“You’re right, but you’re wrong, too.” These were the first words Emil had said to Lalli since the other had fled after the, er, divine revelation yesterday.
Tuuri—ah, “Tuuri” had reappeared soon after Lalli had fled, and there was no little awkwardness attendant in interacting with her before Sigrun finally said, “To Hel with it” and hugged “Tuuri”. “You still feel real enough, Short Stuff.”
After that and a surreal conversation on how things would move forward after this, the tension in the air had finally fallen away. Emil had hoped “Tuuri’s” advent meant Lalli would also return soon, but the scout hadn’t shown back up until the crack of dawn, as was usual.
Thus it was that Emil had seized the opportunity to broach the subject with Lalli when the Finn was as close to a captive audience as he was likely ever to be.
Lalli cracked one eye open in order to glare at Emil in annoyance, but the Swede was still behind him, and Lalli couldn’t crank his head around far enough to get him in view, as his luonto was a lynx rather than an owl. With a little puff of annoyance, Lalli shut the eye again before soap could get into it.
Emil sighed, knowing that the morning wash wasn’t nearly the best time for this, but it was the only time he could be sure Lalli wouldn’t run away, as he had the night before. His hands still working on getting the grime off of the scout’s rail-thin body, Emil continued, “I don’t understand what you went through back then, but I do understand that you love your… cousins very much…” Lalli jerked so that Emil thought the Finn meant to flee, bath or no, but then Lalli settled back. After a few more moments, Emil said, “…and I very much understand what it’s like to be thrown into the midst of a bunch of strangers against your will at a young age.”
Emil finished up the scrubbing and rinsing in silence, but as he handed Lalli the towel, he added, “I won’t press you, but I want you to know that I’m here if you want to talk.” He paused. “Or not talk. Or…”
Lalli paused in his drying to put his fingers to Emil’s chin and gently but firmly shut the Swede’s mouth, and Emil let him, remaining silent despite the lingering wetness the Swede could feel on his chin.
In another moment or two, Lalli was as dry as he was going to get, and struggling into his sleepwear. In other circumstances, Emil would have told Lalli of his regret that today’s foray was to exclude the scout, but he kept silent in mingled hope and apprehension.
Lalli’s head finally emerged from the sweater. The look on his face mingled weariness and wariness, so Emil essayed a nervous smile and tentatively put up a fist for a fist bump. He wasn’t too surprised when Lalli simply weaved away, making for the vehicle and his waiting bed. “…Okay. See you later.” Emil almost whispered the words…
