theairlock | THE FIFTH INVESTIGATION

He won't if someone else is here. [Like Heart's really gonna leave, for instance.] But...okay. Just--you need rest, too. After food. [Allow him to tuck a napkin down her front and leave some silverware and the plate within reach.]

I'm in bed, Leonard, I've been sleeping off and on all morning.

[The napkin thing makes her melt though, catching his hand before he pulls back all the way and kissing his hand. She's not going to get up and if he won't come curl up with her it's the closest she can get to him.]

Thank you, Cap'n. Are you looking after yourself, too?

And- [A frown. She doesn't like it but that conversation they had makes it make a little more sense at least.] you-know-who?

He's not gonna just appear if you say his name. [It's okay, he's chuckling about it. Look at how appetizing those pancakes look though. How fluffy. How warm.]

I'm fine. I'm...yeah. I had a couple talks. This...this kinda hurts, but we didn't lose anyone, so...there's hope. Never thought I'd be a big advocate of that.

I know that. [Huff! She just... doesn't want to admit she was wrong exactly because, even if Church is all sorts of there for him she doesn't feel like she was wrong to be upset with how mean he is about letting anyone hope. But it's a very twisted kind of worried angry and she doesn't know what to do with it.

Other than bury it under pancakes because Yuuri is a goddess and those look amazing.]

We could help, that's all I can ask for. I wish he'd have been... more open about what he was feeling. I was just talking to him last night about family and he seemed... happy.

I don't know him well enough. Our group's really reduced in numbers, but there are still people I manage to not talk to a lot.

I just...wanna help, and I'm not good at helping except by just being me, apparently.

Without Takumi I- [Well they hadn't been close at all until they'd both lost him and then... she wanted to be there for Choro, help him in ways she hadn't been able to help Takumi.]

You've got your hands full, Leonard. No one can be everywhere. That's why Cece and I were both kinda looking after folks.

And you help plenty, keeping everyone from sinkin too far into their own heads and all

[That's what Clarith and Ardyn had said, in different words, and he's still not...sure.] I mean. Yeah. I try. Just...not sure it's enough, y'know? Doesn't really seem to change much of anything.

[She shifts that plate over and scoots down the bed, reaching out to catch his hand and pulling him over to the foot of the bed. She pushes up onto her knees so they're as close to eye to eye as they ever are. How are these boys all so tall!?

She lets one hand slide through his hair, slipping down to cradle his face.]

Honey... no one person can do this on their own. It's just not possible. We all do our best in our own ways. And that's all anyone can ask for.

[She leans up to kiss him softly, reassuringly.]

I know, for my part, I'd have fallen apart a long time ago without you. I need to look after my boys. And let them do the same sometimes.

[Are they all just holding him to standards he doesn't even hold himself to? Sure, he was an okay team leader, but then again, he was hardly listened to half the time and the other half of the time when stupid shit wasn't happening, they were just being lazy fucks. He's always grateful for a Queenie kiss, though, and he loosely wraps his arms around her.]

We're all looking after one another, I know. Some people need to be a little better at letting others help them, though.

[She's not holding anyone to standards. They're all already trying so hard she has no real expectations. It's just how things are.]

Mmm, Nari's real frustratin that way, ain' she?

[Clearly she's the troublesome one, right?]

Damn right she is. And a few others I'm electing to not name.

Mmm oh? Gosh do I need to talk to Clarith again? I know she's always workin herself so hard. I thought, after the tarot she'd-

[A sigh. No, really Leonard she's not doing anything. She's just doing her part. What are you talking about?]

THE FIFTH INVESTIGATION

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