Alek's relief at Onyx-Three's recovery was palpable, and then they were both swept up on the vision.

The caves were so small, these things called stars that resembled Orion were everything, placed in the sky. Some of them were suns, these bright orbs, but only the intensity might mark the difference. To Alek they were all wondrous and alien in equal measure. They were alone, yet this was not a sadness. Because they were all alone together. And they were all loved.

Each life was unique and as separated from each other as the stars, and yet, they too were loved and together in the same way. It was a profound experience, and Alek gasped as the vision faded away, leaving the knowledge that separate though they may all be, they were all lives that were loved, even with distance.

He felt a profound connection to everything, for all that he was magically not connected to anything. There was a weight on his neck, just a little one, and he realized what it was as he gazed upon Onyx-Three and saw a pendant on his friend.

"Yes," he answered softly.

The Heart of the Universe, he knew. The same name his own held. A connection, shared with Onyx-Three. For the first time in his grown life, he reached for his magic.

A connection, tenuous but there, came to Alek. He felt even further connected Onyx-Three, though they would never be the same, they shared this connection, here and now, but also forever. Because Alek knew even without this, they were all connected.

"The stars and suns..." Alek blinked, five eyes wide with emotion he himself could not name. Fondness, love, awe, wonder... All these things were there. "Thank you, Onyx-Three," he told his friend, a surge of affection for the other overwhelming him.

He almost wished he could confess his love as he meant it, not simply the love of friends, but more. Yet, it was almost. Alek would never burden Onyx-Three unduly, and Onyx-Three knew he was loved in some way, that they all were, and that was what was important.

@V-Onyx-Three

Alek's words pierced through to their heart, and suddenly their chest felt very tight. Their hand holding the Heart of the Universe shook, yet they remained enraptured within the endless stars contained in that little heart. There was so much of this feeling. It was all out there, somewhere. There was emptiness beyond these caves, a world beyond this one. How lucky they were to have Alek, here, with them, sharing this moment. The pain in their chest, rising, ebbing with the emotions surging through them, a tide much like that of Fornax, the movements of the stars- but it hurt. "Love hurts. A good hurt." They forced their emotions to calm, a burst of magic slowing their heart.

"I understand." Onyx-Three returns the necklace to its place around their neck. "You taught me." But was this something they wanted to share? That they shared this bond with Alek was no question. But what would the Forge think? How well did they know this emotion? But a part of him also did not wish to share it with them. He wanted this to be something special, a feeling that was like a secret between just him and the dragon.

Onyx-Three understood too, now, why Alek missed his family so. Love was the kind of thing that amplified happiness into euphoria, yet turned sadness into grief. The thought of needing to go back to Draco eventually was so much harder. He would miss Alek. "Stay." A plead, some kind of desperation in it. "Come to Draco. More. Love you. It. hurts."

@Alek

Belatedly, Alek realized that Onyx-Three had been reading his emotions the same as he had done regarding them, experiencing all his tumultuous emotions. He listened to Onyx-Three, struck wordless. Onyx-Three knew how he felt, they must, he thought.

But... love as a hurt, but a good hurt... Was that from him or Onyx-Three? Was that from his own desire to sacrifice voicing his feelings if it meant Onyx-Three would be happier? Alek was not sure if he had made Onyx-Three happier at all, they looked... disoriented.

Desperation was clear in Onyx-Three's voice, as they pleaded with him. "Oh, love..." Alek started then trailed off, having not intended the petname. But it felt natural in the moment.

"I love you too," he told the other, words clearly worded, reciprocated.

But primary to Alek was soothing Onyx-Three. "I will come to Draco, it's okay, it's okay," his voice was musical reassurance. "I will, I said I would before, it's alright. Take a breath for me, love, okay? Just breathe for a moment. You're alright, it's alright," Alek's intonations were calm sounding, but underneath there was his concern.

Not only concern, but love.

@V-Onyx-Three

No. This wasn't right. Onyx-Three knew he wasn't supposed to be feeling such things for anyone outside of the Forge. He still wasn't even sure what kind of love this even was, his limited experience with it limiting his understanding and ability to put it all into words. His loyalties lay within his allies, with the family that he knew the other members of the Forge were. He fought for Chaos, was raised to do so. He had a legacy to live up to, to uphold all his parents had achieved and surpass that. Onyx-Three needed to rise above all else in the Forge and prove he was worthy of his upbringing and all the lessons that had been instilled in him.

But nothing prepared him for this. Emotions elusive, slipping through his claws every time he sought to catch them. It was the one area his training lacked. Much of his knowledge from sparring, from learning smithing, had come from gembounds outside of the Forge. Would this be a bond pulling him away from his responsibilities? What would the Sentinel think? Vargas? He remembered the warmth of the praise he felt from both of them, the kind that invigorated every part of them and made all their work worth every second.

And then there was Alek. Alek, who gave words more freely than either of them did, but who was not a member of Chaos, though he wished to be. Onyx-Three could not let this pull him away from what he knew his role to be. They had given much, received much. Was this all a distraction? Or had it enriched his life in ways he couldn't yet comprehend? Appreciate? Handle?

"I need to go." Alek's words swept over them but all they could think of was how none of this was right. Because they didn't deserve any of what was happening right now and they were feeling something they shouldn't. Because they were burning and they wanted it to stop and they knew the only way for it to stop was if Alek could be close forever. But would that even work out? They wanted it to. Wished it to. But knew so much of this was out of their control. He took a step back. "Come to Draco. Soon."

@Alek

Alek wished Onyx-Three would speak, the silence dragged on and as it did, Alek's concern increased. It barely succeeded, thanks to the necklace Alek now had. There were so many emotions running through Onyx-Three and it hurt, and then it all slipped away and Alek was overwhelmed.

What could he say to help in the face of all that conflict? Alek didn't know. And then Onyx-Three was speaking, eager to make an exit. "We can meet here in a few days, as planned, you can lead me to Draco," he tried to soothe.

Hoping the time would give Onyx-Three the ability to get thoughts in order without causing more hurt. And then, on the way to Draco, they could talk.

This was not to be, of course, for Onyx-Three was soon to have a spar that chrysalized them for a time. But Alek would find his way to Draco, to Onyx-Three, regardless.

He did not want to give false promises. So he did not. He fell quiet, feeling like this was his own fault. But he would let Onyx-Three go, of course. Onyx-Three was their own being. Alek would never cage them.

Perhaps Alek was no good with emotions, after all.

[Exit Alek]

@V-Onyx-Three

Onyx-Three could not meet his eyes. He had disappointed. He had disappointed everyone. He had disappointed himself. He dipped his head in a slight nod, words rising but unable to escape past his mouth. Alek's words were meant to soothe, but for some reason it only made this hurt all the more. Would he be able to bear anything that was to come?

A step back. Another. He turned, running away from one of the only gembounds who had ever showed them such kindness, heart pounding, a burning feeling rising in their chest. "I'm sorry." He wished he could say. But he was too far away now, leaving Alek behind on the beach. The only thing he took away from this experience was that perhaps there was a reason emotions were difficult. They hurt. The difficulty just made it all easier to bear, as one would not have to feel them as much. The necklace suddenly seemed like a burden.

"Exit Onyx-Three"