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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. ]

Comments

[masakados]

It wasn't either of those.

[DETERMINED, he's not going to hold still! In fact, he's going to catch his leg around hers and grip.]

[flaredo]

Maybe it was a mixture of both--!

[ WHOA NOW, don't grip her leg! ]

[masakados]

[HE'S GOT HER NOW they're at a stalemate.]

It really wasn't! [Both arms are abandoning the tickling task, wrapping around her tightly.]

[flaredo]

It was cute!

[ She'll argue this to the end of her days, but with his arms grabbing her, it's hard to tickle him. For now, she's just going to try to roll herself free instead. ]

[masakados]

[Ha, he can stop her if he smushes her to his chest-- Or, at least, that's certainly what he's doing, his lips pushing against her ear.]

Yeah, yeah, now--

[STOP ROLLING...]

[flaredo]

Don't think you've won just yet!

[ Just don't end up trying to roll off the bed, Yang. Well, she's squirming now more than anything. ]

[masakados]

Hey, I've got you in my arms, that's already a win.

[So there. Sap attack, goooo.]

[flaredo]

Are you sure? [ slooooow eyebrow raise. ]

[masakados]

'Course. You doubting me?

[flaredo]

I think a few minutes ago, you were trying to make a break for it.

[masakados]

That was from tickling, not from this. [Pointedly rubbing his cheek against the side of her head... big cat.]

[flaredo]

I bet you could grow to enjoy it.

[ She lifts her head a little, though, to keep the flower in her hair from getting smushed. ]

But I guess this is okay, too.

[masakados]

[He's not going to enjoy tickling!!]

You guess? Should I let you go after all?

[flaredo]

[ He sure enjoys tickling her!

And immediately, she shakes her head, arms tightening around him. ]

Nope. Letting me go for the next twelve hours, breaks aside, is forbidden.

[masakados]

[Yes, well... that's different from being tickled himself!

Naoki blinks with slight surprise as those arms tighten around him, glancing quickly to her face. Then he moves to kiss her temple.]

Mm. [A small nod.] Okay. I won't let you go.

[flaredo]

Yeah... [ It's said a little softly, and Yang closes her eyes briefly when she leans in to kiss his cheek. ]

What they say about you not knowing what you have until it's gone is true. When I couldn't feel anything, like I wasn't really there... it scared me. I had to keep thinking about all the times I'd touched you, or Ruby, all the times I'd felt something, just to stay calm.

[ And Naoki had been there. That had helped. Naoki and her own need to reassure him. She'd lost her body before, once, but even then... this had felt worse. ]

[masakados]

[Naoki closes his eyes too, just for a moment, reaching up and finding her cheek with a blind touch, touching carefully and softly. It's half to reassure her that she is, indeed, still there, he's here.]

You already knew that...it scared me, too. Not just-- because it was happening to me, but because it was happening to you. And there was nothing I could do.

[It's probably not shocking, that his fear would stem from worry about someone else.]

[flaredo]

[ The touch does help, steadying her thoughts. Yang isn't one to dwell on the deeply uncomfortable, but she's not one to outright avoid a discussion of it, either. ]

... You always did worry more about other people.

[masakados]

I don't worry about everyone like this.

[Naoki's lips curve into a small, rueful smile. Yes, he does tend to worry more about others as a general rule, however...] You're one of the few I'd want to do anything for. So when I can't...

[He trails off, curls one hand with a shake of his head. It's frustrating, it's painful, it's scary, he's always wanted to protect people who're important to him but he's too often been unable to.] ...well, you know.

[flaredo]

I told you, though... that I already felt better just by you being there. That wasn't a lie.

[ Yang leans in closer, nuzzling his chin. ] And you're here now.

[masakados]

I know. [Naoki laughs quietly.] That made me feel better.

[He lifts up his chin slightly, his eyes gone half-mast, content.]

It's not something anyone else's ever said to me before.

[So, it hadn't occurred to him he could help just by that. Not until she'd said it.]

[flaredo]

Don't I feel special? I think I'll have to remind you more often, too.

[ By pressing her lips to his throat, yep. ]

[masakados]

You're the most special.

[Earnest... and sincere.] But I'll try to remind myself, try not to give you too many things to make sure I don't forget.

[flaredo]

That's easy enough! It's all a part of my 'Make Naoki Remember How Awesome He Is' plan!

[masakados]

[H-how awesome he is... His ears feel hot... The 'what do, compliments' life strikes once again.]

That plan name of yours is pretty long. Make sure you remember that, first.