colony_brat | Back Again

Current Location: town on his way to House 33

Back Again

[Action]

[Duo lifts himself from the tunnel entrance and slips through the shadows of town on his way back to his house. The shadows aren't perfect so of course he can be spotted from time to time, but he's still pretty good with the stealth. He's also tired and smelly. A few days running around the tunnels and then moving boxes wore him out pretty well.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You know you are. [kisses his cheek]

[looks at him for a long while, before lying back down] I guess so.

[Duo grins rather smuggly and settles into the couch.]

[Duo cuddles Hijiri back to him, a little uncertain.] I'm not in trouble?

[looks up at him] Should you be in trouble? Is there something you have not told me about?

No, but things get weird when I mention Nokoru and I don't want you ta be jealous or mad or upset.

[hides a bit against Duo as he mumbles] ... I'm not jealous...

[Duo's legs jerk a little as he turns enough to hold Hijiri close.] Hey, stop that. I was a bit of a jerk when ya guys put on the show for me. You can be mad if ya want. Would rather see ya mad than upset.

[hides against him a little more and mumbles] I'm not... jealous nor... sad... just... need a moment.

[Duo just holds him, very uncertain about what's going on. It makes his hands start to jerk and twitch.] I don't get what's wrong...

[he can't really forget the hurt he'd felt from seeing the way Duo looked at Nokoru back then... he knows it's stupid to feel so hurt and jealous and that that's all over now... but... that fear of someday being replaced... no, he had to get over this] ... I'll be fine. Don't worry about it. Just... hold me for now.

Love, talk ta me. Please. [He really is concerned about Hijiri now. He doesn't like having him upset and Duo can't help feeling it's his fault.]

[and he feels rather ashamed and doesn't really want to tell...] ... I'm just being stupid that's all. I'll be fine.

I don't think you're stupid 'bout anythin' and if it upsets ya, that makes it important ta me so talk. [The more Hijiri dodges, the more worried Duo gets. It's hard to not start thinking that he's done something wrong. He's hard not to think that Hijiri's not happy with him anymore, but he keeps telling himself that's nonsense.]

I...
...
... I just... can't stop thinking that someday, I'll be replaced.

What? I couldn't do that. Not after everything. You're my devil. No one could replace ya. Nokoru's just a friend. Not even a very close one. He barely knows what I am, love. Don't worry, I'm yours.

[looks up at him with wide, wet eyes] Really?

[Duo had no idea Hijiri was so worried about this.] I'll never lie to ya, love. You're too important for that.

[manages a little smile as he rubs at his eyes and tries to blink them dry] ... told you I was being silly and just needed a moment to get over this ... hate letting you see this ...

[Duo reaches up to twitching fingers to wipe off some of the tears from Hijiri's cheek.] You're not silly and I never wanna see ya hate tellin' me something that's bothering you. If it's stupid, I want you ta talk 'bout it more just so we can get it figured out. Then we can worry 'bout the important stuff. That's how it s'pposed ta work, right?

[closes his eyes and leans towards his fingers then nods]

You'll talk ta me next time? Not worry 'bout it bein' stupid?

[smiles and nods again] You'll have to tell me everything too.

Maybe not everythin', but I don't wanna keep things from ya.

You'd better not or I'm not responsible for how I might react when I find out.

I don't wanna make ya unhappy, bright eyes, but there's stuff ya don't need ta know.

... about your work back home? Was it really that terrible?