Back Again

[colony_brat]

[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.]

Comments

[Action]

[akumanotrill]

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

[Action]

[colony_brat]

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.]

[Action]

[akumanotrill]

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

[Action]

[colony_brat]

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.

[Action]

[akumanotrill]

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

[Action]

[colony_brat]

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

[Action]

[akumanotrill]

[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 ...

[Action]

[colony_brat]

[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?

[Action]

[akumanotrill]

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

[Action]

[colony_brat]

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

[Action]

[akumanotrill]

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

[Action]

[colony_brat]

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

[Action]

[akumanotrill]

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

[Action]

[colony_brat]

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

[Action]

[akumanotrill]

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

[Action]

[colony_brat]

[Duo shrugs and plays it off as unimportant.] Depends. Really kind of a matter of opinion. There's just stuff ya don't need ta know 'bout. I'll tell ya the important stuff you should know and if I get hurt. How's that?

[Action]

[akumanotrill]

... I guess that's the best answer I can get out of you.

[Action]

[colony_brat]

's better than most people get. I thought we were s'pposed ta be relaxing. [Duo's fingers have finally stopped twitching, but his legs still tense every once in a while.]

[Action]

[akumanotrill]

Mn. We were. [closes his eyes and cuddles closer] Goodnight then, Duo.

[Action]

[colony_brat]

[Duo chuckles and moves to kiss HIjiri's hair.] More like good nap.

[Action]

[akumanotrill]

[chuckles softly] Good nap then, Duo.

[Action]

[colony_brat]

[Duo sits quietly with Hijiri, but for a long time, he keeps jerking and twitching. Eventually, he'll drop off into a sleep that looks vaguely like unconsciousness.]