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[The sudden grab makes him flinch for a second, though he manages to keep a grip on his cup. He blinks, staring at the hand on his wrist for a long moment. He adjust his cup, so he could place his free hand on top of it. This is real. He lets out a bit of air he hadn't realize he had been holding in. Slowly but surely, he'll look up to the friend that this hand belonged to.]

. . . Don't tell me you're afraid of confronting the truth now, Naruhodou.

[ Setting his own cup down, Asougi reaches over for the hand that Naruhodou placed on top of his, taking it gently. He leans forward just a bit, so he can easily bring Naruhodou's hand to the back of his neck, resting it beneath his collar, where the scar is. There's a slight bump there, indicative that something happened at some point, though it's long healed over.

Asougi keeps that hand over his, glancing up at him. It wasn't pretty to look at, and he'd be lying if he said he didn't feel extremely uncomfortable right now, with their hands pressing against it even lightly. But it was necessary. ]

Edited 2018-01-08 02:37 (UTC)

-!! [His hand jerked a few times as Asougi brought it to the back of his neck. He remembered how Asougi took to being touched there, he wanted to pull his hand away to avoid causing him stress. Even with his hand over the wound, his fingers weren't quite touching his neck, just brushing it. He looks from their hands, to Asougi with a stunned expression. Was he really all right with this? But he was serious, there was clearly no hesitation in his decision to do this, for his sake. He takes a deep breath.]

No. [Carefully, he gently rest his fingers over the scar, trying to keep his hand steady. It's....certainly a different feeling, to touch the actual injury, versus what he sees in his mind.]

[ He's tense, and it's clear from his body language that he's not okay with any of it — at first, anyway. When Naruhodou rests his fingers over it, Asougi slowly starts to relax just a bit, tension starting to leave him. There was something comforting about that gesture in a way. ]

. . . Here. [ And at that, he shifts his position just a bit, dipping his head so that if Naruhodou wants to get a better look at it — a look that isn't from across the spa, in the haze of the onsen — he can. ]

[Honestly, he rather not continue to put Asougi through this, but if he's going to get pass this, no matter how painful it is, he knows he has to look. He'll set his cup down, and then slowly move the hand that was on his neck away so he could see. He lets out a quiet gasp, once he sees the scar fully for the first time. Really it's the first time he's seeing a real remnant from that incident and not in a photo, something tangible. His lips thinned as he took in every bit of that ugly scar.]

So...this is the truth. [His fingers hesitantly linger over the scar once more. He wanted to put his hand back on it, as if hoping it would heal it, make it less painful for Asougi.]

[ He can feel his body tense up once more when Naruhodou gasps, but he remains still, head bowed so his neck is clearly visible. He hums softly at his statement instead of nodding, drawing his hands down and out of the way finally, resting them at his side. ]

This is the truth behind what happened that night. [ How he'd hit that bedpost with an unbelievable amount of force, how he'd crumpled to the ground without a chance to even shout, how he'd lost nearly everything that night — except for his life. ] . . . I don't notice it much these days, unless I touch it.

...Or when someone else does. [It's then that he stops himself, lowering his hand. After looking at the scar for another moment, he finally moves to sit down next to Asougi. His fingers gently brushes his.]

...Thank you.

. . . Yeah.

[ And it's in that moment, with his head bowed and hair hanging in his face, that he allows himself the briefest moment of vulnerability, eyebrows creasing with grief.

Asougi then sucks in a bit of air before letting out a deep sigh, straightening up and rolling his shoulders once or twice as he runs a hand through his hair, keeping the other close to Naruhodou's. ]

It would have been troublesome if you spent all night and day avoiding me. That's all.

[He hums quietly, then turns to look at his friend properly as he composes himself once more.]

I really do appreciate it. I didn't have anything, but what I experienced that day for these last few years. [He gaze softens.] You're here...and everything's going to be fine. [The way he said that, sounded like a mantra to himself.]

Yeah.

[ He nods again, giving a simple, quiet response. But as he does so, he reaches over with his other hand to take Naruhodou's, lacing their fingers together. "A few years" . . . he couldn't even imagine it. One seemed overwhelming as it is. ] . . . We're fine now.

Mm. [He manages a small smile. A smile on a day like this, truly a miracle. He squeezes his friend's hand gently as he leans into him.]

Your tea is going to go cold.

[ He meets that, leaning back into him as he glances over at his tea idly. ]

So is yours.

Ah-that's true. [He leans forward to pick up his cup for a moment. He then rises it to Asougi.] Let's make today a better one.

[ He picks up his cup with his free hand, raising it to him. ]

It already is, Naruhodou.

[The room seems to brighten a little as normalcy starts to settle between them once more. Sooner or later though, Naruhodou is going to end up falling asleep first, resting against Asougi.]

[ There's a long moment where Asougi looks over and down at him, considering him quietly as he idly rubs at his hand with his thumb. The room gets a bit warmer, as if a breeze had come rustling through the window. Except, of course, for the fact that it's winter and the windows are all shut tight to keep the cold out. The warmth radiating from where they're sitting is more than enough, though, like a switch had been flipped.

The moment passes and he shakes his head, pulling his hand back so he can reach over to nudge at Naruhodou's shoulder gently. ]

Hey. A bed is more comfortable, you know.

Hm...? [He takes a deep breath, stretching a little as he reluctantly opens his eyes. He was already pretty comfortable where he was, partner.]

...Ah, yes, r...right. [He puts down his now empty cup, to cover his mouth as he yawns. He then leans forward, intending to get up, but he lingers there for a bit.]

[ A chair is no place to sleep unless you want sore joints, partner.

He draws an arm around him, shaking his head as he helps him stand, and glances between the two rooms. ]

. . . I have a request.

[A request? Right now?] ....sure. Name it.

[ Any other night, he probably would. He probably wouldn't even have this request to begin with, though. Asougi pauses for another long moment as he considers how exactly to phrase his request. In the end, he doesn't. Instead, he quietly starts towards his room, arm still around Naruhodou, and looks over at him to see if he's caught on to what he's asking non-verbally. ]

[He allows himself to get dragged along, still waiting expectantly for Asougi to tell him his request. When it doesn't come, it's then he looks to see where he was taking him. He blinks a few times, confused.]

Your room...?

. . . I'd rather not be alone tonight.

[ It's a quiet, firm statement, said as he stops outside of his door, keeping his eyes fixed striaght ahead. ]

. . . [He leans into Asougi a little more.] Mmkay. [If he were just a little more conscious and not wanting to just be in a bed right now, he'd probably give a better and different response.]

Come on, then.

[ He nudges his door open with his foot, leading Naruhodou in so they can collapse into bed and attempt another few hours of sleep. ]

[Naruhodou is gonna cuddle up with Asougi once in bed. Sleepy he may be, but the word alone still repeats in his conscious, so he'll make sure Asougi won't feel that tonight.]

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