caycay | IC Inbox - Duplicity

[Cater's body resists, at first, against the pull of Riddle's arms, but his own shake and everything starts to feel like its burning, and it's taking so much energy just to exist in this space that he crumbles, hands covering his still invisible face. His voice pitches into the telltale sign of tears erupting forth.]

It's too nice...

[It was easier, despite his secret unhappiness, to enjoy his day-to-day routine. His silly boy façade. Duplicity is such a different beast and he just can't seem to find the right strategy to fight against it.]

The closer we get, the more scared I feel for tomorrow.

[No amount of promising can give them the final stay in where they'll end up.]

I know. I know.

[Riddle speaks to him lowly, hand rubbing his back as his heart aches for his dear soldier. Never would he have guessed that he was struggling so terribly. That he was barely holding on. Until they'd come here.]

You've suffered a lot. You deserve more than your waking nightmares.

[Cater shakes his head weakly, but he can't find the words to say what he's thinking--doesn't have the strength to argue what he knows is true: that he doesn't deserve much of anything. Maybe when he was still younger, when he still tried. But now, he was just a liar and a slacker. An unreliable ghost, walking through life without goals or ambitions. Nothing but fear or uncertainty for the future, nothing but bitterness and longing for the past.

Without consciously willing it, the color that's returned to his body starts to recede back to invisibility once more.]

You get what you give in life, right?

[Suddenly, there's a bit of tension in Riddle's form. His voice is tight and assertive:]

Hey.

[To get Cater's attention. Once he's sure he does, his hand comes back to caress his cheek, tone softening a bit.]

No one gets away with talking about my right hand man like that. Not even you.

[Cater peeks up at Riddle from behind splayed fingers, only the vague traces of his green eyes visible there. He swallows back a thick knot in his throat, trying to find anything to say that isn't some kind of self-flagellating nonsense.]

Sorry. When I get like this, I...

[He swallows again, tears still streaming unbidden down his cheeks.]

I just can't stop myself. Sometimes I get so paralyzed, I stay in bed for days.

[Riddle's gaze softens, and his hand moves to gently coax away Cater's.]

I imagine it's a long-ingrained habit.

[Gentle and understanding, even in his firmness.]

We'll work on breaking it together.

As long as I can really remember.

[Even before split card, he'd cry so often, all alone in his room, surrounded by boxes and suitcases. He often never even got the chance to fully unpack--and sometimes, he wouldn't even bother taking out more than what he needed on an average day. Why bother, when he'd just as soon be putting it all away again?

Still, he lets Riddle uncover his face, his expression so haunted, so hollow. Nothing like the Cater Diamond who threw his Unbirthday Party, or who would prance around in a ridiculous outfit, taking selfies and laughing his head off, spouting nonsense. Piece by piece, his body becomes heavier, sagging under the weight of emotional exhaustion.]

What if it isn't worth it?

[Somehow, the softly whispered question sounds more like: What if I'm not worth it?]

[As long as he can remember. His entire life... a fear of being alone.

At the question, Riddle gives a small smile, and that hand comes up to cup his cheek, thumb brushing away the tears.]

If, from this point on, you never did another thing for me... everything you'd already done would still make it worth it.

[The way Riddle looks at him, the way he treats him so gently, without expectations. He's so different from the Riddle that Overblotted, who would struggle to show affection without the biting tone of a threat involved. In a lot of ways, it's harder on Cater--he considered Riddle a friend even back then, of course, but they were never so close that he'd feel too badly when he ultimately left for senior year's internship.

Riddle hand changed so much, grown so much, and Cater could see now more than ever just how tangled their lives had become. Because of that, the ache in his heart is so much stronger, the insidious voice in his head warning him of the end so much louder.

When he looks into Riddle's eyes, though, it's impossible not to feel safe...and to feel seen, at least for the moment.

Insecurities fading into a static buzz in the back of his brain, Cater's tears finally come to a stop, a tiny smile lifting the edges of his lips. It's so vulnerable, and so tired, but it's so undeniably real, too. As he finally starts to reappear more solidly in Riddle's arms, Cater lets out a tiny laugh.]

Have you always been so romantic?

[There it is. That small, genuine smile and easing of Cater's muscles. And as that tension lifts, so does the ache in Riddle's heart for him.

His thoughts are abruptly derailed, however, by that question, blood rushing to his face.]

Wh— I'm not...!

You totally are.

[Cater chuckles again, sniffles, closing his eyes to eliminate a touch of the soreness setting in. Finally reciprocating some of Riddle's gentle touches, he reaches out to cup one of those blushing cheeks.]

It's not a bad thing.

[He huffs, pouting a little now that the heavy conversation has had its due time.

But that touch to his cheek is unexpected and so warm and gentle, and he can't help but close his eyes and lean into it.]

...you seriously underestimate how much you've improved my life if that's what you think.

[One icy-gray eye opens to look at Cater.]

[Small smile still stuck in place as Riddle leans into his palm, Cater regards his housewarden with a measure of confusion.]

What do you mean? It's not like...I mean, I haven't really done anything.

[Maybe not consciously.]

I wouldn't take credit for something like that.

Of course you have.

[It's quietly insisted.]

Especially since coming here. Even though... you don't have any obligation to act as my soldier any longer, you still do. You never even hesitated.

When you arrived, and then threw that party for me, I felt more like myself than I have ever since I arrived several months before.

And... you did all of that, while struggling to adjust not only to a new world, but the loss of your Signature Spell.

[A tiny smile back.]

You're much more amazing than you give yourself credit for.

[Cater stammers slightly. Of course, his immediate impulse is to argue that he's not amazing, especially not now, and what happened in Veracity all but confirms it. That would be going around in circles, though, and he can't deny the way Riddle's explanation makes his heart thump.]

That's just, you know...

[Just, what? He really went above and beyond and he knows it--he'd been exhausted. None if it had mattered but that hadn't stopped him.]

I like seeing you smile.

[Riddle can't help but give a little giggle at that reaction.]

That's a whole lot to do just to make someone smile, isn't it?

[A gentle tease before he presses a kiss into his palm.]

...it's worth it.

[His embarrassed expression softens under Riddle's kiss, like that gentleness is rippling outward in waves.]

I remember when we first met. You didn't smile so easily, back then. I'm glad; it's nice to see you so much happier.

[There's a surprised blink, and then a softened look of thoughtfulness.]

... I don't think it ever really occurred to me just how much pain I was in back then. I was just... angry. Angry at a lot of things. Angry at myself, too.

Then I came here and... I was still angry. And scared. I had to rely on other people for my personal needs more than ever.

But they insisted on patience with myself while I struggled. That patience gave me room to breathe, think, and be more present. And... I think that was a first for me in a long time. Before then, I was always stuck in the past or the future.

[His thumb strokes Cater's cheek.]

It sounds like you're in a similar kind of trap.

[Completely understanding, Cater nods. Of course, his own pain was--and has been--moreso ignored than unrecognized. Certainly, there are plenty of other feelings he's been denying to acknowledge, as well, especially in Duplicity.]

It takes a lot to admit when you have a problem...and even more to ask for help.

[He's done plenty of thinking, plenty of self-reflection and discussion. But every time he's faced with a choice to be open and honest...he chokes up, falls back on old habits. Cater spent so long having no hands held out to him for support that now what they're there, it's a scary thought, trusting they won't let him flounder.]

You've really worked hard on yourself. You've come a long way.

[Riddle nods in return. Especially considering how prideful he could be. And yet, he was shown such patience and kindness that that resistance too slowly melted away.]

I was fortunate enough to have some really wonderful help.

And now I'm going to pay that forward to you. One day, one step at a time.

IC Inbox - Duplicity

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