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[myburningsoul]

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[burnishingmad]

I've already explained it and you refuse to listen.

[He knows it isn't that, not exactly. It's the fact that Galo refuses to accept and forgive him, instead choosing to pretend it wasn't what happened at all. That's what's getting to him.]

Just... don't.

[myburningsoul]

It's not that I'm not listening! I just...I don't see it the way you do. We're on opposite ends of that, Lio, and we're going to feel differently about it.

[Because he's never going to get that. To him there's nothing to forgive because--]

I don't hold it against you. Never did...

[burnishingmad]

But I hold it against myself.

[That's the thing. Lio holds himself to such a high standard for the sake of his gang, for the sake of setting an example. Who is he to hold them to such a standard if he can't do it himself.]

Galo, I-- [Oh god it's hard to talk about it.] I felt the blade go in. I felt the blood, I-i saw... your eyes... as it happened.

[myburningsoul]

[He knew this. He knew that Lio saw it, was there through it all. But it's a painful fact to be reminded of.]

I know...I can still remember it, even--[Even though it hadn't really been him, it also had been in some way. He wouldn't remember it otherwise.]

I can't keep you from holding it against yourself but I don't want you to either...

[And he has to hesitate to say the next part because he doesn't know how Lio will take it. But to move past this, it's better to put everything out there.] For that whole Nobody thing to end, it had to happen. If I had been aware I probably would have...asked you to do it. Wouldn't have trusted anybody else, and I doubt I would have been able to take myself out. Shitty thing to admit to...

[burnishingmad]

I know it did. I'd-- Someone on the network talked about it, I remembered it.

[That doesn't make it better. It doesn't make it easier, or simpler.]

Please just... Accept that I did it. And stop trying to act like I didn't.

[myburningsoul]

I know you did it, Lio. Kind of hard not to.

[He sighs.]

I'm not trying to act like you didn't. But I don't hold it against you, so I don't...linger on it. Sorry, it's come across like something else.

[burnishingmad]

[At that, Lio finally looks up at him, eyes still red and cheeks wet. So Galo understands then. And is apologizing for it even.]

...Thank you.

[myburningsoul]

Hey...[Oh. There's that soft, fond smile again. He gives it freely like he does almost everything else, as he reaches up to brush fingers against Lio's damp cheek.]

We're a team. Just...got out of sync there for a second.

[burnishingmad]

[Oh... He forgets sometimes how bag Galo's hands are until they're like this. He just swallows the lump in his throat until Galo's done and watches him.

God there's. Something he's feeling now. He can't put a finger on it just yet.]

Yeah... Out of sync.

[myburningsoul]

But...we're good now.

[But there's that hint of hesitation. A momentary pause.]

Right?

[burnishingmad]

I... think so.

[He's only ever had arguments like this with his parents before... And they never really. Ended on a proper resolution; he'd only ever been a child and had no real say in the matter.]

This is. New. To me.

[myburningsoul]

First time for everything I guess...Kinda glad we were able to figure it out.

Seriously. I was going kind of nuts there for a bit when you weren't coming home.

[burnishingmad]

Sorry.

[Look he... feels right at home bundled up with Galo like this. It doesn't help that Galo's warm and he's still sleeveless jacket and all.]

After starting one fire, I.. didn't feel like I could come back...

[myburningsoul]

[ L O O K. If we're making arguments, Galo has none. He's perfectly oblivious content right where he is.]

You can always come back...Fires or not. This is home right now, don't go thinking you can't come back here.

[burnishingmad]

[He's still in Galo's arms, on his lap. He's still tear-stained and a little emotional. But here he is, being offered a home where he hasn't had one in years.]

I....Thank you.

[myburningsoul]

Don't mention it.

[He wants to ask what he's being thanked for, but he knows it's something tied up with history and things he won't quite get.

And there's something a bit quiet and tender here he doesn't want to break with questions. So he lets it be. ]