It's that recognition - finally, finally, because he's felt alone for so long now - that sinks in enough to let him relax, and he doesn't speak for a long while, just indulges in the comfort of Teddy's touch. He'd been so afraid of touching anything in that reality, like it would fizzle and disperse under his hands, and that version of Teddy had- no, the fake had-
....it just... hadn't felt right. A part of him worries that he's just indulging another fantasy, but Teddy doesn't feel like a magical construct. His head is a mess, but he... thinks he can recognize this much.
God, he hopes so.
Eventually he stirs, like wandering out of a dream, and half-looks up, fixing his gaze on Teddy's chest. He's afraid to look up, but he wants to see Teddy, watch his chest rise and fall, make sure he's there and okay and breathing. Strong. Capable.
He'd need that. Because-]
Teddy, if I... if something happens... you have to stop me. You have to promise. If I go bad...
["Go bad". Like he's food in the grocery store, past the expiration date. Used to be good but now there's so much rotten mess inside. It sounds ridiculous and yet undeniably accurate at the same time.
[Action, October 15th] PASSED RIGHT THE FUCK OUT
It's that recognition - finally, finally, because he's felt alone for so long now - that sinks in enough to let him relax, and he doesn't speak for a long while, just indulges in the comfort of Teddy's touch. He'd been so afraid of touching anything in that reality, like it would fizzle and disperse under his hands, and that version of Teddy had- no, the fake had-
....it just... hadn't felt right. A part of him worries that he's just indulging another fantasy, but Teddy doesn't feel like a magical construct. His head is a mess, but he... thinks he can recognize this much.
God, he hopes so.
Eventually he stirs, like wandering out of a dream, and half-looks up, fixing his gaze on Teddy's chest. He's afraid to look up, but he wants to see Teddy, watch his chest rise and fall, make sure he's there and okay and breathing. Strong. Capable.
He'd need that. Because-]
Teddy, if I... if something happens... you have to stop me. You have to promise. If I go bad...
["Go bad". Like he's food in the grocery store, past the expiration date. Used to be good but now there's so much rotten mess inside. It sounds ridiculous and yet undeniably accurate at the same time.
If I'm broken, just throw me away-]