soft hours

[siriusly]

Who: Kazuma, Manabu, Ryunosuke
What: it's good ol fashioned hurt/comfort baybee
When: early May
Where: Crenshaw house

Content Warnings: bodily injuries

Comments

@kazuma

[siriusly]

Hey.

[they're still at the lumenarium Diluc dragged them to, but not for long. Manabu's let Ryunosuke know Kazuma's here and out of danger, able to be taken home. now he's trying to get said Kazuma's attention from where he's stuck in bed.

Magnet is not helping. almost out of principle. so Manabu sighs, grabbing at the saber propped up on the wall. he double-checks the safety before using it to poke at Kazuma's shoulder.]

Hey, are you listening? I gotta let you know something. [stop texting or whatever! who do you even have to text??]

[truerevival]

I heard you the first time. [ As annoyed as he sounds, it's not really directed at Manabu or the saber being used to poke at him. His annoyance was more at the pain lancing up through his ribs and the fact he was facing a period of being laid up and out of commission.

Either way, he fires off a message to Ryunosuke (bf status does not grant you exclusive rights on that Manabu) and shifts (done with a hiss of more pain) to give his full attention.]

What is it?

[siriusly]

[saber goes down now that attention is gotten.]

I let Ryunosuke know you're here and to come get you. You should be able to rest up back at your place, okay?

[truerevival]

Wait--[A frown. Who told you that was allowed?] I just let him know you were here. To come get you.

Are we even cleared to go? [ Maybe one of them should have checked that?]

[siriusly]

Eh?? [he grimaces.] But, butbut you live with him, not me! And I can't walk on this anyway!

[truerevival]

And you're dating him. [Exasperation (Affectionate).] Clearly his attentions will be divided.

...And it's not as though there aren't means to transport you.

[siriusly]

Grghk-! [his hair fluffs up, shoulders going up with bashful indignation. if that's not an emotion combo, it is now.]

Y-you didn't have to tell him on my behalf! I, I could've... [he wouldn't have. not immediately. clown.]

[truerevival]

[We've covered that Kazuma gets some cosmic joy out of causing the floof. This is no exception. He looks a bit self-satisfied with it.]

Would you have, though? You messaged him about me and could have said something then...

[siriusly]

[involuntarily pouting:] That's not fair to say... I, I'm a trained officer, injuries happen all the time! You're his only friend from home here, you know? There's levels of importance at play...

[you're a VALUABLE DAMSEL, kazuma.]

[truerevival]

Levels of importance...? [1. Manabu no, just...no. 2. Never let him hear that damsel bit. Punches will occur.] If you're placing me above you again, don't. Ryunosuke cares about you, and that's enough to match the fact that I'm a friend from home, if not outweigh it.

[Do not make this a competition.]

You're not the only one with training either. But that thing...I didn't quite realize what we agreed to go up against.

[siriusly]

[TO HIS CREDIT, he at least has the sense to look guilty after he blurted that; this is the same cycle he's been called out about before in other people. is he really destined to keep knee-jerk defaulting to this state of mind? it's almost like upbringing is hard to adjust or shake or something.

he lets the saber set back down on the floor, no longer clinging to the handle, leaving his hand to dangle over the bed.]

You... have you even gone to the perimeter before? The outskirts of town, where the monsters are?

[truerevival]

Being at the perimeter doesn't mean much if you never really encounter something to fight. [Some would call that luck. But there's a part of Kazuma that wants to test what he can do, what he's capable of.]

Don't tell Ryunosuke that I've been out there. [He had enough to worry about.]

And I had training at home. I know how to fend for myself. [How to kill, even if he never made the final blow himself.]

[siriusly]

It's not the same.

[he looks ahead of himself, his blind eye to Kazuma - it doesn't count as hiding if his face just doesn't let him see the other guy, right?]

Your world, this one...there's no way you could prepare for it. And I'm not saying that like you're weak, but it's just...this place is extremely strong. It's already crushed me once. [and it crushed those people there on that battlefield.]

If you're really serious about doing those kinds of things...running into hunts and fights like that...you have to do it right. You have to go to the Gate with me and Childe and the others. And even then... [he looks over at him.] You'd have to let Ryunosuke know that's your intention.

@ryuno

[siriusly]

I-I don't know, Ryunosuke... [he's followed him on crutches into the other room, weighed down more by uncertainty than the bum ankle he can't keep weight on. he wasn't really able to help convey Kazuma back here, and not being able to help makes Manabu antsy and uneasy - even when he's in no state to do much!

and this...]

Where are you supposed to sleep if I'm here? [he can't really argue against leaving now, letting it slip that his own room's up some stairs he's absolutely not going to be managing in the state he's in, right?]

[convene]

I'll sleep on the couch. It's not a big deal, Manabu. Besides you need the comfort to recover properly. [He turns to face Manabu with a sigh, with a soft smile before he reaches out to cup his cheek.]

I promise I'll be okay. I'd rather make sure you're comfortable.

[Because with both of them injured he needed to ensure that they actually rest and recover. He has no idea the first thing about playing a doctor but he's going to do what he can. If he needs help he'll just reach out to Nehan and ask him for assistance or advice. He sorely needs some advice right now.]

[siriusly]

[there's a little thrum of energy at the touch - all that discontent at being idle, at being an imposition, somehow conveys with the soft buzz of electricity from his skin to Ryunosuke's.]

...I-I'm sorry. For the trouble. I didn't...do as well as I hoped I would. [but...it's fine, right? he's gotten beat up a lot before. he's died. it's not something to worry about, right?]

[convene]

You're no trouble. [There's a pause, a sigh, before his expression changes to one of deep concern.] You could have gotten yourself killed, again. [He says rather sternly.] What were you thinking?

[He hardly knows what they were up against! Some kind of invincible humanoid monster? He doesn't like the sound of it, whatever it is, and if he and Kazuma were out matched, how did everyone else fair?]

You're just lucky that your injuries aren't worse!

[siriusly]

[his eyes wince, his head dipping a little, but not entirely out of touch with the hand on his face. it's a brief recoil before he looks back up, trying to push on something more reassuring.]

Getting up close...meant I could do a lot more damage! To keep other people from getting hurt or worse. [and there was worse; not everyone got out of there alive. that hangs on his conscience more than his own injury, maybe even more than the concern on Ryunosuke's face - concern he can't quite understand when it's for his own sake.]

A broken ankle's not so bad... [yes, this perspective'll make it all better.]

[convene]

I understand that! I know what you two were doing but your life is just as important.

[His life mattered just as much as anyone else's life. After his first death to corruption, Ryunosuke's gotten to know him a lot better and knows by now that he's a bit self sacrificing. That he needs to feel useful to people by doing something for other people. Ryunosuke rubs his thumb under Manabu's eye, frowning a bit.]

You can't save them all, I'm sure you know that, but you have to think about your own health and safety too. About your own well being.

[He lets out an airy laugh.]

Yeah, a broken ankle's not too bad. Better than Kazuma's broken rib.

[Though he'd really like if they didn't have anything broken!]

[siriusly]

[mention of Kazuma makes Manabu dip his head, finally scooting out of contact to hobble over and plop himself on a corner of the bed. turns out: crutches suck, they hurt to use, and are just kind of a nuisance to stow. he's fixing his frown on them as he holds them at an awkward angle away from himself.]

...I was meaning to...get him out of there. Throw him out, if I had to. [instead he could only just throw the guy his saber for a chance to stay alive.]

Sorry. I know I could've done better there. [because Kazuma's life is more important in that case.]

[convene]

You both should have gotten out of there when you realized it was a fools errand to fight so close.

[He finally removes his hand from Manabu's cheek, reaching to take the crutches away from him to lean them up against the wall.]

I appreciate you looking out for him though. I'm sure he was looking out for you too. [Not that it helped matters! They both got injured in the end, and they both could have died! That was the point he was trying to make.

He's not sure if he could lose either of them right now.]

Just... please think about yourself once in a while? You don't always have to be the hero.

[siriusly]

I'm n-- [he bristles, grimacing.] That's not what I was thinking about! It's not about being a hero! That thing had to be stopped, I had power to help do that. Anything less wouldn't be right, you know? The fact I could do anything at all was huge!

[convene]

[This isn't the hill he wants to die on because he can see Manabu's perspective of the situation. This wasn't a one size fits all solution. He sighs again, moving to take a seat next to Manabu on the bed before he reaches over and gently takes his hand, twining their fingers together.]

I'm just worried about you, Manabu. [He finally says, staring at their hands together.] Because can't do anything to help you. I'm not a fighter. [Not really. He's trained with a bow but that wasn't really combat training as it was target practice. Though he's good at moving targets, it's just not the same as training to use it against someone else.]

I don't know what I'd do if you died again. [He practically whispers.] You dying once already was shocking enough... now that we're closer, now that we're together I just...

[He trails off, whatever he wants to say dying on this tongue.]

[siriusly]

[Manabu's face heats up for a few seconds, but his hand somehow remains warm where it's held - either that's Ryunosuke's effect or his own blood's or both, he sure wouldn't be able to say. probably some mix. either way, being coldblood, things like that are hard to ignore.

because i can't do anything to help you, he says, and Manabu feels a little pang of guilt. relatable guilt, considering how many times he's seen friends and allies run off, leaving him behind to man the fort or...worse, do nothing at all. he's been on both sides, and no matter how hard he's tried to claw his way onto one side or the other, he shouldn't forget what it's like.

now that we're together makes him feel some kind of way, too. that's what this is, right? without so many defining terms. maybe spelling it out bluntly would make it clearer, but...]

...I'm sorry. [he doesn't look up, just keeping his eyes on their hands, his grip tightening to both secure it and remember the feeling more potently.] For not...thinking about your feelings. That's not fair.

I guess I just got used to...not having anybody worry that much anymore. [since he'd either be back anyway, or...or he just wasn't the one to worry about.]

[convene]

It's all right. [He finally looks up, reaching with is free hand to cup at Manabu's face once more.] We're both still learning about this whole... dating thing. [He smiles gently.] I'm sure it's a learning curve and something we'll work through as long as we communicate.

[Which is true, he thinks, that as long as they communicate with each other their needs and their concerns, it should be a solid relationship. If he had known that they were in danger, maybe he could have done something! Maybe... he did just get his hands on his favored weapon so it wouldn't have been too far off to at least try and help.

He sighs.]

I'm just glad you're mostly okay. Now you should really be in bed resting. [He chides him lightly, gesturing for him to at least lay down.]