[ the smile he gives Aether is charming and grateful. ]
Thanks.
[ As soon as Aether is gone, though, Childe's mask cracks. He grimaces from the ache that has been burdening him but not as a result of his wounds. It's that godawful tug— and, yes, he knows exactly that it's the red strings gripping him tighter as he continues to deny them any acknowledgment even in his own mind when around that he is in the present if his soulmate. It's downright painful at times, but he's sure it's nothing compared to what would be felt if something happened to Aether because Childe was careless. How could this have happened? Of all the people, why couldn't it had been someone he didn't like? Someone who wasn't so innocent? Why did it have to be a gentle and nurturing individual that, from the looks of things, would be everything he could ever ask for and more? Someone to care about him, someone to hold and be held by, someone to cherish even in the most mundane and idle of times, someone that he could actually believe if they ever said they loved him.
Just... why?
He's not sure if Aether is aware of the connection, but he has an inkling that he does at least on some level. The doctor is incredibly kind and surely gives his patients the same loving care and attention... but not with that kind of smile that he just showed Childe.
Shit, this is bad. He's already well aware the other would never agree to seeing him like that because they're doctor and patient, but that doesn't mean anything beyond the two of them suffering without each other. It doesn't protect Aether, and Childe can't guarantee someone doesn't have information. There are people in the underground that specialize in analyzing the red strings to identify yours or someone else's soulmate. The Mafia uses them for two reasons: the first is so members are aware of who they are and what they look like to avoid meeting them; the second is to exploit that very information gathered on their enemies and use it against them. He's lost count of the different people he's killed that were targeted this way. The only way they were ever not used is if they had never met the one they were connected to.
Childe can't stay here. He knows this. They always search hospitals for the injured. If they have information on Aether and even see him somewhere in the building, things could going to get ugly fast. A frustrated growl escapes him, at a loss off the best way to damage control this situation before he rolls over to one side and curls up in fetal position. ]
no subject
Thanks.
[ As soon as Aether is gone, though, Childe's mask cracks. He grimaces from the ache that has been burdening him but not as a result of his wounds. It's that godawful tug— and, yes, he knows exactly that it's the red strings gripping him tighter as he continues to deny them any acknowledgment even in his own mind when around that he is in the present if his soulmate. It's downright painful at times, but he's sure it's nothing compared to what would be felt if something happened to Aether because Childe was careless. How could this have happened? Of all the people, why couldn't it had been someone he didn't like? Someone who wasn't so innocent? Why did it have to be a gentle and nurturing individual that, from the looks of things, would be everything he could ever ask for and more? Someone to care about him, someone to hold and be held by, someone to cherish even in the most mundane and idle of times, someone that he could actually believe if they ever said they loved him.
Just... why?
He's not sure if Aether is aware of the connection, but he has an inkling that he does at least on some level. The doctor is incredibly kind and surely gives his patients the same loving care and attention... but not with that kind of smile that he just showed Childe.
Shit, this is bad. He's already well aware the other would never agree to seeing him like that because they're doctor and patient, but that doesn't mean anything beyond the two of them suffering without each other. It doesn't protect Aether, and Childe can't guarantee someone doesn't have information. There are people in the underground that specialize in analyzing the red strings to identify yours or someone else's soulmate. The Mafia uses them for two reasons: the first is so members are aware of who they are and what they look like to avoid meeting them; the second is to exploit that very information gathered on their enemies and use it against them. He's lost count of the different people he's killed that were targeted this way. The only way they were ever not used is if they had never met the one they were connected to.
Childe can't stay here. He knows this. They always search hospitals for the injured. If they have information on Aether and even see him somewhere in the building, things could going to get ugly fast. A frustrated growl escapes him, at a loss off the best way to damage control this situation before he rolls over to one side and curls up in fetal position. ]