Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

[sumarusfinest]

The wonderful thing about the Nexus is that it's usually fairly easy to find the regulars because of their preferred spots for lounging about the forum. This makes Katsuya's current task all the more convenient as he makes his way from the stall of the Velvet Room.

The suspect had to be around here somewhere. Always lounging about and starting fights with the resident magi of the Nexus. He finds what he's looking for in a blonde man working on a small glass device on one of the many Nexus couches, a cup of coffee sitting next to him.

"I need your assistance in regards to a case of the utmost importance. Your cooperation would be...appreciated."

Comments

[sumarusfinest]

"And here I thought all sides of town were the right sides if you were willing to look hard enough." Katsuya chuckles and lets his eyes slip shut while she's stroking his hair.

He's not going to sleep this time, worry not. He's just enjoying the attention. His smile widens when he hears the stuffed animal's slight fwmph as it hits the chair.

"Justice has triumphed. I can rest in peace."

[brave_heart_verity]

It sure sounds like he's going to be falling asleep again. She sighs quietly, disappointed, but doesn't stop stroking his hair while she goes through her mental list of all the reasons she can't get mad at him for falling asleep on her again.

"Yes. You can rest peacefully, knowing I came to my senses only too late and will spend the rest of my life mourning my foolish ways."

[sumarusfinest]

"I think you've got enough to mourn about. Philemon hasn't said it was my time, yet." Katsuya cracks open his eyes and grins up at her.

"You've come to your senses gives me the strength to live on." The smile widens somewhat as Katsuya is unaware of her constant downers. "I wouldn't leave you alone Verity, and making you join me would be a bit rash, don't you think? I'm supposed to be the good cop."

[brave_heart_verity]

She's not a naturally cheerful person. Katsuya's going to have to come to accept this. But she's got a smile for him right now, and that's a good start, right?

"He's going to warn you, is he? That's lucky." She leans down to kiss his forehead before whispering, "I wouldn't be alone. Snidely would comfort me in my hour of need."

[sumarusfinest]

"He's sent me back every other...uhm." Well, shit. This is a conversation he hadn't been meaning to bring up.

"...I don't suppose we can just gloss over that? Do you want the details?" At least he's offering?

He's going to get up and fish Snidely back so she has something to cuddle in case she doesn't want to be near him for some reason. He's not gone long and he'll be right there next to her unless she pulls away.

[brave_heart_verity]

Well.

That's a surprise.

She doesn't answer until he comes back with Snidely. He's the one who gets the hug, not the otter. "Man, it's like everyone I know was dead at some point other than me. I almost feel left out."

It's a lousy attempt at a joke but she's trying.

[sumarusfinest]

"I didn't ever die." Katsuya points out quietly. "Not entirely. But there were a few close calls." He'll hug verity back.

"Times where I was too slow dodging...times when I couldn't use my persona anymore. And I thought 'this is the end'. But I'd get stopped. I'd wake up in the chamber I met Philemon in, and he'd ask me if I was giving up. I think it may have just been a hallucination. My brain trying to work out that I was dying. but I was saved, every time. And it was only a few times."

It never got any easier, and he'd thankfully never had to test it after Nyarlathotep had been driven back.

"I'm alright. I promise." The nightmares are few and far between now. He's moved on.

[brave_heart_verity]

Times like this, her somber nature seems much more appropriate. Hers was a world of horror stories wrapped up in primary colors. It's not the first time or the last she'll hear something like this. It's not anywhere near the worst, either. But he gets all her quiet attention and a warm hug that doesn't waiver.

"You're so brave," she whispers when he seems to be finished.

[sumarusfinest]

"I would go so far as to say foolishly stubborn." He chuckles lightly but returns the hug all the same. "But I'd do it again."

He knows he would. For his home. For his family. And now..

"I'd fight hell and gods for you Verity. Though judging by the sound of it, you'd probably be right there with me thanks to all your training." She told him once that she wouldn't be left behind to be protected.

And it's not like he was safely able to keep his loved ones out of any fighting before this either. He's used to having them as comrades in arms.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Kind of the same thing," she points out with an amused tone.

The promise is bittersweet. There are no gods, no hell to fight for her. Most of her life was spent drifting through the world, and now she doesn't even have a world to drift through. "I'd be where I'm most needed."

Just like last time; she didn't argue with him about her staying back to help with the wounded while he went to fight. She didn't like it, but she didn't argue. How selfish would it be to try and prioritize her feelings over the good of the group?

"It's not likely there'll ever be a need to do that anyway."

[sumarusfinest]

"Perhaps not. But it's important to me to realize that it's true."

How could he not have seen this for as long as he did? The sheer depth of his feelings is staggering to him. It had been right, telling her finally that he had developed feelings for her. They've only grown stronger since.

He leans forward, touching his forehead to hers.

[brave_heart_verity]

"It's good to be self-aware," she agrees. This isn't the big romantic revelation to her that he might be hoping for. She feels that way about all her friends. She did (try to) fight a thunder god (unsuccessfully) once. She was prepared to unleash Ragnarok to free Loki if she had to. Fight demons? Whatever. Nyarlhotep? Bring it on. He's got nothing to say to her she doesn't already know about herself.

She closes her eyes when he leans forward, expecting a kiss but not disappointed with what she gets. "But I still hope it never comes up."