Second Trigger Warning

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

I'm not entirely certain what kind of illusion this is, but it is a very convincing one. A...very. Convincing one. I have no idea how it was accomplished, but whoever did it should be commended for their creativity, as well as for their talent.

[Filtered to Sal]
Sal, something's happened.
[/Filtered]



I'm n9t entirely certain what kind 9f illusi9n this is, 6ut it is a very c9nvincing 9ne. A...very. C9nvincing 9ne. I have n9 idea h9w it was acc9mplished, 6ut wh9ever did it sh9uld 6e c9mmended f9r their creativity, as well as f9r their talent.

[Filtered to Sal]
Sal, s9mething's happened.
[/Filtered]

Comments

[accioleggings]

[Sal's heart feels like it's simultaneously jumping into his throat and dropping into the pit of his stomach. For a moment he thinks it's his eyes playing tricks on him, making him see his dead twin as solid and not floating and not...shimmering grey...

He's silent for a good minute, the color slowly draining from his face and cold sweat starting pool on his palms.]

...Kan?

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

[In the dark of the tower, it's hard for Kankri to make out the way that Salvador goes ashy pale. He takes a couple of hesitant steps toward his twin, and then pauses when his name is breathed so...so desperately.]

I...told you something happened.

[accioleggings]

[There are a dozen questions on the tip of his tongue. How did this happen? Who'd done it? Why?

But he can't seem to make his mouth work the way he wants it to. His hands are shaking, his knees feel like they're going to give way any second, he's confused as anything...but at the same time he's so happy. His brother, his twin is alive and corporeal.

Sal tries to speak but his tongue feels like lead in his mouth ad the only sound he can make is a half sob as he forces himself forward and drags Kankri against his chest in the tightest hug his trembling arms can manage.]

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

[Kankri finds it impossible to speak around the wet knot of tears choking his throat. He's shaking a little himself, and he clutches at Sal like he's shoving himself back into wholeness just by clinging to his (taller, stronger, more grown up) twin. He can't really summon any words.

There aren't any words that need to be summoned. His heart is pounding, his pulse hammering and throbbing in every inch of his body, beating in time with his twin's like they hadn't been separated for seventeen long years. All of his confusion about the situation passes away, because in that moment he doesn't care, he just doesn't care, because he has Sal and that's all that matters right now.]

[accioleggings]

[It's such a strange feeling, being able to hold his brother like this again. It's almost like hugging Karkat, if Karkat was an exact mirror image of Sal at fifteen and a bit shorter. Seventeen years, a little over half his life without Kankri. Not being able to see him or speak to him or hear him make that intolerant little huffing sound when he went to hug him.

Sal tries to speak but again, words are failing him in favor of more tears. His legs give out, sending him down to Kankri's height level. It only serves to make him clutch him tighter and press his face into his brother's shoulder, more solidification that this is real.]

rude Sal you're only 6 inches taller yourself

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

[Kankri's breath comes out in shuddering little sighs, far from the indignant huffs he used to make when Sal hugged him when they were boys. He inhales deeply and just. Basks in Sal's presence.

When he finally finds his voice, it's muffled in Sal's robes, his hands clenching into fists in the thick material as he clings onto Sal like he never did when they were boys.]

I never thought I would miss your hugs so much.

6 inches makes a lot of difference, shush

[accioleggings]

[Sal lets out a small, breathless chuckle, lifting his head to kiss Kankri's temple through his unruly mess of auburn hair.]

I never thought you'd want me to hug you.

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

[Kankri spends a few minutes debating whether or not he should say what he wants to say next, tensing up in Sal's embrace at the kiss to his temple. Finally, he smiles and buries his face in his brother's robes again.]

Seventeen years is a long time.

[accioleggings]

[Sal's back stiffens for a moment, his arms tightening around Kankri just a fraction more.]

Yeah, it is. [God, he's missed this.]

[c9rp9realn9rmative]

[He clings onto Sal a little tighter as the thought crosses his mind that this can't last.]

I don't know how it happened. I was just...thinking. About how strange it is that I should miss something as simple as touch only when it was inaccessible to me forever. About how I took so much for granted when I was alive.

Promise you won't grieve all over again when this is over.