school: nier

[shaft]

Comments

[amain]

[ Why is Claude so stupid.

Nier kisses him this time, roughly, and ends it with a bite. Punishment! For being mean! For no reason!! ]

[shaft]

[ Nier is cute, even when he's being mean.

Claude smiles wider at his frustration, pulling him down to lie next to him. ]

I've already told her. Don't worry.

[amain]

[ I don't have an icon that completely conveys how much Nier wants to fucking die from shame and embarrassment. If it was going to end, he thought he could at least kiss Claude one last time BUT NOW IT'S PLAYING OUT DIFFERENTLY. HE SHOULD HAVE WAITED. He's closing his eyes shut so hard as he's pulled down completely. ]

Do I even want to know what you told her exactly?

[ Actually, let him hide in this pillow. ]

[shaft]

[ So cute... Claude will gently run his fingers through his hair. ]

I told her that I had feelings for you.

[amain]

[ ... Nier squints at him from his pillow shield. ]

Is this really Claude?

[shaft]

I'm capable of growth.

[ Not really. These conversations were extremely awkward. ]

[amain]

Sorry, I’m just shocked that you actually said you like me.

[ He’s trying to process it? ]

You had trouble yesterday saying you like touching. You had trouble with a lot of things and ran off.

[shaft]

I've said it before.

[ Hasn't he? ]

[amain]

You haven't.

[ CLAUDE REALLY HAS NOT EVER SAID THAT TO NIER. ]

[shaft]

[ ............... ]

I like you, Nier.

[amain]

[ .....

He busts up laughing. Help. ]

[shaft]

... That's a terrible reaction to a confession.

[amain]

Sorry, sorry... What got me was the way you thought you told me before and the fact you told someone else first before telling me, then now you're finally telling me.

[ YOU CAN'T BLAME HIM ]

We can redo if you want?

[shaft]

[ He still looks a little huffy, but at the suggestion he just sighs. ]

No, this is about what I expect from myself. I'm sorry that I did it so poorly.

[amain]

It wasn't bad, honestly. I shouldn't have laughed when it took me so long to realize I like-liked other people.

[ Lightly baps Claude with pillow. ]

No, we can do it again. Go ahead.

[shaft]

[ Fine. Nier will get a confession if he wants one.

Claude's going to push himself up onto his elbow so that he can hover over him, setting a hand on his cheek. ]

I like you, Nier.

[amain]

[ Wow. Actually seeing through him. Yes, Nier wanted to hear it again. He takes that hand and holds it. ]

I love you, Claude—as a friend, more, and whatever beyond that. Forever.

[ So unconditionally! He doesn't care much about labels or anything. ]

[shaft]

[ That's so much affection.

A little too much affection.

Claude looks ridiculously pleased though, even as colour crawls up to his face, and he also drops his face onto the pillow. ]

Thank you.

[ He's still too shy to say it back... ]

[amain]

[ Nier is inwardly preening himself because yes this is how it should be and he’s winning as usual. A shy, embarrassed Claude. ]

Wow, you got really red. Was that too much?

[ Since he still has Claude’s hand, he brushes his cheek against his knuckles. ]

[shaft]

You're always a lot.

[ When he looks up he's smiling though. ]

But I like that about you.

[amain]

I don’t think I’m always a lot.

[ Genuinely, he thinks he isn’t a handful, but that’s because he’s stupid and unaware. Smiling back, very fond, he releases Claude’s hand. ]

[shaft]

[ He snorts, but falls into his back again. ]

It's not a bad thing. I'm hoping your stubbornness means that we can meet again, even after leaving here.

[amain]

It might take some time since I won't know where you are, but you can leave a trail for me while I'm looking for a cure. Etch your name on a tavern or something.

[ It's a funny thought? Despite what waits for Nier or worse, what doesn't, he's thinking about what he can look forward to. He will have a home with Kainé and Yonah, finally get to know Iris some more, then find a way to cure his sister. They can lead a simple life... Travel Iris' world, then other worlds after a safety assessment.

They can visit friends, then somewhere on the way he'll meet Claude. It warms his heart, but something needles it, especially after the twice confession. While it looked like he wanted to scoot closer earlier, he stays, holding onto a pillow. ]

... Is this right?

[shaft]

[ He looks up at the question curiously. ]

What do you mean?

[amain]

I’ve been selfish for most of my days here, but… I don’t think I deserve your affections.

[ Very funny how confessions and thinking about simple happiness make you second guess everything. ]