ayy welcome to my harriedshipping fic! Big thanks to bus for getting me into this

Notes:
-Durbe and Chris are vaguely the same age in this
-The fics aren't in order, but they're all after the end of Zexal

"Do you miss it?"

The question catches Durbe off guard, and he turns to watch Chris walk up to him and lean against the railing beside him. Though the stunning Arklight gardens are below them, Chris only has eyes for Durbe.

"Do I miss what?"

Chris takes a second to respond, perhaps not knowing for certain what he wants to ask. He looks out across the gardens, scanning the asters, gauras, and penstemons without truly seeing them. His eyes find Durbe's. "The past, I guess."

Does he miss the past? What kind of question is that? Now it's Durbe's turn to look away. Does he miss the past? He misses Mach's companionship, and exploring uncharted lands, and meeting new people, and the feeling of wind biting his skin as he flew. He misses Merag and Nasch, and what he had with the twins before they all died. He misses the old world, and knowing his place in the greater span of things, compared to modern times where he always seems to do everything wrong.

"Sometimes," he answers, turning back to Chris. "There are things I miss, but there are things I'm glad I don't have to deal with anymore." Having to hide his feeling for the people he loved, still love, is the most predominate. Now, there's no real shame for choosing a partner that doesn't exactly fit the norm. Durbe places his hand on top of Chris'. "Why do you ask?"

Chris shrugs and smiles, his face softening. "No reason. I was just curious."

Something nags in the back of Durbe's mind; Chris wouldn't have asked if it didn't matter to him. "I wouldn't trade it," says Durbe, and when Chris' expression turns puzzled, he elaborates. "If I had the chance, I wouldn't go back and change what happened. I'm happy here. Now." Even though Nasch and Merag aren't truly Nasch and Merag anymore, even though Durbe knows he'll never have another chance with him, that's all okay. Really, he's fine with it.

Chris looks baffled for a moment, obviously having not expected Durbe to say any of that, but then he relaxes and smiles again. He turns his hand over and laces their fingers together, and Durbe shuffles over so he can lean against Chris. Together, they view the garden below.

I'm glad you're here, too."

Thanks for reading! Please remember to leave a comment.