There was, really, no going back from this. If he wanted to do something, the time was now, and besides, they’d both waited long enough, hadn’t they? Almandine wasn’t certain whether or not Arachne felt the same way - though he was almost positive - but he was growing impatient with just how long and how frustrating it had been to only see each other sporadically.
And now, finally, they had the chance to fix that.
He stood now in their usual waiting spot, arms folded around himself, feeling unusually off kilter. A cold breeze tousled the long hair, Almandine shifting from one foot to the other, trying not to think too much.
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Arachne was running a bit late, dodging some idiot hanging out in his usual powering up spot causing a slight delay but he'd taken off over the rooftops as fast as he could and managed not to be too late. Tonight wasn't one he wanted something like that to happen but that seemed to be the universe's plans.
Dropping down into their usual roof he took a breath before straightening up. “Fashionably late, you'll forgive me right?” He grinned as he caught his breath, looking up at Almandine.
He noticed something off about the other man and frowned. “You alright sweetheart?”
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Oh thank heavens, Arachne was here. Almandine turned to face him, feeling an overwhelming sense of relief, instinctively moving to take one of Arachne’s hands and thread his fingers through his, letting himself bask in the presence of the other senshi.
“A little nervous,” he admitted, looking up at him. “It’s...a big change, isn’t it?”
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He gave Almandine’s hand a squeeze, nodding slightly. “Big change but a good one, you’ll be so much happier.” He reached up with his other hand and brushed a bit of hair out of Almandine’s face. It was going to take a lot of work, for them and their friends, but everything would be worth it. Almandine could be free of the Negaverse and could actually enjoy his life.
They could enjoy their lives.
“At least you know you’ve got people to lean on.”
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It was so much easier to think with Arachne here. So much easier to allow himself the room to breathe, to simply bask in his presence and understand the reason why he was doing all of this in the first place. For Arachne, certainly; but also, mainly for himself.
Almandine did not belong in the Negaverse and they both knew it.
His head tilted forward and came to rest on Arachne’s chest.
“Tell me again what will happen after.”
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“Well we’ll see how you feel first. Not sure how mentally off you’re going to be once it’s all over.” He laughed softly. It probably would be better if he’d been around for a purification before but he still wanted to be there for Almandine.
“Either way we’ll power down so you can see who I am and we’ll head back to my house. Maybe get something to eat? Rest for a bit, either sleep or watch tv or whatever you want to do. Then tomorrow, if you’re okay with it, we’ll go over stuff for your new identity. But mostly keep quiet and relax for a bit.”
There would be a lot to do but some of it would take time. Keeping out of the public view would be best at least for a bit.
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Arachne’s voice was reassuring in Almandine’s ears. He let himself rest, for just a moment; let himself think of nothing but the two of them, of all the promises they would have after, all of the moments that he would get to have.
They wouldn’t have to hide. They wouldn’t have to wait weeks to see each other again.
Everything was right there, and it was terrible and frightening and frustratingly nervewracking.
Almandine looked up again. His fingers rose and touched Arachne’s jaw.
“And,” he said quietly. “If I….forget…you’ll remind me…?”
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Arachne leaned in, nose brushing against Almandine’s before he pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “Of course. I’ll be right there so you don’t have to worry about anything. Any questions you have, anything you think you forgot, whatever happens we’ll deal with it.”
He said he’d be there and he would. He wanted to be there. He wanted to be able to make sure Almandine had a good life and one he didn’t have to hide.
Whatever may come might be hard, was almost guaranteed to be with their lives, but he was willing to face it if it meant he didn’t have to hide things from Alma anymore.
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There was relief there, as well as a lingering fear that he wouldn’t get to have this all again in the next life; that he’d be stuck without the memories while Arachne would be stuck with them. Almandine wasn’t sure which was worse.
He couldn’t think that way. Not when he needed to focus on the matter at hand.
He sighed, nodded, then stretched up to give Arachne a kiss of his own, this one lingering just a little longer than the one Arachne had given him before he sank back down to the ground.
“All right,” said Almandine quietly. “I’m ready.”
kuropeco
