Donnie suddenly has his arms around him, and for a moment Leo feels stunned in place. Some part of his brain, the one that still suspected this was all a hallucination, or some kind of trick, wasn't expecting Donnie to be able to touch him. Maybe some part of him also thought he simply couldn't be touched anymore. It's not like many people have tried.
But Donnie is touching him, arms around him for a hug, and suddenly it hits Leo that Donnie is really here, and that he's not alone, and that he's being hugged for the first time in forever and this is really real.
He shouldn't want it. He shouldn't enjoy it. Donnie isn't supposed to be here. Donnie was supposed to be at home, getting his happy ending. Only Leo is supposed to be here, because this is his afterlife, his punishment.
He shouldn't want this. Only a monster would want this.
But oh, he's missed Donnie so much he aches with it.
He hesitates only a second longer before his willpower splinters, and he's suddenly clutching Donnie back, tight like Donnie will disappear if he doesn't. Donnie doesn't quite feel right - Leo isn't sure if it's the lack of battle shell or the weird snake traits or the time apart - but it's still the brother that Leo remembers, that his arms remember, his heart remembers.
His heart which, if Donnie leans in close enough to listen
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Donnie suddenly has his arms around him, and for a moment Leo feels stunned in place. Some part of his brain, the one that still suspected this was all a hallucination, or some kind of trick, wasn't expecting Donnie to be able to touch him. Maybe some part of him also thought he simply couldn't be touched anymore. It's not like many people have tried.
But Donnie is touching him, arms around him for a hug, and suddenly it hits Leo that Donnie is really here, and that he's not alone, and that he's being hugged for the first time in forever and this is really real.
He shouldn't want it. He shouldn't enjoy it. Donnie isn't supposed to be here. Donnie was supposed to be at home, getting his happy ending. Only Leo is supposed to be here, because this is his afterlife, his punishment.
He shouldn't want this. Only a monster would want this.
But oh, he's missed Donnie so much he aches with it.
He hesitates only a second longer before his willpower splinters, and he's suddenly clutching Donnie back, tight like Donnie will disappear if he doesn't. Donnie doesn't quite feel right - Leo isn't sure if it's the lack of battle shell or the weird snake traits or the time apart - but it's still the brother that Leo remembers, that his arms remember, his heart remembers.
His heart which, if Donnie leans in close enough to listen
is beating
very
s l o w l y .