linkingup | FOR THOSE WE HAVE LOST

[ ...There it is.

There is Fray's voice. It's truly there! This time? There is no hesitating, as his face lights up brightly like a morning star hanging above in the midnight sky. ]

You had better not!

[ Argenti says in a shout as he runs on over to the other man, and he doesn't care that this time Fray is in his armor, he immediately throws his arms around him, to bring him into a sudden embrace. ]

I knew I would have you return soon enough. Though, you truly seemed quite intent on putting all of us through the ringer first, my love.

...Did you really think myself giving up was an option?

[Oof, he goes willingly into that hug and just sort of... ragdolls on Argenti. He is so tired. He is so boneless. He never wants to move again.]

Of course I didn't. I knew that, and yet...

[Siiiiigh.]

Well, I wasn't fully in control of myself. I'm back now, and you won't have to face me like that again, I swear.

[He knows how difficult it is, though their experiences certainly differ.]

[ There is a ragdoll beloved Dark Knight draping all over him. Don't you know, ragdolls are the cutest kind of cats? Though Argenti thinks of Fray as the number one catboy, of course.

Anyway before he gets caught up in his head there he will focus on what his lover is saying. ]

Yes, you were very stubborn about it at the time, but I understand it wasn't truly intentional. Just like how it was with myself and the others.

...I firmly have deep belief in your words, my loved one. That is without a single doubt in my mind.

[ Sincerely, and earnestly. It's a pity he can't rub the other man's back in a way that matters since he's in armor...but he can always save that for later. ]

[It takes so much SP to use Living Dead, Argenti, he is so sleepy........]

Still, I did hurt you all. And I put you through quite the unfair round of ordeals.

[He would've greatly preferred not to have his (and V'rhas's) memories on full display for everyone, but what can you do...]

...Thank you. I knew you would chase after me but I... I needed to hear your words.

[He'd still be fighting without them.]

[ Ah...

It's not like he doubted his words reached Fray's heart or anything like that! It's just hearing that makes him feel like warm jelly or something like that. Which isn't bad either, since jelly can be beautiful too.

...

Argenti knows he's getting absolutely flustered if he's thinking these things and his face is red, but it's kind of hard to see in this position too... ]

Maybe you did, and I know from personal experience it shall be hard to shake the feelings that arise from that. But, I learned in my experience that people don't tend to accept an apology following a Palace...the easy way and the hard way.

[ He says this with a soft laugh. He definitely remembers when he tried to apologize for sure... ]

...Still, I am glad that my words could reach you so, and pull you from the deep depts of your heart. And that you relied on me to chase you until the ends of the world.

[Thankfully(?) he cannot see how red Argenti is from this position, so there's that. He also can't do the usual nuzzling thing with his helmet on?? He should've taken it off first. Oh well.]

Yet I'll apologize just the same, for no one deserves to have gone through such things.

[He can vividly see Arven's and Aerith's reactions to losing Haurchefant. That sort of pain isn't something that can truly be apologized for, no matter how much he wishes to do so.]

But at the very least I will thank everyone for joining you. I am glad they all were prepared to help.

[It means more to him than words can say, regardless of their reasons behind it. Even if it was for Argenti's sake more than his own - as McGillis said - then that's all the reason he needs to thank them. Argenti doesn't deserve to go through something like this either.]

[ Argenti will take it off for him soon enough, don't worry. He will shift so his hands lay flat against the back of...the other man's armor. ]

I had a feeling you would say such words. You're the type of person who cares quite deeply about others, after all. I shall not stop you; though, I'm here to shower you with the love and affection you deserve in the meanwhile. I have to make good on my words, after all.

[ He says gently, clearly not faulting Fray for it either. Argenti remembers going around apologizing a lot himself, after all. He'd be a hypocrite to try and keep someone else from doing the same. ]

...I am most glad that they were as well. I couldn't have done it alone, of course.

Even though I had full faith in bringing you back. Nothing would have stopped me. Not even the God of Conflict himself.

[ To say this in the least foreboding way ever about the differing ways of support granted in all of this - to Fray himself or McGillis' to Argenti which extended to Fray - Argenti will remember this.

And, after fighting so hard, he's clutching onto Fray right now tightly, and doesn't even want to move. A part of him is a little afraid that somehow this is just a dream. Though, if it is, he supposes it could only be a dream come true, right? Like a wonderful fairytale. ]

How are you feeling, by the way? Your body is not aching, is it? It did seem like you had a full heal, but I might as well be certain.

I know.

[Even had Argenti been the only one to come after him into this palace, he has no doubts that the man would have crashed each one of those windows and found a way to survive through all those phases on sheer willpower. There's not a doubt in his mind, but he's glad that Argenti didn't have to do it alone, and that so many were willing to come along with him, for whatever reasons they may have.

One hand slides up to gently slide back through Argenti's hair; he's careful with his gauntlets, of course.]

I'm exhausted. [It gets a wry laugh from him.] I am physically healed, but I have drained much of my energy today.

[ Argenti will let Fray do so with ease, certain that he'll be careful even with those gauntlets of his. He doesn't even have a single bit of worry within him. That's just how he feels. ]

...You were going at it for quite a long while. To be honest, I was wondering about how much energy you would have after everything had reached its conclusion. I do have an answer now that you're all over me like this.

[ His words are softly teasing. But, Argenti will be here this time to help Fray back to their room for certain. He doesn't mind the prospect. He can just be of help to his beloved one.

There's a small pause as he carefully feels himself lean into the touch a bit more. Though, even so, he does ask: ]

...Can I take your helmet off?

[Maybe he'll even let you carry him! No, probably not. He's already sort of embarrassed.]

Of course you can.

[He pulls back enough for Argenti to do just that - it's simple enough to get off, so you shouldn't have any trouble with it.]

[ Wouldn't want to make Fray pass out in embarrassment at the last minute!!

Anyway, Argenti smiles and then reaches to take off the helmet again, just so he can see his beloved's face, carefully placing it down besides them. ]

Did you know that you are the most beautiful person in the universe to me?

[ He asks softly, one hand moving so it can rest against the back of that head. ]

[What was that about making him pass out in embarrassment??

Okay, jokes aside, he is very red at that, gaze drifting away for a moment before leaning into Argenti's touch.]

As you are to me. I am incredibly lucky both to have met you, and to consider you mine. You are so unbelievably important to me, Argenti. Never forget that.

[Regardless of being smacked around a lot today... sorry about that, buddy.]

[ Can you imagine.

But, no, he'll settle for making Fray this flustered; it feels like a return to the way that things are. The flush on his cheeks, the ease the other man leans into the touch as he speaks words that light the warmth deep within his heart - though, he does say: ]

I won't. Nothing will make me forget it.

[ Argenti speaks the words gently, but earnestly, and deeply from the heart. Being smacked around just simply means that Fray was clearly displaying what others would call tough love!! But, that being said, he smiles as his hand is gentle in its caress and he even leans in a bit closer, only stopping to ask gently: ]

...Would I be able to get away with kissing you right here, my dearest?

[That gets a scoff and a roll of his eyes, but also the blush is now a bright red.]

You could get away with anything, you know.

[He is so weak for his incredibly handsome and perfect boyfriend, okay.]

But yes. I put you through far too much today; I can at least repay you with this.

[Public displays of affection always sort of make him die of embarrassment, but he loves Argenti dearly, and he certainly did mean what he said. Argenti could absolutely get away with anything.]

[ Argenti laughs lightly at this, and looking at how adorably red his boyfriend is right now...

Yes, he thinks he might believe it. At least a little. ]

When do you say that, I earnestly do believe it. Though, that gives me all the more reason to practice the act of beautiful restraint while eyes are still on us.

But, I am happy to hear you say that you agree. Close your eyes if you wish, or of course keep them on me as you would so deeply wish.

[ There's a soft tease in his tone once more; he can't help it around the other man. But, hearing the man answer in an affirmative is all that he needs to know. So, right then and there, the Knight of Beauty will shift before he leans forward to place his lips softly and carefully against Fray's. It's not a chaste kiss by any stretch of the imagination, but it certainly is a loving and gentle one.

And one in which he gives time for the other man to return in kind. ]

[Good man, because Fray absolutely wants to return that kiss. Despite how tired he is, he leans into it eagerly, arms coming up to wrap around Argenti's neck so he can still lean on him. Problem solved!

He's perfectly content to stay like this even when they break for air, and though he's still red, he's grinning.]

I love you. I wish I could have expressed that earlier. I'm sorry for hurting you.

[Though he knows Argenti won't hold it against him, because he doesn't hold any of Argenti's palace against his boyfriend either.]

[ Problem solved indeed! Argenti allows the other man to do so, of course, feeling his lips briefly even smile into the kiss.

He'll return that grin with a gentle, but vibrant smile of his own. ]

There is nothing to forgive, my dear.

And your words spoken now, professing your enduring love...I am happy to hear them now. As I shall ever be, to ever listen to you say them in the future.

[ Argenti's eyes soften in the face of this, though. Both the expression of apology, and the love all the same, his own gentle, but affectionate feelings reflected in his eyes. ]

You know my own feelings as well, but I cannot ever stop saying the same - that I love you too, forever and always.

[He knows. Of course he knows - how could he not? After all they've been through, of course he knows. And yet it makes him flush hearing it again and he leans into Argenti to nuzzle against his chin.]

Forever and always. I like the sound of that.

[It's hardly a new promise, and yet it feels so much more real now. A future with Argenti in it is one he wants so badly, and it may come to pass sooner than later. They've got to be close to confronting the God of Conflict, right?]

Thank you, then. For all you've done for me today - and for agreeing to come with me back home.

[ Argenti will never grow unaccustomed to liking the feel of this softness against him. Gentle as it is, it is nothing less then welcoming... ]

Of course, my dearest one.

It felt with such ease that I've made the decision at all. Both in rescuing you, and accompanying you back to your world.

[ ...It's going to be really funny when he discovers chocobo in that world, for explicitly riding purposes. Well, at least they're all going to be harmless, so it will be a fun time (please teach him how to ride one-)

But, yes, they will have one last challenge on the horizon. The God of Conflict being the last true obstacle - though, right now, Argenti feels as if he is nothing in the face of the love that they share. ]

I can never thank you enough for both of them.

[Fray glances up as the palace begins to crack and crumble around them, the environment slowly fading to white and the cold receding.]

Come, let us leave this place. I'd like nothing more than to get away from it.

Yes, let us depart now.

[ Argenti will pull away at the start of the Palace crumbling - no need to stick around in the face of all this. Then, finally, he will extend an arm if the other man is still tired and needs it. ]

You have much needed rest to catch up on, my dear.

[ And, they can talk after that, lovingly as always in the wake of it. ]

[It gets a soft laugh from him, and Fray retrieves his helmet as he accepts Argenti's arm to lean on.]

Yes, I do. I'm looking forward to it.

FOR THOSE WE HAVE LOST | FRAY'S PALACE

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