John listened silently as she talked about her desire. What she felt, what she'd done, what she'd experienced. His expression fell a little as he saw how it affected her to want this, the impossible. His eyes showed nothing but empathy as she raised hers up to look at him after saying it. As she went on to explain what happened leading up to her death, even if she didn't manage to say it, he could put the pieces together. Nalia had already told him she and her sister were having an argument in the car when they died. She found out her boyfriend had been cheating on her with _someone_... someone he could tell by the look in her eyes that she knew, someone perhaps so close to her that she struggled to say it, shortly before that accident. It was Lydia, wasn't it. He didn't say anything, however, since he didn't want to add to her distress.<br/><br/>Axle held onto her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze as she went on to divulge even the last part. He regretted now mentioning it so casually, off-handedly after their orgasm together. She probably knew full well he didn't mean to hurt her by saying that, but he understood how impactful it would have been in that moment and remembered her change in expression, which now made sense.<br/><br/>Both of their desires were things the Convergence couldn't give them. Each of them were in a situation the other wished they had - he had had a family, she could talk to one of her closest loved ones whenever she wanted. It was a cruel joke.<br/><br/>"It's not your fault," he told her finally, softly, thinking about how obsessed she said she'd been, and how she'd driven herself crazy. "I understand. And you deserved better than to be with someone who only pretended to love you."<br/>He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her in a hug as he sighed. Just as her desire was impossible, he knew that his own couldn't lead to anything even if it was somehow possible.<br/>Even if he did know how his family were doing, there was nothing he could do. And if he learned that they were suffering, and that they missed him, that fact would only torment him more. It was a wish that could never grant him the peace of mind he wanted. But if there was, say, a magical mirror he could look into to see how they were doing... he would not be able to resist looking in it - and would probably spend forever looking, anxiously, driving himself crazy. He understood how hopeless she might feel. And yet there was nothing he could do.<br/><br/>Finally, John spoke softly. It was all weighing heavy on them. "It's been... a lot. I think we're both exhausted. We should have some rest."<br/>Since nobody would be looking on or disturbing them now, he briefly took off his towel and threw it over a chair to be able to simply use the bed naked. Looking at her, he moved over while holding onto her hand. "Will you join me, Nalia?"