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…It took a lot for Aether to get to his breaking point.
He was as strong in the head as he was in his body, at least, that’s what he made it look like. He was supposed to be big and brooding and intimidating, right? Right!
So why act like anything else, around everyone else?
After quite some time of forcing all of his mixed feelings down, it’s becoming increasingly harder to hide his frustration around the other ghouls. Especially ones that tested him a lot easier… and Dewdrop, while he (almost) always meant it lightheartedly, was not a stranger to that.
As the small ghoul is leaving his quarters to finish up some last-minute responsibilities Copia gave him, Aether pushes past him and his snarky attitude with a growl. Dew can’t help but be put off; and genuinely annoyed. He hadn’t even done anything that time!
“Ey, the fuck’s wrong with you?”
Aether’s shoulders tensed up as he turned to face Dew with a scathing glare, but it devolved into more of a pleading look. “I- shut up! It’s nothing.”
“Ohh, I get it. Not so big n’ tough now, eh?” The shorter ghoul lashed his tail, baring his teeth up at the other. “You wanna push me around even though you’re all talk? Huh? You-“
Aether shoved Dew into the wall beside the doorway by a massive hand around his neck. He felt a shock go through him as his back hit it hard, and it took him a moment to catch his breath as if it was just knocked out of him.
His furious eyes widened as he looks up at the taller ghoul, bearing his crooked fangs. It surprised him, almost scared him to see such an angry look in his friend’s eyes. But there was something lying under it he couldn’t quite place.. they were under different elements, it was impossible to read him entirely clearly, but he knew him well enough.
“I should cave your stupid fuckin’ face in,” Aether snarls, pressing his forehead into the smaller ghoul’s, “-right.
Fuckin’. Now.”
Dew’s pointed ears turn back. “Do it, bitch boy. Break my nose again. Watch how quick Cope throws y’out.”
Aether briefly looks shocked, but he covers it up with his frustration. “I’m not afraid of him!”
“You’re afraid of somethin’.” Dew scoffed, tilting his head back but keeping his slitted eyes locked on Aether. “That’s why you’re actin’ like this, right?”
The grip around the shorter ghoul’s throat loosened just slightly. “..What?”
“Aeth, I’m not /that/ clueless y’know? I know how you get,” Dew pushes the taller ghoul’s hands away from him and steps away from the wall, brushing himself off. “You get all scared of people seein’ how you really feel if you’re unhappy, so y’get all defensive over it and don’t let anybody in! Wouldn’t be the first time, big guy.”
Aether looked away, the tips of his ears flickering agitatedly in whatever mix of emotions he was experiencing right now. Was it relief? Because someone finally noticed why he acted the way he did? Was it fear? He didn’t know.. he didn’t like how he didn’t know.
“M’not a stranger to that type of shit, big guy. We both know that.” Dew’s voice was gentler now, free of any of the tension that had been building before them just moments ago.
Aether took a deep breath, ran his hands over his face. “I just… Fuck! I’m not supposed to feel like this!”
“Like /what/, dumbass?”
“So.. weak? Hopeless, sort of?” The big ghoul gestured with his claws as he spoke, long tail waving wildly behind himself. Dew tilted his head at him.
“I don’t /know/, man! I just feel like I haven’t been doing enough at the shows, or- or anywhere. Take up all this space, and for what? I don’t.. I don’t deserve it.”
Dew’s eyes widened. Were those tears glistening over his friend’s eyes? He’d never seen him cry before.. that wasn’t even something ghouls normally did.
“And- and Copia… I really love ‘im, y’know?” Aether’s voice was beginning to shake, and he subconsciously tried to close himself off more, crossing his arms over his chest. “And- And I wanna be enough for him… but I feel like I’m not.“
For what felt like just a bit too long, Dew just looked up at his emotional friend, not really knowing what he should do. His own emotions were hardly managed by himself as it was, how could he handle someone else’s? Not even comforting Copia in the many times he cried in front of them had been this conflicting.
“That is- all of that, is complete /bullshit/, Aeth!” The small ghoul exclaims, and to his dismay, Aether /flinches/. “I mean… it’s not true. None of that’s true. You are /way/ more than good enough for all of us, and you’re allowed to- Hey! Look at me.”
He grabs one of Aether’s wide shoulders and fully faces them towards each other. “You’re allowed to be.. not good sometimes, y’know? And people can know that.. y’don’t have to hide it. That never did anyone any good, right?”
“Mhmm..”
“Look… I ain’t mean what I said. Okay?” Dew put his hands on Aether’s upper arms. They were warm; it was comforting. “You’re tough as nails no matter what you’re feelin’. Don’t forget that.”
Aether holds his friend in a long stare before he suddenly pulled Dew into a hug. Maybe it hurt a little bit, but the fire ghoul didn’t mind at all.
“I fuckin’ love you.”
Dew couldn’t help the way his tail started to wag at that. “You’re not so bad yourself, big guy.”