deercountry | (closed) january catchall

[ He doesn't question anything Hakkai is doing here. Daniel knows very, very little about otherworldly healing, after all, having prefered to leave that sort of stuff to the experts here, other than supplying simple first aid for his students whenever training went a little wrong.

It means that what he's seeing here is pretty new. The light against Hakkai's palms, the power that Daniel hadn't seen from the other before - though it's somehow not too surprising to know he's capable of this. It's something about Hakkai, something about the way he fusses about others - like how he's fussing over Daniel, even now. Of course he'd have the ability to help people like this then.

The man is quiet at first, letting the other work, almost as if he's worried that speaking up may ruin something about the process. It's only when the light dims that he speaks up again. He doesn't necessarily feel better yet in the moment, but he figures that it'll probably kick in later. He's not going to be insensitive enough to point it out in the moment.

Instead there's still something faintly worried in his eyes as to the subject they were talking about, finally replying with: ]

I'm the only person here who knows Miyagi-do though.

[ .. not that there are a whole lot more people back home either, but that topic toes a little too close to mister Miyagi's loss, and Daniel doesn't want to think or talk about that. ]

Let alone having a lot of people around town who know karate in the first place. I can't just put anyone in front of my students. [ It's not even a possessive thing, really.

It's a fussing thing. A worried thing. After all-- ]

Having the wrong kind of teacher can really screw things up for kids.

[He sits back, at length, resting on his heels, with his hands balanced on his knees. The glow has faded, and some of the color has left Hakkai's cheeks - not a lot. He's already pale to begin with, after all. But the dizziness should be taken care of. Now all that's left are the common remedies. The things Daniel will have to do on his own.]

[He does want to ask what in the world is so special about this technique that it can't be taught easily. But he does recall the conversation with the younger Daniel. That Miyagi is very important to Daniel.]

You are correct in that statement... [Even Captain Hypocrite Hakkai can agree that a poor teacher can mess up a kid in all kinds of ways.]

What about someone who can keep them practicing what they've learned, rather than new skills? Simply while you recover.

[Therefore, he thinks, the teacher would only have to know as much as the students - no new learning required. Just keeping the skills in shape for a few days.]

One of your more advanced students, perhaps?

[ It's the mention of the last thing that has Daniel tightly pressing his lips together for a moment, like he's thinking about something really ironic. At least he is feeling a touch better - just enough to be a little more emotive like that again. ]

Usually I would've asked Robby. [ Easily his most advanced student, after all. The only one out of the entire bunch here who he has actually trained back home, rather than just in Trench. ] But he went off on that exploration.

[ .. and Daniel wouldn't really want the kid to know he's sick in the first place - no need to make Robby worry more than he already has about so many things in this place. But Daniel is smart enough to keep that part of it to himself in front of Hakkai. ]

It's.. [ He starts, then pauses. Maybe he still feels a little vulnerable in his current state, or maybe he managed to spot the faint paleness in Hakkai's face, realising what the other gave up for him just now. Something relatively small, yes, but.. it'd make him feel a little more guilty about not being honest with the other right now. ] It's been a little more quiet here since Robby and some of the other kids went there. Some of my friends, too.

[ And it's not like Daniel has a ton of those to begin with..

But he does feel awkward admitting to this. To loneliness. He's not even doing so directly here, he's not even mentioning the word, but it gets close enough that it makes the man look a little awkward as he speaks, even when he does his best to be honest. ]

So I'm-- I am glad you're here.

[ Even if it meant getting nagged over hiding the fact he's sick. :( ]

I see.

[It's said fairly quietly. So there was a system in place. It just fell apart. That seems like the case for so much of this town, doesn't it. You have plans, you have structure, and something kicks it down like a house of cards.]

[At some point, Jeep has come over to curl around his master's shoulders, with Hakkai absently trailing his fingers down the little dragon's neck. It's strangely comforting. The one thing he has to hold onto from his world. One friend, here. He should count himself lucky, given the context of their conversation. At least he isn't alone at the moment.]

I'm sure they'll return soon. An empty city can hardly hold the attention of so many teens - not for long, at any rate...

[He trails off, looking a bit surprised at the admission. Someone... glad he's here? Knowing now what Daniel must know? He'd expect that from one of the others. Especially Gojyo or Goku, even. But -]

I... must say that's a surprise. I had assumed there would be a point where my nagging would be too much to bear, haha.

[Yep just brush it off!!]

Well, that's a two way street, isn't it?

[ The edge of Daniel's smile as he says that is a little wry, but it's just that he's well aware of the irony here. It's not like it's just Hakkai nagging him. Daniel himself has been doing plenty of nagging on his end too - or fussing that could easily be seen as nagging, anyway.

But he also knows that this is, at least partially, Hakkai brushing it off. Maybe that's why Daniel keeps staring at the other as he pauses, maybe watching the way Hakkai is gently petting the small dragon like that while Daniel thinks.

Honesty feels like the best thing in the end here. It's how Daniel has always worked. ]

I mean it though, surprise or not. [ Sure, this may be a little much for Hakkai, since he never seems to be able to quite process it well whenever Daniel says something like this, but Hakkai has to hear it from someone here, the man thinks. ] You're a good guy.

[ Something he can say even in the face of what he saw, that mess of a memory. So much blood everywhere, but also so much pain. Hakkai has been through a lot, and Daniel isn't sure how to contextualize most of it, but-- he knows that Hakkai has done nothing but treat him kindly and try to help him out in this place. He even tried to help out his younger self by distracting Johnny after he asked for it. He's giving Daniel his own energy right now in order to try and help him.

So it's hard for Daniel to think of the other in any other way. ]

And with so many people gone right now, it's a little less lonely with you here. I appreciate it. More than you probably imagine.

How so?

[Hakkai is the one with the nagging habit, according to the others. "Nags like your mom", wasn't it? Honestly, he hasn't noticed much coming from Daniel, in comparison. Maybe he should be. Or maybe it just hasn't been up to Hakkai's absurd standards of nagging.]

[And then he blinks. Looking as if Daniel just said he was purple or something like that. After a moment of staring, he reaches out, pressing his wrist to Daniel's forehead with a frown.]

You shouldn't be feverish after that. You should lie down, if you're having those sorts of delusions.

[Hakkai is not, under any sort of definition of the word, a "good man". Honestly, he's exactly the opposite. No one who knows him would describe him as such. Especially not after seeing what Daniel saw.]

Well - I did say I would be happy to provide assistance. Consider this a part of it.

[ The combination of the wrist to his forehead with those words being spoken is enough to draw a laugh out of Daniel. And not a polite laugh, or faintly amused, but.. it's a very, very genuine laugh. It's a little weaker than it usually would have been due to the fact that Daniel isn't exactly fully recovered yet, but there's no doubt that the laugh slips out involuntarily, entirely real.

The kind of laugh you just can't hold in, that's warm and joyful.

Those last emotions are definitely mirrored in Daniel's eyes when he looks over at Hakkai. ]

Okay, let me get this right. [ His voice is the same. A little weaker, but warm. For all of the amusement that seems to twinkle in Daniel's eyes, none of it is at Hakkai's expense.

It's just relative fondness for the other. ]

You've been occasionally coming over to cook for me for months now, have been doing chores for the dojo, and now you're literally healing me.. But you're not a good guy.

[ It's not that he doesn't nkow why Hakkai is saying it.

But Daniel can't help himself anyway. There's a stubbornness about his words - like Hakkai can't change this old man's mind now. ]

[He's silent, after that. His fingertips tracing the mane running along Jeep's spine. Eyes not meeting Daniel's. Not because of the laugh. He can hear the warmth and amusement in it. But it makes him feel dirty to hear. There is no way he deserves that sort of fondness from someone like this.]

[From Gojyo, Goku - he can understand it. They're much in the same boat. Even Sanzo, though the man would rather choke on his own tongue than offer anything like fondness to the other three.]

One can choose to perform serviceable acts... while still retaining the traits that make them what they are.

[What - not who. He's left a lot behind. He's left a name, a life, a whole chapter of history. But it doesn't change anything. Doesn't change what his choices, his mistakes, made him into.]

[There is still a monster lurking in his skin. No amount of chores, of healing, is ever going to change that. And the sooner it's realized, the better. He would prefer not to be held in anyone's high regard.]

I am not a good man. [He just sounds tired.] But I can assist, regardless.

...

[ It's always a little sad to see just how deep this runs. Even though, now Daniel actually has some context for it, he can kind of understand where it's coming from in the first place. It's not like he hasn't seen this on a smaller scale back home. Maybe things aren't like this with Johnny, but when he ran into one of his other rivals again who has bullied him, hurt him, even tried to kill him - he remembers seeing the guilt in Chozen's eyes, the way he still carried all of that with him years later, it still influencing the way he saw himself.

He can see a little of the man in the other here in front of him now, Daniel thinks.

It's why he doesn't push too hard. He can't suddenly change Hakkai's mind on this, and he knows it. All he can do is continue to offer gentle encouragement. ]

You know, Hakkai.. [ His voice is gentle too as he speaks. The laughter is gone, but a smile lingers around his lips, affectionate. ] It's really hard to change other people's opinions of you.

[ Yes, that's Daniel's gentle way of saying 'sorry, dude, can't change my mind'...

Even though he's kind enough to not be that direct about it. ]

Will you at least allow me to be appreciative of everything you're doing here for me? [ Not that he isn't going to be appreciative regardless.

Just saying. ]

I might have passed out on the kitchen floor if you hadn't been here.

[More silence. Before he straightens up, turning his attention back to the task he'd abandoned briefly. The soup. Something to put a physical distance. Change his focus elsewhere.]

So it is.

[And, frankly, Hakkai doesn't tend to try. Those close to him are the only opinions that matter much, if at all. He knows what he is. So do they. It's all one big status quo he doesn't see a reason to unbalance. He's not so far down that mental rabbit hole not to catch on to what Daniel is implying, though.]

[It doesn't make sense. None of it does. This is a decent man who flat out refuses to see the truth in front of him. With the others - with Gojyo, at least - the playing field was more even. None of their hands were clean. Accepting it, going forward, it made sense for all of them. Not here.]

Fortunately, I cleaned the floor yesterday - so even if you had fallen unconscious, you'd be spared accumulated dirt.

[Well... he didn't entirely mean to sidestep the question. But what else is he meant to say?]

[ There's a huff of air, close to a laugh but not quite reaching there this time - maybe because it'd feel wrong to laugh after Hakkai's reaction. It'd sure be nice if Daniel could somehow instill a sense of self worth - or better self worth, anyway - into the other guy, but he's also old enough to know it isn't something that just happens like that, let alone so easily.

So rather than pushing, Daniel just smiles at the other. Still a little weak, since his body is recovering still, but at least it definitely doesn't look like the man is about to pass out and drop from the chair anymore. ]

What would I do without you? [ He lightly jokes.

(Collapse onto a dusty floor, apparently.)

Daniel shakes his head though, and rather than lingering on that, he asks: ]

You think I could have some of that soup? [ He could probably use a bowl of it right now for his recovery.. Eating more than that sounds like a challenge still, but soup? That's always great when you're sick. ]

Likely break your nose from falling onto the floor.

[He says it as smoothly and calmly as anything else. Like he may as well be commenting on the weather for all the concern in his expression. But that's just Hakkai. If he nags like that, people are more likely to listen to him. Or, at least, the people in the little group of travelers are more likely to listen.]

[Daniel isn't anything like them - certainly nothing like Sanzo. Now that's a hilarious comparison to think about.]

Oh! Yes of course, forgive me.

[And he sweeps off, just like that. To check on said soup and make sure it's ready for human consumption. Apparently it is, because he returns after a few moments with a small bowl. Mostly broth - with a few thick strands of noodle.]

If you can manage this, we'll try more in a short while.

Thank you.

[ It's said while actually looking at Hakkai - no matter how tempting it is to get some of that soup inside of him. Sure, Daniel is also aware he probably can't eat all that much, not when it seems that the origin of the illness at the party feels like it was food-related.. but on the other hand, he's feeling so lightheaded that he knows he has to get something decent and warm like this broth inside of him, even if the energy Hakkai gave him is helping as well.

But after giving the other that thanks and a brief smile, Daniel is grabbing a spoon to jam a spoonful of the soup into his mouth. He slowly swallows it, and-- god, yeah, eating is A Lot right now, but he can feel like it's helping at the same time.

At least he has the apparent good attitude to still be able to joke about the way he had trouble swallowing the soup just now. ]

I don't think I've ever felt more like an old man than right now.

[ Please, Daniel, you're only in your 50s... And relatively youthful-looking on top of that.. ]

You're hardly what anyone would consider an 'old man'.

[Except maybe Goku... But anyone over the age of twenty looked like an old man to him.]

[At least broth shouldn't be too much. It will definitely help. And shouldn't be too strong of a taste. He'll have to make sure the other man at least lays down after this. Just to make sure there really isn't any fainting in the kitchen.]

I do hope you're planning on resting after this, regardless of age.

[Or Else.]

[ Daniel is already halfway through his second spoonful of the mostly-broth soup when Hakkai speaks up with that second part, getting him to actually glance up at Hakkai as he's swallowing the soup.

.. yeah, he can kind of hear that 'or else' in the words. Not that Daniel thinks Hakkai would ever do something bad to him - despite the memories he's seen, he still has full faith in the younger man.

But he does imagine the other will be rather insistent about this one. ]

Are you saying I should nap?

[ More like.. urgently implying Daniel should nap.. ]

I think that would be for the best.

[It's less of an implication and more of an insistence. He won't force Daniel, but the disapproving stares will intensify greatly the longer Daniel resists. It's how he's dealt with three other grown adults before.]

[There's a reason they consider him the "mom" of the group.]

Don't you?

.. I'm slowly getting the feeling my own opinion on this one doesn't matter as much here.

[ Look, he can see what Hakkai is doing, so he's allowed to quip about it a little, right?

Especially since he's not planning on putting up some big protest here. This is Daniel going along with it, and he believes it's his god-given right to at least be allowed to quip in turn. This is how he copes with the idea of having to take a nap when there's still so much work to be done...

But he's way too weak to not buckle under the pressure of disappointed stares. It's something his wife figured out a long, long time ago. ]

I suppose I can take a small nap.. But I have to get up afterwards to clean up the dojo from today's training. [ Yes, despite being sick.

H-He can handle it. Clearly. Okay. ]

How astute of you.

[Yeah, Daniel doesn't get a say. None whatsoever. The disappointed stare will only get worse from here.]

[Especially when he states his intent to get up and clean. Excuse the heck out of you sir, why do you think you have this guy around?? His warm fuzzy personality?]

[Hakkai just stares at him.]

[Slowly, the disapproval on his face begins to shift into that sharp edged smile. The kind that comes with accompanying warning sirens.]

Oh, you intend to undo all the good that resting will do for you? I see.

[ H.. HAKKAI..??

Look, is Daniel used to his wife getting on his case about certain things? Sure. Even some of his students (okay, maybe one in particular more so than the others, but still) have a tendency to nag him. It's not like Hakkai's attitude is necessarily new in that sense.

But not many would give him this sort of smile during it, that's for sure. ]

Come on. [ At least Daniel doesn't sound offended in the face of it or anything. If anything, there's something more pleading in his tone. ] You act like some cleaning is going to kill me. And I can't let you do everything.

[There are several reasons why Hakkai is the Team Mother Hen. The fact he's the cook, the laundry guy, the one who keeps them all driving along... and that Look. He doesn't usually need more than that to wrangle the others. Minus Sanzo, who typically does things himself without any sort of nagging.]

You aren't.

[That smile does not waver.]

You're delegating to someone who isn't currently suffering the effects of severe food poisoning. If it isn't cared for, it can, and has, resulted in dehydration and further systemic infection.

I'm hydrating!

[ POINTS AT SOUP. POINTS AT THE BROTH IN FRONT OF HIM.

Yes, literally pointing. Though it's not the most energetic of points, given Daniel's current state. It's not even a real protest to throw off Hakkai's argument entirely, but there's just a part of Daniel that hasn't changed with age.

The dramatic Italian-American part, that is.

But even though he wanted to prove that point, it's followed up by a sigh rather than further protests. ]

Are you sure you want to do this? The kids made a real mess today.

[ And Daniel is nice enough that he does feel guilty leaving chores entirely up to someone else - even when Hakkai has already proven to usually truly not mind them. ]

Have you finished it? As well as the tea?

[Asked so pleasantly and mildly, there's... probably, definitely, suspicion or some other sort of accusation under there. Did you really - or even doubting Daniel actually did.]

[Hakkai's resting bitch face is clearly that bland smile of his.]

I sincerely doubt it's anything I haven't dealt with before. Besides - wouldn't you rather have it done properly the first time? When people are ill, they don't tend to complete their tasks as fully as they'd like to.

[ :) :) daniel let him do this :) :) ]

[ H-He's still working on it, okay! Daniel can't believe he's getting bullied by someone half his age here.. Look, he's already - demonstrably, thanks - putting another spoonful of the broth into his mouth.

He can't eat and talk at the same time, after all. And the problem is that Daniel always talks.

A lot. ]

.. there's seriously nothing I could ever say to convince you, huh.

Ah! You've figured it out. I knew you had it in you.

[And yes. That comes out exactly how it sounds. Complete with Hakkai's trademark blank smile.]

[Sorry, Daniel. This is the guy you've allowed to help out around the dojo.]

[ If Daniel had a nickel for every overprotective assassin that did this to him... ]

Alright, alright.

[ He doesn't necessarily sound happy about it, but not terribly upset either. At worst there's a hint of almost childish reluctance in the way he says it. ]

I'll finish this bowl up, and then head to bed. I don't have the energy to argue over this. [ Especially with Hakkai.. An unmovable wall.. ] Hopefully I'll feel better after some sleep.

(closed) january catchall

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