i hold on when i get love and let go when i give it

[mediummmuhhh]

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[lovesmilk]

If I can't handle it physically, I promise to handle it the other way.

[mediummmuhhh]

[ reigen actually laughs, startled, like he genuinely forgot. ]

Hah! If you say so.

[ there's the sound of more paperwork shuffling ... ]

Sorry, what was your other question? These tax forms are such a pain in the ass ... I'll have to redo them when we get hitched too ... Maybe someday we can hire a private accountant, wouldn't that be nice?

[lovesmilk]

That'd be wonderful.

[Silly fiance... he's so cute. It warms Shigeo's heart that Arataka forgets, sometimes.]

What would you like for dinner?

[mediummmuhhh]

--oh, speaking of money stuff, I was thinking we had the budget to hire now. Crazy, right? But that would mean we could vacation ...

[ there's the audible scratch of reigen scribbling something out, a typo made by hand. ]

It's getting warm, right? What do you think about cold soba? You'll be working up a sweat lifting all that crap. Physically or the other way.

[lovesmilk]

Mkay. I think that sounds nice. I'll pick it up and be home in around twenty minutes, Arataka.

[mediummmuhhh]

Sounds great.

[ more writing, this less audible. but reigen has a quiet neutral hum he makes when he's deep in logistical nonsense: he's always in his prime dealing with red tape, legitimately or otherwise. ]

Anything else on your mind?

[lovesmilk]

Hmm... I think I'm not forgetting anything. Call me if you need me, Taka. See you at home.

[mediummmuhhh]

Will do. See you soon. Drive safe, love you.

[ click! ]

[lovesmilk]

[Oh... oh?? Oh!!!

Shigeo is so, so happy... he texts back.]

I love you too.

[mediummmuhhh]

[ reigen is busy doing paperwork so he's ignoring his phone, because he's a fucking idiot. between forms he takes a break and sits back, then picks up his cell and squints down at the text.

... the text from mob. the text from mob that says mob loves him too.

wait hold on ]

[lovesmilk]

[Happy... happy happy happy. While he's waiting for the soba to be made, he messages Youko.]

Arataka finally said "I love you"! It really does feel wonderful.

[mediummmuhhh]

[ reigen is busy sweating bullets.

'you can't be serious,' dimple says. 'you closed out the call telling him you loved him. i was right here. i heard it.' ]

I ... uh ...

[ meanwhile, his beloved sister texting:

WHAT
HOW ]

[lovesmilk]

[Meanwhile, Shigeo is OH so happy to text his future sister-in-law!]

We finally got a new apartment lined up
I called to ask what he'd like for dinner, and b4 we hung up, he said "Drive safe, I love you"

[He is over the moon.]

[mediummmuhhh]

[ I
HOLD ON
JUST LIKE THAT
ARE YOU SURE

meanwhile reigen has his face in his hands ]

It ... it was just a text ...

[lovesmilk]

Yes!
He wasn't even thinking about it
It felt so honest. I'm so happy.

[mediummmuhhh]

[ YOU SHOULD REALLY HAVE HIGHER STANDARDS FOR THIS STUFF KAGEYAMA
AFTER ALL THIS TIME HE JUST DROPPED IT IN???

at the apartment reigen is sitting back against a full cardboard box, rubbing the bridge of his nose. dimple is hovering nearby, unsympathetic but not totally unkind when he says, ‘what’s the big deal? not like he didn’t already know.’ ]

You think so?

[ his voice is dry, because it’s not really a question. ‘tch, don’t make me say it,’ dimple replies, as is his right. ]

[lovesmilk]

He's been patient with me and the pace I set...
It's only fair if I'm patient for him too

At least that's what I think

[He's excited to get home and see his fiancé...]

[mediummmuhhh]

I guess ... I kind of thought it’d have to be with bigger fanfare. He said he’d be home in twenty minutes, that’s not enough time to do anything fancy, or even make something of this mess ...

[ as reigen flicks a demonstrative hand out towards the mess of packing boxes, his phone starts buzzing again. he squeaks and dives behind a box, at which dimple rolls his eyes and leans in closer to the phone.

‘it’s your sister,’ he says. reigen peeks out from behind the box and reaches for the phone, sliding the screen lock to answer--

‘TAKA I GOT A TEXT FROM KAGEYAMA DID YOU REALLY--’

reigen, holding the phone away from his ear and then hitting the hangup button without ceremony. the phone rings again immediately with youko’s name and picture. he hits decline. it rings again so finally he puts the phone on silent and lays down on the floor. ]

Dammit, Mob ... you’d better not be texting and driving ...

[lovesmilk]

[Nope! The soba and side dishes are all done and packed up, he's paid for it, and back on the road he goes, sending only one more text and this time, to Arataka.]

Picked up the soba. Home in 10!

[mediummmuhhh]

[ ‘jeez, she’s persistent,’ dimple observes at the now-still and silent phone. ‘is it really that weird? she’s calling like you told shigeo you drove a truck into the side of his parents’ house.’ ]

I dunno. She’s never been too clocked into my love life or anything, but she knows I haven’t been serious about anybody before. And she likes Mob.

[ dimple flashes him a sideways grin. ‘first love at 25? that’s kind of loser behavior, isn’t it?’ ]

You might be talking about him too, wiseass.

[ before dimple can retort, the phone brightens again. he looks down and says, ‘shigeo texted. he says he’ll be home in ten.’ ]

... great. [ it’s not all that sarcastic, though, all things considered. reigen drags a hand over his face and lets out a huff. okay, arataka, showtime. ] You’re probably gonna wanna clear out for this one.

[ ‘gross.’ ]

I didn’t mean--not like that, moron. We’ve just gotta, I dunno, talk. --oh, and I wanted to ask you a favor anyway.

[ he’s gonna make an odd request for dimple to check up on that one guy from claw, maybe float the possibility of taking him on a job, see how he likes it. and then he’s gonna go wash up real quick, a five-minute shower, so at least he can face whatever this is gonna be with the dignity of good hygiene and not like a guy who’s been pushing moving boxes and tax forms around for hours. ]

[lovesmilk]

[Soon enough, he's home! He backs the truck into the parking, but he'll come in with just the dinner, first. He'll happily set the table for the two of them right away, too in his own fuzzy world to track Arataka down.]

[mediummmuhhh]

[ he’s still in the bathroom when mob arrives, toweling down his face. he hears the door open and close and feels his heart skip a beat. in the mirror he gives himself a long, wary look. part of him thinks he isn’t cut out for this, has never been cut out for this, will never be.

but on the other hand, the ink has already dried on the lease. and he’s been engaged for almost a year. sometimes you don’t know what you’re doing even while you’re doing it. reigen’s improvised most of his life and, well, he’s in relatively good health, hasn’t been buried alive by debt, didn’t get killed in a terrorist attack ... doesn’t that mean sometimes things just work out?

he sighs, then pulls his shirt on. as he steps out from the bathroom he’s still scrubbing down his hair. casual as anything he says, ]

Hey babe. I should’ve probably prepped a side with the soba but I think I screwed up labeling the box with the kitchenware.

[lovesmilk]

[Shigeo's practically glowing, he's so warm and fuzzy and happy. He shares that rare, unguarded and dazzling smile he has any time he's completely over the moon.]

I got some sides for it while I was ordering... we have a lot to do and unpack, so I thought this would be easier.

[mediummmuhhh]

[ at the sight of mob’s smile reigen’s step falters. he hesitates, warmth flooding his face, his already shower-heated skin. fuck. this is really happening, isn’t it. ]

Ah ... good thinking ...

[ leaving the towel over one shoulder as he steps close. at first he just thinks he’s gonna start unpacking the food too, but after another moment of hesitation he just says, ]

Um, Mob ...

[lovesmilk]

[Shigeo's getting out silverware, stacking it on some paper plates, since their plates were still packed away.]

Hmm?