[He is warm. He is alive. They both are, somehow, but the why or mechanism behind it Joshua refuses to question for fear the blessing will be taken away from them both. He cannot even begin to think of letting thoughts of what he may do if Clive left him behind settle in his mind to take root or fester. No, he will not accept such a reality. Not now. Not after everything they've endured.
If he asked Clive to stay, he knows he wouldn't leave him...and while he gave him leave as he bled out before a cruel god in his arms, he isn't so inclined to make the same sacrifice twice. Surely he wouldn't be begrudged to be a bit selfish over this one matter.]
And you shall be. You still are, Clive.
[He softens under the lulling sensation of Clive's thumbs smoothing beneath his eyes. They're both a mess, his own face red and snotty and wet, but who cares? Little mattered beyond the fact that right here and now they had one another, alive and breathing. His lips crack into a smile as a hoarse laugh breaks free.
I love you.]
And I have never doubted it for a single moment. I love you, my brother, more than anyone else. I always have.
[Because as much as Clive couldn't bear to face a world where Joshua was not in it and had been left a husk of a man driven only by revenge, Joshua cannot imagine having to endure without his brother by his side. Not now. Not after everything.
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Date: 2024-10-17 11:24 pm (UTC)If he asked Clive to stay, he knows he wouldn't leave him...and while he gave him leave as he bled out before a cruel god in his arms, he isn't so inclined to make the same sacrifice twice. Surely he wouldn't be begrudged to be a bit selfish over this one matter.]
And you shall be. You still are, Clive.
[He softens under the lulling sensation of Clive's thumbs smoothing beneath his eyes. They're both a mess, his own face red and snotty and wet, but who cares? Little mattered beyond the fact that right here and now they had one another, alive and breathing. His lips crack into a smile as a hoarse laugh breaks free.
I love you.]
And I have never doubted it for a single moment. I love you, my brother, more than anyone else. I always have.
[Because as much as Clive couldn't bear to face a world where Joshua was not in it and had been left a husk of a man driven only by revenge, Joshua cannot imagine having to endure without his brother by his side. Not now. Not after everything.
They both deserved so much more.]