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[adregem]

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[adregem]

[ He doesn't let up on the embrace, or the comforting rubs to help soothe him a bit more. Appearances aside, Inigo was really just a kid. A child at heart, filled with more affection than he knows what to do with. Roland's never too far behind, drawn to those who exhibit such innocence because he's most inclined to want to protect them from harm. From the corruption that plagues the waking world. He'll never be able to though, not completely, but at least for a time, for a single moment, Roland could play the part fate has assigned to him in every lifetime he's had to live. ]

[ He chuckles affectionately. ] I know that. Doesn't mean you shouldn't cry it all out anyway. [ An irony, considering Roland himself would refuse it if he was faced with the same circumstance. He lets Inigo continue to cry against his shoulder for a couple more minutes, not wanting to rush what to say either. He tightens his hold around him, finally finding his voice, fond and heavy. ]

...I don't want anything. [ Just let me protect you. He swallows thickly, and adds another thing, just as sentimental as the first. ]

Except maybe, I want you to try. Try fighting it. Even if you don't win, that's okay. Keep fighting with all of your heart until one day, you do win. Okay? [ Roland knows Inigo understands. The voices. The ones telling him he'll never be enough, that he's weak, that he's everything Reno says is true. ] It's not going to be easy, but you're not alone. And what could pull down Olivia's son, anyway? Heh. Nothing, that's what.

[flatteries]

[ He already knows that won't be easy. After all, if he had never fought the voices, would he still even have been here at this point? There's no way he would have made it through that future he came from, where surviving was a daily struggle. It would have been so easy to just give in to his insecurities, his worries, the despair looming at the back of his mind, even as he tried to smile every day.

But he hasn't. That's the proof that he's been fighting it. But it's just-- his current level of fighting isn't enough to make them go away, isn't enough to prevent his heart from sinking every time all the same.

He wipes at his eyes. ]

.. of course I'll try fighting it. [ But it's just hard, he means to say, though Inigo swallows those words right back up. ] You're right here with me, after all. And so are all of my friends here.

[ That's what makes it worth it - has always made it worth it. As long as he's not alone, Inigo knows he can keep going. Just as long as he's not all alone. ]

[adregem]

Good. That's all I need to hear.

[ He lets his hands gently grasp at the sides of the boy's face, one wiping his tears away with his thumbs, the other just resting there, a palm warm against Inigo's cheek. Roland settles on this tender act for a few more moments before he pats the top of Inigo's head and lets go, stands up and offers to help the other up from the toilet seat. ]

If Reno does anything like what he's pulled on you before, and you need backup, you come and find me, alright? [ His arms fold over his chest. ] Promise me.

[flatteries]

But--

[ Inigo seems to start a protest. And there are so many things he could protest that with. That he can handle Reno by himself. That asking someone else to help him will just make him look even more dumb to the other. That he doesn't want to get Roland involved in something potentially nasty.

But it feels like no excuse will work here. Inigo has already seen the determination in the other's eyes.

So instead he just silently grabs Roland's hand to help him stand up again, looking resigned to his fate. ]

.. Alright. I promise, Roland. Just.. as long as it won't do anything bad to you..

[ The last thing Inigo needs is the guilt of causing a schandal like 'team lead Roland went completely off on one of his team members', considering the intensity of Roland's initial reaction to hearing it. ]

[adregem]

[ He shakes his head with an air of confidence. ]

Anything bad to me? Don't worry. I can handle myself. [ Which is true...But to what extent? ] No matter what, I'm always going to hold myself accountable for my actions. I'll never regret standing by your side to stand up to a bully.

[ The smile he offers is meant to tell Inigo that he hears his worry. Roland looks to be no older than him, but Tidus and Inigo are both aware of who he really is. You don't get to live to be president because you couldn't handle yourself at the diplomat's negotiating table.

But to what extent...?

Does that even matter when the end came for his country anyway? ]

Come on. [ He nudges his chin gently with the back of his hand. ] Let's rinse this all up and finish here.