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[Today is worse. Today... today he doesn't feel as though Tenka should be leaving his sight at all. The morning was okay, and he was feeling decent at lunchtime--but that's when he ditches work, heading on home because work's not as important as making sure Tenka and Soramaru and--

(Making sure they're what?)

Making sure they haven't left--him.

Which is why Tenka is probably getting the familiar text today, too, in the afternoon:]

where are you?

[what is up with this..... he can't remember the last time sousei texted him so often

which is probably why tenka doesn't hesitate when he answers]

red light district

WAIT THAT WAS A JOKE DON'T GO ACTUALLY GO THERE

i'm at home now. why?

[HE WAS GOING THERE.

And that's why he's not at home now.

TURNING BACK ON HIS HEEL TO GO BACK HOME.]

stay there

what if i don't want to

[which is not the case hence why he's still lounging on the couch now but

what if

sousei's been so strange]

[... that's actually enough to momentarily make him feel panicked.

And then he checks himself. It's... not that bad. Tenka will stay there. He won't leave.

He won't leave.

But Sousei is very much running home.]

stay there

did you eat something weird? i don't think the night's sleep did anything

[YOU'RE STILL BEING WEIRD

but at the very least, Tenka's not getting up from the couch

he is one with the couch]

[Seriously.... Though the longer this persists, the more certain Sousei is that there's nothing wrong with him at all. Of course he's concerned. Tenka's...his, after all.]

i'm fine.

[Which he proceeds to confirm (???) by getting home, stepping through the door, a little bit ruffled because he definitely did just run home, though he's not out of breath.

He does visibly relax when he sees Tenka there though.]

[He's not fine.

Sousei is not fine and that's enough to set Tenka on edge because he's not sure what the cause is. Why is this world being so strange again?

Hence why he's actually sitting up when Sousei comes in and raising a hand.]

Yo, partner.

What's the rush?

I wanted to be certain you made it home safely. It was a lengthy period of time.

[That...escapes him before he can quite help it. He pauses. Is that...right...

... no...? Yes? That is how he's feeling but it feels...wrong too.]

[ . . . . . okay, this is weird. This is really weird. It's too much and it's really honest but for some reason, it's not the directness that bothers Tenka. It's the fact that Sousei is even thinking about this sort of thing.

Hence why he's just shrugging, a rather nervously, and opening his arms.]

Well, here I am. You can relax now, right?

[He can relax now.... can he?

He takes a seat on the couch, considering that. His response is slow, considering.]

Yes... [He can relax now.] There isn't anyone I have to worry about here.

[Soramaru is important too, after all, and Nishiki is...a nonentity, or at least not someone he has to worry will take them away.]

[ . . . . you're such a weirdo. Which is when Tenka moves then to nudge Sousei with his foot.]

Hey.

Are you sure you didn't eat anything weird? Or did you run into Shirasu again or something?

No. There is nothing wrong with me.

[He hasn't seen Shirasu, though mention of the other man does tense him a bit. He also hasn't eaten anything weird. He hasn't done anything weird at all.

Why is Tenka even asking?]

I am simply concerned for you. [For the thought of Tenka leaving, more than anything. ...A pause.] Is that not alright?

You're always concerned for me. If that wasn't alright then I would've spoken up about it a long time ago.

[It's kind of default for Sousei to be questioning his life choices, but Tenka hasn't even made many of those lately....]

.... but I'm concerned about you too, for once.

[.... ah. That's...a warm feeling, right? Tenka's concerned about him and cares? That's...a good thing. (Of course Tenka cares, he's his partner, why was that even in question--)

The voice of reason is pretty easily drowned out right now, if it's even there at all anymore in his head.

He nods.]

I appreciate your concern. [He does!!! He's even smiling a little. ~~dokidoki~~

no really where did the sousei go from a few days ago who was trying to convince Tenka he was invincible?]

You are often away for long hours at your workplace. I don't like it.

[no really what the fuck]

[ . . . . . . . .

Tenka's always wanted Sousei to show more emotion - to have more feelings. Except rather than changing Sousei himself, Tenka just wanted to create an atmosphere where Sousei would have reason to smile. Like how Taiko always made sure that the shrine was warm and full of laughter when they were kids.

This isn't what he wants. This is something changed in Sousei and Tenka doesn't like it.]

Sousei.

I have to go to work. We don't have much time before we actually have to start paying rent on this place and we should still keep some money saved up.

[ . . . . ]

Why do I have to explain this to you?

[He's explaining, but it's hard to say if it's making any progress in sinking in. Sousei shakes his head a moment later at that, frowning now.

He doesn't want Tenka to go.]

You should stay. I will go and deal with those problems.

[he'll work. Tenka will stay home. Nobody will take him away then, and it'll be fine.]

[ . . . . . ]

Are you trying to turn me into a housewife?!

[SERIOUS TRAIN OF THOUGHT DERAILED]

[And...Sousei doesn't take the bait. He's not derailed in the least. Rather, calmly, he shakes his head.]

No, of course not.

[...]

I am just minimizing the threat.

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It bothers him. He's not sure when his partner left and this weird Sousei came in.]

When did you get so boring?

[That strikes a chord, though maybe not in the way Tenka was hoping for. Boring is...bad. Tenka clearly doesn't like boring. If Tenka thinks Sousei is boring, then...maybe he'll leave after all.

Unacceptable.]

Then I will fix it. Don't concern yourself with it. [don't leave]

['Then I will fix it.' It's a far cry from when they were kids and whenever Tenka accused Sousei of being boring, he'd be met with an indignant 'What?!'

That wasn't boring. That was fun. This? This is still boring and more than that, it's worrying.

So Tenka, irritated as he is, immediately gets up to head for the door.]

I'm going to get answers and a doctor. You stay here.

[And immediately, Sousei is reaching for Tenka's arm, alarmed.

Does it...really bother him that much? This is something he'll have to fix, clearly... And quickly.]

Wait. Don't.

[don't!!]

text; 11/04

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