oblivion is calling out

“Put your seatbelt on,” Akk says, and he hopes—knows—that Ayan understands that it means ‘hi, I missed you.’ “How was group?”

“It was good.” Ayan smiles. He pauses, not letting out his breath entirely, lips parted, like he’s going to say something else. But a few moments of silence pass by, and Akk almost interrupts to ask Ayan what’s wrong. Finally, like he’s practiced the words enough in his head, Ayan says, “You should come. Sometime. It could… I think it could be good for you.”

Or, Akk struggles in the aftermath of Suppalo. Ayan is there for him, but Akk has to let him be.