Inbox;

[flaredo]

"Heeey, you've reached Yang! Well, actually, you didn't reach far enough, 'cause I'm not here right now! But don't yang up! Just leave a message on this baby, and I'll get back to you soon enough, okay?"

[ Please specify VOICEMAIL, TEXT or CALL. ]

Comments

[masakados]

Ngk--

[Naoki's breath leaves him in a startled sound, strangled in confusion as her weight pushes against him and her arms tighten like that. His own slacken in shock but nothing could wrench his hands from her barring Yang herself. He does catch himself in a stumble, his face lifting up from her shoulder.]

Yang? [He hadn't known what to expect, wasn't even prepared to begin with, but he sounds just bewildered.]

[flaredo]

[ Her eyes are gleaming red when they meet his, although her hair remains its usual shade. ]

I don't care whether you've got the body of a demon or a team full of badasses, you're still just one person! You can't always stop everyone or save everyone, and you still tried and you had to stop your friends in the only way you had left, didn't you? You stopped some pretty terrible worlds from coming into existence, and that's incredible, so stop blaming yourself for everything else!

In fact, stop beating yourself up for all of this and just let yourself be sad already! Mourn if you have to, you've got that right. [ Yang's furious, her own breaths emerging shakily and her voice loud now, but she can't stop talking. And she won't let him go. ] But don't let me ever hear you say you didn't do anything! You did more than one person should ever have to do!

[masakados]

...

[Let himself be sad? Mourn? He's got that right? Even when he's the one who killed them to begin with? Or when he was the one who couldn't save them? But there's certainty in what Yang says and back there he had thought that he wanted to hear the same from someone, instead of hearing how he could never--

After hearing everything-- so many things--

His hands tighten at her back again and he opens his mouth to say something, but his voice is lodged somewhere else so he gives up. One hand lifts from her back, raising up, his hand and arm curling up, fingers curling into her hair. He leans in, and he doesn't even realise yet his cheeks are already damp, like finally something's broken.

With a sniff, remarkably quiet, Naoki brushes his wet cheek against hers (looks at her eyes, those eyes again) before turning his face down against her neck, shoulders shaking as he blinks against tears. He does get out, muffled but somehow vehement, like he's wanted to say it for a long time:] I really...hate that it ended up like that.

[flaredo]

I'm not surprised.

[ It's a bit flustering when the guy you like just brushed cheeks with you and is now pressing his face to your neck, but Yang's not even thinking about it now, because he's crying, and she's both relieved and worried at the same time. Has he ever really-- no, not that she can remember, and she's sure he wouldn't admit to it if she asked.

But now, the red in her irises fades back to the usual violet as he trembles in her hold, and Yang moves one hand up (careful to avoid the horn) to cradle the back of his head. ]

I'd hate it, too. But I meant what I said-- you're not alone, Naoki.

[masakados]

I know. I'm not.

[His fingers slide more into her hair and there's really no way to cry on her that's not going to get her wet, so he's giving into it. He can worry about it later, but for now that fear from earlier's been whisked away, just like that.]

...I mean, you're right here. [She came, just from hearing him shaken up in a phone call. He almost wants to smile about it, and how strange after everything he just told her.] You really did... [He swallows briefly, as much from tears still as well as being unused to saying what he's about to, that tells what he'd been hoping for, wanting.] ...stay.

[Even after learning all of that.]

[flaredo]

Didn't I already tell you that my opinion of you wasn't going to change?

[ She can feel the wetness soaking into her skin-- and she lets it, taking a steadying breath before she smiles. ]

What you told me doesn't make me think any less of you. I mean, yeah, it kind of really hurts when I think that you were an idiot and kept this to yourself, but Naoki is Naoki. You're still as human as you ever were.

... And I'm glad you relied on me this time.

[masakados]

[She might feel the slightly wry smile Naoki presses into her skin, before he lifts his face slightly, other hand shifting from her back to rub his palm roughly across his eyes. He couldn't even say when the last time he cried about-- anything was.]

...Yeah, I am too. [Though he'll try not to make a habit of late-night relying.] I'm really glad that I trust you.

[Not that he's glad that she's trustworthy, but that he's glad he finally let himself, that he was capable of trusting her. What an easy thing it is to say now. He's glad he met her, became friends, came to trust, came to like her--]

[flaredo]

[ Yang's smile softens, and she drifts one hand away from his back, up to his face to rub her fingers across the damper parts of it. It's just for a few seconds, before she lowers her hand.]

You've been through a lot, and I know trusting didn't come easy... so thanks.

[ Thanks for letting her care. In her sleepwear in an entryway in frigid weather at some bizarre hour.

Worth it. ]

[masakados]

[Naoki's eyes squint as her fingers rub, feeling a little flicker of self-consciousness now that he's done crying, after the worst of all of the emotions have calmed down. But her hand is warm, and she's been touching him without gloves all this time-- though thinking about that makes the self-conscious feelings worse.

But, he does feel more... settled than he has for a long time. She knows the things he feels the worst about, what he's done, and she's still here.

He tightens his arms around her, as though in a parting squeeze, before he lets them go slack around her.] I'm really the one who has thanking to do. [For being patient with him, for trusting him first, for every little thing she's done for him...] ...C'mon, Yang, let's go in properly. I'll make us something to drink.

[flaredo]

[ She'll take that as thanks with a small measure of relief; he looks a lot better, less worn ragged from his own feelings, and honestly, she's still not all that warm-- so she nods, moving forward. ]

That'd be great, actually.

[masakados]

[Naoki's expression warms visibly, and he nods in turn, heading inside. In to the living room, which is still mostly dark until he flicks on one of the lamps and gestures to the couch.]

Then, I'll be right back, just wait here. [He'll go make-- well, hot chocolate, actually. And he'll flit off to his room too while the kettle's boiling. You're just in a tank top and shorts, Yang (don't think he's forgot), so he fetches a sweater, and he'll move to come and drop it about her shoulders on his way back to the kitchen...]

[flaredo]

[ Is she supposed to stay standing? She's still moderately sleepy (although most of that had been banished when she'd yelled at him), but getting a sweater dropped on her demands her focus. So Yang will just be wriggling her way into the sweater, pulling her hair free and settling herself on the couch or what other piece of cushy furniture there happens to be. ]

[masakados]

[Good, settle on into his couch-- Naoki returns soon enough, trying not to smile at her in his sweater, holding one of the mugs that he's carrying handle-out to her.] Little warmer?

[He's gonna settle in next to her anyway. He's about as warm a heater as you could ask for.]

[flaredo]

It's not like I'm freezing.

[ But she still accepts the mug, curling her hands around it and raising it to her lips for a long sip. ]

... But I might call in that favor.

[masakados]

[Still is what his raised eyebrow is saying. She had to be more than a bit chilly. But ah well, he'll take a sip from his mug too.]

Favour?

[...Nope, in this moment, he's completely forgotten about that one.]

[flaredo]

You owe me a cuddle, mister heater. After this cup.

[ Honestly, the closeness might do him some good, too. ]

[masakados]

--oh, that favour.

[He hides a slight blush in a sip from his mug, turning his head juuust slightly to another side. He didn't think she remembered that--no, well, he didn't even remember it then, but he definitely didn't think she was about to take him up on it seriously...]

[flaredo]

[ Dryly, peering at him over the rim of her mug: ]

Want me to pretend I forgot?

[masakados]

[With dignity:]

I never said that. I don't wanna go back on it now. [Which means he wants to... secretly.

Being close sounds nice right now, after all of that. Even if he feels self-conscious and very...aware at the thought, he tries to force those feelings away. It'll be fine so long as he doesn't think too much about it.]

[flaredo]

Finish your cocoa first! I can wait.

[masakados]

I will. I believe in your ability to be patient for-- a cuddle.

[Naoki laughs into his mug, drinking from it again.]

[flaredo]

I'm a big sister, after all! I'm overflowing with patience.

[masakados]

I've noticed. In-between the times when we're trying to punch each other.

[But, he doesn't take long to finish off the cocoa. Leaning forward, Naoki sets his empty mug on the table.]

[flaredo]

You're observant. [ with a grin-- but after a bit, she's finishing her mug and placing it down to join his.

Your move, demon lord. ]

[masakados]

Thanks for noticing.

[Grinning in turn. But no, don't leave the next move up to him! He's watching her out of the corner of his eye. But, once her mug is down, he aims a sideways smile her way. And then he holds open an arm in offering. C'mere.]