[The Garden] Praeceptor of the Reliquiae

[Nox]

Emotions were raw. All around. The tears flooding Jay's face broke his heart. He hadn't asked. But he never asked. If Jay wanted him to know he'd tell him. But maybe not. Maybe they were the same.

He closed the distance between them and put his good hand against his face and wiped away the tears. "I'm a shitty friend. The only excuse I can offer is I feel like killing myself every day. And I don't. I thought it was commiserating not a call for help. I'm sorry, Jay. I'm so fucking sorry. It's never been our thing to actually talk about it has it." He chuckled.

"Do you want to go some place warmer, out of prying eyes? We can talk for once? About all the shit that's happened?" Nox was gentle, his voice soft barely carrying beyond the edges of his warmth bubble. As much as he hurt, he saw the pain in Jay and wanted to help -- even if he couldn't fix it he could listen -- maybe that's what they should have done before instead of jumping into sex. Maybe he wouldn't be where he was now. Maybe...