Remembering what we have lost

[to_death_and_back]

Even if Liam can no longer see the pages he still loves books and, by extension, the libraries they're kept in. He trails one hand along the spines of the books on the shelf, smelling the familiar scent of leather and old paper. As he makes his way along the aisle his cane taps the base of the bookcase, letting him know it's still there. Every few steps he makes a sweep in front of himself if case of obstacles.

Distracted by the books he hasn't noticed he's no longer alone.

Private to all_mad_here 

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[all_mad_here]

Break likes the smell of books and libraries because it reminds him of Liam. He doesn't know if his own Liam is here or not, yet, but if he is, the library seems a likely place to find him.

He hears the tapping of the cane before he comes around the end of the aisle. In the dim light between the stacks, all he can tell is that the person is tall enough to be Liam, but it can't be his master, can it?

"Are you trying to scare the mice away from chewing on the pages?" he says amiably, leaning one shoulder against the shelves.

Forgot to fix the comment settings, sorry about that!

[to_death_and_back]

Thankfully Liam has been in the Mansion just long enough not to automatically assume that this is his Break, but that doesn't stop him from smiling at the sound of the familiar voice. He stops because he can't hear footsteps so he assumes this Break is standing still a little way in front of him. His cane is returned to his side.

"Mice are quite the menace to libraries, Break." A little teasing but also a little sad. His Break would know he's doing it see.

[all_mad_here]

"I have no fear for the books as long as there's a Liam around to protect them!"

Break thinks he can guess why there's a note of disappointment in the answer. He moves a little closer as he speaks.

"We're not from the same world, apparently. But I wonder: are our roles reversed? Am I the Liam and you the Break in yours? I don't quite need a stick to find my way yet, myself, but I might before much longer."

[to_death_and_back]

"Protecting books would be an worthy cause." Especially since that's about all he can do with books these days.

"It's not our roles that our reversed." Let him assume what he will from that. "But I'm afraid I never did the gradual fading. It happened all at once for me." He tenses when he hears that he's coming closer, but at least that gives him a reference for how far away this Break is.

[all_mad_here]

Break isn't sure what that means. He's close enough now to see the dark patch on the left side of Liam's face, but he can't tell if the remaining eye is focused on him or not - and he can't see colors, only shades of light and grey.

He gets even closer, talking the whole time, as much to test Liam's reaction as to see him better. He never has had much respect for the concept of personal space, anyway.

"Oh, is that so? Did you do something reckless, Mister Liam? In my world, you're the sensible one and I'm the one to be reckless, or so my own Liam is always telling me!"

[to_death_and_back]

The best he can do is look in the general direction of this Break and hope his eye appears to focus on the right thing. Hearing his voice come closer Liam reaches out, not wanting him too get too close without a hand on him to better judge what he's doing. Though Liam can't tell it will touch Break's chest if the man keeps walking forward.

"I did do a reckless thing that put me afoul of a Baskerville girl. But my Break did an even more reckless thing in return after that." Begging the Will of the Abyss to bring him back to life counts as much more reckless than his trying to find the sealing stone on his own. "So I believe I still retain the role of the less reckless of the two of us."

[all_mad_here]

Break walks right up to Liam's hand, stopping when it touches his chest and putting his own hand over it so Liam won't back away.

Then he pulls a stupid face, just as his Liam did to him when he realized Break could barely see anymore. After that, his face goes very grim in a way that would surely make any Liam flinch, if he could see it. His voice is deceptively mild.

"If your Break is the cause of you losing your sight, I would rather be someone else entirely than be associated with him."

[to_death_and_back]

He can tell Break is doing something, the subtle shifts in his body and the hand covering his tell him that much, but he has no idea what it could be. All he can go on is Break's tone and words.

"You don't understand, what happened to my eyes was not a bad thing. This," his free hand goes up to touch the eyepatch over his empty socket, "is just the price my Break paid for bringing me back again. Having his eyes is a small thing to pay for being able to live once more."

[all_mad_here]

He stares, going very still, thinking this through for a moment.

"The Will? He asked her to bring you back?"

He's not shocked that it happened or even that it was necessary, only that it worked. He still has horrible dreams of finding out that Fang was right and his Liam really was dead after all. He might well have made the same request of her at the time, except he knew better than to try that.

"That is certainly less harsh a payment than I would have expected, unless Alyss is a very different girl in your world."

[to_death_and_back]

When he feels him go still he knows that Break understood what he hadn't said in so many words.

"He didn't ask her to change time so it didn't happen. Just to bring me back. That might have made the difference."

Sometimes Liam wonders at his own Break's sanity. Who but a madman would try such a thing?

"Perhaps she isn't. My Break had done her a great service so she was in a more benevolent mood than usual."

[all_mad_here]

"Ah, is that it? 'Be careful what you wish for' is a lesson well learned when dealing with the Will of the Abyss. Even she can't give something for nothing, though, I suppose."

Break would question whether anyone who had been through the Abyss could be considered sane.

He lightly squeezes Liam's hand.

"He succeeded, did he? Good to know." Especially if that meant he also was able to save this Liam's life, even at that cost.

[to_death_and_back]

"No, I don't think she can, not with the way her power works. But… well, I think it was worth it, all things considered." His smile is wan, but a good attempt anyway. "Blindness is not so bad."

The squeeze is returned, fingers light compressing the cloth of his shirt.

"What happened to us… I would still not wish it on any other Liam and Break. I am glad to hear others didn't go down the same path." Dying had hurt, he wouldn't want any other Liam to go through it. Or any other Break to go through loosing their Liam.