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[traumatizing]

You've reached Terry Ward. I'm not here right now, leave a message and I'll get back to you.

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[traumatizing]

You're not in mine either. Not... None of you are. Not even Yuffie.

[That last bit comes out with a huffed laugh, but it's not happy. He can't even imagine what a life without her constantly being a pain in the ass is like.]

[The look on his face is all at once tired and distressed, someone exhausted by the sheer weight of feeling this broken all the time. He combs his fingers through Maxxie's hair, trying to soothe the both of them just a little.]

I'll be honest, this is a lot fucking better than whatever life he-- Me-- I was living. But I can't live like this anymore either.

[notahobby]

So what are we supposed to do?

[He pulls his head away to look up at Terry.]

If we try to leave they'll hurt us. Worse than they already do.

[traumatizing]

I don't know.

[He shakes his head, frowning.] I wish I just knew what they want us for.

[notahobby]

[Maxxie brings his hand up to the side of Terry's face, brushing his hair back.]

I wanna know too, but I don't want you to get hurt trying to find out.

[traumatizing]

[It's almost certainly going to happen &mdah; hell, it's happened once already — but he won't get into that. Terry looks at Maxxie fondly instead, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.]

Well you sent me that, uh... You sent Stella to me.

[notahobby]

[Maxxie bites his lip bashfully.]

I figured you'd need it more than me.

[traumatizing]

[He laughs a little, slightly embarrassed but.]

You're probably right.

[notahobby]

[Maxxie raises an eyebrow at Terry]

You know I am.

[traumatizing]

[He bites his lip and turns his head away from Maxxie to hide the smile on his face. Isn't this supposed to be all sombre and shit? Here he is being all gross and feeling this deep swelling of fondness for Maxxie in his chest. God. Awful.]

[notahobby]

Hey, also...

[Maxxie feels his face getting hot and he glances away.]

I didn't really get to say it back a couple days ago... but I, ah... I love you too.

[traumatizing]

Did I...

[Terry straight up doesn't remember saying it, and he looks a little confused, but he also can't ignore the way hearing it makes something in his chest feel like it's about to explode. But he frowns because wow what a thing to say in what must've been a totally unmemorable way.]

I mean-- I do. I really fucking do and it's kinda scary, because it's so fast and it's so strong, but I just. Don't remember saying it.

[notahobby]

[Maxxie's cheeks burn a little hotter and he kind of rolls his eyes in desperation, putting his hands on Terry's chest as if to shove him gently.]

You said you did when you decided to leave!

[traumatizing]

[He has to replay it in his head, trying to remember everything he said in the heat of the moment, but there's that dawning recognition on his face when he realises.]

Oh. "people I love." I guess you're one of those.

[notahobby]

[Actually eyeroll.]

What, is that different or something?

[traumatizing]

[Terry thinks he's hilarious and laughs, and he moves a little so he can kiss Maxxie on the side of his face.]

I dunno, but I do know that I love you, so. [Shrug. NBD.]

[notahobby]

[Maxxie gives him another gentle shove and then cuddles in to nuzzle at Terry's face.]

You're awful.

[traumatizing]

[Terry grins and wraps his arms around Maxxie tightly, squeezing him a little like it's the only way to get all his affection out.]

But you love me. You can't take that back.

[notahobby]

[Uuuuughhh.]

I do.

[He pulls away with a grin.]

And you love me.

[traumatizing]

I never...

[He trails off and shakes his head, trailing his fingers up Maxxie's back instead.] Never mind.

[notahobby]

[He grins and continues cuddling in.]

What?

[traumatizing]

It's stupid, it's just...

[Terry sucks in a shaky breath, turning his head a little because he's fairly certain he's gonna get looked at when he says this and he doesn't want that.]

It's just not something I ever thought I'd hear.

[notahobby]

[He'd be right, because Maxxie pulls away to frown at him concerned. He sighs because he doesn't want him to feel that way.]

Well you have now, and I do mean it. You're probably the best thing that ever happened to me.

[traumatizing]

[Oh--]

[Terry still doesn't look at him, but he laughs. Of course it's more the kind of awkward laugh of a man trying not to cry.]

Shut up.

[notahobby]

Nope.

[He kisses Terry's face.]

Can't get away from me now.

[traumatizing]

[Terry makes a noise like he wants to protest this — not having Maxxie in his life, that part's great, but being the best thing that happened to him. That can't be even a little bit true. He's not a good thing that's happened to anyone.]

Fuck-- [He sniffs and lifts a hand to his face to check for any wetness. None so far, but god.] This is so embarrassing.