Veli looked up at him, his eyes wide, before looking back down at the ground and folding his hands between his legs. Wasn't... He good enough to make Noah want to be with him more?

Taavi just sighed. His son, the idiot. "This bothers you quite a bit."

Noah ran a hand backward through his hair-that-wasn't.

"I mean...I...I." And he sighed.

"I've done my time. I'm already halfway through. I can't even imagine my next 30 or so years...let alone a...a hundred!" He began to pace. Poor Noah was beginning to lose his mind.

"Let the future be the kids' problems. This world's already gone t'shit. I can't...I mean...God, Veli, I love you, and if I could make it so we could...be together for some...normal span of time...I mean...God..."

Veli nodded, still looking at the floor, crying silent little tears. Oh, Noah, he wanted to be normal for you, expecially for you of all people. But if he couldn't be normal by his own people's standards, how could he be normal for a human?!

"It's very hard to comprehend the space of time." Taavi said quietly, nodding. Ah, it was why they were warned not to fall in love...

"No, the time's what I get," Noah said, hand still resting atop his head, "Normally, I'd just say no and get it over with...but...leaving you...you said leaving! Like I had a choice in the matter!"

"I'm sorry..." Veli whispered, shoulders hunching up. "I didn't mean it.. I didn't mean it like that..." Oh, even though he probably did. It was hard for him to understand sometimes.

Taavi stayed silent, watching the pair.

Noah just paced. Faster, faster. ...and then he just collapsed to the couch.

"God, Vel, it's gonna take some thinkin'."

Veli nodded, his hair obscuring his face. One hand moved to his mouth. Oh.. Oh God-! And he was up, and dashing for the bathroom.

Huh! Apparently getting worked up enough could make you vomit as well!

"...I apologize for bringing this up." Taavi sighed.

Noah just shook his head, leaning his elbows on his knees and resting his forehead thereon. Oh, God, he'd made Veli vomit. And he was scared witless, and his throat was closed, and his heart felt heavy.

He would give anything to be anywhere else.

Taavi sighed again, going to visit his son in the bathroom. Veli was washing out his mouth and looked up at his father, tears in his eyes.

"...If I could make you human, my pearl, I would." Taavi said. Veli sniffled and nodded, pulling his hair back again. "Though it would be just as much a curse."

"I know, Dad." Veli washed his face. "I should just... Learn. Understand. Love my Noah, because he's here now." He smiled shakily, and his father wrapped him in his arms. "Sorry the visit turned so serious."

Taavi just tipped his chin up and gave his nose a kiss. Veli laughed, giving him another squeeze before going to Noah. Oh, he hoped he wouldn't be mad...

Noah stood immediately. His eyes were wet. He'd been crying. He rushed to Veli, throwing his arms around him and whispering in his ear.

"If it's what you really want, I'll do it."

Oh, Noah... Veli held him and kissed him, his eyes closing, wanting to scream 'Yes!' because Noah wouldn't leave...

"...There's more to it that just saying yes." He forced himself to say. "We have to talk about it, think about it more. It's not something to rush into."

Noah shook his head.

"If I think any more, I'll go mad." He held Veli hard, starting to cry again, clutching at him as if he might lose him somehow.

"Okay... Okay..." Veli kissed and hugged, pulling him backwards towards the couch. "Sit, No'. C'mon, baby..."

And Noah sat, although reluctantly and hard.

"Whatever it takes, we have to do it soon," he whimpered, swallowing hard. Now he felt sick.

"We have to get it over with before I change my mind."

"All right, Noah." Veli stroked his cheeks, blinking fast. Ohgod, tears... Go away...! "All right, Noah."

And Noah sniffled, grew more composed, started gagging, swallowed the feeling away.

"I love you," he whispered, "I really do love you. My only regret is agreeing to half your life."

"I love you too, No." Veli murmured. "And... Without you, I just... Couldn't survive. I'd rather share my life with you and have you."

And Noah bean to rock...almost violently. Again, he was clutching at Veli. He said nothing. He had to keep his mind blank. He had to love his Veli, know what he would have done under opposite circumstances.

"Just tell me what I have to do," he said after a moment.

"All right." Veli lay against him, eyes closed. "I'll make the calls tomorrow. It's a ceremony."

Noah nodded. Oh, he wasn't going to be able to think of anything else until this all went down...

Poor Noah.

Veli just rubbed his cheek against him, eyes closed. "Wanna go lay down?"

Noah shook his head. Laying down would just give him time to think, and work himself up, and drive himself insane.

"No, no. I need to keep busy. Your father's here, we're not s'posta be sobbing like little girls. C'mon. Let's just...do somethin'.

Veli stroked his head. Do something... Like what?

Noah dodged away.

"Just let me clean myself up, and we can just...go out. Do something. Anything." He gave a weak smile and a little bow as he stood, again showing hints of his gentile Southern roots.

The bow brought a little smile to Veli's face. He watched Noah go and then shuffled off to talk to Taavi.

Daddy would, undoubtedly, know what to do.