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Aragorn blinks. “It’s 10?! Why didn’t you wake me?!” He rubs his forehead. “Oh I am so sorry…I didn’t mean to oversleep. I didn’t try to…” They seemed panicked now, as if they were about to get beaten and attempting to prevent it like a terrified child. “I’m so sorry…” Their voice quivered with fear. Like he was living his life’s terrors all over again.
"Hey. Hey. It's okay. I'm not gonna hit you, or anything like that. I let you sleep because you seemed really tired and very comfortable." He put his hand on theirs. "Do you want breakfast?" He asked calmly. The sleep deprivation was very apparent in Niko's appearance in the morning light. He looked much different than he did their first interaction. It was like one was getting a good look at him for the first time. His dreadlocks were pulled back in a loose ponytail. He had dark bags under his eyes, and he just looked exhausted. His stubble was greying, even though he wasn't even thirty yet. His smile though. His smile was that of one who had seen so much and didn't want anyone else to feel such pain. It was the face of a worn old man on a 27 year old doctor
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Aragorn looks into Niko’s eyes, silent for a long time. The boys seemed to have a sort of connection. Their own life experiences. They were both in pain. Aragorn could relate…he sighed and looks down in gratitude. “Thank you…” He whispers. “I’m so sorry…” He mumbles softly. He then nods slightly at the question. “If you can…please.” He looks back up at Niko, a look of gratitude and understanding lingering in their eyes.
"Of course. How does bacon and laverbread sound?" He asked, getting up and heading towards the kitchen. He more hobbled in that direction, actually. He still needed to stretch his legs. Niko, being ever attentive, listened for Aragorn's reply
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“That sounds amazing. Thank you.” Aragorn said gratefully. “May I say…” He murmurs, “You are an amazing cook.” They smiled. A genuine tone sat heavily in Aragorns voice, showing just how thankful he was for all of this. They honestly felt spoiled.
After a moment, Aragorn looked around for Reggie, wondering if the snake had been startled by his night terrors last night.
"Thank you. Reggie is in my room. You can go get him if you like. He likes to hang out on my bed." He said, frying bacon and humming the Welsh song he had sung to Aragorn the night before. "Hush fy annwyl. "Bydd popeth yn iawn, oherwydd yfory bydd golau.." he muttered under his breath, concentrating on the food
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Aragorn smiles softly, then slowly makes his way off the couch, hissing in pain. They then immediately sit back down, leaning back against the couch. It hurt too much to stand, so they just decided to stay where they were. Let their leg heal more. After a while of breathing, he listened to Niko’s singing.
“You have a beautiful voice.” He murmurs, looking towards the kitchen.
"Hm?" Niko sounded as a reply. He sounded surprised like no one had told him that in a long time. "Thank you. The song is one my mother sung to me when I was just a bachgen" He muttered after a second, singing a bit louder "Bydd hi'n dywyll o bryd i'w gilydd, ond cofiwch gadw fy ngeiriau. Oherwydd pan fyddwch chi'n deffro bydd yr haul yn tywynnu"
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Aragorn listens, smiling warmly as he relaxes. The mans voice sounded that of an angels. They’ve always enjoyed listening to music…and this was beautiful. Aragorn leans back as they indulge in the beautiful voice, closing his eyes. Wow… He thought, taking a deep breath.
Niko continued singing as he approached with food. He stopped in front of Aragorn, noticing that his eyes were closed. "Bacon and laverbread" He said, handing them the plate. "Would you like some juice? I have orange and apple. There is also coffee" he said, stepping away slightly.
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Aragorn opens his eyes and looks up at Niko. He then smiles as he takes the plate. “Thank you.” he says gratefully. “Anything works. Thank you.” They smile warmly, sitting up with a small grunt and propping the plate in their lap. “Would you like me to eat at the table? I understand some may think it’s ill mannered to stay on the couch.” They chuckle softly, getting ready to get up.
No matter how much pain they were in, they still wanted to let this kind man know that they actually cared. That he was grateful. Even if it meant putting himself through pain to do so.
Niko scoffed lightly. "Stay where you are. Tell me what you want" He smiled. He knew the man was in pain and didn't want him to get up. He also wanted to get him what he wanted not just whatever He smiled at him. "Juice or coffee"
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“Um…” Aragorn sits back down, seeming torn. “It- really doesn’t matter.” He smiles. They definitely weren’t used to options. They got what they got and they appreciated it. He usually had to fight for his food anyways. “I…um…just whatever is quickest…?” He muttered, looking up at Niko sheepishly. Internally, he begged the gods that was the right answer.
Niko sighed. "Do you want apple or orange?" He didn't want to pressure him but he wanted him to get used to having options because as long as he was in Niko's house, he would get whatever he wanted. "You don't have to worry. There's no right answer. It's whatever you want to have, not what's convenient for me."
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Aragorn blinked at this, looking confused. “Um…I- thank you…it doesn’t really matter what kind of juice…I like either or…” He shifts slightly, starting to get uncomfortable. This was definitely a new experience for them…and they definitely were not prepared for it.
"Okay, apple juice it is" Niko smiled, lightening up a bit. He waltzed off into the kitchen and came back not seconds later with a large glass of apple juice. He placed it on the coffee table in front of Aragorn and sat down across from him, looking out the window
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Aragorns eyes widened slightly as he sees the glass. He then smiles slightly and softly whispers a “thank you” to Niko. They then seemed to pause for a moment before slowly eating. Though, Aragorns attempts for eating slowly failed miserably as they scarfed down the rest of their food in under three minutes. After he was done, he looked up at Niko and tilted his head. He watched the man for a moment, trying to figure out what that look was that seeped through his eyes into his aura.
“Are you alright?” Aragorn asked softly after a while, his piercing blue eyes seeming to soften.
Niko seemed to have been out in a whole different place. A separate time. He was jolted back to the present by Aragorn's words, yet he seemed to have anticipated the question, seeing as he didn't even comprehend them. "Yea. I'm okay" He turned back to face them and noticed that they had, once again, wolfed his meal down. "Would you like more?" he asked softly, seeming to mourn the world he'd just left
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Aragorn looks into Nikos eyes, then shakes his head. “No. That’s alright. Thank you.” He says softly. He then sets his plate and empty cup down and offers a hand to Niko. He noticed that area. Grief. Sure this man would only see the light in people, but these emotions were hard to miss. Especially since they weren’t evil. They were what made up a person.
“Would you like to tell me where you went?” Aragorn asked softly, keeping his hand out as an offering of comfort.
"Ah. I went to Sion." Niko said, taking the hand and standing, yet not dropping it. "To a time when he was still here with me. And I could still hold him" Niko uttered these words with a type of sorrow that one who has lost much and cracked under the pressure. He shuddered slightly, giving Aragorn's hand one tight squeeze before dropping it, and resuming his cheerful distant smile.
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Aragorn looked into Niko with true understanding and concern. He then moved over and patted the seat next to him. He wanted to do anything he could to comfort this poor man. Grief was harder alone…
“How can I help…?” He murmurs, tilting his head to the side.
"Ah. I'm not sure. I guess, you just being here. Just showing up on my doorstep that fateful night. It gave me purpose for the first time in a while. I have someone to, I guess, take care of." He muttered, still slightly distant when he sat down next to him. "Being a doctor, and a husband, it give me an intense need to care for people. To care for my patients, and to care for the people around me. I haven't had many people around me lately, so thank you" he said, sighing. "But I apologize. You don't need to deal with my problems on top of all of what you're going through.." he trailed off
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Aragorn shakes his head, looking at Niko with a soft gaze. “Niko…” he murmurs, “You deserve someone listening to you…I can understand how it feels to feel lonely. You just need someone to see you. To listen. And I think fate decided for us to meet. You were in need of company…and I salvation…” he chuckles softly, gently rubbing Niko’s back to attempt to comfort and ground him.
Niko leaned into Aragorn gently, not seeming to realize or care "Thank you." he said, just sitting there in silence for a while, letting the moment bond them.
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Aragorn nods and hugs the man gently. Niko definitely seemed like he needed some comfort. The poor man…”I’m sorry you had to go through so much pain…I hope I can make at least some subside. If only by a little.” He says softly, trying to keep a soothing tone. “Grief is difficult to venture alone. So…if you’ll let me…I can try my best to assist you.”
"okay" he muttered. It had been so long since he relaxed. Since he talked to anyone about his problems. He just sat in thought, images of his life passing by him. Images of his husband, mostly. And his family. He saw Sion, his short blackish-blue hair swaying in his face as he ran up to greet him. His light brown eyes in their almond shape, upturned at the corners and pushed up by his light-tinted cheeks from a smile. And that smile. His straight white teeth, even with the small gap between the front pair. His lips were full and rosy. His fair and fairly unblemished skin was aglow in the dewy morning light. He was gorgeous. Niko smiled a bit at the thought. "I want to show you something" He said, moving to get up
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Aragorn looks up at Niko, smiling. “Oh?” He tries to get up, hissing in pain. Eventually, he gave up and slumped forward. “If I need to get up…let me know and I’ll prepare myself…” they mumbles, grunting as he tries to get his pain to leave.
"No, no no no" He muttered like a concerned parent. "I'll bring it to you, just stay." He said, heading to his room and coming back with a picture. He sat down next to them and handed him the picture. It was of the Asian man with the blueish hair. He was smiling and standing with Niko. "This is Sion." the two looked very happy. They were standing in front of the house they were presently in, and holding hands. Sion looked to be at the peak of his life. Niko seemed so different. He seemed less worn and tired. His eyes weren't sunken, and they sparkled with a pure contentment that was no longer present. His smile showed less anguish, and that he wished for everyone to experience such happiness. His face was clean shaven, but he still had his signature dreadlocks
(feel free to add detail for spice)
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(Ooooo I likeee)
Aragorn stared at the picture with a soft smile on his lips. Both seemed to have such bright auras. So full of purity and happiness. So much good. It was so sweet. “You both seem so at peace.” He murmured, gently tracing the frame. They noticed Niko still had that same goodness around him, if only a little dim from sorrow. Yet that was to be expected. Poor thing…
“How old was he…?” He asks softly, looking at Niko. Yeah…that aura was definitely altered by time. Different colors, different brightness. Yet…there was still that caring brightness to it all.
"He was 24 at the time of the picture. It was right after he had finished building us this house. At the time of his death he was only 26" He said, a sorrowful smile on his lips as he looked at the photo. Reggie slithered up on his lap "Hi baby. I know. I miss him too". He then turned to Aragorn. "We got Reggie shortly before this photo. Sion got him for us with the house. He was so small, and he grew so fast." He mentioned, motioning to the snake
