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“What if I don’t mind?”
After saying that- Ike runs. It's a struggle to extract his legs from under Luca- but adrenaline is fueling him, and Luca's frozen with shock, so really, it could've been worse.
He doesn't look back, darts out of the living room as quickly as he can- he makes it all the way to the stairs before he even hears Luca start to move, and by the time he's made it to his room, all he can hear is the distant sound of voices downstairs.
Shit.
This isn't where he wanted things to go- in all honesty, he would've been perfectly fine with the rest of Luxiem never finding out about that little tidbit that haunts his thoughts, but y'know, we can't always get what we want, right? Right.
..even his own shitty little jokes to himself don't make him laugh. God damn, he really fucked up this time, huh?
Ike sighs, sitting on his bed and taking off his glasses so he can rub at his eyes.
What should he do next? Where should he go from here? It's not really like he can take it back- even if he did, no one would believe him- they know him, his habits, the jokes he makes, both on-stream and off. Really, it probably would've been more surprising if he were only joking-
His thoughts are interrupted by a knock at his door, lighter than Luca or Vox would've knocked. The fact that there is one probably means that it's Shu- Mysta's always just been prone to calling out.
Sure enough, just a moment later, Shu calls out- his tone light, though, surprisingly, it doesn't sound forced.
"Eyy, Ike! Whenever you've got a minute, mind if I come in?"
Well. He definitely minds, especially given that he's.. pretty sure he knows what Shu is going to want to talk about. But- he can't exactly say no, either, since there's not going to be any getting out of this- Ike's almost certain of that much, at least.
"I've got time now, door's unlocked," he replies, settling down on his bed and tugging a blanket into his lap just to have something to fiddle around with.
When Shu enters, he notices the sorcerer's shoulders slump as if in relief- was he really all that worried that Ike wouldn't reply?
He doesn't voice the question, instead sending Shu a small, somewhat-forced smile. It doesn't really matter if it shows or not- he's almost certain that Luca's told Shu what just happened, because if the mafioso hadn't, then he'd think the world was about to end next, due to how unlikely it was.
He also doesn't start the conversation, though- he's not going to ask Shu what brought him here, neither of them need that. Shu wants to be the next one to bother him about his issues? Fine by Ike, but he'll have to be the one to start the conversation, so Ike can gauge what he should be saying- how he should reply.
"So.." Shu hums easily, refusing to let the awkwardness gather around him. "You know why I'm here."
It's not a question, but Ike nods anyway.
"Good!" Shu claps his hands together. "So, do you want to explain a little bit? It doesn't sound like this is anything new."
Ike.. really doesn't want to explain, instead toying with the edges of the blanket on his lap.
"What are you trying to get out of this?" he asks, instead. "I'll answer, just- I'd like to know."
The sorcerer hums again.
"Mm, right now I'm supposed to report back to the others with whether or not this is something that you'd need to speak to someone about or not, and whether or not that'd help," he answers honestly. "But what I'm trying to get out of this? I just want to know how not-okay one of my closest friends is."
That's a low blow- and the slightly-guilty smile on Shu's lips tells Ike that he knows it.
Ike sighs.
"Okay, well- for what it's worth, the.. sentiment that I expressed earlier, isn't anything new. I mean- kinda obviously, it's not like I really joke about much else that often. But, I mean-" he holds out his arms, flipping them around to display the clean forearms. "-it's not like I've ever acted on it, so. I don't think it's something that's really.. urgent."
Shu nods, like he's a therapist making notes.
"That's good!" he smiles, and it seems genuinely relieved. "So then, any reason you said anything earlier?"
Ike bites at his lip- what's the answer that'll get Shu to leave the soonest, without getting him involuntaried?
"..I just- got upset, I guess. Ever since Vox, a few weeks ago, it feels like you guys don't trust me to- take care of myself. I'm an adult, I've been taking care of myself for- however long I've been alive. Just because my brain is.. shitty, sometimes, doesn't mean I'm gonna act on it."
"Ahh, I getcha," the sorcerer gives a commiserating nod. "So Luca was just the straw that broke the camel's back?"
"Something of the sort, yes." Ike tries for a reassuring smile, and he must at least mostly succeed, given that Shu lets a grin of his own draw to his lips. "It was just.. a lot, in a pretty short amount of time. I mean, c'mon, I go from nobody asking for years, to three within the same season? I'm not used to this sort of popularity!"
Shu actually laughs, at that, nodding.
"Yeah, that's fair. It'd be a lot for anyone."
Ike's surprised at just how well this seems to be working- even his anxious fidgeting is lessening, doubly so as Shu stretches easily.
"Okay, well, last question- would you be willing to talk to someone? Just, about anything. You're an adult, totally, you can take care of yourself- but, y'know.." he makes a vague gesture. "The company has therapists on-hand for a reason, getting isekai'ed isn't exactly a 'normal human experience' and is, in fact, what some might call 'mildly to severely traumatizing'."
Ike laughs, at that, hard enough that he devolves entirely into snorts and giggles.
"Oh my god-" he wheezes out, rolling his eyes goodnaturedly at Shu's proud grin. "Maybe. Maybe. You've tempted me with that joke."
"And with my smell?" the sorcerer jokes, as he stands to leave.
"Shu!" Ike giggles, tossing a pillow at him. "Oh my god, get out, go, let me be emo in peace!"
He actually does leave, and Ike shakes his head as his giggles die down slowly. A good laugh is exactly what he needed- he feels more settled now, more secure. It's nice, he thinks, with a smile.