[Albert's heart feels wrung out, his chest aches and his stomach wants so badly to betray him... but here is Ignis, beautiful, glorious Ignis, who sees him. Who sees that the only way was their way. It's something Albert couldn't even admit to himself here, something he railed against in secret, in trying to be sure his past never haunted him here.
What they did... was necessary. Some of the people he killed may not have killed others. Some of them were merely rotten to the core, lacking principles and ideals. They were bodies to count, people to be sacrificed in the name of William's new world.
And Albert, after endless hours with his brothers, after the anguish of knowing they couldn't put tragedy to words, after realizing that the end they saw was the only possible end...
Breaks.
He looks to Ignis, examining those eyes for pity, for disdain, and he finds neither. He finds concern, support, belief. The steel in his words and the velvet in his embrace hit Albert with equal force, and all he can do as he curls close on his lover's lap and presses his face to his neck is try to stop the tears from being so abundant.
He wants to scream. He wants to wail and fight and mourn the loss of the first person he ever loved, who is here, who is his still, who holds a sway over him unlike any other. He wants to destroy whatever brought them to light, even if it was inevitable.
He wants to take every ounce of the blame from William and die in his place.
And that... is terrifying suddenly. To love so intensely that he would die for him, to love so intensely that he would live... That's the love he has for William, and for Louis. It isn't always a pure and beautiful thing, but it occupies Albert's heart and mind so fully that he can't actually keep from crumbling when faced with reality. He knows himself. He knows he must've done something terrible and been killed or locked away himself, as he'd long intended.
Now, here, he wants a chance to atone. To forget that he shed the first blood. That he spilled the blood that forged their bond. Burned the house that scarred Louis. Bargained with the man who would save William's soul. That he failed them in every way is so obvious; but what if he doesn't fail them here? What if redemption is real, and the path forward is laid at his feet?
Clinging to the front of Ignis' shirt with two tightly fisted hands, his shoulders shaking with sobs, Albert keeps his face hidden from Ignis.
This man... if Albert was destined for hell, here is the last angel sent to show him mercy.]
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What they did... was necessary. Some of the people he killed may not have killed others. Some of them were merely rotten to the core, lacking principles and ideals. They were bodies to count, people to be sacrificed in the name of William's new world.
And Albert, after endless hours with his brothers, after the anguish of knowing they couldn't put tragedy to words, after realizing that the end they saw was the only possible end...
Breaks.
He looks to Ignis, examining those eyes for pity, for disdain, and he finds neither. He finds concern, support, belief. The steel in his words and the velvet in his embrace hit Albert with equal force, and all he can do as he curls close on his lover's lap and presses his face to his neck is try to stop the tears from being so abundant.
He wants to scream. He wants to wail and fight and mourn the loss of the first person he ever loved, who is here, who is his still, who holds a sway over him unlike any other. He wants to destroy whatever brought them to light, even if it was inevitable.
He wants to take every ounce of the blame from William and die in his place.
And that... is terrifying suddenly. To love so intensely that he would die for him, to love so intensely that he would live... That's the love he has for William, and for Louis. It isn't always a pure and beautiful thing, but it occupies Albert's heart and mind so fully that he can't actually keep from crumbling when faced with reality. He knows himself. He knows he must've done something terrible and been killed or locked away himself, as he'd long intended.
Now, here, he wants a chance to atone. To forget that he shed the first blood. That he spilled the blood that forged their bond. Burned the house that scarred Louis. Bargained with the man who would save William's soul. That he failed them in every way is so obvious; but what if he doesn't fail them here? What if redemption is real, and the path forward is laid at his feet?
Clinging to the front of Ignis' shirt with two tightly fisted hands, his shoulders shaking with sobs, Albert keeps his face hidden from Ignis.
This man... if Albert was destined for hell, here is the last angel sent to show him mercy.]