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Post by qualapec on Jan 23, 2011 2:48:11 GMT -8
Brachen couldn't stop shaking. He cursed. "I'm sorry. Jesus I..." he sputtered over the word, "I don't know what came over me."
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Post by victoriousscarf on Jan 23, 2011 2:50:43 GMT -8
For what felt like a very long time, Mac remained frozen there, crouching in front of the other before he gently reached out a paw and rested it on his shoulder. "Well, still standin' and breathin' so..." He swallowed, before finally offering in a small voice. "Besides, still better than what the bastard did."
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Post by qualapec on Jan 23, 2011 3:51:21 GMT -8
Under any other circumstances, Brachen might have jerked at being touched in the state he was in. Instead, he led his head loll to the side and rest on Mac's paw. "I don't want to hurt you. I don't really know why but I don't think I could live with myself if I killed you." He registered the second, whispered phrase and replied. "Is it too much to ask that the bastard that hurt you is rotting in Hell?"
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Post by victoriousscarf on Jan 23, 2011 11:37:02 GMT -8
Macavity froze completely at the question, tempted to pull back abruptly and even leave the entire mill at that question. Damn the police, it was better than trying to think about answering that question. Seconds later, he forced himself to start breathing again, and took several breaths before he could even consider responding. "No," he said finally, voice almost breaking. "He's not." He swallowed. "A-and why couldn't you kill me then?"
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Post by qualapec on Jan 23, 2011 13:19:12 GMT -8
"Because you didn't look at me like I would all the time. Nocat could handle my special brand." As evidenced by the fact no other cats who'd spent much time at all around him had stayed stable themselves. He motioned to his head with a finger and spun it around his ear.
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Post by victoriousscarf on Jan 23, 2011 13:36:31 GMT -8
Mac reached up his free paw to grab the one circling Brachen's ear, pulling it down to stop it. "Don't," he said. "I never, except for a minute ago, thought you'd try ta kill me. I just don't."
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Post by qualapec on Jan 23, 2011 14:14:09 GMT -8
He shuddered at the touch. He tried to keep the fear out of his voice but he couldn't help it...he was going to be alone again. "But now you will."
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Post by victoriousscarf on Jan 23, 2011 14:20:50 GMT -8
"I..." Macavity blinked at him. "You didn't though. You just said you didn't even want ta, and while I have no idea why, you just said yourself you wouldn't kill me, so why should I be afraid you would?"
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Post by qualapec on Jan 23, 2011 14:29:48 GMT -8
Brachen shuddered and curled up further. "Because I think I'm losing control. Usually, everything's quiet around you - something about you, I don't you, everything goes quiet. I'm focused. But today...I almost lost it." He was terrified of losing control.
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Post by victoriousscarf on Jan 23, 2011 14:40:06 GMT -8
Without really thinking the move through, Mac turned so his back was to the same wall and wrapped an arm around Brachen's shoulders, pulling him into an embrace. It was a position he had used on his younger brother often enough when Tugger was distressed that he really wasn't thinking the action through. "Almost, but didn't. You're fine." Well, not entirely, but he was willing to go with that lie for the moment. "And I was provokin' you badly enough."
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Post by qualapec on Jan 23, 2011 14:53:58 GMT -8
Brachen had never clung to anycat...except his mother, and he couldn't even remember that. None had ever wanted him to cling, and he hadn't wanted them to want it.
He wrapped an arm around Mac and tried to find his bearings again.
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Post by victoriousscarf on Jan 23, 2011 15:04:40 GMT -8
Still mostly not thinking, Mac ran a paw up and down Brachen's back in a meant to be soothing motion.
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Post by qualapec on Jan 23, 2011 15:17:58 GMT -8
Brachen closed his eyes. Listened to the sound of the river and could hear Mac's heart beating. He reminded himself that he'd almost done something, but he hadn't done it. There was still enough left of him to stop.
Reflexively, he let his head rest on Mac's shoulder, breahted in, breathed out. "Thank you."
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Post by victoriousscarf on Jan 23, 2011 15:26:32 GMT -8
Mac nodded slightly at that, settling down a little more and shifting the other's weight around slightly. He glanced down at where the other's head was resting on his shoulder, blinked, and looked at the far wall instead. "I didn't do much," he said softly.
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Post by qualapec on Jan 23, 2011 15:48:42 GMT -8
Brachen didn't respond at first. "I don't care." He sighed and held on a little bit tighter. The chaos was receding, and he was grateful, no matter who'd caused it or who'd stopped or who'd reached out. "You reached out when you didn't have to...Is there anything I can do for you?"
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