"Be gentle with yourself," Liangfei answered, voice slipping back into his Iron Wolf register, firm and commanding. It was as much a chide as a request, his hold on Qiuqiu possessive and protective in equal measure. He soaked in the storm of his companion willingly, gratefully, eagerly, glad to just be able to reach for what he thought lost to him forever.

"You believed me dead. We were so young, Qiuqiu. We were so..." Voice cracking, Langfei tries to summon a laugh but it too came out broken. There was scarcely a shadow of the bright, irrepressible boy he'd known, so twisted with grief and loss and vengeance his friend had become. And Langfei had allowed that, had contented himself with a quiet life on this mountain because he convinced himself it was better.

"We could not have known better. We both did the best we were able, surely, surely..." He allowed an ounce of forgiveness for himself because he wanted it for Qiuqiu as well. Leading by example was all he'd ever done so he attempted it now, one hand pressed to the small of his friend's back, the other cradling his face still.

"Have we not wasted enough of our years? Let's set aside these regrets. Tell me everything, Qiuqiu. All I missed. Tell me who you are now."