darkearth | (no subject)

[There's a pause as he tries to make out what exactly Squall is getting at. And then, slowly, he just starts laughing. It's not loud, but he laughs, amused.]

Thanks, Squall.

So I was able to get a smile out of you... good.

[ Squall looks a little proud of himself, as embarrassed as he might be. ]

[Terra drops a hand on the top of Squall's head, ruffling it teasingly. His smile lingers a bit, faint and soft.]

I guess I needed that.

[ Luckily for Terra, Squall doesn't shove his hand away for once, instead closing his eyes and leaning into it just a little. ]

Sounds like we both did...

[It reminds him of Ven. Not that Squall is anything like Ven, but the sentiment feels similar. After a moment, he drops his hand to Squall's shoulder and squeezes it reassuringly.]

I know it doesn't seem as if it will ever get better. It will. [He pokes two fingers gently into Squall's chest.] Your heart will guide you. If you listen to it.

You keep telling me that, but I think my heart's defective. It only leads me into trouble.

Don't say that. It's not true. Your heart isn't defective.

If it's not defective, there's definitely something wrong with its sense of direction.

I don't think that's true either. Your heart always knows where it should go. Sometimes... You want to go in a different direction yourself.

It just might not be the right one.

Are you sure about that?

I'm sure. [He sounds like he believes this wholeheartedly, regardless of how silly it may seem.] Why do you think your heart is leading you astray?

[ Hopefully Terra didn't mind Squall leaning against him again.]

Because it's telling me not to approach the person I care about...

[ No, that's his mind. ]

[Terra doesn't mind. He supports Squall's lean.]

There's nothing wrong with that. Your hearts are connected. It's hurting now that you're apart. It's trying to lead you back where it belongs, but you aren't listening.

Aqua, too. She's always thinking. Her heart wants her to come back, but she keeps thinking she shouldn't.

If that's how it is, how do you tell your thoughts to take a backseat?

[For a moment, he's quiet as he thinks. It is hard to tell thoughts to take a backseat, isn't it? Terra knows that for sure. Better than anything.]

It isn't easy. I thought a lot of things, too, back home. They kept me from doing the right thing more than once. You have to listen to your heart.

[ he lets out a soft groan to that and just lets himself lean all his weight against Terra instead. ]

I hate this.

[Carefully, Terra threads his arms around Squall's shoulders, letting the weight of it be a comfort.]

Here. Close your eyes. When you imagine Sora, what do you see? What's your heart telling you to do right now?

[ Squall lets himself fall more into Terra's arms as he lets his eyes close shut. ]

All I see... is his dumb smile that lights up the room...

[The hint of a smile comes to the edge of Terra's mouth.]

You aren't as bad at it as you think. [He gives Squall a small, affectionate shake at the shoulders. The tips of his two other fingers prod Squall in the middle of the chest.] That's your heart.

You see him and then what? What do you want to do?

[ Squall is just going to keep hiding his face since Terra doesn't seem to mind. ]

I... don't want to say out loud.

[Oh? This would be terribly cute if Terra wasn't such a ding-dong about what it means. Poor Squall.]

Okay. You don't have to be afraid of what your heart wants you to do. What it's telling you, you should do. You can take your time. I know Sora would understand.

[ Terra... why are you so dense and pure? It makes Squall like you more, but at the same time it makes him want to punch you... ]

It's not that I'm afraid.... it's just embarrassing to say out loud.

Oh...

You don't have to be embarrassed. I won't laugh.

[He's taking this very seriously!]

[ TERRA, WHY ARE YOU THIS PURE??? ]

I think about... [ He mumbles the rest of it. ]

[???

He leans in a bit toward Squall so he can try to hear, brows furrowed, head dipping.]

I couldn't hear you. You think about...?