heavenlydecree | (no subject)

(no subject)

[If there was one thing Takatora was sure he should have learned by now, it would be how to keep his life in perfect running order. He had been the head of Yggdrasill's Research and Development branch from the moment he'd left high school and even before that, his father had kept him on a tight and strict schedule, never a second unaccounted for or left out of place. Unfortunately, with all of Takatora's scheduling and trying to squeeze an extra hour into every day, he still felt as though he never had time for anything, let alone everything. Even his weekends left little time for himself, though Takatora was also painfully aware of his obsession with triple-checking everything under his command and bringing such weight onto himself. He couldn't allow for errors.

His morning routine started a bit later on the weekends, if only because Takatora knew he had to catch up on sleep at some point to make up for running himself ragged. Getting sick was something he couldn't risk. The usual morning routine went by quickly: dragging himself out of bed (he'd never become a morning person, as much as he wanted to), showering, getting dressed, checking for any news or alerts while he had been sleeping. Thankfully, nothing important had happened during the night. Takatora always lived with the fear of something awful happening while he was asleep that he would be unprepared for, but every morning brought the same temporary relief. For now.

Takatora headed out of his room after an hour or so, still checking his phone as he made his way down the hall and towards the stairs. Ryouma already wanted to talk to him about something, which was mildly surprising as Ryouma rarely (never) got out of bed so early, which meant he'd been up all night again. Stepping past one of the maids, Takatora spoke a return greeting to her as he continued on, paying more attention to typing out messages than his surroundings.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Micchy spots Kouta as he comes in, but rather than asking him how he is he goes and grabs the first aid kid and a damp rag. He kneels next to the couch and starts wiping him down gently, careful not to press too hard on any new bruises.]

Kouta...

[Kouta simply stays silent for a minute or so before he speaks quietly.]

I saw him again. ... in the forest.

... Who?

[He's not sure if he wants to know, but he has to ask.]

[Kouta looks up at Micchy, briefly, then lowers his gaze again.]

... the white armored rider.

... Ah. What happened? You don't have to talk about it if you don't want.

[He thought so. But he brushes Kouta's hair out of his eyes and dries him off a little so he can apply bandages where he needs them.]

[The touch to his face and Micchy's understanding behavior actually brings a smile from him, despite how horribly stressed he is.]

Kaito and I... we were fighting some Inves and chased them into a crack. They're getting a lot harder to fight. After we defeated them, we saw him in the distance...

[Kouta has to pause, bending his fingers a few times to try and fight down the shaking that threatens to take him over again.]

He was talking to someone. On a radio, I guess. We couldn't hear the other person.

[He goes quiet for a few moments as he finishes bandaging Kouta up. He stands and goes to replace the kit, making a mental note to pick up some supplies for the next time he comes to the garage. As he returns, he carefully shifts Kouta's body up so he can sit down, and rests his friend's head in his lap.]

What were they talking about?

[As soon as Micchy puts him into position, Kouta curls up close to him and carefully, awkwardly wraps his arms around Micchy's leg the best he can from his current position.]

I don't know if you want to hear it... It doesn't really make sense to me...

[He looks down at Kouta, his expression serious.]

We need all the information we can get. It might make more sense later, and we can't afford to not know. We're at a disadvantage here in terms of information.

It sounded like... they were purposely trying to hunt down the more-evolved Inves. Like the kind Kaito and I ran into. He was sort of upset about not getting the one we'd already killed, I think...

[Kouta nuzzles in against Micchy's leg more.]

Then something about a settlement. A... remnant? ... about how there were some Inves gathering together and it was something they shouldn't be doing, but he was going to go check it out and told the person giving him orders that he was going to go investigate it. I think the other person was worried he would get in over his head.

[... Shit. He'll have to make sure Takatora is all right once he gets home. He brushes Kouta's hair behind his ear, careful to see if he reacts similarly.]

They're definitely intelligent, then... at least enough to form societies. That's... worrying.

Ah, but... I'm glad you're all right, Kouta. Do you need me to help get you home tonight?

It doesn't feel right, if they're that smart. I think that's how he felt too, like he wasn't expecting it.

[Kouta whines a little, playing with the fabric of Micchy's pants.]

... I... should probably go home, shouldn't I?

... We have to defend ourselves, though. We can't exactly let them hurt people...

[He reaches over and pulls his phone out of his bag, sending a text message to Takatora. 'Are you all right?' Nothing that would seem suspicious if anyone saw it. But he slips it back in his bag before easing Kouta up a little bit, smiling a little nervously.]

At some point, yeah.

[He bites his lip slightly before he leans into his friend, eyes falling closed. His chest hurts a little more every time he thinks about Takatora, and he feels even worse with how he's been thinking of some of his teammates. He's not supposed to feel this way about his friends. He's supposed to protect them. But he can't help but feel stupid and vulnerable in the group.]

[He can't tell them. He can't tell them any of it. It's not fair - why do feelings have to be so complicated? And none of it is anything he can be honest about. He learned long ago that he could lie easily, but it's always hurt to lie about big things. He tilts his head down and tightens his fingers around the fabric of Kouta's pants.]

[Kouta lets himself be moved easily, a bit surprised when Micchy moves to lean on him. He lifts his arms, tightly wrapping them around Micchy's waist and pulling the other closer, resting his chin on the other's shoulder. It makes him uncomfortable to see his friend like this, even when he's not sure what's wrong. ... and he's not sure he can ask, either.]

... are you okay?

... I can't really talk about it.

[Why is his throat so tight? And why does he feel worse as Kouta hugs him, not better? He just feels guilty, but he can't tell him. He can't take away Kouta's happiness. He needs him to be happy - he needs someone to help keep him from being so serious. He's good enough at keeping up a mask, but his heart hurts from keeping in his feelings.]

[He hugs his friend tightly, trying to get himself together, but he can't. He needs to be strong for Micchy, but who's going to be strong for him? He's already lost the trust of a few people he's needed. He can't lose his team's, because they're the only ones he has left.]

Okay...

[That worries him, but Kouta knows it's best not to push Micchy, especially when he's like this. He's never really seen Micchy like this before. Usually his friend is all bright and smiling, but... had something happened while he was gone? Maybe it had to do with the man from the other night. Or he'd had a fight with his brother. Again. Kouta couldn't be sure.

He carefully rubs at Micchy's back as he holds him, resting his head against Micchy's.]

It's okay... We'll get through this...

I know. Somehow. We'll figure something out.

[Why does that feel like yet another lie, though?]

Edited 2014-09-27 10:43 (UTC)

... do you want to stay over again?

I don't think that's a good idea. Besides, I have to go to school...

[He doesn't really want to face his house alone again though. He doesn't have a choice, but he wishes he didn't have to.]

[That's not the answer Kouta wanted, but he understands and accepts it.]

You're right. ... but you'll call me if you need anything, right?

Yeah.

[... This is a stupid question. It's a stupider question since the internet exists, and it's possibly even more stupid since he knows Kouta can be kind of... oblivious.]

Kouta... how do you know if someone likes you? More than a friend, I mean.

[....... wait what.]

I-- ... do you think someone likes you?

[Kouta knows someone would have to. Or at least a lot of someone's. Micchy was such a great person, after all.]

... I don't know. Maybe. I'm not sure. It's sort of a... difficult situation. It's not something I know very much about.

Aah... well... ... I can sort of help, I guess. I know how Yuuya acted around me.

[He makes a face.]

I guess... With him, he always wanted to spend time with me. He helped me out a lot, whenever I needed something, was always there before I even knew I needed him. Any time I was having a bad day, Yuuya would help me and do everything he could to make it better. And...

[Kouta makes an awkward smile, bringing one hand up to wipe at his face with how strange he feels talking about this.]

You know how touchy Yuuya was. But with me... He told me once we were together that he didn't really touch me as much as everyone else, because he was worried he would scare me off. ... but it actually just made me think he was mad at me.

[Now, he's actually smiling at that a little, trying to focus on the better memories instead of what the future likely holds.]

What do they do around you?

... Some... mostly the same kinds of things. I never really had much interest in people like that for a long time. But then I got older and it sort of... sneaked up on me. I just don't know how to ask, since they're really friendly anyway and I don't know if it's just me noticing them more.

[He pulls back a little and smiles a little sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.]

I guess I'm kind of a late bloomer with that stuff. I'm just not sure how to sort out my feelings, too.