animus_network | [Video]

[There's a moment where you can see Luke, looking angry and about to cry, before his fist suddenly descents on the terminal screen, punching it as hard as he can. The view rattles angrily, and again when he plants his hands down on either side of the keyboard hard. His voice is high pitched as he struggles not to cry, but it's a futile effort, and it's not long after he starts speaking before he can't see the terminal because of the tears.]

Jason, you damn bastard!!! How could you make me do those things?! How could you make anyone do those things!? I killed my friends; I killed people I care about because of you! And then you made us tell you about everyone!? Betray everyone?! You... you...!

[He just can't anymore; he sinks down against the terminal, just barely in view as he curls his arms around him, sobbing so hard it feels like his chest is going to burst. It's a moment before he can say anything more, and when he does, it's barely more than a whimper.]

...I hate you... I hate all of you...

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[He doesn't even bother responding. He's on his feet, searching for the terminal Luke might be at, and he doesn't stop until he's found it, approaching the redhead with a gentle hesitancy, a hand against the back of his chair.]

Luke...

[Luke lifted his head at the familiar voice, rubbing at his eyes to see through the tears, though it's only effective for a short moment.]

Guy...

[And... wump; Luke latched himself to Guy's midsection, sobbing softly.]

[That break of personal space was all he needed to wrap his arms around Luke, face burrowing into red locks and dragging them off the chair and onto the floor.

He can't do anything but hold the boy, his grip tight, jaw clenched and eyes shut tight, bottling what fear and anguish and anger he felt about this whole situation for the sake of the redhead in his arms. All he can do is cling. Cling and cling and be so, so silently grateful that Luke has a whole body again.]

[Luke is more than happy to cling back, too scared and upset to care about the fact that he was crying all over Guy like he was a baby. He couldn't help it, he couldn't stop. It hurt, dammit; he had betrayed everyone he encountered the past week, and killed people he cared about. He couldn't... he just...]

Guy... why...?

[His grip only tightens at the redhead's words, a hand stroking Luke's hair. He didn't have an answer. Goddamn, he WISH he had an answer. One that wasn't "Jason is a sadistic asshole". Because Guy knew that Luke knew that well enough already.

So he leans his head against Luke's, exhaling sharply, voice wavering.]

I don't know, Luke... I'm sorry...

[Luke sniffled, burrowing against Guy a little more, his grip around him tightening.]

S'not your fault...

[There's a weak chuckle against Luke's hair, fingers ruffling it slightly.]

I know.

It's not yours, either.

[Luke nodded; he knew it wasn't, not entirely anyway. Still, he wishes he could have fought harder, found a way to break the brainwashing, anything that would have gotten him to stop doing what the admins wanted.]

I-I hate them, Guy... I hate all of them.

[The hand in Luke's hair tightens, pressing the boy closer to him with a sharp inhale of breath.

You're not the only one, Luke.]

...It's... hard not to. It wasn't right. None of it was right.

[Luke let out a choked sob, struggling to calm down, but he couldn't. He thought infighting was bad, when everyone in Jason's area ended up turned into one massive abomination. It had been worth it, since he had gotten disqualified for it, but it hadn't made it any easier. And now this...]

[And all Guy can do is hold him, let him weep, a gentle hushing against Luke's ear - just like he'd always done, ever since the redhead was small. It was painful, knowing that was all he could do. But he'd been in the same boat - in a sense, he knows a lot of what Luke is feeling, although perhaps not to the same degree.

He stiffens, a firm pat against Luke's back.]

....We'll figure something out, Luke. Were not gonna let them get the last word in this, right?

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