ryuwrighthistory | Empatheias IC inbox

[ He glances up from his journal and over at Naruhodou, eyebrow raising just a bit. He'd planned on doing what felt right, regardless of what anyone else said — that was how he'd always been. But it's always something else with Naruhodou. Maybe it's because he's one of the few people Asougi holds in high regard or perhaps it's because he knows he's already hurt him quite a bit in recent times, mostly as collateral damage. Or maybe it's because of some deeper feeling, he's not entirely sure. Naruhodou will always make him pause — at least, when he's not wound up and already diving headfirst into something.

Asougi looks at him for a long moment before he speaks, his voice firm. ]

That's not what you wanted to say, is it.

[He lets out a bit of strained laughter] What else can I say? [He keeps his gaze down at his hands as he shrugs.]

It's not like you'll stay dead here. So what am I even worrying about? [It's fine. It's whatever. No big deal. It's fine...eventhough his body was trembling.]

Naruhodou . . .

[ Asougi sets his journal down, closing it, and stands. He moves closer before he stops right in front of Naruhodou and kneels down. This wasn't what he'd intended, not ever, and the strained laugh makes his heart ache. Some best friend he is. ]

. . . I didn't— [ He stops, partially to consider his words and partially because it's hard for him. Knowing his weaknesses is one thing; admitting to them out loud is another thing entirely. ] That wasn't my intention.

[He shakes his head.] I know it's not! [He leans back when Asougi comes over, eyes averted.]

. . . The point is, you shouldn't have to live your life around me.

[ Asougi pauses for a long moment, taking those words into consideration. He'd always lived his own way, but he'd slowly been learning moderation from Naruhodou over these past few years. Was he really . . . ? No, this had to be about something else, potentially.

He reaches up and over to try and rest a hand gently on Naruhodou's cheek. Maybe it's too close, maybe it's brushing up against the thing between the two of them that they've never talked about or acknowledged, the thing that he's only recently started to come around to in his own, silent way. But it doesn't matter, not when his best friend — and arguably one of the few living people that he cares about most — is in pain like this. ]

Hey.

[ It's too close, he's too close, he can feel it getting warmer around him and he knows it's his doing, but he can't help it beyond trying to shove those feelings back down, boxing them up for later — whenever later was. ] . . . I know that.

[A hand suddenly being pressed against his cheek gives him a start. It snaps his attention onto Asougi. The lights in the room flicker as he felt something in his heart. It was warm, calming, welcoming, like whatever they had been working yourselves up over was just a distant memory now. That familiar feeling of safety and assurance from his friend he's come to expect, and yet...

His hand reaches up to rest over his friend's as he leans into the touch, closing his eyes. There's another feeling there now, sitting somewhere deep in his heart. He pulls his friend's hand away as he leans forward, extending his arms out to pull Asougi into a hug.]

[ Asougi leans in to that, closing his eyes as he rests against his friend. Slowly, he draws his hands up to wrap his arms around him in turn. This was why he needed to pause, needed to think before things like that task in the future. Maybe he could plan better. Maybe having Naruhodou insist on coming along wasn't so bad; he could reconsider what was reasonable with those tasks and go from there. Not that he was entirely satisfied with today's results in general.

What he isn't thinking about is the warm feeling growing in his chest, and how the room gets just a bit brighter at that. ]

[He squeezes him gently, pressing his head against friend's. If they stayed like this all night, Naruhodou wouldn't complain. There's nothing really going through his mind other than feeling content, to keep his friend in his arms.

And yet...he could have more.

He shakes his head.] Hey...do you want to go back upstairs? [Now that things have calmed down for the most part, tiredness was catching up with him.]

We should. [ It's a murmured response, his forehead resting against Naruhodou still. And yet, despite his words, he isn't making a move to get up just yet. Another moment of this warmth, and he'd be satisfied. Probably. ]

[Naruhodou wasn't making much of an attempt either. Just another moment before he manages to slide a hand down to grab a hold of Asougi's arm.]

Before Holmes shows up and gets the wrong idea, again. [There isn't as much bite to his word, as if he was questioning it. Was it completely as off as he had originally thought...?]

[ The "wrong idea" . . . part of him wants to say to hell with Holmes, but he can't quite bring himself to do that. He can't bring himself to pull away either though, so Asougi sits there for perhaps a moment too long. He can feel his face flushing a bit, the air around him getting hotter, heavier.

And then he crams those feelings back down into a box, sliding it back with all the other things he's boxed up over the years. Asougi pulls back, turning his head towards the stairs quickly. ]

. . . Right.

[Naruhodou felt himself lean forward slightly when Asougi backs off. He manages to stop himself, considering his friend for a moment. Maybe he was seeing things, but he seem flustered for a moment. It was...actually kind of cute. The side of his face was right there, exposed to him. His hand was raised, hovering in the air for a moment until he goes right for it, gently sliding his hand up and against Asougi's cheek.

They'll go upstairs sooner or later.]

[ Asougi immediately looks surprised when he feels that hand on his cheek, jerking his head back towards Naruhodou in an instant. There's a split second where there's the briefest amount of vulnerability on his face — because why on earth is he doing this now, does he even realize, does he himself even have any clue of what this is — before the red shade returns. He huffs at that, feeling the heat rise once more. ]

Weren't we going upstairs . . . ?

[He blinks and starts laughing softly.] Yes. [He lets his hand sit on Asougi's cheek for a little while longer, almost stroking it before lowering his hand. He's smiling, clearly finding something amusing.]

Right. You'll have to let me get up first. [He's sort of still sitting in front of him.]

— You were the one keeping me there.

[ But he . . . hasn't moved either, actually. ]

Ok but- [He's having giggling fits now.] my point still stands that you're in front of me and I can't get up.

Wh— what's so funny? Just stand!

[ That red on his face just isn't going away, is it. ]

Y-Your face... [Naruhodou's laughter wasn't going away either.] But...but okay. [He'll try to stand up and try not to fall over onto Asougi.]

[ Asougi moves back and away as Naruhodou stands, straightening up himself and shooting him a glare. ]

What—?!

[Oh that just made him burst out laughing properly now.] I=It's just...I don't know! [Everything is hilarious now.]

You're still laughing . . .

[ He looks extremely unimpressed with Naruhodou right about now.

But he's still kind of red in the face. ]

Stop making me laugh then! [???]

I'm not doing anything!

[pfft] Hahahaha, you're so worked up!

I'm— I'm not . . .

[ Congratulations, Naruhodou — you've managed to fluster your best friend after who knows how long. ]

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