heavenlydecree | the moon is rising on this dangerous night //

the moon is rising on this dangerous night //

[Takatora had, as usual, buried himself in work all day. He'd even stayed out far later than usual due to a few back-to-back business meetings, though he'd been kind enough to spare a few moments to let Mitsuzane know. He didn't want his younger brother to worry about where he was or why he wasn't home on time. Unfortunately, he was a bit vague with saying "probably around midnight". It had been one of those nights, meetings followed by outings and social drinking. Takatora had honestly never cared for it, but it was something he did because it made business partners happy. People talked a lot more when they had alcohol in their system as well, but Takatora had been careful to be polite in his acceptance of drinks while still going slow enough to maintain his composure. There was always the sinking concern that someone would manipulate information out of him while he was vulnerable. He couldn't allow that to happen.

By the time he returns home, it's closer to twelve-thirty. His clothing and everything about him smells of smoke and alcohol. It makes him a bit self-conscious, knowing it's completely out of character for him. He'd even, on one of his rare instances, accepted a cigarette from a colleague. It was a strange and nostalgic happening, but Takatora had thoroughly washed his mouth out afterwards. Still, the smell of smoke from that and the bar itself clung to him.

Takatora rubs at the back of his neck as he walks through the home, anxious to change out of his clothes. However, in passing Mitsuzane's door, he hesitates and then doubles back. It would be best to check on him in case he'd waited up. So he knocks, careful and light.]

Mitsuzane?

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[He frowns a little, and wanders over to tug the tablet away from his brother. It's not terribly gentle, but he's not really in the mood for being gentle. He does realize that if Takatora rolls over he might break it, though, so the tablet has to go.]

[Takatora stirs at the movement, only because a lifetime of being on edge has trained him to be aware of any threat. He gasps in a breath and gropes around for the source of the intrusion, missing his attempts at grabbing for Mitsuzane. He grumbles, turning to bury his face in the pillow. No... it's too much energy to worry about fighting yet...]

[He chuckles a little and sets the tablet down, before leaning over to kiss Takatora on the head.]

[Unfortunately his motor skills aren't so great right now, so he ends up sprawling on top of his brother instead.]

Ah...

[Well, that's certainly enough to startle him. Takatora jerks away, moving his hands to grab at whatever's on top of him -- though he stops once he realizes it's just his brother.]

Mitsuzane, wh--

[..... and what is that? Instantly, his overprotective older brother switch is flipped and he sits up a bit more.]

... Mitsuzane.

[He frowns and huffs a little bit. This was not as planned.]

You were s'posed to be asleep, nii-san...

[Maybe he should be asleep? He probably should be. ... He just drops his night shirt onto the bed and looks up at his brother as he sprawls on him, half hanging off of the bed.]

I was sleeping. I was waiting on you.

[Takatora's mostly awake at this point. Vaguely. He sits up and pulls Mitsuzane the rest of the way onto the bed, then onto his side, just in case he decides to get sick.]

Tell me what happened.

[He shrugs a little bit. He may be drunk... mostly... but he's not dumb enough to tell his brother exactly what happened in enough detail for his friends to get in trouble.]

I was visiting some friends. They had a drink, so I thought having a drink with people I trust wasn't so bad. And... we didn't realize how much we'd had to drink until we were already done drinking it.

[It's... enough detail. But he's not going to tell Takatora just who it was that he was drinking with....]

[... even if Takatora doesn't appreciate that, he has to admire Mitsuzane's ability to hide things from him. He huffs, running his fingers through his brother's hair and gently petting him.]

I'll spare lecturing you. You already know what I'm going to say and what my request is going to be. ... I appreciate your attempts at exercising caution.

[He is not going to get into this right now.]

[He lets out a relieved sigh, and leans against his brother.]

'Swarm...

[Is he warm? He's pretty sure he's warm. He curls up a bit, holding on to his brother's leg through the covers.]

[... really?]

Mitsuzane...

[Takatora's tone is warning as he plucks his brother's attention away and settles him into the bed.]

I'm going to get you some water and then I want you to go to bed.

I don't want to.

[He looks up again and pouts.]

I want to stay with you, nii-san...

Then you can stay in my bed, but you are staying in bed. I will be right back.

[He gives Mitsuzane a light push into place before he stands up, making his way towards the bathroom.]

[He narrows his eyes and sits up, putting his foot down next to the bed.]

[... He's not actually intending on getting out of bed, but he is intending on being defiant because he can be.]

[Sigh. Takatora stops at the entrance to the bathroom, motioning at his younger brother and then pointing at the bed.]

The bed. Now, Mitsuzane.

[With that, he grabs his own glass, not having had time to replace the one from earlier, and fills it with water before turning to head back out of the bathroom.]

Fiiiine.

[He flops down and turns away from Takatora.]

No fun...

I'm your older brother. I'm not supposed to be 'fun', I'm supposed to take care of you.

[Takatora sits down on the edge of the bed and sets the glass down, then nudges Mitsuzane to sit back up.]

Come here.

[He grumbles for a moment and then sits up, doing an admirable job of not wavering despite everything.]

Mm?

[When Mitsuzane sits up, Takatora uses one hand to lightly grab the other's chin. He turns Mitsuzane's head towards him, then holds the glass up to his lips and helps him drink.]

Drink all of this and you can lie back down.

[His first instinct is to pull away. He doesn't want to be pushed around like this! ... But part of his brain realizes that his brother's right, and he just drinks slowly, reaching down to grab at his brother's leg to at least have something to hold on to.]

[Takatora's expression falters a bit at the hold and he visibly tenses up, but otherwise tries not to react. He helps his brother drink, pausing occasionally to let the other swallow and catch his breath. When Mitsuzane is done, he pulls the glass away and sets it down on the nightstand. Carefully, he pets his brother's hair, then lowers his hands and moves to nudge him back into bed.]

[He does lie down, though he reaches out to hold on to his brother's arm.]

Nii-san... I love you, nii-san...

[Takatora leans down with him, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of his brother's mouth.]

I love you too, Mitsuzane. More than anything.

Good... stay with me...

[He reaches up to wrap his arms around his brother's shoulders, trying to tug him down.]

Nii-san...

... where else would I go?

[He allows Mitsuzane to pull him down, leaning over the other with one hand on either side of him.]

[He reaches up to stroke his brother's cheek, and then tries to guide him down to pull him into a kiss.]

I love you...

[How can he even express it? He lets out a little gasp, and tries to push up against his brother.]

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