[it does seem like it was very simple to admit to something so significant. like a giant leap to the tallest peak made easy because they were both there to act as springboards for each other — and made easy because, maybe the amount of love that's there was something that had been kind of obvious all along. or built up to pretty obvious levels, anyway.]

[Dave has to bite back the guilt that tries to rise up again, over the way he'd scared Ryuji like he did, because they're on the cusp of figuring something out here, and trying to trot out an emotion that's still clawing at him and spurred their argument in the first place doesn't ... it doesn't seem like it has a place in the conversation right now. it's still there. he'll try not to ignore it forever.]

You're not gonna lose me. Promise. [he leans forward, gripping Ryuji's hand, lightly pressing their foreheads together as if that'll amplify a simple fact he's spoken. transfer his thoughts through contact.]

[and it is true — if anything, this whole shitty situation has proven that, in a way. death, as strange as this sentence sounds, no longer seems like a way for them to lose each other. the same was true back on the space station, but now that one of them's gone and proven it, it seems ... more tangible. not that it provides much comfort.]

Like you said, right? There's always gonna be a spot for you here to make your way back to, and, I mean. If we're gonna be glass orb lobbed into dangerous quests for the forseeable future, then we'll figure out a better way to work through 'em. Together. [he adds another box to their checklist of things they're trying to help each other through.]

[so, Ryuji won't ever lose him. might lose track of him, but Dave doesn't really know how to fix that, and —]

[wait, no. yes he does. he stops suddenly, having quite literally been pinged.]