icarusalsoflew | 003. and in every raindrop... // open post.

[ 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. ]

[Considering that a moment as he's crossing over to the bathroom, and then nodding.]

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.

[ And he's offering a quiet smile in turn. ]

I'll probably need to take one after you.

[ And oh-- ] And uh, can I borrow a shirt?

[ Sheepish now. ]

Sure. Might want to pick one of the newer ones in the closet out, though.

[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.]

[ 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. ]

[That sight makes him stop midway through toweling his hair dry. He smiles as he walks over, and scoops Mitsuru up.]

C'mhere. Josh needs to go and make himself human again.

[He has a shirt on, by the way. He remembered.]

[ 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. ]

Edited 2014-03-16 22:07 (UTC)

[...And that made him stall just a bit. Go figure: it's been years since anyone has ever done that to him.

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.]

[ 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.

The last two weeks have been hard, okay. ]

[And because of that... yes, whatever other thoughts he may have had over seeing you that way are flying out the window.

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.

[ He pauses just a little at your comment as he's about to shrug on the shirt, blinking at you with an expression that goes: Uh... okay?

Pulling it over his head now and smoothing it down before he flops down beside you. ]

What's up?

I think I'm going to need to make sure that you eat at least three meals a day for a while. And get enough rest.

[You're welcome to fight him if you try to protest. He will tell you as much if you hedge.]

[ 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. ]

I look that bad, huh?

[ Half-joking, half... not. ]

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. ]

Edited 2014-03-18 23:46 (UTC)

That works for me. I'll stick around long enough, I think, to eat and maybe hang around with the two before I go and see Brianna.

[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.]

[ Smiling a little because yo, man. It's not as bad as it seems.

( 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. ]

Edited 2014-03-19 18:38 (UTC)

I will.

[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. ]

[Really, Josh? Really?

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.]

[ You have to stop smiling like that. It's just cruel.

Okay, so maybe he's looking off to one side and trying to rein his smile in because damn -- no. No. The both of you are supposed to head out of here looking like you were talking.

Making a face at you now, Hikaru. ]

So, you mean to tell me you'll actually be hanging out here enough to cook for the lot of us.

[ There's a hopeful look in his eyes that reads: Please, say yes and I may just relegate myself to prep-duty.

Operative word being: May. As in maybe. ]

Edited 2014-03-21 01:05 (UTC)

I don't see why not. As things stand, you ought to be honored that I'm considering it.

[Folding his arms across his chest now, with one eyebrow lifted. A challenge has been extended in your direction, Joshua LaRue.]

Rare is the day that the Blade King decides to grace a kitchen with his presence in the name of friendship.

[Only not really, but it's kind of a first for YOU guys, so!]

[ Well, he's going to want to see this. He hasn't seen you cook, doesn't know what it is you can do just yet, but you've lived an incredibly long time and that's enough of an indicator that you've had more than enough years to pick up a thing or two -- or ten.

Reaching for that knob now -- but not before he steals one last kiss in the hopes of maybe distracting you even just for a bit.

He isn't sure when the two of you will be alone again like this, a guy's got to take his shots where and when he can right. ]

Well, I guess we'll see then.

[ He's really happy. Just so you know. Things have changed between you two in the last couple of hours, but it's a good kind of change. ]

Edited 2014-03-21 16:44 (UTC)

003. and in every raindrop... // open post.

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