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

She just lectured me again for staying out so late, even though I called her. I know she's worried because of everything that's happened lately, but...

[He gives a frustrated sigh and then sits down on the bed as well, pushing back to put his back against the wall.]

You're her only family. Of course she's worried about you.

[He carefully puts a hand on Kouta's leg. This is... okay. He can be okay with this.]

[Kouta puffs his cheeks a bit in surprise, looking over at Micchy. That touch was... unexpected. For a brief moment, it reminds him of the time he spent with Yuuya and then all of those associations are quickly shoved out of his mind. No, he definitely can't think about things like that right now.]

I know...

[He scoots a little closer - not enough to be leaning on him, but close enough that he could if he wanted to.]

That's part of the reason I wanted to fight. You guys... you're the only friends I've had. The only ones who I felt like I could be myself around. I want to keep you guys safe.

[... well, nope. So much for not thinking about it. He gives in, wrapping an arm around Micchy's back and leaning against him.]

We want to keep you safe too, Micchy.

[He leans into Kouta and closes his eyes. It's strange. He feels safe like this, and warm.His breathing calms, and he nods.]

I know. I just... don't want you guys to think that I'm holding you back any just because I'm younger.

Eeehhh. Don't think something like that! Come on...

[Kouta shakes him a little.]

You're even cooler than me sometimes. You did so much to help me...

Thanks, Kouta. I appreciate it.

[... Is a hug okay? He hugs Kouta gently. Hugs are okay. They're for showing appreciation and caring, right?]

[Hugs are definitely okay!! Kouta adjusts the way he's sitting to tightly wrap his arms around Micchy and pull him closer, resting his chin on the other's shoulder.]

[He leans his head against Kouta's, and curls his fingers in the fabric of the other's jacket. This is... nice. Nicer than he thought it would be.]

[And Kouta is perfectly happy to hum happily and hold Micchy like this until the other gets sick of it.]

Are you feeling better?

Yeah, kind of. We don't... my family's not the hugging type.

[Not anymore, at least. And he understands why - if something were to happen and Takatora was injured or killed... maybe that's why they grew more distant, among other things. Or maybe he's thinking too much again.]

My sister's not really the hugging type either... My parents were. I guess we just... sort of forgot about doing it after awhile.

[That makes him a little sad, but he gives Micchy another squeeze to make up for it.]

About earlier, though... Are you ...?

Yeah. I'm okay. The man we ran into... he's someone my brother knows. And I don't like him at all for a few reasons. I got... worried.

[Dammit Ryouma...]

Eehh...

[Great, now he's super worried.]

... why don't you like him? Did he do something to you? ... did he hurt you?

N-no.

[Not really, at least. Creeped him out, but... well.]

He's just... manipulative. And sneaky. He's just not good news all around.

[Kouta doesn't really trust that no, but he goes with it.]

... is he mean to your brother?

... I don't know. He knows him. They were roommates in university. So he might just be that way around me, but I doubt it.

[He pulls away a bit to rub at his face again. Why does it still feel sensitive? It shouldn't. It's just his mind reacting badly...]

Edited 2014-09-25 06:15 (UTC)

Well, if he's a bad friend, then your brother shouldn't talk to him...

[The rubbing of Micchy's face gets his attention.]

... what's wrong?

I can't exactly stop him -

[... Oh. Should he be honest about that?]

... He startled me yesterday, and got too close. He doesn't have much of a sense of personal space.

[He can hear his heart beating loud enough that it feels like Kouta would be able to hear it, too. He looks down, wrapping his arms around himself.]

It's nothing, I guess. It's not your problem. Don't worry about it.

[Wait, no. No, no, no. Go back. That's concerning. Kouta's voice is definitely serious.]

No, tell me. What did he do?

[And of course, he doesn't like how closed off Micchy is getting, so he gently tries to coax the other back into his arms.]

[He curls up a little against Kouta, bringing his knees into his chest. Just thinking about it makes him feel vulnerable and terrified, even if nothing really happened.]

He pushed me against a wall and got in close. He... he also got to a spot where I'm... more sensitive.

[Please interpret this correctly, Kouta.]

He didn't really touch me aside from that. It's not anything he could really get in any sort of trouble for. I didn't tell my brother, because I don't want him to think that I run to him for everything.

[He still feels terrible and dirty for letting someone like that get too close.]

I guess I'm kind of repressed.

[He knows the birds and the bees talk, but anything involved... he doesn't really think about. He has other things on his mind. He's never really... tried to take matters into his own hands, so to speak.]

[Kouta just pulls Micchy as close as he can and comfortingly rubs the other's back as he listens to him speak. The urge to track this guy back down and knock some sense into him or at least yell at him a bit is far too tempting. Kouta's not sure he'll be able to fight that urge down if he runs into him again.]

I'm really sorry that happened to you...

[Kouta squeezes him again, his heart sinking a bit. Micchy really was like a little brother to him.]

If he did something like that... I understand not wanting to tell your brother, but if it might stop him from getting close to you again...

I can deal with it. My brother has enough to deal with on his own. Not to mention the fact that it would be my word against his friend's, and I admitted that I had been lying about where I was going after school for a while, so I don't know that he trusts me much right now.

... I probably wouldn't, in his position.

[Kouta makes a frustrated noise at that.]

How are you going to deal with it?