There are reasons I say my world could not hope for a better champion.
[ Joshua saved him, for one thing. That came at great cost, and it would have been simpler for him had he not, but Dion knows that's why he awoke in the Hideaway's infirmary.
Why he woke at all. ]
By comparison I'm rather lacking, unless raw force is a determining factor.
[ Dion exhales a slow, uneven breath. He knows that Ultima broke him with purpose, but that doesn't absolve him of his crushing sense of failure.
Protecting his people was his life's purpose and he had failed them utterly. ]
...Perhaps some other time. [ He can't hide from that truth, nor deny it, but he doesn't see how they can remain friends once the truth is known. It is too terrible a thing. ] You have need of rest.
[ He has his doubts that Vax could, if he heard it. Not after what befell his home. ]
[ Vax continues to frown softly in the dark. Is it too difficult for Dion to talk about? Even after everything else they've shared? Or maybe Dion is worried about Vax's current condition.
There's definitely something wrong, though. Vax can tell when he hears that shaky breath in bed next to him. ]
Y-yeah...
[ He doesn't want to push Dion into talking about whatever it is. Not until he's ready.
Vax lies there quietly for several minutes, but he's too worried to sleep. With a deep sigh, he turns over onto his side and adjusts his position until he's lying right next to Dion and rests one arm over the prince's stomach. It's not quite a hold, but his arm is just there now. ]
[ It is, after all, the worst thing Dion has ever done. To his mind, it doesn't matter that he wasn't cognizant of his Eikon's fury, nor that he doesn't remember it.
He couldn't regain himself, even though he was meant to protect his people from danger. That night, he was the threat, and the knowledge burns him still.
In the silence, Dion expects to be left with his thoughts. Instead, there Vax is, and he doesn't know how to respond at first. It's a warmth he doesn't think himself deserving of, especially with Twinside on his mind.
With a certain caution, he places a hand on the back of Vax's arm. He doesn't quite know what else to do, so he leaves it there.
He'll miss Vax, once he learns the true shape of his failure. Of what he'd done. ]
[ Given the circumstances and his own suffering this past week, maybe Dion felt it wasn't a good time to talk about whatever bothered him. Perhaps he'll decide to share his thoughts later. Whatever they might be, Vax can't imagine not being there for Dion. After everything Dion has done for him, how could Vax not offer his support?
Which is the only thing he can do right now with his arm resting around his friend's middle. He doesn't know if the gesture is having its intended effect, but he leaves it there anyway.
Soon, the exhaustion begins to settle over him, dragging him down into a deep sleep. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-12-30 04:59 am (UTC)[ Joshua saved him, for one thing. That came at great cost, and it would have been simpler for him had he not, but Dion knows that's why he awoke in the Hideaway's infirmary.
Why he woke at all. ]
By comparison I'm rather lacking, unless raw force is a determining factor.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-30 05:03 am (UTC)How can you say that? You think only of your people.
[ Dion endured so much to serve them. ]
And what happened was not your fault. You were trying to save them.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-30 05:07 am (UTC)It is the truth. My failure is greater than you know.
[ It's so much worse. He's certain that Vax would regard him very differently if he knew, and that would be wholly justified. ]
Were it not for him and Clive, it would have been worse still.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-30 05:24 am (UTC)[ Greater than he knows? Dion hasn't told him something?
Vax feels his chest tighten out of both concern and anxiety. He isn't sure what Dion is keeping from him, but it must be bad. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-12-30 05:30 am (UTC)Protecting his people was his life's purpose and he had failed them utterly. ]
...Perhaps some other time. [ He can't hide from that truth, nor deny it, but he doesn't see how they can remain friends once the truth is known. It is too terrible a thing. ] You have need of rest.
[ He has his doubts that Vax could, if he heard it. Not after what befell his home. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-12-30 05:43 am (UTC)There's definitely something wrong, though. Vax can tell when he hears that shaky breath in bed next to him. ]
Y-yeah...
[ He doesn't want to push Dion into talking about whatever it is. Not until he's ready.
Vax lies there quietly for several minutes, but he's too worried to sleep. With a deep sigh, he turns over onto his side and adjusts his position until he's lying right next to Dion and rests one arm over the prince's stomach. It's not quite a hold, but his arm is just there now. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-12-30 05:57 am (UTC)He couldn't regain himself, even though he was meant to protect his people from danger. That night, he was the threat, and the knowledge burns him still.
In the silence, Dion expects to be left with his thoughts. Instead, there Vax is, and he doesn't know how to respond at first. It's a warmth he doesn't think himself deserving of, especially with Twinside on his mind.
With a certain caution, he places a hand on the back of Vax's arm. He doesn't quite know what else to do, so he leaves it there.
He'll miss Vax, once he learns the true shape of his failure. Of what he'd done. ]
no subject
Date: 2025-12-30 06:19 am (UTC)Which is the only thing he can do right now with his arm resting around his friend's middle. He doesn't know if the gesture is having its intended effect, but he leaves it there anyway.
Soon, the exhaustion begins to settle over him, dragging him down into a deep sleep. ]