Lukas stares, silently, then reluctantly pulls off his shirt. His own skin is covered in an abundance of deep scars. Lukas sighs. “I know.”
Auretta hugs Val and Nori tightly. “I know…it’s not me I’m worried about,” she sighs.
Aiden freezes upon seeing Lukas's scars. "You… are scarred, yet you are not a fighter… nor are you a Destroyer…" he murmurs, trailing a finger across a scar. He looks Lukas in the eyes. "I do not understand how you have so many scars, so deep. You are no warrior, that much is evident, and some of these are from 3rd degree burns." he says, turning once more to reveal his back, a mess of melted, burned and scarred skin and flesh. "I know well the pain of burns… but I do not understand how you can stand it."
Lukas shrugs, wings flitting a bit as he stares at the scars on his arms. “I… I mean I’m no fighter. You got that right.” He sighs, clenching his teeth to keep from crying. “People just… liked to hurt me. I guess”
Aiden walks over and wraps Lukas in a hug, not saying a word. Just understanding.
Lukas hugs him back, starting to cry as he holds him tighter. He knows Aiden understands
Aiden holds back his own tears. "Hey, it's okay… we have each other now, yeah? We have family beyond blood now."
Lukas nods, hugging him tighter. It felt good to have family that didn’t hurt him. That didn’t send him away. It felt so good. “Thank you.”
Nori watches from afar, still comforting Auretta. “Then… who are you afraid for?”
Aiden chuckles. He understood what Lukas felt, truly. More than Lukas would probably ever know. "You're welcome." he murmurs.
Val nods. "Yes, who are you afraid for?"
Auretta looks quickly at Spark and her other friends before glancing back at Nori and Val. “Mm…”
Lukas sniffs, smiling brightly. Ive always wanted a brother.
Nori looks down. “Oh…” he rests a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll protect them too. We all will.”
Aiden grins and leans back to get a good look at his friends face. "You good now?"
Val looks grim. "I swear to the gods, I will break reality to kill whoever hurts my family."
Auretta smiles sadly. “Thank you…both of you…” she mutters.
Val laughs, realizing she had spoken aloud. "You're welcome."
Lukas wipes his eyes, wings flitting softly. He nods, smiling up at Aiden. “I think so.”
Nori unfolds his wings, stretching them out to their full 15 foot wingspan. “It’s what we do, Auretta. We look out for each other.” He grins, shifting a bit
Lukas wipes his eyes, wings flitting softly. He nods, smiling up at Aiden. “I think so.”
Nori unfolds his wings, stretching them out to their full 15 foot wingspan. “It’s what we do, Auretta. We look out for each other.” He grins, shifting a bit
Aiden looks down at Lukas. "Good. Now… let's get some shirts on? It's kinda cold out here."
Val nods. "Exactly."
Lukas chuckles. “Aw, this? This is normal for me.” He laughs as he slips on his shirt again
Nori also nods
Aiden laughs. "It isn't for me. Whatever this weather is, we don't really have it in Arcadia."
Lukas smirks, tilting his head. “Oh yeah? Try London. It’s only sunny for about 4 days out of the year.” He laughs slightly
Aiden looks shocked. "4 days? Out of the entire year? No. I will not be going there."
Lukas laughs even harder, looking at Nori.
Nori grins, then joins them. “Oh boy, then I’ve gotta take you both to Seattle.”
Aiden scowls. "Nope. I do not want to be wet and cold. I prefer the sun, thank you very much."
Val laughs and walks over with Nori. "Or mine and Nori's original world. That place never had sunlight."
Lukas raises an eyebrow. “…what? Original…”
Nori shakes his head. “It’s a long story.”
Val snorts. "Yeah, it really is."
Aiden looks between the two, then shrugs. "I've learned not to question things like this, for my own sanity."
Lukas shakes his head, copying Aiden. “Me too.”
Aiden laughs at Lukas's copying his gesture, then pulls a flute out of the air and starts playing it idly. Val watches, confused.
Auretta laughs lightly, standing up. "Yeah…"
Nori stands with her, smiling at Lukas. “So you learned how to be cool, huh?”
Lukas blushes, shrugging.
Aiden pauses, then laughs.
Val is still very confused at all of this.
