school: nier

[shaft]

Comments

[amain]

... I just care about you.

[ He gives him a tired look. It's simple. ]

[shaft]

[ He really is terrible at being Nier's friend. ]

I wasn't hurt. I already know what Byleth is capable of. I was- I am... angry.

[ ... ]

I care about you too, for the record. Even if I'm not great at showing it.

[amain]

[ There's a small laugh. ]

I never doubted that you care about me. I only said that because I thought you needed me to spell out why I asked in the first place.

[ Doofus. Nier knows that Claude is a little cagey... His ways are different and he accepts that for the most part. ]

... Why?

[shaft]

[ ... Cool! So he spelled it out for no reason! He loves that! ]

Because she's killed people. All the while acting like... a friend. A mentor.

She's just a murderer.

[amain]

[ Acting like a friend! A mentor! ]

... When Lan Wangji was confirmed dead, she was adamant about us teaching the kids in our dorm how to defend themselves.

[shaft]

How noble.

[amain]

I enjoyed the dead's company when they were here.

Crow... had many friends waiting for him back at home, too.

[shaft]

[ He's silent for a moment. ]

Me too. I don't think there are any easy answers for this. [ Just falls back against the roof.

Which he immediately regrets because it's freezing, but he's in it now. ]

Sometimes it just... sucks.

[amain]

… I wonder what we’re going to do. If there’s anything we can do.

[ Byleth or at least her partner will kill again. Whether they do anything about that or form some plan to use Byleth he has no idea. A messy aftermath!!

When Claude plops, Nier unravels to hover over him. ]

Is the snow comfortable?

[shaft]

[ There is. Claude is sure they'll form a plan, figure something out. Whether it works or not, he doubts this group will surrender yet.

But tomorrow. Tonight, he just stews in his feelings.

He grins up at Nier. ]

No, it's pretty bad. I really can't stand the cold...

[amain]

[ He frowns, quiet for a moment, then plops down, too.

With some shifting, he gets close enough to hug Claude. There, warm. ]

I don’t like the cold, either.

[shaft]

[ Nier always makes Claude feel awkward, despite his best efforts. He tries not to tense too noticeably, gaze catching on something that manages to distract him. ]

Hm.

[ He tugs Nier's scarf down at bites his neck. ]

[amain]

[ ?! Hello? Nier almost jerks back in surprise, but opts out to stilling in place. ]

What was that for?

[shaft]

I'm returning the favour from a few weeks ago.

[ He's very happy to see Nier taken off guard. ]

[amain]

[ Nier very much is taken by surprise. Now he's... Nervous? Awkward? Maybe flustered. ]

Uhm... Why?

[shaft]

[ Revenge is sweet, and he looks a little too pleased to Nier the one off-balance for once. ]

Because I wanted to. I apologize if you're uncomfortable.

[amain]

[ Nier quietly decides that it doesn't mean more than Claude doing random stuff because he feels awkward. Yeah, it doesn't mean anything. ]

You'll give people the wrong idea like that.

[ Puts him into a playful headlock. ]

[shaft]

[ He doesn't expect the sudden bullying, grunting when Nier puts him in a headlock. ]

And what exactly would that be?

[amain]

[ Nier keeps him in it for a bit before relaxing his hold. ]

... Nothing. Never mind.

[shaft]

[ Claude isn't quite clueless enough not to notice that it is... something, but he's also clumsy and stupid, so he doesn't press it. ]

If you dislike the cold, by the way. A remedy would be to head inside.

[amain]

[ please don't press it emotionshare is this week ]

Should have thought about that before you decided the snow makes a great bed.

[ But they can head inside! We wrap this up! ]

[shaft]

[ There is a VERY BRIEF moment where Claude contemplates cuddling instead of getting up, but he's heterosexual in the end, so he does push himself up and wipe off the snow. ]

Maybe I decided your company was warmer than being inside.