❝ Wherever the sword of rebellion is drawn to give man liberty ❞

[dedicateyourheart]

{ i am on the side of that rebellion }
💮 esen 💮 insu 💮

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[dedicateyourheart]

Esen grins, throwing an arm around Insu's shoulder as he drags him away from their allies (and, for a lot of them, Insu's adoring fans). He knows from their years together that many of their rank and file idolize Insu. It's harder for those who don't spend any significant time with him to see him as a person and not just some ideal. Esen was once like that.

But he's empathetic. That's exactly why he joined this movement. He wanted to effect change that would help the people of their world. Insu was bigger than life among the rebels. Charismatic, electrifying. Being good-looking didn't hurt, either. It earns Insu many admirers.

However, the longer he worked through the ranks and got closer to Insu, the more he saw that this man, this inspirational man, would work himself to death for this cause. He couldn't tear himself away for the work. But malnutrition and lack of sleep would hurt them all. So he started pulling Insu away. For a few minutes. For a few hours.

Over their few years together, Esen introduced Isnu to his mama and his sisters, started bringing him home for meals when he'd visit their homeworld. All to help him take a break from their work. But also to help him see the faces of the very people he's helping, to give him a more intimate sense of belonging.

"She made a bunch of your favorites. She's missed you." Esen looked his friend over and sighs. "She's going to tell you're too skinny and try to fatten you up again."

[incitement]

Being an idol and an inspiration, the object of so many's admiration and the leader of a large-scale rebellion, it's exhausting. But he can never let anyone know that. He has to be always available and ready to do whatever needs to be done. He wants to always be available. There's always something to be done, there's always someone who wants his attention. And he wants to do everything and be everywhere, he wants to give his attention to those who want and need it. It's not feasible, but it's what he strives to do.

Which is why he needs someone like Esen in his life. He needs a friend like Esen who'll look out for him when he won't look out for himself. He needs a friend like Esen who'll be a friend to him when no one else will. It's not as though he can make them easily in his current position. People either don't want to risk getting too close to him, what with him being a well-known target of their government, or they mistake being yes-men for friendship. If they agree with his every idea and never challenge him, they are friends. He's tried to tell them that it doesn't work like that (well, more specifically he's told them that he doesn't need people to simply agree with him all the time), but that's the one thing he says that they don't seem terribly keen on listening to.

"You say that like she doesn't make my favourites every time I come home." Insu laughs and lightly pats Esen's chest as his friend leads him away from their allies. "I've already told her time and time again that this is just how I am!" Ever since he was young (as though he isn't still young), he's always been particularly lean. "Do you think she'll ever listen to me?"

[dedicateyourheart]

Esen laugh brightly and shakes his head. "I think she knows. But she likes having an excuse to feed you. I really think cooking for others is her love language." His smile tempers, but remains warm. It's always good when Insu can come home. As easy as it might be to assume he knew what he was in for when he essentially established this rebellion, the truth is Insu's still a young man and being unable to come home has to be hard.

And did any of them really expect their movement to grow into a real force back when they were plotting and planning in basements, garages, and abandoned warehouses?

"C'mon. I can only steal you away for tonight. Tomorrow, others need you. I'm pretty sure the rest of leadership wants to meet with you before you have to vanish again."