post-snek recoveries

[neonleon]

[You know?

That weird temple wasn't good, but it wasn't the worst. Not by far now that he's back in this dimension. He floats a bit aimlessly, body broken, shell cracked and falling apart, some bones and insides shattered. His head aches in a way that he can't think.

All he can really do is hope Prime doesn't find him immediately right now. The light off his ring catches his eye and he looks at it, not fully registering that it's lit up.

A promise.]

Comments

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter forces himself to nod. Scraping at his face with his hand. ]

I hope not. I hope there isn't anything else.

[neonleon]

We'll come back tomorrow and we can check to make sure. I didn't see anything else in that lab, but we'll check all the other corners we can find tomorrow. All right?

[pyrighteous]

... All right. Tomorrow.

[neonleon]

[He nods at that.]

Tomorrow. For now, let's uh. Go back and get cleaned up. Some rest?

[pyrighteous]

… I could use some rest. Yeah.

[neonleon]

Good because so could I, so let's go do that.

[He is so worried for you, Hunter, please just let him take care of you.]

[pyrighteous]

[ He will okay!! For now he falls silent, sticking close until they get to the teleportation glyph, and resuming his grip on Leo's hand even as they only have the short walk through the forest to Dell's place. The books seem to weigh more and more the longer he goes. ]

[neonleon]

[Leo keeps walking easily with him, hand rubbing where he c an reach of Hunter's back around the bag of books before sliding down his arm to hold Hunter's hand when Hunter starts to grip at the glyph. Getting the door open for them at Dell's only means letting go of his hand for a moment but he nudges Hunter inside with a little trill. Worry.]

C'mon. We both could probably use a scrub, huh?

[pyrighteous]

[ Thanks Leo. Hunter grips his hand gently as lowers his duffel bag to the floor. He nods a bit, trying to chirp back I'm okay, but ...

It comes out watery as he starts to cry. ]

[neonleon]

[Oh...

He moves the bag out of their way and tugs Hunter in close. Just holds him for now, clicking gently.]

It's okay, I got you. Let it out.

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter clings to Leo then and just bawls for a second. ]

Sorry - sorry -

[neonleon]

It's okay- It's all right. [He is more than happy to let Hunter cling and bawl, rubbing his back and nosing at his hair gently.]

You didn't do anything wrong.

[pyrighteous]

Neither did they!

[neonleon]

No, no they didn't. You're right.

But we're gonna help them out tomorrow.

[pyrighteous]

[ Hunter sniffles at that. ]

R-right. We'll keep going back. Until they're all safe.

[neonleon]

Exactly. We'll work together to get them safe and at peace. And we can probably figure out some kind of seal to keep anything from getting in like that.

[pyrighteous]

That's ... probably a good idea.

[ To keep anything else from getting in. But that thing ... ]

Do you think it came from outside?

[neonleon]

[It's redirecting at least. Action over despairing. Good. He keeps up the gentle affection rubbing his back.]

Not sure. [Definitely didn't.] But wherever we move them, we can just make sure they're sealed.

[pyrighteous]

Right. Yeah. Once they're all sorted out.

[ He leans against Leo now that he's calming down. ]

[neonleon]

[Leo can tell; it's a relief. He starts gently guiding Hunter to the bed to sit for now.]

I promise. That's gonna be the priority until it's done.

[pyrighteous]

[ He sits, then, and instinctively curls closer. ]

... Thank you.

[neonleon]

[He smiles gently, still happily holding Hunter close.]

Of course... No thank you necessary, you gotta let it out.

[pyrighteous]

[ He keeps cuddling, then, grateful to have his fiancé here. ]

I still want to say it.

[neonleon]

Mm...

I get it. I'd do the same again any time, too. So I'm right here with you no matter what.

[pyrighteous]

I know, I know.

[ He gently lifts a hand to the side of Leo's face. ]