[That works for Shigeo. After he applied the bandage, he relaxed a bit, sinking back into the comfort of the sofa. His face was throbbing, but his head was swimming, still overwhelmed by everything that night.]
...It wouldn't have been good if they found me instead... but I can protect myself better than you can, Arataka.
[ impulsive. the word, along with mob’s proximity, the casual intimacy with which he leans over to blow on the top of reigen’s mug--reigen remembers, all of a sudden, that he kissed him just a couple of hours ago. he flushes slightly at the memory, though he doesn’t flinch away. ]
Ah ... yeah, sometimes.
[ most of the time. master improviser, that’s him. but maybe a good contrast to mob’s deliberateness, the way he has to carefully weigh every choice. if reigen had compulsively agreed to this engagement, had schemed about what he could accomplish if he prolonged it, mob is--using these months to take his measure, fully, carefully.
reigen is gonna be the one who comes up short in the end, he know it. he swallows and pushes that thought out of mind as hard as he can for now, too tired to give it its due. he reaches up with his free hand to tug gently at mob’s battle-axe bangs. ]
[ not really a question. or a warning. not not an invitation. mostly a 20-something-year-old man who has no game whatsoever and whose fiance is very, very close and very, very hot ]
[ it does, of course it does. in his exhausted limbs, past a mind weighed down by wondering--what the hell even is claw? there are secret esper organizations? and what was with that power that mob had shared with him earlier, earth-shattering, reality-altering?--he’s tingling from the roots of his hair down to his bare feet.
he should--say something. explain that he can have the bed, maybe, and reigen can sleep on the couch, or.
he can’t move. doesn’t want to, not really, except--closer. that kiss earlier, it had been, yes, impulsive. it had also been ... short. too short. when is he gonna get the chance to do something so impossible again, except after an impossible day? ]
[Even with the closeness, and the teasing... Shigeo just smiled, withdrawing his hand and reaching for his own cup of tea, going back to sedately sipping at it, himself. Mmm... Reigen put milk in this time.]
[ reigen barely manages to keep from startling actively when mob pulls back. right, right, of course. what was he thinking? one kiss, totally enough for today. and he hadn’t even asked for permission earlier. jeez, what a mess. ]
Oh. Uh. Y-yeah, lemme just.
[ struck dumb for once, reigen not being the type who ever finds himself at a loss for words, he blusters. he drains his tea in one fell swoop, reasonably cooled by now, and then stands up, beet red, as he heads over to his closet. with his back to mob he can scrub his hands over his face. god!!! reigen!!! GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF!!!
he flings the closet door open in a half-assed attempt to reset his brain, then reaches for a pajama set. ]
... my stuff’s probably all gonna be a little small on you. [ a pause. he steps back to mob and hands over the set, then juts his thumb to the bathroom. ] I’ve got extra toothbrushes under the sink, in a pack. You can use whatever else you need in there too.
[ with the bathroom door shut reigen can ride out the rest of his panic in peace. he goes to change too, quickly, in his usual sleepwear--the kuma sweats--then puts mob’s empty tea in the sink. his hands itch for a cigarette, but it seems like it’d be in poor form to do it with mob here--not that mob doesn’t know about his vices by now, just. they’ll be sleeping in just about the same room, reigen’s apartment being as tiny as it is, and he probably won’t like the smell. so instead reigen just tosses his one spare pillow and quilt on the sofa for himself and sits down there with a yawn. ]
[After taking his time to wash his face, brush his teeth, change into borrowed sweats... Shigeo felt a bit better. Less weighed down by the stress of what happened. His jaw still hurt, but the ache was fading by the hour, and he'd probably wake up without any pain or mark at all. Maybe a bit of a bruise at worst.
When he walks out and sees Reigen on the couch...]
[That works for him! He smiles, adjusting the pillow and blanket left on the couch. Good. He'll be just fine, so long as Reigen is taking care of himself.]
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mediummmuhhh) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
millefolium2023-01-19 06:49 pm
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Do you... think they can handle something like that?
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[ a clown. an idiot. reigen arataka believes himself to be none of these things. more importantly, he isn’t letting go of mob’s hand. ]
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...It wouldn't have been good if they found me instead... but I can protect myself better than you can, Arataka.
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[ the kettle starts whistling. he stands up, padding over to the small kitchenette to pour out two cups of tea. he comes back and hands mob one. ]
We’re engaged, dummy.
[ his eyes are soft, despite himself. ]
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[Maybe... maybe this engagement wouldn't be too bad. Reigen... Reigen accepted him and his powers in stride.]
...You still scared me, getting taken like that.
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[ he sits back down next to mob, gingerly sipping his tea with a muttered ah hot. ]
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[What, the decision to get abducted to cover for Shigeo, or the way he always burns himself on his own tea? Shigeo doesn't clarify.
Instead he leans over, blowing on Reigen's tea, since the man won't do it himself. Just a moment to force him to slow down.]
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Ah ... yeah, sometimes.
[ most of the time. master improviser, that’s him. but maybe a good contrast to mob’s deliberateness, the way he has to carefully weigh every choice. if reigen had compulsively agreed to this engagement, had schemed about what he could accomplish if he prolonged it, mob is--using these months to take his measure, fully, carefully.
reigen is gonna be the one who comes up short in the end, he know it. he swallows and pushes that thought out of mind as hard as he can for now, too tired to give it its due. he reaches up with his free hand to tug gently at mob’s battle-axe bangs. ]
But hey, it’s worked out for me so far.
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[Metaphorically, but also literally. Slowly, deliberately, Shigeo touches Reigen's bottom lip.]
You'll hurt yourself.
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[ not really a question. or a warning. not not an invitation. mostly a 20-something-year-old man who has no game whatsoever and whose fiance is very, very close and very, very hot ]
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...I'll do my best to keep you safe.
[He wanted to make sure that Reigen remembered that.]
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he should--say something. explain that he can have the bed, maybe, and reigen can sleep on the couch, or.
he can’t move. doesn’t want to, not really, except--closer. that kiss earlier, it had been, yes, impulsive. it had also been ... short. too short. when is he gonna get the chance to do something so impossible again, except after an impossible day? ]
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May I borrow something to sleep in?
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Oh. Uh. Y-yeah, lemme just.
[ struck dumb for once, reigen not being the type who ever finds himself at a loss for words, he blusters. he drains his tea in one fell swoop, reasonably cooled by now, and then stands up, beet red, as he heads over to his closet. with his back to mob he can scrub his hands over his face. god!!! reigen!!! GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF!!!
he flings the closet door open in a half-assed attempt to reset his brain, then reaches for a pajama set. ]
... my stuff’s probably all gonna be a little small on you. [ a pause. he steps back to mob and hands over the set, then juts his thumb to the bathroom. ] I’ve got extra toothbrushes under the sink, in a pack. You can use whatever else you need in there too.
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Just pajama or sweat pants will be fine. Thank you.
[He'll just invite himself into the bathroom to break into those new toothbrushes and brush his teeth!]
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When he walks out and sees Reigen on the couch...]
...No.
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No what?
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[ trailing off because he actually does look, in the middle of making a flippant hand gesture, and. and. and.
gay panic siren going at full bore rn ]
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Go sleep in your bed. You were abducted today, and I don't think they were gentle with you. I will be fine.
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... f-fine. Don’t ... don’t complain when you get back pain tomorrow.
[ actually, wait, does mob get back pain? he heals so fast ...
reigen stands up, his face fire engine hot, and pointedly does not STARE, even in PASSING, thank you very much, as he makes his way to his bed. ]
Good night. Mob.
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Good night, Arataka.