spillthetealeaf

[There's...so much. So many questions, so much confusion, and they're both looking at him, for a moment, like he might crash the roof down on their heads. Essek looks so unbelievably, impossibly frightened, and all Caleb can think is the barest mention of Trent when they approached him in Eiselcross.

Time. It takes time.

Caleb comes all the way up, reaching one tattooed hand out to cover Essek's and the other coming up to cup Molly's cheek. Something switched places--but that look in their eyes says more than that.]

I'm so sorry...both of you. I--

He didn't look like you; he was you. Someone who took a different path.

[A different man, a different Caleb, but a Caleb. His Caleb from home. His future, the one he had kissed and love and shared a home with in Jrusar-

He squeezed Caleb's hand before letting it go, pushing the pouch into it instead.]

I think I would like to go for some air, please.

[And he started to head towards the door, footfalls from those bare feet soft against the carpet.]

[ Before Essek could get far, Molly grabbed his sleeve to get his attention. ]

Yell if you need me.

[ The same words he said last night before giving him the space to shower without an audience. A promise to come running if he needed help or anything like that. It was the best he could offer. Then he released him again and stayed back with Caleb as the drow slipped out to the balcony. ]

It wasn't good. And he blew up the bedroom door while Essek was teleporting us out.

[Caleb looks down at the component pouch pressed into his hands. Not Essek's -- and there's no reason Essek would have handed his over -- and not Caleb's. At least, not really. He had his, after all. And this felt similar, had all the little marks that made it his. But...

Someone who took a different path.

He watches Essek go to the balcony, doesn't stop him right now. There's a new fracture there, and Caleb can't do anything about this one except give Essek the space he needs.]

...we should, ah. Let both of you rest, then. We can talk about things later--when you're both ready.

[ Ready. Right.

Molly knew the shape of the damage he was carrying was different from Essek's. He hadn't had his mind messed with, memories changed without his consent. His damage was tied up in the idea of losing them, that the strange alternate version of Caleb was there forever.

And then the idea that Essek would be lost too. The thought was enough to make him sick to his stomach.

But they were all alive. That was a start, right? ]

Care to join me? I- [ There were no easy excuses or jokes, just a vaguely helpless look on his face. ] I'm not feeling up to being alone.

[Caleb looks toward the balcony not because he doesn't want to go with Molly, but because he always worries about the appearance of favoritism, and he's worried about Essek. He's quite certain, whatever happened, it set all of these fragile balances into disarray. All he can do is be patient, and apologize for the mess.]

Of course. I feel like I could sleep for a week.

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