knowsvinewhip | + IC CONTACT +

A rich statement, given the source.

[No you don't, do not make him try and pin you, Gojyo. He will do it.]

That - is none of your - why does it matter. I clearly am not reading them any longer.

Oh? Why not? And doesn't that mean you were reading 'em in the first place?

[ Go ahead and try it. He knows you're still weak from not resting, so let this be a lesson in keeping your energy up. Besides, Gojyo's into it. ]

Learn anything?

Fine. I read them - there was nothing else to read driving over the mountains!

[Oh he is so annoyed. Huffy face and all. Give him that book or he is absolutely going to try to wrestle you to the ground.]

I learned I dislike - romance novels.

Yeah?

[ He lowers his hand, but he still has one arm around his waist. He has to lean in and kiss one of his puffed out cheeks, because he's real fucking cute when he does that. ]

Dislike 'em so much you had to try a few out to make sure?

I did no such thing.

[Ah-hah. The lowered hand and the kiss - perfect opportunity. He makes another lunge for the book. And Gojyo's other arm.]

[ He lets him take the book, focusing on keeping that arm wrapped around Hakkai so he can't escape.

Not that there's anywhere to escape in this place. ]

Buddy, you've got like half a dozen of 'em over there. And no way you'd keep 'em in this shoebox you live in if you didn't want to.

[ His grin was Cheshire. ]

Noticed something else interesting about 'em all. Know what it could be?

[For lack of anything better to do with the book, he just. Shoves it in a pocket. Loose pajama pants are good for that.]

Then I've forgotten to get rid of them. Do you have a point? Or did you just take an interest in reading to embarrass me?

[He's not dignifying that question with a response.]

Are you through?

Hey, hey, I read. It's just usually stuff like this. And magazines instead of books.

[ He gives Hakkai a generous wink before chuckling good naturedly. If Hakkai being prickly had been an issue for him they wouldn't be where they were now. So he ignored him entirely, leaning in to whisper by his ear. ]

They all got redheads on the cover. Even the ones about two dudes.

[ hakkai.exe has stopped functioning ]

[Or thinking, for that matter. He holds the brain cell for this little group so often, when he drops it, this is what happens.]

I... was not. Aware.

[yes you fucking were.]

[ And Gojyo, a man fully fluent in Hakkai, knows. He'd know even if he wasn't by the look on Hakkai's face right now. ]

Mm. Just a coincidence then? And you got 'em for the trip through the mountains?

I'd... just grabbed a stack from the inn. They were getting rid of them.

Why does it - why are you asking?

Cause I got a theory that maybe you had the hots for me before we landed in the Trench.

[His eyes twinkle, jaw feathering as he restrains a broader smile.]

Or you got a real bad redhead fetish.

Didn't - I say as much?

[He thought they'd had that conversation. And now is not the time he wants to rehash it.]

I don't enjoy this topic.

You said you had pervy thoughts about me, but I figured that was just here. Didn't know you came in pre loaded.

[ Have another kiss. ]

Sorry. You can embarass me too if you want.

Must you call it that?

[Pre-loaded??? Really??]

[He's still so huffy.]

You're utterly shameless. I'm not sure where to even begin.

Horny in advance? Revved up and ready to go? Hot anf bothered?

[ He's still grinning and you getting all huffy isn't helping. He has both hands on Hakkai's hips now. ]

C'mon, you know me better than anyone. Bet you can find something.

[Fine, he just won't look at Gojyo. Surely, that will help.]

Attracted. [So there.] And... caring deeply for you.

Is that adequate enough of a confession?

[ If it was possible to physically radiate joy, that's what Gojyo would be doing right now. He couldn't remember a time when he'd been this happy. Happy wasn't a large enough word -- it felt like he was so full it was bursting out the seams of him. Surely everyone else could see it too?

Is this what this felt like for everyone, all the time? It was better than any high he'd ever ridden.

He kisses the top of Hakkai's head.]

Yeah. Thanks.

... I'm not following.

[When did this suddenly turn into something other than teasing? Now that the tone has changed, even Hakkai is relaxing a bit. Baffled, but relaxing.]

I just...

[He looks up, blowing hair from his face absently, still smiling.]

This is like. The same, but more. I didn't think it could get better and then it did. Life don't usually drop happiness on us, you know?

[He looks back down, meeting Hakkai's eyes. Or, well. Eye.]

I dunno how to say it. I'm probably fucking it up. But this, and then you thought that about me even back then, it's like -- wow, you know?

You aren't. [You aren't fucking it up.] I wouldn't allow you to tease me like this, if you were.

[If it were anyone but Gojyo, they would be broken. Or deceased.]

But... you're right. We don't often get a chance to just be, do we? There's always some crisis. Or some attack.

It's good to know you like the downtime, as well as the adrenaline.

It really is like that time at the house, back when His Royal Virgin would just give us missions and then we'd go home.

I used to hate the down time. I'd go out and pick fights just to have something to do. Fuck a stranger, rob somebody blind. Then go get trashed so all I'd have to do is pass out once I got to the house.

[The one he shared with Banri. Except Banri took off and didn't come back. Until he did and almost fucked everything up anyway.]

Then you came along, and we had the missions, and I'd go out for poker and drinks to make grocery money. But then I wanted to go home. Always figured it was just me getting lazy. Or old.

Now I'm pretty sure it was you bein' there instead of a crappy empty place.

And now... it may as well be the same as that. Go on a mission. Return home.

[There are plenty of missions here, after all. Plenty to do. Get paid for it, and the chances of dying are so much smaller than back there.]

[It's starting to feel less like home - that world. Passing by from Jeep's driver seat. A cramped room at an in. The smell of so much cigarette smoke it's cloying instead of comforting.]

It's good to know you won't feel trapped. I had worried... I was keeping you tied down. Getting in your way.

It's why I almost left, that night. [The night he showed up with an umbrella and murder.]

Yeah. It'll be nice to get back to that easy shit. Thought I might try some handyman stuff around here too, keep my hands busy.

[ That kind of thing had always come naturally to him, like fixing the house up back in Trench. ]

Trapped?

[ His eyebrows fly up. ]

Why'd you think that?

You are very skilled with your hands.

[if you know what he means]

Ah, maybe that was the wrong word. More that I was intruding? Making myself a burden... an imposition. Forcing you to change your life style against your wishes.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject