@Fraust
Nix nodded weakly and rubbed at his eyes again, drawing in a wavering breath. "I'm just… I-I'm sorry…" He whispered.
Nix nodded weakly and rubbed at his eyes again, drawing in a wavering breath. "I'm just… I-I'm sorry…" He whispered.
"I know," Halm said, a little tremor in his voice. "I know…" Halm moved one hand so he could gently rub Nix's cheek.
Nix managed a weak purr as he leaned into Halm's hand, closing his eyes. "Mm…" He kept his ears turned back and his tail around himself.
Halm kissed Nix's forehead again. He held Nix close, continuing to run him. Zachary carefully looked down to check on Cas. He didn't want Cas to cry anymore for him.
Cas seemed to have drifted off to sleep again in Zachary's arms, his breathing still raspy, but more relaxed. He had tear tracks staining his pale cheeks.
Zachary tried to laid down, but he knew he couldn't without falling. He looked to Nix and Halm for help, so defeated now.
Nix shifted over to help Zachary lay down, clearly still feeling guilty for the whole situation. He gently ruffled Cas's hair before returning to Halm's lap.
Zachary begrudgingly have a Nix a grateful look, then slowly fell asleep while holding Cas. Halm wrapped his arms back around Nix.
"This is going to be difficult. Zachary doesn't really want our help…"
"I know, I… I think he at least understands where we're coming from now, though… I tried to explain to him." Nix sighed. "He still doesn't approve, obviously, but he doesn't seem to be as angry at us anymore…"
Halm nodded.
"I'm relieved to hear that. I don't expect him to ever approve, but… Hopefully he understands." Halm gently kissed Nix's head, watching the two boys sleep.
Nix nodded a bit and huddled close to Halm. "I apologized to him… and explained that all we've been trying to do is help Cas and that we made a mistake. We'd never hurt him on purpose."
Halm bit his lip a little.
"But didn't we already?" He said softly, to himself. Still, he shook his head a little. "I'm sure he'll find a way to forgive us. Some day."
"Him being Cas, not Zachary." Nix sighed, huddling up against Halm. "We would never hurt Cas on purpose."
"Still… It's easy to think that with his much we have." Halm sighed softly.
"I know, but I explained that to him. I clarified." Nix fidgeted a bit with his hands and looked away. "He understands…"
"I hope so." Halm gave Nix a gentle hug. "We need to keep everyone safe. Not just Cas now."
"Yeah… I just… I still feel so guilty about all of this. W-We were only trying to help Cas, but all we've done is fuck him up more…"
"And we're not going to do it anymore," Halm said softly. He kissed Nix's forehead again, holding him a little closer.
"Well, we're going to try. It seems like every thing I do is wrong…" Nix sighed shakily and buried his face in Halm's chest.
"That's not true," Halm said gently. "You've been so good at helping Cas feel better, even when he pushes you away. You'll always be able to help him some how." Halm put his hand on top of Nix's head, rubbing behind his ears.
Nix shook his head weakly and leaned into Halm's gentle touch a bit, drawing in a wavering breath. "B-But he wouldn't push me away if I was doing a good job…"
"Yes he would, Nix. Sometimes… Sometimes people will do things like that." Halm gently continued to rub Nix, bending his own head down a little.
Nix shook his head again, hiccuping a bit and clearly not convinced. "He… h-he never pushed me away before…"
"He also didn't see you as a person before. You were just his cat. Now… Not you're so much more." Halm kissed Nix's head gently.
Nix rubbed at his teary eyes, quivering a bit. "But I… I-I'm still his cat, aren't I? I want him to love me again…"
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