[It has never once left his mind what Cy has endured since its telling, when they sat together beneath a tree in the Vale and Cy gave him that honesty. Yet as well as Cy has mastered himself over millennia, so rarely does the subject of that history arise between them — and less, if at all, in any significant detail. He understands and comprehends how Cy's sensitivity to compulsion is a result of KV's influence. KV is still there; any amount of mental tampering poses the potential to interfere with the greatest horror a mind can imagine. He also understands that the man's proclivity toward sadism is a double-edged blade, and it wears on him, and it has taken efforts of self-control to carve out these rules they follow during sex. Cy has said he doesn't need it, and Sasuke believes him — but he's seen Cy's pleasure enough to know it is there. Perhaps will always be there, as a consequence of what he has been made to suffer.
Eleven whole worlds of people. Billion is an unfathomable count. Billions upon billions, almost impossible. Now Cy is giving him the detail of three individuals who KV targeted specifically, and Sasuke understands the connection at once. Perhaps if that entity had ever visited his own planet, he would have looked upon the population and found a variety of "warborne" to torment. Naruto — a thought that grips his heart with fear, because it is a sacrifice Naruto would make without question. Yet would Naruto be too peace-loving for something like Kulo Vayn? Would that count against him, or would it be preferable?
... Sasuke would have made that same choice too. He had almost made it, once, when he swore to take on the shinobi world's darkness. He'd wanted to sacrifice himself. He'd wanted to be throw himself onto the spear, alone. He can understand the minds of these three people, Priya and Sinyi and Eska, even if he has never met them and never will. Perhaps that is the point. Yes, he would have liked them.
But against Cy's pain, which is endless and eternal, at least theirs was temporary. At least it ended, eventually.
Once Cy finishes tending to his hair, Sasuke pushes himself up to stand beneath the spray of water, turning to face the man, drawing him into an embrace. He tucks Cy's head against his stomach, the skin soft and warm and wet.]
I'm sorry. [A whisper.] I'm glad I know who they were. I'm sorry you have to remember what happened to them. [He combs his right hand through Cy's wet hair, then reaches for the shampoo to begin washing it, just as was done for him.] They aren't in pain anymore, but you still are. I hate that.
[It is said as gently as a confession, no fire of animosity — even if he could summon it against Kulo Vayn in an instant.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
đĨ˛đĨ˛đĨ˛
Date: 2024-07-18 07:45 pm (UTC)Eleven whole worlds of people. Billion is an unfathomable count. Billions upon billions, almost impossible. Now Cy is giving him the detail of three individuals who KV targeted specifically, and Sasuke understands the connection at once. Perhaps if that entity had ever visited his own planet, he would have looked upon the population and found a variety of "warborne" to torment. Naruto — a thought that grips his heart with fear, because it is a sacrifice Naruto would make without question. Yet would Naruto be too peace-loving for something like Kulo Vayn? Would that count against him, or would it be preferable?
... Sasuke would have made that same choice too. He had almost made it, once, when he swore to take on the shinobi world's darkness. He'd wanted to sacrifice himself. He'd wanted to be throw himself onto the spear, alone. He can understand the minds of these three people, Priya and Sinyi and Eska, even if he has never met them and never will. Perhaps that is the point. Yes, he would have liked them.
But against Cy's pain, which is endless and eternal, at least theirs was temporary. At least it ended, eventually.
Once Cy finishes tending to his hair, Sasuke pushes himself up to stand beneath the spray of water, turning to face the man, drawing him into an embrace. He tucks Cy's head against his stomach, the skin soft and warm and wet.]
I'm sorry. [A whisper.] I'm glad I know who they were. I'm sorry you have to remember what happened to them. [He combs his right hand through Cy's wet hair, then reaches for the shampoo to begin washing it, just as was done for him.] They aren't in pain anymore, but you still are. I hate that.
[It is said as gently as a confession, no fire of animosity — even if he could summon it against Kulo Vayn in an instant.]
Thank you for telling me.