"Not close enough," he said. "I've...I've managed to find some of the worlds he's been to, but it's...it's always too late. It's always right after he's left for a new one..."
"Yeah," he said. His grip on the tissues in his hand tightened. "It's like looking for a needle in a haystack, but the needle is a single person and the haystack is every single world that's ever existed in any reality."
"...But I can't stop," he said. Even if he was tired. Even if it was beginning to seem hopeless. Even if he just wanted to be with his sister - he had spent thousands upon thousands of years away from her, and he still hadn't been able to spend more than a handful of days by her side. "I'm sure Matt's picking up on tricks here and there, but..."
He faltered.
"...I'm not sure anyone can ever be prepared for world traveling like I am," he quietly added. "And...And since it's my fault that he ended up in this mess, it's my responsibility to track him down and help him return to normal."
Even though, no matter what he did, Matt could never have the same life that he had once had before.
Bo continued to listen quietly, waiting for a pause that felt like Kartiel was done with what he was saying. Not that he really knew exactly what to say in response.
"Traveling from reality to reality is very dangerous, isn't it?"
"...Sometimes," he said. "Other times, it's easy. You just have to rely on not entirely dependable artifacts and spells, but it's the reality itself that can be difficult - that's what I'm worried about. I...I know that Matt learned how to handle a lot during his time in Aeyis, but I don't know if he's prepared for everything out there..."
Kartiel fell into silence. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do - or say - now that he had poured his heart out to someone who bizarrely insisted on calling him his friend. He should have tried coming up with a new topic, or started to leave, but he couldn't will himself to get off of the couch.
Bo sat with Kartiel in silence for a moment. He wanted to give Kartiel room to say anything else if he wanted, but he also wanted to give him room to just sit and be still.
Kartiel hadn't stopped searching for Matt five years, and he hadn't taken a moment to stop and just breathe. Bo wanted to give that to him. He wasn't sure how much time had passed before he spoke up again, but it just felt like a natural time to talk again.
"Not really," he admitted. He gave Bo a small smile, wiping away the few tears clinging to his cheeks and eyes with his sleeve. "Even though you do make a very good peanut butter and jelly sandwich."
"...Thank you," he said. "For the tissue, and the food, and the conversation. I...I haven't really talked to anyone about how I'm feeling, and it's...nice to be the one that's worried about for once."
Bo laughed lightly, patting Kartiel on the shoulder. "Of course," he said. "You deserve to have people who care about you, man. And you can count me as one of those people who's worrying about you. 'Cause that's what friends do."
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