Archive of Our Own ^beta

"it's not even that funny!" he hissed, hitting you lightly in the arm. all the same, he grinned as you laughed. "you're gonna wake everyone up."

"sorry, sorry-" you whisper, covering your mouth in an attempt to muffle your laugh. Erisol leans against you, a blanket draped over your shoulders. Nearby the others slept soundly. The two of you were the only ones awake.

"it's just-"

"yeah yeah I know" he rolls his eyes. or at least you assume he does. you'd gotten pretty good at assuming his facial expression, though you never really knew for sure. "fuckin idiot… you're lucky I pity you"

you grin, trying not to show just how warm that makes you feel. the first few times he had said it you had been both thrilled and confused, concretely split down the middle (for once.) but once you had remembered, and once it became much more normal to hear him say it, it never really wore out.

pity.

love.

whatever word you wanted to use.

you knew pity well, it was so familiar and yet so alien to you.

"yeah, I know I know" you laugh slightly, thankful that there's not enough light in the room to show how flushed your face was. your anatomy was weird enough we didn't have to bring your blood into it.

he sighs, leaning back against you and intertwining your fingers. It was familiar. you knew this tango well, you remembered the steps, but still it felt like you were dancing for the first time.

"pity you too, losepurr" you smiled, wishing that again you could vocalize the same as you always could. 

you settle for a soft hum, hoping your heart would beat loud enough for him to soothe you both to sleep.

"that was a bad pun"

"shoosh, it's sleep time."

he doesn't object again.