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[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. ]

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[flaredo]

[ Yang's still very much asleep, remarkably-- although she'll mutter a little herself as he moves. ]

[masakados]

[Naoki blinks drowsily at her, thinking for a second that he's still asleep, that's why Yang's here... dreaming for sure... and then he remembers. Looking over her head, he looks to his CereVice, peering at the clock in the dimness of his living room.

--way longer than an hour. It's almost four.] Hey... [He brushes his fingers against her cheek (whoops, that was an accident, hopefully she's still fast asleep) before bringing it down to her shoulder, shaking gently.] Wake up, Yang.

[flaredo]

Nngh... [ it's more of a sound than an actual word of protest, and her head tilts to one side before she scrunches up her nose and slowly opens her eyes to look at him.

Blearily. Super blearily. ]

Naoki...?

[masakados]

Yeah. Sorry to wake you up... [It feels like such a shame to wake her up. Especially when she looks so bleary. He wants to touch her cheek again and brush her hair from her face but no we're just going to put a damper on that, lock that thought up and toss it away.

When he's groggy, he thinks of all kinds of dumb things he shouldn't be doing.]

But it's been more than an hour.

[flaredo]

I... [ she pauses for a yawn, lifting one hand to scrub at her eyes. ] Nn, so I should... go...

[ She's already kind of listing to the side again oops. She's better keeping watch, but when there's nothing to watch out for... ]

[masakados]

[Naoki'll put his hand on her arm to steady her, bringing her leaning against him again in the process.]

Yeah... it's almost four. I'll walk you back. [Because he's waking up a little faster than she is and he couldn't not see her back??]

[flaredo]

I'm fiiiine... y'should go back to sleep. [ mostly coherent mumble, to her credit, except she's saying this into his skin. He's nice and warm and glow-y, which kind of makes her eyes hurt right now, so she'll shut them again. ]

[masakados]

Mm-mm. I'm insisting. [Naoki looks up at the ceiling, blushing a bit as he rubs his hand against her back, like the friction and the warmth will help her wake up faster.]

...Think you'll be able to walk back?

[flaredo]

... Mmmmm.

[ But the warmth's only making her sleepier, Naoki, you're not making her want to move! ]

[masakados]

[HE'S GETTING THAT SENSE]

...Ya--aaang? Did you hear me? [he asks, right into her ear as he pauses. He pats at her back a bit.] It feels like you're falling back asleep.

[flaredo]

'Cause I am.

[ SHE SURE DID JUST ADMIT THAT. Don't laugh at her when she barely remembers this later, okay? ]

[masakados]

[--snorts.]

Not that I'm against you sleeping over, but we might have to save it for another time. [She probably didn't get a chance to tell anyone where she was going, right? He pats her back again and moves to shift back.]

[flaredo]

But you're waaarm.

[ Don't whine, Yang. Be a big girl and go home. ]

[masakados]

[Yang... YANG... He can't handle her.]

I know. But your own bed'll be warm once you get into it. [He slides his legs off of the couch.]

[flaredo]

[ Her own bed seems so far away... but right. Her bed. Her place. Her place where her teammates are.

Yang finally moves, pushing herself upright and slowly swaying to her feet, to begin a zombie-like shuffle out of the living room.

It may take a few minutes. ]

[masakados]

[And-- Naoki's standing up to follow her, setting a hand on her arm to steady her.] Don't forget your slippers.

[Or the cold ground will be quite a shock.]

[flaredo]

... Oh, right. [ Hold on, she'll... get to that, slipping her feet into them before she rubs at her forehead and offers him a sleepy smile. ]

It's okay, I'm not gonna keel over. [ Now. ]

[masakados]

So you don't need to hold hands on the way back.

[TOO BAD but Naoki gives her a smile back and turns toward the front door.]

[flaredo]

[ He'll feel her hand grasp his, not too tightly-- but there, nonetheless. Instinct, before Yang even realizes it, but at least she's done this before, it doesn't have to mean anything.

He'd offered, after all. ]

[masakados]

[Pause. Naoki glances down at her hand. Her palm's warm against his... so he squeezes her hand slowly with his own.]

Or maybe you do. [Heh.] Let's go? [She's as set as she's going to get, so he opens up the door with his free hand (grabbing his card to get back in on the way).]

[flaredo]

Yeah. [ And she'll move to take the lead, although she's significantly slower and constantly muffling yawns with her free hand. All of this waking up and sleeping at weird hours, man. ]

[masakados]

[Naoki's pretty good with taking his time, though he feels more aware once they're outside. He looks around as they walk toward Yang's apartment, shifting to walk closer with her like he can share any warmth against the cool of outside.]

It's really good you don't live far away.

[flaredo]

Right? [ And she takes a deep breath, hoping that'll wake her up a bit more. ] But I would've come over, anyway.

[ He'd needed her, after all. ]

[masakados]

Even if you had to go a long way, huh...

[Even when she's sleepy, she still says things like that...] Thanks. [He bumps their shoulders.] But I'll try not to make a habit of getting you to come over so late.

[flaredo]

You'd better have a blanket next time. [ And she nudges him in return, almost missing a step in the process.

Yeah, someone needs a bed. ]