How he manages to stand firm under Joker's stare, he will never know. But he releases hold of the supervisor with ease. Part of him thinks, bitterly, don't look at me that way. It would be childish, to assume his last words to the Queen had damned the entire situation, after all. The Rose Queen had received what she wanted- anything after, would be dust in her ears, nothing more.
But even so, as he nods an affirmative to Joker, as Tyki sends the badger and Papyrus through, and as Yuuya and Joker quietly 'argue' if it could be called that, his steps closer to them feel heavy. Joker's thin expression burns through his mind, but what burns most is that look of expectation from Yuuya. That stare, as if to say, 'this can't be it, we can't let it be it.'
But what else was there, in this situation. Words would not help-certainly not if Joker as well was taking them on their way. They could not recover Steven, nor Lauren- not that the latter comes to mind, thanks to the dull and self-punishing roar in his ears. He feels as terrible as when he and Yuuya discussed that scroll art. No, worse even, for at least then they had found themselves discussing-
He blinks, and for a moment feels lightheaded, moving toward Yuuya to set a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I, the man Gongenzaka, shall be right behind you for each step. But this is a matter of size, Yuuya. Nothing more." So he says- but then, with a quiet whisper- "...Think back to what we discussed. In the library, regarding 'favor'."
He is not asking Yuuya to call his own in, of course. That would be as foolish as using his own to try and take Steven himself.
But Gongenzaka closes his eyes as he releases hold of his friend. Slightly, his aura glows as it would when using his typical chakra magics, as he focuses. Reaches, for something familiar. For that light, for Creation itself, so that he can call and ask for their aid without words.
So that he can show them Steven, frightened. Show them the Rose Queen in all her wrath as witnessed before, that changeable nature that could so easily turn on her 'son'. 'Protect him,' he asks with his heart. 'Whether by hiding him during her rage, by sending a protector to his side, or even keeping her appeased with him as long as he is with her. Protect him. Keep him safe.'
He follows the others wordlessly- doing as requested if any try at the last minute to escape, nudging them back with vines as his aura fades.
Gongenzaka does not look back.
He simply climbs awkwardly to and into the hole after the others, squirming against the vines once his middle faces the obstacle in question.p
dear creation dont let steven die the end-
But even so, as he nods an affirmative to Joker, as Tyki sends the badger and Papyrus through, and as Yuuya and Joker quietly 'argue' if it could be called that, his steps closer to them feel heavy. Joker's thin expression burns through his mind, but what burns most is that look of expectation from Yuuya. That stare, as if to say, 'this can't be it, we can't let it be it.'
But what else was there, in this situation. Words would not help-certainly not if Joker as well was taking them on their way. They could not recover Steven, nor Lauren- not that the latter comes to mind, thanks to the dull and self-punishing roar in his ears. He feels as terrible as when he and Yuuya discussed that scroll art. No, worse even, for at least then they had found themselves discussing-
He blinks, and for a moment feels lightheaded, moving toward Yuuya to set a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I, the man Gongenzaka, shall be right behind you for each step. But this is a matter of size, Yuuya. Nothing more." So he says- but then, with a quiet whisper- "...Think back to what we discussed. In the library, regarding 'favor'."
He is not asking Yuuya to call his own in, of course. That would be as foolish as using his own to try and take Steven himself.
But Gongenzaka closes his eyes as he releases hold of his friend. Slightly, his aura glows as it would when using his typical chakra magics, as he focuses. Reaches, for something familiar. For that light, for Creation itself, so that he can call and ask for their aid without words.
So that he can show them Steven, frightened. Show them the Rose Queen in all her wrath as witnessed before, that changeable nature that could so easily turn on her 'son'. 'Protect him,' he asks with his heart. 'Whether by hiding him during her rage, by sending a protector to his side, or even keeping her appeased with him as long as he is with her. Protect him. Keep him safe.'
He follows the others wordlessly- doing as requested if any try at the last minute to escape, nudging them back with vines as his aura fades.
Gongenzaka does not look back.
He simply climbs awkwardly to and into the hole after the others, squirming against the vines once his middle faces the obstacle in question.p