[ And he's watching you go through those motions, smiling quietly at the way the kitten responds to you, the way that, for all your protesting and previous comments that your tiny new charge is another one you have to look out for -- there is care and affection in your touch, in the way you move.
It's really sweet. And it reminds him a little of the way you treat Brianna.
Turning away from that thought for the meantime though. ]
[ And he's sliding a glance before promptly picking at something on the bedsheet. No flashes of memory this time, but it's a little hard to miss those tattoos and how they are tempting his mind to go places.
But, seriously now: ] We don't have to.
[ A pause. ] I just thought it might be a good idea to throw them off the scent of things for a while.
At least, until you've gotten a chance to speak with Brianna.
[ He doesn't know what the both of you are to each other just yet. Are you dating? Seeing where this goes? A Thing? And you'd know this, Hikaru. Josh doesn't like to presume. He has also never been in a relationship before, so he's obviously ( to you, not to him ) feeling this out still. ]
[ He's staring at the door for a good, long minute before he lets himself fall back on the bed for half a minute more.
The room should not be as warm as it is given that compared to just hours before, the two of yours didn't really do anything.
He hears Mitsuru's plaintive meow as the kitten is peeking over the other side of the bed, clearly done with her food now. ] Done now, huh? I guess that's my cue to go looking for a shirt.
[ By the time you come out, Blade King, he's already picked a gray one that he was sure was new ( it had a tag, okay, it made sense ) and he's flat on his back in the center of your bed playing with your kitten by holding her front paws between his fingers as she licks at his nose. ]
[ He chuckles at that and comes to his feet. He's about to head to the shower when he backtracks and just... wraps his arms around you from behind, face kind of buried in the crook of your neck for a full minute before he breaks off with a quick kiss to your cheek and a grin. ]
Thanks, I'll be back in a few.
[ You look good okay. He couldn't resist. ]
[ It doesn't take him long. The longer you guys delay the longer the people outside have to think about why he isn't out ( particularly when he promised that he'd cook ) and for them to possibly worry why you are still in bed.
He resists the urge to take careful note of the stuff in your bathroom, fails and gives into curiosity anyway. Last night had given him an opportunity to inhale deeply against your skin, and he hadn't been able to keep himself from idly wondering what kind of soap you used, what shampoo it was that he caught mixed in with that particular undertone of you.
When he comes out, he's got a towel draped over his shoulders and a sheepish look on his face because you remembered; he forgot.
Turnabout is fair play? Maybe? Eitherway he's going to pretend this is nothing and make a beeline for that shirt.
For inquiring minds: those pants are a little loose on his hips. He's actually lost a little weight. It's not obvious when he's dressed, but like this, you can take note of it.
[ He has the sense to look sheepish at that. But he leans in and brushes a soft kiss on the corner of your mouth before saying: ] Okay.
[ He'd noticed his clothes had gotten a little loose, he's also been tired but it's only just catching up on him and he's also been the type to soldier on.
That Yulia had wiped the floor with him ( almost literally, at that ) is something he knows he will also need to deal with. ]
You could afford to look a lot better than you already do.
[There's an apology in there somewhere. Perhaps its written in the way he runs his hand across your cheek or the quiet look in his eyes before he's standing up.]
So.
[How are we going to do this?
Yes. Maybe he's changing the topic as quickly as he can before you can tell him that he shouldn't be sorry. Give him this, at least?]
[ Leaning into that touch and letting that lie -- for now. Too many apologies don't sit well with him. Especially not when there's no real need now, when the fact is that everything between the two of you has worked out. ]
Well, [ thinking on that now, eyes sliding over to the door. ] Makoto said that Kaz has been up since seven. But I wake up at five because of my jogs and you keep weird hours.
[ Well, Hikaru. You kind of do.
Rising to his feet now and stepping close, hands skimming up your arms as he says softly: ] I don't want to lie to their faces, so I figure that given our habits, we let them assume that we've been up awhile. [ Which you have. ] And just let the cards fall from there.
[ Looking at you now, searching your features, he's realizing that while he really wants you to clear this whole thing with Brianna first -- if his blade mates ask if something's going on between the two of you, he won't be able to tell them there isn't.
Bridging the space between you both then, lips pressing against your forehead before he leans his brow against yours. ]
What do you think? [ You're the expert in deflection. He'd like to hear your take. ]
[Offering a smile in your direction as he's following your lead. He'd like to think that everything was going to work out, and well. They kind of had more immediate concerns to deal with at the moment...]
[ Ducking his head and smiling at that before he reaches for the knob-- ]
Okay, we have to start this conversation in here.
[ Set up, relax -- easy, right?
Leaning against the wall a little now, a brow quirked your way. ]
So. Kitchen duty.
[ Nope. He hasn't forgotten about that little exchange from last night. This is also his way of offering the idea up for negotiation. Given the way things stand, he's actually interested at the idea of how you move in there.
Telling thing you see, how a person moves in the kitchen. ]
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Spoilsport.
[And kissing you again, before he's breaking away with a smile and moving off to feed Mitsuru. The poor kitten has been waiting for a while.]
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It's really sweet. And it reminds him a little of the way you treat Brianna.
Turning away from that thought for the meantime though. ]
So, I have an idea.
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[Straightening up and looking in your direction once Mitsuru has been fed, just as he looks like he's going to pull his shirt off.
Yeah, he's comfortable with you already. Besides: he really needs a shower.]
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Looking down at the bed now. ]
We could just play up the idea that we've been talking all morning.
[ It's not like he doesn't get up at 5AM anyway, right? ]
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So we're really going to go for that?
[In spite of, well. New developments?]
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But, seriously now: ] We don't have to.
[ A pause. ] I just thought it might be a good idea to throw them off the scent of things for a while.
At least, until you've gotten a chance to speak with Brianna.
[ He doesn't know what the both of you are to each other just yet. Are you dating? Seeing where this goes? A Thing? And you'd know this, Hikaru. Josh doesn't like to presume. He has also never been in a relationship before, so he's obviously ( to you, not to him ) feeling this out still. ]
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Yeah, when you put it that way... okay. Let's do it.
[Opening the doorknob, then glancing back in your direction - huh.
Oh right. Maybe he should've... well. Too late, now. Play it cool, Blade King.]
I'll take a shower really quick.
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I'll probably need to take one after you.
[ And oh-- ] And uh, can I borrow a shirt?
[ Sheepish now. ]
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[Because he has some 'favorites' that the Hounds have seen him in several times. It doesn't hurt to be careful, right?]
Give me five minutes.
[He can be quick! Shutting the door now.]
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The room should not be as warm as it is given that compared to just hours before, the two of yours didn't really do anything.
He hears Mitsuru's plaintive meow as the kitten is peeking over the other side of the bed, clearly done with her food now. ] Done now, huh? I guess that's my cue to go looking for a shirt.
[ By the time you come out, Blade King, he's already picked a gray one that he was sure was new ( it had a tag, okay, it made sense ) and he's flat on his back in the center of your bed playing with your kitten by holding her front paws between his fingers as she licks at his nose. ]
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C'mhere. Josh needs to go and make himself human again.
[He has a shirt on, by the way. He remembered.]
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Watching the other go for a moment before letting Mitsuru give him a sandpaper kiss and setting the kitten down.
Might as well have a cigarette while waiting.]
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He resists the urge to take careful note of the stuff in your bathroom, fails and gives into curiosity anyway. Last night had given him an opportunity to inhale deeply against your skin, and he hadn't been able to keep himself from idly wondering what kind of soap you used, what shampoo it was that he caught mixed in with that particular undertone of you.
When he comes out, he's got a towel draped over his shoulders and a sheepish look on his face because you remembered; he forgot.
Turnabout is fair play? Maybe? Eitherway he's going to pretend this is nothing and make a beeline for that shirt.
For inquiring minds: those pants are a little loose on his hips. He's actually lost a little weight. It's not obvious when he's dressed, but like this, you can take note of it.
The last two weeks have been hard, okay. ]
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How to press, though. How to press, indeed.]
I think I'm going to add a new item to my daily To Do List now.
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Pulling it over his head now and smoothing it down before he flops down beside you. ]
What's up?
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[You're welcome to fight him if you try to protest. He will tell you as much if you hedge.]
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[ He'd noticed his clothes had gotten a little loose, he's also been tired but it's only just catching up on him and he's also been the type to soldier on.
That Yulia had wiped the floor with him ( almost literally, at that ) is something he knows he will also need to deal with. ]
I look that bad, huh?
[ Half-joking, half... not. ]
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[There's an apology in there somewhere. Perhaps its written in the way he runs his hand across your cheek or the quiet look in his eyes before he's standing up.]
So.
[How are we going to do this?
Yes. Maybe he's changing the topic as quickly as he can before you can tell him that he shouldn't be sorry. Give him this, at least?]
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Well, [ thinking on that now, eyes sliding over to the door. ] Makoto said that Kaz has been up since seven. But I wake up at five because of my jogs and you keep weird hours.
[ Well, Hikaru. You kind of do.
Rising to his feet now and stepping close, hands skimming up your arms as he says softly: ] I don't want to lie to their faces, so I figure that given our habits, we let them assume that we've been up awhile. [ Which you have. ] And just let the cards fall from there.
[ Looking at you now, searching your features, he's realizing that while he really wants you to clear this whole thing with Brianna first -- if his blade mates ask if something's going on between the two of you, he won't be able to tell them there isn't.
Bridging the space between you both then, lips pressing against your forehead before he leans his brow against yours. ]
What do you think? [ You're the expert in deflection. He'd like to hear your take. ]
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[He is... not sure how that will go. Hopefully well. Either way, he's set in what he wants to do. The rest can come later.]
And I think we both keep pretty weird hours now.
[Here's looking at you, Mr. What Day Is It Because Wow Timezones.]
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( Okay, maybe a little. Just a bit. ) ]
Yours are still weirder.
[ Have a gentle squeeze on your hand, Hikaru. And then he's making his way towards the door. ] Let me know... how it goes?
[ A glance your way, gaze holding yours because you're not the only one nervous over how that particular blademate of his is going to take this. ]
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[Offering a smile in your direction as he's following your lead. He'd like to think that everything was going to work out, and well. They kind of had more immediate concerns to deal with at the moment...]
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Okay, we have to start this conversation in here.
[ Set up, relax -- easy, right?
Leaning against the wall a little now, a brow quirked your way. ]
So. Kitchen duty.
[ Nope. He hasn't forgotten about that little exchange from last night. This is also his way of offering the idea up for negotiation. Given the way things stand, he's actually interested at the idea of how you move in there.
Telling thing you see, how a person moves in the kitchen. ]
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He doesn't even bother reigning in the half-incredulous, half-amused look that he sends your way.]
Well, I'm not budging.
[But that twist of his mouth tells you that maybe he'd be willing to share? If you could promise to make it worth his while.]
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