sunshrouded | x IC INBOX

[ First, Tenka loses his shit. He laughs so hard he nearly drops his phone into a puddle of water. He's cracking up. He's crying, that's how hard he's laughing.

And then he sniffs and looks over the cap again and.... laughs just a little bit more. ]

you took care of him while I was gone too, Kotarou?

thank you

welcome to our family. sorry that sousei's an idiot

_{[ he didn't really but ok he'll take the credit.
Though, here Tenka goes again, going on about family and things like that. He was mostly raised by his grandmother— that's it— until he attended the school under his sensei.

Family is weird when it comes to him. It seemed to be such a big deal for Tenka, but Katsura doesn't really understand how because it's something he never had. He doesn't talk about his parents— they're gone— and he has no siblings.

..And what little family he did have he watched whither away before his very eyes.

Anyway, Zura does linger on this thought a long time, so it takes him awhile to reply, but when he does: ]}

It wasn't easy.
_{[ —watching the things you care about fade in different ways. Natural ways. Gruesome ways.
Oh. Wait. He guesses this text also can mean taking care of Sousei (which he didn't really do.) ]}

[ Tenka completely misunderstands the text. Yeah, Sousei's hard to take care of, isn't he? But so many people still managed it one way or another when Tenka was gone -- sort of. At least Sousei's still alive. Grouchy and a little more hard to read, but alive.

So he just laughs and his return text is patient and amused. ]

yeah i know, but it'll be easier from here on out, you know?

i'm back. it'll all work out from here.

[ Tenka does have a tendency to make these grand, overarching promises. ]

[Ridiculous... But Sousei nods vaguely (keys to the sensible kids, makes sense) until Tenka repeats those words ("it's still gotta be you and me"), and then he fumbles with his cup.

He does end up spilling some tea on his hand and leg (thankfully it's not scalding anymore), and his expression is pursed and...maybe a little sad.]

... I'm fine.

[He finally manages the response, eyes narrowed and on his hands, even as he steadies his tea cup.]

[ The fumbling surprises Tenka. He blinks once and then moves immediately, pushing himself off the bar to collect a small tea towel and walking over to hand it to Sousei.

Normally he'd throw it, but Sousei's seemed pretty tired lately.

He kneels down in front of his partner as he offers the towel, looking up as he tries to meet his gaze. ]

.... Are you sure about that?

[ And he'll let himself sound openly concerned this time because -- he is.

He just said that he needed Sousei to be okay, after all. ]

Don't coddle me...

[Sousei is aware that Tenka normally would've thrown that towel, okay. And while Sousei an admit he's been exhausted, weirdly so, he still doesn't want that.

He sets the cup aside and snags the towel, wiping off his hands.]

I'm sure of it, yes. Everything is fine. [Maybe if he says it enough, it will become true.

It's strange, though, how hearing those words can send a pang through him, even after they once managed to settle him completely.]

[ Tenka watches him for a second and responds with an annoyed huff. Everything isn't fine. They both know it. For a second, Tenka thought they were comfortable again but then Sousei reacted like that.....

So he sighs and stands and grumbles. ]

Then don't lie to me either.

Everything doesn't have to be fine. I just need you to be.

[Sousei lays the towel over his leg where he was splashed, but otherwise doesn't do anything else, frowning slightly--and then he huffs vaguely.

"Don't lie to me", Tenka says, but it's tough to know how to tell the truth when he doesn't even know what it is his feelings are doing here.]

And I will be fine.

[He shakes his head, as if brushing it off.]

I'm still tired, and that isn't normal, but it will pass. [everything passes, here.]

[ If Tenka doesn't look like he buys it..... it's because he doesn't. ]

.... If you think that's all it is, then I hope that's the case.

[ and he sighs and runs a hand through his hair roughly once, aggravated ]

I'm here, okay? I don't....

[ "I don't want to go back to the way things used to be."

He grumbles some more. ]

..... We're partners, okay? That should still mean something.

It means [...everything...] enough. I am not doubting that.

[He doesn't doubt any of this. He knows Tenka would stay by his side for as long as he's able. It's just...difficult. Somehow, to hear those words that came right before Tenka disappeared for so long again...

It feels as though he's going to just disappear again.

And he doesn't know when he started to act so... silly.]

I know you are here. And that is also [a pause, and then quieter:] enough.

[ Enough. It means enough. Tenka pauses as he lets that sink in. He is still.... enough.

So he breathes out once and -- he tries for patience. Except Tenka has never really been a patient person. He is forward and demonstrative and unruly. Hence why he stops whatever he was doing at the bar to instead get another box of Stuff, carry it over to Sousei, and sits down with him. ]

.... I know you don't really like when I ask for things.

[ He asks for a lot every time. ]

But I need you to just try one thing for me, okay?

[ Because he is sad and impatient and if their partnership is enough, then why did Sousei look sad when he said it has to be the two of them? ]

[He doesn't like it when Tenka asks for things, no--because usually they are sad, selfish things. But he would rather Tenka ask than he keep it all bottled up, so his response to that is a simple nod.

This is a conversation that had to happen, he suspects.

There was no way to avoid it.]

...What is it?

[And no matter how shaky he feels...he knows he'll always find a way to do what Tenka asks. It's how it's always been.]

[ It's not a no. Then again, Sousei very rarely actually tells Tenka no when it's something important. So he starts off with a smile, just a little rejuvenated, and reaches out to plant both of his hands on Sousei's shoulders. ]

I need you to believe in me, okay?

[ It's selfish, again. Though Tenka's not asking for the belief that comes like Chuutarou's idolatry. ]

Like -- you're a stubborn ass sometimes. Impossible to talk to. Don't even know a friend when you've got one. [ did this have a point ] .... But I know that if you ever leave, you're gonna come back because this family is important to you. And I'll be waiting even if it takes another ten years.

We're partners. Even when we're fighting, we're partners. That's just how it is.

So just... don't give up on me, okay? [ Because Sousei's the one who promised to drag Tenka to the end if he had to. ] Or just....

Just try.

[why are you such a dick though.

Was that...what he was doing? He's been so tired, and sluggish, and had so much weighing down on him that he hasn't really thought about it. But with it glaring right in his face...did he really lose some hope here?

He pauses. And then slowly, draws in a breath. Yes, it's selfish.

But it's also what Sousei does. He has... never lost faith, when he had reason to carry it. So this, too, he'll continue to carry.]

I won't give up.

[He won't give up. He doesn't even have to promise to try, because he knows this is a promise he can make.

Another slow breath, and as tired as he is, he manages nonetheless to look a little smug, and offer a vague smirk.]

I am not the sort that has to try.

[ . . . Tenka blinks once and lets Sousei have all of three seconds to be smug.

And then he reaches up with one hand to instead pull at his cheek to wipe that smirk off his face. ]

Oh yeah? Then what've you been doing for the past few days? Just letting me feel shitty?!

Was it fun?!

[ow, asshole!!! Sousei pulls at Tenka's hair, trying to drag him away.]

Don't be ridiculous! You left, and right after saying exactly that. What was I supposed to think?

[An irritated huff, and he crosses his arms, looking away.]

It doesn't matter. I've decided for myself now.

You're supposed to think "CERES has a terrible sense of humor, that's one more strike against them.

[ But he relents!! Admittedly only after Sousei started pulling his hair. Though he then snorts. ]

But really? Did you decide that? All by yourself?

No, can't be because as we've seen you're useless without me.

[ and he kicks Sousei's box. Because he 24 going on 5. ]

[No, that's stupid, you're stupid.

But he scoffs vaguely at that, even as he reaches over to save his tea from a messy fate.]

You're useless. I managed just fine without you. Don't listen to any rumors you've heard.

[don't...listen to anyone...]

[ and Tenka just grins because ]

They said you were woooorriiiiiiied.

[ you liiiiike him even though his goal in life is to be your biggest headache ]

I was not. [IMMEDIATELY AND IRRITATEDLY.]

Irritated, yes. Worried, no. You left me a mess to deal with.

Ah....

[ and as if he didn't hear any of that ]

So you were really worried.

[Sousei throws the towel at Tenka's face.]

No, I wasn't. Shut up. Stop putting words in my mouth.

[ Tenka just catches it and cracks up some more. ]

Of course you only have energy when you're attacking me.

The fact that I'm tired means nothing. I can still handle this.

[THIS PLACE CAN'T BEAT HIM!!!]

I still have energy for whatever I need to do.

So you need to attack me.....

[ and he sighs. though it's also mixed with a laugh ]

One day I'll realize why I agree to this abusive partnership.

x IC INBOX

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