school: nier

[shaft]

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[shaft]

[ Something about that rattles in his chest, irritated by it, but he pushes past it. ]

It does. And it probably always will. There's not much we can do but try to combat it in whatever small ways we have available to us.

[amain]

[ A future of being able to sleep peacefully is what he remembers from their earlier conversations. It's sad for him because it's a small solace everyone deserves, but he puts it aside so he can smile like usual. ]

... I bet you don't want to hear what I'm going to say.

[ Ominous. ]

[shaft]

[ He does fix Nier with a wary look. ]

Maybe, but now you've got me curious.

[amain]

[ The wary look has him snicker because he wonders what the man is brewing in that paranoid noggin. ]

I want to protect you, Claude.

[ It's something simple, genuine, and this is one of Nier's ways of combating cruelty. ]

[shaft]

[ Nier certainly has a talent for leaving him speechless. Claude just stares at him for a moment, before giving into the embarrassment crawling up his neck and shielding his eyes with a groan. ]

You really can say all sorts of things with a straight face, huh?

[amain]

It's nothing embarrassing.

[ But then he sees Claude's reaction. His eyebrows arch into his bangs while his smile widens. ]

... I guess I was wrong.

[shaft]

"Not embarrassing"...

[ He rubs his hand over his face before dropping it, meeting Nier's eyes again. ]

In any case, I guess I should thank you.

[amain]

[ Nier is still here and stares at him, a little confused. ]

... For what? I should be thanking you.

[shaft]

I'm not the one that vowed you protect you from any and all danger?

[amain]

By the way, you'll have to protect yourself in love affairs.

[ You're on your own for those. ]

[shaft]

[ Nier is so funny. ]

You mean you're not going to protect my heart?

[amain]

If I could, I would.

[ He's so funny with his not-jokes. ]

[shaft]

Ah, and so I'm left to continue my search for the one to whom I can entrust my heart...

[ he doesn't have a heart anyway ]

[amain]

I know you trust yourself.

[ dumb bitch ]

[shaft]

That's true.

[ He is a narcissist! ]

I appreciate the sentiments regardless, Nier. And the implication that I have a love life. [ ... ] Do you?

[amain]

My answer is still the same: I don’t really have time to.

[ This is a murdergame!!! ]

… I just want you to feel a little safer.

[shaft]

[ People hook up in murder games? Remember Gojou? ]

I... don't really know what to say to that. [ Nier is too genuine and nice for Claude to interact with. ] As capable as I believe you are, it's hard for any of us to feel safe in this place, isn't it?

[amain]

[ i erase him ]

The keywords are “a little safer.”

[ He’s aware… There’s not much he can do on Thursday nights. ]

[shaft]

Nier...

[ He goes silent for a moment, thinking it over.

Then, eventually, ] Are you in love with Kainé?

[amain]

[ ??? ]

Where did that come from?

[shaft]

I've been curious for a while. Might as well ask while we're being honest.

[amain]

We're just friends, but... I actually never thought about it.

[ nier, an idiot, a fool ]

How would you be able to tell?

[shaft]

[ ... Claude has never been in love, so he's just going to do his best. ]

I think it's when you always want a person around. When their happiness is your happiness, and their pain is yours.

Uh... you want them to be happy and safe and loved. [ ... ] You think they're beautiful? And your heart beats faster around them?

[ Steadily getting less sure. ]

I suppose you'd want to kiss them, probably.

[amain]

[ Nier stays quiet and listens, though he has his doubts. ]

... For someone who has never been in love, you're doing well in trying to explain it.

[shaft]

There's only a million books about it.

[ shut up ]