nexus_sages | A memorial of sorts

He can snap if he needs to. She's prepared to take whatever he needs to dish out.

"Sweetheart, nobody can be aware of everything all the time. Of course you feel guilty. But it's not your fault. You didn't do anything to cause this, and when you found out what was happening you did everything in your power to end it." No, she's not entirely aware of what she just called him. "Is it your friend's fault for bringing you here in the first place?"

"What, no. No Baofu didn't..." I mean, it was disconcerting that he hadn't been seen around in a while, but that was pretty much how the rumor monger was.

He nods. He understands what she's saying.

"Sixty. I can't even..."

"And they won't be forgotten. There's plans for a memorial already," she offers gently, moving closer to place her other hand on his shoulder. "And we'll be more careful in the future, yeah? We'll make sure the portals from your world are all demon-proofed or something."

He's grateful she's here, he really is. She's keeping him from hating himself quite so much. Also, coffee. The comfort is welcomed, thought he doesn't return it. Kind of hard to with no free hands.

"Yes. I need to make sure nothing like this happens again."

Hey, it's a treat for her to get to do this without him freaking out. She's not complaining.

"We will make sure," she corrects. Her tone is gentle but determined. "I'm going to have plenty of free time soon. You might as well put me to work."

"Yeah." That's right. He wasn't alone. He didn't have to do everything himself. Katsuya smiles.

"Did you sleep well?"

The question catches her off-guard, and now she's blushing. "Mm-hmm. Yeah, thank you." It's not an unhappy kind of blushing. "American futons must be made wrong because they're not half so comfortable."

He leans against her a but more as a substitute for posting her arm. Coffee sip.

"I'm glad. You look somewhat better."

This is good. She can live with this. "I feel a lot better today. Thank you." She'll let go of his hand so he can try those cookies. They're not as fancy as the ones she made for him, but they're still pretty good.

"Have you had a proper meal yet today?" Yes, she's noticed how little he eats.

"I've had about two pots of coffee, one was even fresh."

He does indeed take a cookie. Yay breakfast cookie.

"Okay, you know it pains me to say this because I love coffee, but that's not food. You need to eat." This is not a discussion. She might let him have some semblance of control in deciding what he eats, but he's going to have a proper meal.

"Well, yes but..."

Yeah he's got nothing and he knows it. He'd be saying the same thing.

"I suppose. I hadn't thought about it yet." Or at all.

She's anticipating a fight when he gets to the "but"; her expression takes on a preemptively incredulous cast that doesn't quite relax when the argument fails to materialize. "Then isn't it good you've got a really bossy friend to look after you? So will I be taking you home, or to the cafe?"

There's a moment when he just stares at here, before shaking his head with a smile.

"So it would seem, yes. I don't suppose I could coerce you into just getting me something from nearby so I can continue working? If I promised to stop long enough to eat it with you here?"

What? She knows she's bossy. That's not always a bad thing.

"Okay. But you have to promise you'll sit down and try to relax while you're eating. Is there anything particular that sounds appetizing?"

He almost asks for curry, but then stares at his cup of coffee. Curses.

"Something with rice would be nice. A stir fry?"

What? Coffee and curry together are disgusting. Sure fire way to ruin two of his favorite things.

"Okay." She gives him a smile and slips her arms around him for a quick hug. "I won't be gone long," she promises.

And she really isn't. In part because she's running there and back once she's around a corner and he can't see her. She'll have to remember to thank Samus for pushing her so hard these past few months. She's barely winded when she gets back.

"You have a choice: steak, shiitake, and snow pea; or pork, tangerine, and bok choi in chili sauce. There's also some pork and cabbage gyoza, and Pu-erh tea."

The hug is not unwelcome, just slightly confusing. She was being very friendly today. In a more physical way. He doesn't question it--it's rather nice. He just thought...well. It doesn't really matter.

"I'll stick with the one with the snow peas please." Katsuya is not actually one for spicy foods too much and chili sauce sounds daunting on an empty stomach.

True to his word, he pulls up a chair and settles in to take a break from depressing question and answer time to recharge with a bowl of rice and stir fry. He will even try a couple of the gyoza just to prove he eats.

There are reasons for this change. She'd try to explain it if he asked, how she's relieved to not be keeping that horrible secret from him anymore and that since he didn't freak out last time she thinks it's allowed now.

She'll set his container in front of him and pour him some tea before she sits. She isn't sure what to talk about, so she'll tell him a story. It's a Loki story; all her best stories are Loki stories. It's about the time Sigurd the Ever-Glorious, first hero of Asgard, came to steal Gram, the sword of truth. Sigurd was invisible, and also such a bad flirt they never figured out who he was actually flirting with; Loki was a chatterbox and also a swashbuckler. There was witty banter, epic fighting, a broken window, a fall into a dumpster, and eventually Sigurd walked away with the sword.

"And by the time Loki got out of the shower, dinner was ruined. Salmon just can't be reheated well so he had to start all over."

It's no surprise that she clearly loves Loki. But there's no sign they were ever romantic. Just friends.

In case he was worried about that.

Katsuya is a good listener. He asks all the right sorts of engaging questions, nods along even around mouthfuls of food and doesn't interrupt.

"No wonder you don't have a television." Katsuya snorts. "Your life is interesting enough on its own."

She gives a little smile and a shrug. "Sometimes. It wasn't all sword fighting and raiding the deepest darkest Asgardian dungeons and getting kidnapped. He'd probably prefer if it were told that way."

One of the gyoza gets pushed around a bit before she picks it up. "He so wants to be able to live his life on his own terms. I think maybe that's why we're such good friends. Neither of us knows what the hell we're doing alone, but we make a great team."

Katsuya nods along as best he can. He's never had someone like that, so it's difficult for him to understand. He's had role models, people he's admired. Even people he'd come to care for.

But a friend, closer than blood who he could share anything with? Not even close. Baofu was probably the closest friend he had and--well. That spoke volumes.

The subject of Loki makes Katsuya uncomfortable. Not because he feels threatened. He honestly chose to out himself in a way that kept Verity from knowing just so he wouldn't have to have her worrying about it. Whatever Loki was to her, Katsuya didn't want to get in the way.

He's uncomfortable because he doesn't want to tell her he's okay. He doesn't know. Nor does he want to ask if there had been any news from him, because he's seen her cry enough for a lifetime. It wrenches his heart to think about causing it on purpose.

"I expect he doesn't like the more mundane 'Loki mistook the sugar for the salt again' stories about him, then." Katsuya smiles a little into his rice bowl.

"They weren't the best cookies I'd ever had," she admits quietly, watching him and wondering why he's so uncomfortable. She'd thought he had enjoyed the story, but... apparently not. "I'm sorry, I'm boring you. Would you rather talk about something else?"

It's going to be hard to mourn all alone.

"What, Verity no." Katsuya sets his food down. "Why do you always assume the worst?"

"...I wanted to ask if you'd heard any news about him. But..." He sighs. "I didn't want to make you cry again."

She looks at him for a long moment. How can he ask her that? Does he really not get it?

Then she looks down. "No. It's okay to ask. Sorry."

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