He said what ?
So confused and a little hurt, Yasuo stared at the latter.
« I told you Yone texted me before, asking about your whereabouts. As explanation he merely said you were bullied and only you could tell what happened, nothing more. »
Yasuo was still a bit pissed to know his brother told a few things. However he had told this to Yi and Yi was someone they could call close, even before. To say he was bullied didn't cover everything so it was still understandable as a way to explain but not so much. This would deserve a talk with Yone.
Surely it showed on his face that he didn't approve any of this but said nothing because there was still no big wrong. It could have been a lot more worse and Yone only said one thing.
Yi sighed : « I'm aware this is personal and Yone shouldn't have said that but he made it clear it was up to you to retell this, not him. Do you want to stop here ? »
Patience was one of the latter's biggest qualities and for now it helped a lot, no matter how angry or sad by moments Yasuo could seem. In a way it was still nice to have, it helped to stay a bit rational.
« Yeah, I got it, he didn't say much. » He sighed too, leaning against the backrest of the couch. By now the tears had stopped but he didn't feel quite stable yet. « It's fine, we can continue. »
Lily was still here, on Yasuo's lap, quite calm despite the sometimes angry tone used in this talk between humans. None of her business. At some point she still decided to get up and jump off the couch. Ah, goodbye. Now it was one distraction less. Both watched he go before focusing back on their discussion.
« Well, it seems that our lady has better to do. If I may ask, when were you bullied ? » Quick jump back to their topic, without transition.
« Err…my memories aren't so good cuz it's started early. Maybe not kindergarten but just after. »
Going back in these memories wasn't pleasant. It wasn't always so clear, more like a global feeling about how his childhood went and what had struck him at the time. Between the soft happiness at home and the cruel words from outside, there was a clear difference. Yasuo remembered both with a lot of bitterness.
« That's young. Did any adult try to help ? »
« Nah, again I don't remember a lot but for all the shit these kids said, there wasn't a single change. You know what we say, kids never really mean it. »
Hello bitterness. Now it consumed him slowly, at the limit of slipping into sadness. Yasuo stayed there, a bit tense as he relived again these awful things. He wished he could forget everything.
« They repeat what their parents say, what everyone around says. This won't change anything to the past but know that they still had no rights to say that. They should still be held accountable for their words. »
Something still broke inside him when he heard that. It was dumb but all this time Yasuo had to bottle up and endure in silence because what he had been said would hurt their mother. All this time he held the entire blame and bullying all alone because he didn't want to make their mother sad. So actually no one told him when he was young that this wasn't valid, that these kids had no rights to insult him and his family like this. Yasuo had to figure this out later, alone. Even Yone never heard of this because luckily or not he wasn't attacked as much.
Now Yi ackowledged this and told what he had needed to hear when he was a kid. It didn't change a lot anymore but it would have meant a lot just to hear that from an adult, anyone considered this was unfair. His vision got blurry again and this time it was meant to last. It was stupid to break for a few words that could have soothed his pain during his childhood but he couldn't help it.
Nothing could translate his pain and odd relief to hear that. It was too late anyway but better late than never. Yasuo cried, half hiding behind his hand by pure reflex. It became quickly too much, sobs wrecking through him at the thought of many years of silent suffering.
So much that Yasuo didn't register the move before it happened and now he found himself again in Yi's arms, pressed to him closely. Ah… Not even the reflex to go away and retreat because of his damned feelings. Instead he just accepted it and clung to Yi as much as he could, tears streaming down his face from both pain and sadness.
So he let it happen. His heart had already suffered enough, no need to inflict himself some harsh punishment because he felt like taking advantage. Why fight this anyway ? There was always a point when it was useless to struggle. Yi made a choice and he would take the offer.
Hands held him closely, as to protect him. « Shhhh…it's fine, everything will be ok. »
A few more gentle moves and Yi take him even closer for a proper hug. Not only his gestures but also his words soothed Yasuo, reassuring whispers that didn't judge him in the slightest. Maybe all wasn't ruined, after all.