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The stars and the moon brightened the night and the surroundings around Herb and Ice. Fireflies twinkled around the two of them and the crickets sang. Everything was calm for once in their lives.
They were laying on their backs, looking up at the starry night sky. The two were silent but it was a comforting silence.
“Hey Herb?” Ice called out to his friend.
“…Yeah?” Herb responded moments later.
“Do you think that we’re more than our scars- and.. yknow. Pasts?” The avian asked, the question had been lingering on his mind since forever.
Herb stayed silent, trying to think of what to say.. “I- I would like to think that you are..” He fell silent.
Ice turned and looked at Herb. “What do you mean just.. Me?” He wondered aloud. “You’re more than your past and scars too.” Ices gaze was soft and comforting.
Herb still didn’t turn and look at Ice. “I.. I don’t know, Ice. It’s just.. A lot.” Herb fiddled with his fingers.
Ice understood that, he always somehow seemed to understand- in his own weird way. “Hey..” He reached out and cupped Herbs face “Look at me, okay?” Ice said gently and Herb slowly looked over at Ice.
“I don’t know your past- but I do know that you *are* more than you think you are.” He smiled softly. “You’ve done so much to escape your past and run away from it but- I know you’re trying your best to change from whatever happened.”
“Ice..” Herb started but he couldn’t seem to find the words.
“Shhh.. it’s okay.” Ice said. “You don’t need to explain yourself. You’re fine the way you are, and that’s the Herb I care about.”
“Th- thank you.. For everything..” Herb said quietly, he sounded like he was on the verge of tears.
“Of course..” Ice said quietly and pulled Herb into a hug. He buried his head into Herbs hair. Gods, he had so much hair. He smelled like the musk of wolves and some berries Ice couldn’t name.
He learned to love that smell, Ice held his friend close, just to keep the world at bay for a little while. They needed this after all they went through.
Herb sighed, touch still felt awkward to him, but despite that fact Ice had the softest touch Herb knew. Ice was comforting no matter what, it seemed like he always knew what to say.
“Gods..” Herb said with the quietest whisper. “It’s not fair.. It’s not fair about how much you love and care for me..” Herb muttered.
“I could say the same for you..” Ice responded. “‘Cause you make me ache, you bastard.” The avian said, with the slightest bit of humor in his voice. It was true though.
They both knew it was true… Herb would always find someway to do something to wreck Ice. Despite everything Ice would always come back.
They knew they couldn’t live without each other.
It was hard sometimes but it was somewhat comforting to know they wouldn’t really be alone.
They had so much trust in each other, even if they never really opened up to each other.. Herb knows Ice will always understand and Ice knows that Herb..
Ice doesn’t know.
Ice silently groaned at the thought. He didn’t want to think about this right now. He knows he has Herb and that’s enough.
“Ice?” Herb said, breaking Ices thoughts. “Are you okay?” He looked up at his friend with a concerned look.
“Yeah.. It’s nothing.. Just some-“ Ice said but was cut off by Herb.
“Bullshit.” Herb said, stern. “Ice, I know you. You don’t usually act like.. this. You’re hiding.. Something.” He paused, his voice going low and quiet again. “What is it..?”
Ice sighed deeply, there was no getting out of this, huh.
"Just.. Yknow how im always there for you ans stuff?" He paused for a couple of heartbeats. "Will you be there for me when I need it..?" He asked quietly.
Herb, of course stayed silent for a few moments before responding. “Of course, Ice- I’ll.. Try to always be there for you.”
There’s so many thing that Herb could say to Ice, so many things he wants to say. But can’t.
Ice is his light, his fire, his sun even.
But he was only the moon that brings sadness and chaos into the world.
But the moon was enough for his sun.
And the sun was enough for his moon.