Conclusion

[voidtreckermods]

Thank you.

For those inside the system the voices of the Great-Seasons ring out around them once the red mass has vanished and the blue plinth it was smothering is freed once more. They don't have all that much time to reflect on that before they find themselves waking up once more in their bodies around the tree trunks.

Or at least, around the tube that is the Great-Season they entered through. All illusions have vanished now, all that is left are pipes and metal.

The Great-Seasons allow them passage out from the centre, no sentries or pipes attack them this time. Everything seems to have been put to rights, the walls in the Autumn sector have stopped moving, there is no strange weather effects in the Summer Sector, no engineering problems in Winter and all the camaloid creatures in Spring are calm. Any Helpmates they come across are doing their jobs and no longer malfunctioning.

After a small amount of time, enough to check that all is well, their SCA's light up. All Passengers are to return to the Voidtrecker Express.

Considering the vast distances involved it is probably best that they use the evacuation function to return to the Luggage carriage.

Once all Voidtreckers have returned the train returns to the Void once more.

Comments

[subcircuits]

All he can do is shake his head. He knows deep in his gut that he's the least incredible person on this whole damn train, but he also knows that Koumyou's incredibly biased. He's not going to try to convince him otherwise.

He also knows he should probably stay in his lane. Who is he to think that he could learn something like that? And when Koumyou's so reluctant to teach, how can he in good conscience take him up on it?

But... but he can't shake the memory of how it felt back there in the middle of the biosphere's infected system, to be able to fire off water blasts with just his hands and to heal with a touch. And from much more recently is Koumyou's encouragement to use some of his time on the train for himself...

He should thank Koumyou for the offer, and turn him down. He knows that would be the reasonable, responsible thing to do. Safer for them both, better for the community at large for them to try and maintain an emotional equilibrium and focus on their own individual abilities. He should be good. He should--

He--...

He takes a deep breath, and he says something totally, unimaginably selfish: "I do want you to teach me. Please."

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou watches him, with that little head shake and the pause. He can't see Devero's thoughts, but the conflict is... apparent.

"And I want to teach you."

It... visibly startles Koumyou when it comes out of his mouth, but he doesn't take it back.

He wants to teach.

Terrifying though it may be, aren't some things worth powering through that feeling? Devero certainly is worth it, and more.

"...Huh."

[subcircuits]

The words startle Devero too; he rears back so he can look down at Koumyou, his expression... vulnerable. "You do?" he asks. "It's not just because I'm asking...?"

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou gazes up at him for a moment, then ducks his head a little.

"I'm... I'm worried about it, but... yes, I want to."

His hands knot together under the water.

"I admire teachers who don't hurt their students," he repeats so, so quietly from earlier. "If that... if I might be able to do that... if you think I might..."

And then, even quieter yet, "If I won't ruin us if it goes poorly..."

[subcircuits]

Devero tightens one arm around Koumyou and covers the priest's hands with his other, squeezing lightly. "I'm worried too," he says softly. "But I think... I think that if we go slow, and if we're careful, that fear will keep us prudent. Don't you?"

It's his turn to repeat something from earlier. "I think it will be good for us both, to try this."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"I just don't want to lose you."

Again.

If he fucks up, again.

And he might. He really might.

"...Slow and careful, then. I agree. We have plenty of time, right?"

[subcircuits]

Oh, Koumyou. Forget just squeezing him; Devero wraps both arms around the priest and crushes the slender body against his broad chest in a hug. "Neither of us is going to let that happen again, okay? Once w-was-- was enough."

His fervent grip loosens and he nods. "All the time in the world, my Sanzo, and no one to tell us how to spend it. If-- we're going to do this--" Which still seems sort of fragile and incredible, right now. "We'll do it to our own schedule and no one else's."

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou is completely fine with this adjustment, slumping slightly into Devero's embrace and staying that way even when those big arms loosen again.

"Absolutely."

So, they're doing this, then.

He's going to teach his Devero magic.