it meant to be and nothing more. Yet, something had been off in that hug and it took him a few seconds of a moment to place idea as to what. Across the many he’d embraced before, there was a shared trait found in absence now. He wasn’t one to pry and would have brushed it off as simply a fainter sound than usual or even the prospect of clothing being in the way. That is, until he quickly noticed the solemn expression on her face. It was as if she wanted to retreat into herself and suddenly he felt like the most terrible person in the world. If he could only take it back. No woman deserved to look that way.

          “ Nothing... ” he quietly repeated. It sounded impossible, but he wouldn’t for a second call her a liar. Still, how could it be that a person didn’t have a heart ? That such a person would be living and breathing and walking around like any other ? Ah, but then of course... There was one person Pizza could recall that made such promises. Oh and now he prayed for that man to have had nothing to do with this. Let it be an isolated case.

               Let her not be another victim of that vile snake.

          To the best of his abilities, he gave her a smile. One that hopefully showed he thought no different of her, while in his eyes was held an apology. He really hadn’t meant to reveal this secret on his own. “ Mm, you don’t have to worry about me. I don’t go around telling everyone’s personal stories ! We all have things we want to keep to ourselves, right ? ” The underlying ‘ even me ’ was left to be seen in his pause. Pizza, who was practically an open book in how easily he reacted, would share with anyone all but a choice sequence of events.

     The question was wholly unexpected. Reflexively, his hand wrapped a bit tighter around the staff of his flag. What brought about such curiosity ? All his scars were covered and he took care to make sure the vest didn’t move enough to show the one hidden there. Though perhaps the effort wasn’t good enough. ‘ Hurt myself… ? ’ He was a little too immediately shaken. And what a terrible liar he was that his words might as well be transparent. Please don’t look at him like that or he just might break.

@tragicallymade // reading lips.

Late nights were often just spent gazing to the stars that no longer sing him to sleep; sometimes he mulls too much about whether or not he can sleep sometimes, when his eye aches the way it does. Though the injury is long healed, it doesn’t stop the pained ache. Sometimes, it serves as a reminder that he needs to get stronger than he was back then. Other times, it serves as his repentance for the sins he would have committed. After all, had it not been for the god he calls kindness - he wouldn’t be here.

 Sometimes, he finds it astounding that he’s THIS fortunate. Fortune favors the brave, but he can’t help but feel like his rabble are somewhat… scared. Sometimes, at least. It’s his job to ease that worry, isn’t it?

 That’s why he smiles and acts with frivolity, but he can’t help but feel that one of these days - that act’s going to be up. But nothing quite cures worry for the future, like living in the present. But sometimes, when skies turn dark and day melts to night… he can feel it. It only means he’s gotta try harder, but it’s a bridge he can cross when he gets to it. In the midst of his late night train of thought, he had totally forgotten - it’ll be cold. Poor Pizza must be seeking for warmth…

“ He’s quiet, tonight… maybe it’s a good night, after all. ” He mutters to himself, unwrapping his scarf carefully from his neck and thoughtfully bundling it up. He figures he ought to leave him to rest, so he tried his best to leave his side without waking him - but it had slipped his mind that perhaps, Pizza might get cold without him… he’s not ready to return to bed yet, so hopefully placing the scarf delicately upon him will sate any need he has.

     Most of the world’s inhabitants were eager to return to sleep. It was solace from their life. A refuge from stress where worries were absent and a willing slip away from consciousness brought about a blissful comfort like no other. To a certain blonde however, he’d lost this shared sentiment a long time ago. Sleep became a gamble as to what would await behind closed eyes. Where his mind thought to replay horrid events or that same frightening theatrical display of what ultimately befell his home. He never woke as early as he wished— always only once the blanket of darkness enveloped him for the umpteenth time in his life. It was always a blessing when none of this visited him. Instead, for once he was back in that orchard, fetching an apple for their princess. Bedridden but shining her always grateful smile upon the trio.

          Her praise had him shining brighter than ever. What he wouldn’t give to go back to those days. Somewhere, he sensed a shift in the world. Not within the warmth of that sparkling dream but beyond. That was all it took for reality to grab at his waking mind, slowly slipping between the cracks of a false world. With a quiet exhale, light green eyes fluttered open. Much like a child, he rubbed at them with the back of a gloved hand before forcing himself to sit up.

          “ Cassata... ? ”