[He repeats, stroking his fingers over Royce's arm. He's happy, he really is, but it's also a little worrying.]
More emotional, then? But not overwhelmed.
[That had always been his worry: that if and when Royce's emotions came back, they'd come back in full force, and would end up being too much for him to deal with.]
[ He's a little worried about it, but he feels... okay, right now. Another deep breath, this one a little more shivery. He reaches for Alfie's hand, holding it. ]
There's still weight. I can still feel weight in my chest, but it's less. If that makes sense.
But I won't leave you alone. Isolation is more punishing than anything I could do to you. [ His free hand comes up to hold at the ring around his neck. ]
[And of course that just leads to the worry that Royce will someday scheme to push him onto another traveling partner (Watson, Gabriel, Ginger) and then leave. He can clarify that later, though, if (not when, just if) Royce starts slipping back into depression again. For now, he'll just cover Royce's other hand with his own, curling both of their fingers around the ring.]
[ He's thought about it, a lot. It'd be easier to let Alfie be taken care of by someone else so Royce could crawl off and rot in a hidden corner somewhere in Norfinbury. But - he hasn't, because he doesn't think anybody could take care of Alfie the way that Royce can take care of him. Doesn't trust them to.
Royce sinks down into the blankets, not bothering to dislodge Alfie's hand. ]
Even when I couldn't remember you I couldn't kill you. [ Royce mumbles, closing his eyes. ]
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