You and I. Walter slowly lifted his head, managing to resurface from those awful memories. Another person he had grown...close to, admitting that they had suffered at the hands of others. When he was younger, he would've cried and said it wasn't fair and asked why. As an adult, he knew why. It was exactly as Angel had said; people are cruel by default.
Hesitantly, he rested his hand on the table between them. He didn't want to touch her in case that upset her - and he knew she was upset. She looked too similar to the other orphans, tense and staring into space when the priests walked past them. But he didn't know how to offer comfort. He didn't know what to say. The silence hung over them as the people around them went about their day, oblivious to their conversation.
"I didn't...want you to have gone through something like this. But..." He hesitated, only continuing when Reed gave him an encouraging nuzzle. "I'm glad you understand. That we're not alone, in knowing this. And, I'm glad that we're here." With Pokemon. Her Riolu was acting very much like Walter's own Pokemon, often pressing up against him and gently coaxing him to focus on them when the memories became too much. And with others who understood; Jimmy, and Anders, and Heather. And each other.
He didn't want to ask or press for Angel to tell him exactly what happened to her. What mattered was that it had happened.
[Angel noted his hand, and hesitated only a second before clenching it tightly within her own. She wouldn't have guessed at his own internal battle -- the offered hand was more than enough for her. In turn, she hoped that the tight grip of her own hand was enough for him -- the traumas were too close to the back of her mind for Angel to truly be able to vocalize any amount of comfort.]
No one wants anyone to go through something like this. [It was like her conversation with Heather the day prior -- it was awful to know that she wasn't the only one that suffered. She would have gladly suffered years more torture if it meant keeping her new friends from those lives.]
He turned his hand, holding her hand back just as tightly. A wave of relief and comfort spread from their hands and he didn't hide a soft sigh. He smiled, soft and shy, eyes lowered at their hands. "You too." It was still so much. To know that he had support like this. But there was also a warmth that came from it as well, like he was being bathed in the sun's light, and it was one that he wanted to be more familiar with.
Reed was also pleased. Feeling his trainer relax, he hopped onto their hands and looked incredibly smug, puffing up his chest. Obiviously he was to credit here! The Dartrix's silly behaviour emboldened Walter's smile. "Reed." Thankfully Reed chose to hop further along Walter's arm to seek his approval.
[Angel broke contact after a moment, just a few seconds after the Dartrix hopped away. Her hand extended just a little further, stroking the top of the creatures head with a gentle touch, before retracting back to her lap.]
[With the more difficult conversation out of the way, Angel quickly turned her attention to the collection of treats that they had, then smiled up at Walter.]
Walter nodded, feeling more at ease with Angel now. He still felt nervous when he thought about how to be a 'good friend' to her. How to repay her kindness and consideration towards him. But right now, it was okay. He scratched under Reed's chin, before having more of his bun. Reed hopped back to the chair, so he could resume his playful back and forth with Smoosh.
It was only as he went to try the macaroon while watching the Pokemon play that Walter remembered what else he had. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, fluffy Mareep keychain, putting it beside Angel's plate. "I. I saw this, and thought of you. For your birthday." Hopefully it wasn't weird or creepy or too much-
[Smoosh, having felt just a little ignored in the midst of the revelations, was delighted to have someone's attention back on her. She reached up, paws batting playfully at the creature. Skagbait, on the other hand, took the sudden motion of the other Pokemon to mean that things were more relaxed, and retreated to her earlier vantage point.]
[Angel glanced down at the keychain passed off to her. She picked it up, showing it to both Smoosh (who attempted to bat at it) and Skagbait (who gave it a look and then glanced away). Her smile was wide and excited, and she quickly clipped it onto her gear.]
Walter bashfully smiled to himself. That went better than expected. "I'm glad you like it." Glad and relieved. He tried the macaron curiously. And had to pause. He thought it would've been crunchy or crumbly, with most of the flavour from the icing in the middle but it was soft and flavoursome throughout. It showed on his face.
Reed happily played with Smoosh, although when she successfully batted at his bang he hooted and fluffed up his feathers in offense. How dare she!
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brokencode) wrote2016-08-22 05:17 am
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Hesitantly, he rested his hand on the table between them. He didn't want to touch her in case that upset her - and he knew she was upset. She looked too similar to the other orphans, tense and staring into space when the priests walked past them. But he didn't know how to offer comfort. He didn't know what to say. The silence hung over them as the people around them went about their day, oblivious to their conversation.
"I didn't...want you to have gone through something like this. But..." He hesitated, only continuing when Reed gave him an encouraging nuzzle. "I'm glad you understand. That we're not alone, in knowing this. And, I'm glad that we're here." With Pokemon. Her Riolu was acting very much like Walter's own Pokemon, often pressing up against him and gently coaxing him to focus on them when the memories became too much. And with others who understood; Jimmy, and Anders, and Heather. And each other.
He didn't want to ask or press for Angel to tell him exactly what happened to her. What mattered was that it had happened.
no subject
No one wants anyone to go through something like this. [It was like her conversation with Heather the day prior -- it was awful to know that she wasn't the only one that suffered. She would have gladly suffered years more torture if it meant keeping her new friends from those lives.]
We aren't alone. And... I'm here for you, Walter.
no subject
Reed was also pleased. Feeling his trainer relax, he hopped onto their hands and looked incredibly smug, puffing up his chest. Obiviously he was to credit here! The Dartrix's silly behaviour emboldened Walter's smile. "Reed." Thankfully Reed chose to hop further along Walter's arm to seek his approval.
no subject
[With the more difficult conversation out of the way, Angel quickly turned her attention to the collection of treats that they had, then smiled up at Walter.]
Shall we?
no subject
It was only as he went to try the macaroon while watching the Pokemon play that Walter remembered what else he had. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, fluffy Mareep keychain, putting it beside Angel's plate.
"I. I saw this, and thought of you. For your birthday." Hopefully it wasn't weird or creepy or too much-
no subject
[Angel glanced down at the keychain passed off to her. She picked it up, showing it to both Smoosh (who attempted to bat at it) and Skagbait (who gave it a look and then glanced away). Her smile was wide and excited, and she quickly clipped it onto her gear.]
It's perfect, Walter, thank you!
no subject
Reed happily played with Smoosh, although when she successfully batted at his bang he hooted and fluffed up his feathers in offense. How dare she!