forged_anew | 39 - [voice] Sad times... (backdated to last night, shortly after Aang's death)

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39 - [voice] Sad times... (backdated to last night, shortly after Aang's death)

[Locked to friends. You know who you are || 60% Hackable]

Just, uh... checking up on how people are doing I guess.

[There's a moment's pause between turning the comm on and when he speaks, voice mostly casual. Mostly. Those who know him well enough might sense a note of insecurity, something between worry and sadness lacing the words. Aang's death is making him a little paranoid and he just wants to hear from the people he cares about.]

Haru, is your nose okay? Try not to be that dumb again, will you?

Ren, Wolfram, haven't heard from you in a while. Oz, how are you holding up? Claire?

[a beat, a muffled sigh]

Minato... Can I come over? Meryl's staying with Gyatso and I don't want to crowd them.

[/end lock]

And

taking_this_see , I want to talk to you. You found his clothes, right? I need more details, and you will give them to me.

If anybody else has information on that guy, I need to know.

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[Zuko looks away again. Protecting those most important to him... Zuko couldn't even do that.]

Yeah... we will.

[Minato knows immediately what was up when Zuko looked away. He sighs softly, pulling Zuko a bit closer. So what if he was getting in his personal space.]

I regretted that I couldn't protect him. Kakashi did, too. I still regret it to this day. But regrets can't bring back those that we've lost--we can only try to get stronger, to try to make sure it never happens again. And even then, sometimes it doesn't always work, and you still lose people.

... But it still worked better than having never tried at all.

[He speaks from experience from the heart of someone who's lost quite a few friends during his lifetime.]

But here... here, we have a second chance.

[Eep. Personal space. I wants it 8(

Zuko shifts uncomfortably. The arm was okay, but he's not quite up to hugs just yet.]

I know. And that's what I told myself with Sokka too but...

[Minato lets Zuko have a bit more personal space, relaxing his arm somewhat. Okay, kid wasn't ready yet. He could respect that.]

It's what I told myself with Obito, too. [Minato swallows, his voice growing quieter.] ... And you.

[Zuko falls really still for a moment, looking up obliquely at Minato and not saying anything. That caught his attention, but what is he supposed to say to that? And he's... not even quite sure what Minato means. It doesn't seem to apply, since he's been talking about failing his friends and Minato's always been there for him since they got close.]

[Minato can almost sense Zuko's confusion, and that makes him smile sadly.]

You died here, Zuko. And I couldn't save you. But I didn't let that stop me from helping you in other ways.

[Like helping Zuko start to come to terms with his own death due to illness, if he had forgotten. Not that he could ever forget.]

...oh.

[lookin' away again]

But that was... different. I was sick. It's not like--

[...]

I know what you mean. But I want to be there for my friends and when I can't and this happens it's... ~~unbearable, I hate it, failing them~~ frustrating.

[Minato shakes his head, even if Zuko isn't looking at him.]

... What was done to Aang was done to him by something powerful. [To "erase" a body so effectively--he saw the way the blood had splattered, the way the--] Do you really think either of us would have stood a chance against it?

[Silence. He... hadn't really thought about that. Hadn't really thought at all beyond the fact that Aang was dead and it could have been prevented. Finally, a whisper--]

I don't know...

[Minato can hear the silence of thought. And Minato gives Zuko another sad smile.]

... Exactly. So, don't beat yourself up over it. This place isn't normal. Our enemies here aren't normal. You can't always predict what's going to happen... or to whom.

[a long sigh. Minato's right. He wishes things were different, but wishing does him no good, and Minato is right. But if he finds whoever killed Aang-- but he's not going to say that because Minato would stop him.

So he just sighs, and slowly leans in again, tired of all this pain and of feeling useless, tired of being unable to protect the people he cares about, just... tired.]

[Minato smiles a bit in relief when Zuko finally gives in, even if only for a moment. And Minato wouldn't necessarily stop Zuko from going after the person, as long as he could do that safely. Killing a person meant they got their chip back in. Although he would much rather do the killing than Zuko--he was made for it.

He pulls Zuko a bit closer, shifting to settle into a more comfortable position. Minato needs this as much as Zuko, right now. They're both tired.]

[Zuko leans his head against the ninja's shoulder. It's getting easier to let his guard down, and he likes being able to relax for once, feel safe. Perhaps it's childish, but in truth--though he'd never agree himself--Zuko's barely more than a boy in the first place.

They might not be blood, but there's a feeling of family--the proper kind of family--that's grown between them whether Zuko truly realizes it or not, and it's good to have someone to trust. Without that, there's no telling where he'd be right now: probably off doing something rash and dangerous to let out steam. But he's a little better at talking about things when he has someone to rely on, and though Uncle isn't here, at least Minato is. They're... kind of similar, aren't they? Zuko's mind is wandering, but he lets it. He doesn't want to imagine Aang's bloody robes anymore.

There's a long time of silence and stillness, almost as if Zuko's sleeping, but the fingers curled loosely around the edge of Minato's vest show it's not quite that. He's just resting for a bit until it's time to face the world again.]

[Minato glances down at the young man--boy--in his arms, a small smile on his lips. His gaze slides down to Zuko's hand before his arm slides further around Zuko's back and shoulders, his hand resting on Zuko's opposite arm. He looks up to Zuko's slightly unruly hair.

It's good to see Zuko finally give in, finally relax a little, and it makes Minato relax slightly as well. But he can't relax completely--not yet. The danger is still there, still unknown.

Minato couldn't protect Aang... but maybe, just maybe, he'll be able to protect Zuko.]

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39 - [voice] Sad times... (backdated to last night, shortly after Aang's death)

[commentlog of father-son times~]

[commentlog of father-son times~] ... somehow I forgot to reply to this. D: WTF ME

[commentlog of father-son times~] lol it's okay, bb ♥

[commentlog of father-son times~] FFF, and at least tonight I have energy?

[commentlog of father-son times~] Aww <333 /feeds you cookies~

[commentlog of father-son times~] \o/ YAY COOKIES

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