deercountry | soft hours

[Manabu's eyes wince, but his lips stay curled back in a grimace. this is not his business, but the talking points are pretty personal - the sort of thing that would rile him up no matter who was talking about it, never mind regarding someone he's pretty invested in now.

after all, he knows what it's like to have been kept in the dark by someone he was supposed to consider a partner; Manabu isn't a grudge-holding type of person (in regards to other people, that is; grudges against himself, though? eh...), but he can't forget the way it felt to realize that the entire time Bruce was pushing him away was because he didn't trust Manabu to be able to meet and overcome his fears with him. after all the effort, finding that common ground...]

...That's something...I didn't expect to have in common with him. [he slumps back against his pillows, looking at the ceiling.] That kind of circumstance. That feeling...

[does Ryunosuke even have it? or is he an even kinder, more forward-feeling person than he is?]

I'm sorry...[For doing what he did? For unintentionally bringing up a sensitive topic? For being a right arse--well that last one would be a given regardless.] I do trust him...

And, for what it's worth, I trust you. Enough to give you that part of my past at the very least...No one else here knows, outside of the two of you.

[Manabu cuts in around no one else here knows with a negative sound through his nose.]

No. Those kinds of things... Those are the kinds of things that need to be earned, not just given when someone's getting grilled. [he turns his head to peer over the bridge of his nose Kazuma's way.]

If that's the sort of thing that takes the ultimate kind of trust, then that's the level I have to reach first. Don't just hand it over simply. Got it?

[Kazuma's stare is static, broken only when he cocks one eyebrow in question.]

And who would be the one to decide if you've earned it or not? I don't think that line is as clear cut as you think, certainly not something that is leveled so strictly.

[Grilled or not, he chose to tell Manabu what he did because he wanted to. He could have just as easily shut him out or not said a word about it in the first place.]

I didn't choose to tell you so simply.

[despite himself, Manabu's face flushes hot, dispersing up his scalp to fluff his hair.]

S-so what! I'm, I'm just saying! I don't take those things so simply too, okay?!

[Kazuma wheezes out a laugh, a sharp ha immediately punctuated by a groan. Broken ribs, worst thing.]

What I am saying is that I trust you, because to me you've already done enough to earn that. [He gives a smile.] That kind of thing doesn't come easily to me, so trust me when I say you have earned it.

[what, now he's laughing? good, he BETTER suffer for laughing at him!! jeez...]

Fine! [he's still puffed up, folding his arms tightly around his UNINJURED ribs and looking pointedly ahead of himself.] Even if I don't get it, I'll accept what you say. You know where I stand anyway!

[Jokes on you Manabu, being puffed up and a bit annoyed with him is kind of endearing.] I know where you stand. And you know where I stand.

Seems we've reached an understanding, then.

[still kind of pouty:] Yeah, I guess... [beat.

he shoots a look over.] D-don't go tattling on me to Ryunosuke like that anymore, though! I'm an adult, an adult!

You can't say that as if you didn't do the same! [Excuse you, sir. He too is an adult.] With luck we won't both get into trouble at the same time again...

[Yeah, how likely is that?]

Why would I be in trouble? I'm still an officer at heart, this kind of stuff is just part of the job!

You're only getting in trouble if you ran off without telling anybody...

Well...did you tell him you were running off into this fight?

Though to be fair, getting involved in anything this dangerous, regardless of whether or not you gave a warning that you are running off to join the fray, can cause concern. And for people that care about you--[He manages a shrug without too much pain.] Trouble isn't always trouble...it can be as simple as causing people to worry.

[he flushes briefly, turning his head to obscure it.]

Y-you don't have to remind me about things like that! [said a lying liar who lies.] That's part of why I definitely didn't run in there on my own; that kind of stupidity...it's unforgivable.

I believe that's why we were part of a team, yes. Encountering things here alone...it's unconscionable. [He sighs, settling back against the bed he was propped up in and closing his eyes.] Still, Ryuu isn't likely to be happy with either of us. And he'll hover, and fret. Just watch.

He doesn't really...have to worry about me. This isn't even the worst it's been. He knows. He-- [Manabu clams up, feeling a chill run up his spine with some alarm. maybe Ryunosuke already talked about that with Kazuma? about him getting killed, how that messed him up for a while.

...not really the impression he'd like to have in anyone's mind if he could help it, really.]

[The way he cuts himself off has Kazuma peeking over at him again. Right, Ryunosuke had mentioned something, briefly, about death here--Manabu's specifically, if he could recall.]

It doesn't matter. He'll worry regardless because he cares about you and what happens to you. It's how he is.

...

[Manabu hesitates, but ultimately murmurs a sound of acknowledgement, because Kazuma's not wrong, just...it feels weird to hear out loud. it feels weird, Kazuma acknowledging that Manabu matters to his friend - like there's some way Manabu's supposed to act in light of all this, but he truly doesn't know how.

weird...

...]

...! [his omni distracts him, gives him an excuse to disengage for a beat and stare at it.]

...A...aa. He says he's on his way.

Then I--[He punctuates the start of his statement by getting more comfortable. If he could dramatically flop backward without injuring himself further, he would.]--am going to sit back, wait, and get some last minutes of peace before he lectures and mother-hens us both.

[Kazuma does that, but Manabu doesn't, because he's Manabu. they'll find themselves hobbling off to the lantern and back to Crenshaw soon enough anyway, with the both of them deposited in comfy spots at Ryunosuke's discretion.

while he and Manabu are off being soft and gooey over in the other room, Kazuma...is Not alone. because while he was asked to take it easy before Ryunosuke can come in and help him out, Magnet is here to be completely helpful in all ways.

by which to say once Kazuma's carefully sat down, the dog hops up and starts traipsing around the remainder of the bed and nosing at him, just all up in his business.]

[Kazuma will never admit it, but he can hear several snippets of conversation through the thin walls. Okay, he may tease Ryunosuke about it a little. But it still causes an odd spike in his chest, a jealous heat--and well, that was natural wasn't it? To have some jealousy when attention is directed somewhere else after you've been used to being a key focus of it before?

He'd have to analyze that later. Because apparently having Manabu occupied meant he had Magnet for company.]

Feeling ignored too?

[Oh. Was that too bitter? Sorry Magnet, you'll get subjected to that several times up until this boy becomes a bit more snakey.]

[is it bitter? hmm. what a shame that omens are a bit more keen to emotional nuance than actual dogs. that remark gets a little grunt and a nose booping his face. it's okay, bud. kind of.

look, even keen dogs can't fix every problem - they can only commiserate.]

[Keen dog or not, overly aware omen or not, Kazuma is all too welcoming to Magnet. Commiseration earns pets and lots of them.

Fair warning: He may or may not end up falling asleep. Calming actions like petting a dog does that.]

soft hours

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