Chapter Text
As the windows smashed in, Robin shut his eyes and imagined his mother’s face. She smiles. She says his name. - Babel
Robin opens his eyes and sees the basket of chocolate and cheese he and Ramy had spent too much money on. He was on the hill they had spent their evening together on their first day of freedom. “Birdie? Are you alright?” Robin froze. Turning his head slowly, Robin sets his eyes on Ramy. Beautiful Ramy looking as he did when they first met. So young. Barely eighteen.
“Birdie. Are you-?” concern filled Ramy’s eyes. “You’re crying. What’s wrong?”
“Ramy?” Robin barely chokes out his name.
“Yeah,” Ramy smiles. “You already overwhelmed with everything? We still have four more years to get overwhelmed. Now is the time to relax. Especially since we still have two days left before the term starts.”
Years? Four more years? Robin laughs to Ramy’s surprise. “I’m alright,” Robin assures Ramy. “It’s just…I feel like I’ve known you forever and it’s only been a day.”
“I think,” said Ramy. “it’s because when I speak, you listen.”
“Because you’re fascinating.”
“Because you’re a good translator. That’s just what translating is. Listening to the other and trying to see past your biases to glimpse what they’re trying to say. Showing yourself to the world, and hoping someone else understands.”
Robin swallows. It was almost word for word when they first had this conversation. Dead or somehow- by some miracle- returned back to the beginning of their years at Babel, Robin was not going to take this time with Ramy for granted.