[ Itâs not like they can pretend Yusuke didnât drag Sanji into the idea of even giving him the chance to try a date kicking and screaming. If he wasnât decent at smashing through Sanjiâs bullshit they probably wouldnât be sat here now. Or would be taking much longer getting here. ]
Thatâs... good to know. [ And it is. Heâs just... treating this how he thinks he should, and hearing itâs working is a relief. ]
But it isnât âputting up withâ. [ Thereâs the difference. Sanji sees it as Yusuke putting up with a part of him, whereas to Yusuke itâs just... part and parcel of Sanji. Heâs cutting and heâs blunt and doesnât suffer fools lightly, but neither does Yusuke and that bluntness is easier for him to navigate than veiled words and subtle misdirection. ] No one is making me spend time with you. I can keep repeating it like a broken record until it sinks in.
[It's the kind of offhanded comment Sanji didn't realize needed fixing until Yusuke corrects it. Shouldn't be a surprise at this stage, but hell, he can't help but be baffled by how ingrained this shit is. His head bows as if chastised]
No... you don't have to keep saying it. [Lord, he hopes that he's not so much of a mess as to need constant reassurance. Running a hand through his hair, he tries to work the frustration out of himself, one of his legs giving into nervous tapping]
... For the shitty record, I don't wanna... [Raking a hand through his hair again] Uh, end things here.
[Because he's... happy? Content? Something close to it. And he realizes maybe he hasn't made that part clear, that he offers Yusuke the opportunity to leave because it's what he expects... not because he wants it.]
[ If the reasoning behind had been for something more serious, like he was unhappy, or didn't want to continue, Yusuke would listen. But not for... well. "A tree told me to", as the reason. Or perhaps rather, "a tree amplified my insecurities and now I'm going to fall prey to them without a fight" might be more accurate.
He shifts his leg, bumping it against Sanji's. ]
Are we more on the same page now?
[ He's carefully trying to coax Sanji's hand over so he can check his wrist again. Maybe with that it might have... calmed down a little? It didn't seem like this one conversation was going to chip away at everything Magatus had dragged out into the open, but if it's helped, maybe there will have been a change... ]
[Same page? Well, Sanji has come to the conclusion he's a fool and Yusuke is a saint for dealing with his stupidity, but doesn't hurt to have that re-established.
Hell, it's... kinda relieving.
So there's no fight in him when Yusuke pulls his hand, twists it around to see the underside of Sanji's wrist. It's as the other predicted -- the mark hasn't just calmed, it's actively fading, like a scar set on fast forward, losing its color and disappearing into Sanji's skin tone.]
It's a relief to see it vanishing, that's for sure. No one wants one of the first things their boyfriend says to them after being away is that they got a magical mark that was going to kill them. He tugs Sanji's hand up a little, and leans down to press his lips to the space where the mark is almost dissolving away on his skin. ]
Take a look for yourself. [ He taps the clear skin with his finger, before leaning against Sanji's side - a little like someone just deflated him. It had been a necessary conversation, but a tiring one regardless. ]
[Cracking open one eye, Sanji watches Yusuke inspect the area, can tell from his boyfriend's expression that either the mark has lessened or disappeared entirely. His lips quirk to the side when he feels a kiss against his wrist.]
Yeah? [Holding himself firm so that Yusuke can relax against him. It's the least he can do.] Guess I didn't completely mess it up.
[Doesn't feel like a complete victory to him. Though his fever is starting to recede, he's tired and worn thin. Mark his words, he's allergic to honesty. He refuses to do this shit again for at least six months.]
... Hey.
[Even still, he leans over, brushing his lips against Yusuke's temple in quiet affection.]
[ Good luck with that, Sanji. Honesty is going to have factor into this at some point. ]
You're welcome.
[ He's comfortable now - semi-snuggled up and enjoying the warmth of being this close. His tiredness isn't going to be as bone deep, but he does feel a little like someone put him through a mangle. ]
No more cursed tattoos, if you don't mind though. Just a request.
[Rude, that means Sanji's gotta be the one to rearrange them on couch, tugging Yusuke along so there's a blanket over both of them and they're reclined on the cushions. Grumbling, he wraps an arm around his boyfriend and promptly flops his face into his shoulder]
Fine, no more cursed tattoos tryin' to kill me.
[As for that last statement? He offers nothing but a tired grunt, par for the course with this asshole, only softening the moment by squeezing the hand still captured in his]
Oh, there they go. Yes, this is much better. Yusuke wriggles himself slightly into a better position, one where he can hook his own arm around Sanji and nuzzle himself cosily against him.
[ Guys... He wanted to get some water and enjoy some games in the living room, but y'all are having a Moment. Yes. That means he has been standing by the corner, waiting for them to be done, for the last five minutes. No, he never meant to eavesdrop because he has been trying to get Yusuke's attention in that time period, too. ]
[ As much as he wants to say that Yusuke would be worried and maybe send Sanji to hell himself, he keeps that to himself. He remembers he shares a room with fox friend and Yusuke should remember that, too. Don't think he'll forget this slight. ]
I'm just here for my Switch. [ Which he's going to zoom through the room to get and shuffle quickly out of the way after he looks at Sanji one more time.
Then back to Yusuke. He goes ahead and adds in Japanese so Sanji won't understand: ]
ăYou know how to pick them, but he has a good head on his shoulders. Have fun.ă
[ Stares at Sanji again... Then finally leaves after he tosses the cushion back at them since that should stay in the living room. ]
[What is this, why is Akira giving him The Stare? He is a good man who has never done a damn thing wrong in his entire life, don't bring this shit to him.
Fuck it, Sanji gets to staring right back, only to start stuttering in irritated French when Akira very clearly using his own tactics against him.
... That pillow also hits him square in the face.]
[ Yusuke doesn't really have much to say in direct response to that - he's tired, and he doesn't need to be told that he made a good life choice here. Still, it's appreciated anyway, and he does turn his head to give Akira a look. One that's in agreement with the things Akira has just said. ]
...
[ Oh, and there Sanji goes. It's very hard not to laugh at the pillow-to-the-face, but he does turn his attention back to Sanji rather than his retreating roommate. ]
He was being complimentary. [ In his own Akira way. After a second, Yusuke squeezes Sanji's hand. ] No need to yell.
[Damn right he's pouting, he is crabby and the embodiment of a hissing feline. When will the universe allow him to sleep already?
... That set aside, he huffs a sigh while obeying Yusuke's order, voice already lowering back to normal levels -- in part because he's too tired to keep up the annoyance, but also because he still has to answer the other's question from before.]
One of his hands shifts around to the base of Sanji's neck, rubbing lightly at the nape. ]
Ah. [ He can put a name to a face now. And... well. That's good then. They're close, and if you've got something picking at your weaknesses, you need support from someone you know. ] That's good then. You weren't dealing with that entirely alone.
[ Yusuke can't help but chuckle at that. The "well, someone has to to" is unspoken, but definitely there.
And then he sort of... rolls his head slightly to look at Sanji. ]
I'll have to say thank you then. I assume you were planning on avoiding the conversation for as long as possible, otherwise?
[ It's accompanied by a light pinch to the crook of Sanji's elbow. There's no point in getting annoyed when they've had the conversation anyway -- getting mad would be a waste of energy. ]
[He knows Yusuke's pinching in jest, but he chooses an honest answer for once in his life. Meeting Yusuke's look, he reaches over, smoothing some of the other's bangs out of his eyes.]
Okay, for the record, I didn't wanna ignore you. [Huffing a sigh] But yeah, he... might've had to threaten to call you first to finally get my ass out the door.
If youâd been ignoring me I wouldâve asked why, if it was ongoing. But still, if itâs involving your own health and well-being...
[ Heâd hope that he wouldnât have waited until he was on deathâs door to come along and have this conversation in some way, shape or form. Still, he ended up here one way or another. ]
If the mark is fading does that mean youâre feeling a little better...?
And... yeah. [Pulling his hand away from Yusuke's bangs, he presses the back of his hand against his forehead, gauging his own temperature.] Don't feel as hot? I think?
How is my finding you to check up on you âterrifyingâ...?
[ He stares for a moment, before sliding his hand under Sanjiâs and pressing it palm down to his forehead, feeling slightly cooler skin there. If he had a fever, itâs definitely cooling. ]
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Thatâs... good to know. [ And it is. Heâs just... treating this how he thinks he should, and hearing itâs working is a relief. ]
But it isnât âputting up withâ. [ Thereâs the difference. Sanji sees it as Yusuke putting up with a part of him, whereas to Yusuke itâs just... part and parcel of Sanji. Heâs cutting and heâs blunt and doesnât suffer fools lightly, but neither does Yusuke and that bluntness is easier for him to navigate than veiled words and subtle misdirection. ] No one is making me spend time with you. I can keep repeating it like a broken record until it sinks in.
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No... you don't have to keep saying it. [Lord, he hopes that he's not so much of a mess as to need constant reassurance. Running a hand through his hair, he tries to work the frustration out of himself, one of his legs giving into nervous tapping]
... For the shitty record, I don't wanna... [Raking a hand through his hair again] Uh, end things here.
[Because he's... happy? Content? Something close to it. And he realizes maybe he hasn't made that part clear, that he offers Yusuke the opportunity to leave because it's what he expects... not because he wants it.]
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[ If the reasoning behind had been for something more serious, like he was unhappy, or didn't want to continue, Yusuke would listen. But not for... well. "A tree told me to", as the reason. Or perhaps rather, "a tree amplified my insecurities and now I'm going to fall prey to them without a fight" might be more accurate.
He shifts his leg, bumping it against Sanji's. ]
Are we more on the same page now?
[ He's carefully trying to coax Sanji's hand over so he can check his wrist again. Maybe with that it might have... calmed down a little? It didn't seem like this one conversation was going to chip away at everything Magatus had dragged out into the open, but if it's helped, maybe there will have been a change... ]
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Hell, it's... kinda relieving.
So there's no fight in him when Yusuke pulls his hand, twists it around to see the underside of Sanji's wrist. It's as the other predicted -- the mark hasn't just calmed, it's actively fading, like a scar set on fast forward, losing its color and disappearing into Sanji's skin tone.]
What's it look like?
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It's a relief to see it vanishing, that's for sure. No one wants one of the first things their boyfriend says to them after being away is that they got a magical mark that was going to kill them. He tugs Sanji's hand up a little, and leans down to press his lips to the space where the mark is almost dissolving away on his skin. ]
Take a look for yourself. [ He taps the clear skin with his finger, before leaning against Sanji's side - a little like someone just deflated him. It had been a necessary conversation, but a tiring one regardless. ]
It's looking much better.
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Yeah? [Holding himself firm so that Yusuke can relax against him. It's the least he can do.] Guess I didn't completely mess it up.
[Doesn't feel like a complete victory to him. Though his fever is starting to recede, he's tired and worn thin. Mark his words, he's allergic to honesty. He refuses to do this shit again for at least six months.]
... Hey.
[Even still, he leans over, brushing his lips against Yusuke's temple in quiet affection.]
Thanks.
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You're welcome.
[ He's comfortable now - semi-snuggled up and enjoying the warmth of being this close. His tiredness isn't going to be as bone deep, but he does feel a little like someone put him through a mangle. ]
No more cursed tattoos, if you don't mind though. Just a request.
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[He's too tired to move his head much, so sorry Yusuke, he's just gonna rest his head against yours.]
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[ Mm. They're going to fall asleep here, aren't they? He should at least tug a blanket over them so they're cosy but...
sure feels like effort. ]
But thank you. For talking about it. [ Even when he knows it's something Sanji hates. ]
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Fine, no more cursed tattoos tryin' to kill me.
[As for that last statement? He offers nothing but a tired grunt, par for the course with this asshole, only softening the moment by squeezing the hand still captured in his]
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[ Oh.
Oh, there they go. Yes, this is much better. Yusuke wriggles himself slightly into a better position, one where he can hook his own arm around Sanji and nuzzle himself cosily against him.
Perfect. ]
...
[ Wait. ]
You... weren't there alone, were you?
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Congratulations on living.
[ They have a guest room, by the way? ]
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Living room belongs to the Leggie Duo.
Also what the goddamn fuck, Sanji glares over the curve of Yusuke's shoulder]
I tried my shitty best, what can I say?
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It takes a little awkward twisting of his arm, but after a moment he manages to drag a pillow out from under the two of them and
lovingly fling it in Akira's direction. Then he just grumbles, and nuzzles back into Sanji's shoulder. Mmmnrgh. ]
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[ As much as he wants to say that Yusuke would be worried and maybe send Sanji to hell himself, he keeps that to himself. He remembers he shares a room with fox friend and Yusuke should remember that, too. Don't think he'll forget this slight. ]
I'm just here for my Switch. [ Which he's going to zoom through the room to get and shuffle quickly out of the way after he looks at Sanji one more time.
Then back to Yusuke. He goes ahead and adds in Japanese so Sanji won't understand: ]
ăYou know how to pick them, but he has a good head on his shoulders. Have fun.ă
[ Stares at Sanji again... Then finally leaves after he tosses the cushion back at them since that should stay in the living room. ]
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Fuck it, Sanji gets to staring right back, only to start stuttering in irritated French when Akira very clearly using his own tactics against him.
... That pillow also hits him square in the face.]
Si je n'étais pas si fatigué, je te botterais le cul!!
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...
[ Oh, and there Sanji goes. It's very hard not to laugh at the pillow-to-the-face, but he does turn his attention back to Sanji rather than his retreating roommate. ]
He was being complimentary. [ In his own Akira way. After a second, Yusuke squeezes Sanji's hand. ] No need to yell.
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[Damn right he's pouting, he is crabby and the embodiment of a hissing feline. When will the universe allow him to sleep already?
... That set aside, he huffs a sigh while obeying Yusuke's order, voice already lowering back to normal levels -- in part because he's too tired to keep up the annoyance, but also because he still has to answer the other's question from before.]
And no, wasn't up there alone. [A pause.]
Baren was around.
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[ Pot, kettle.
One of his hands shifts around to the base of Sanji's neck, rubbing lightly at the nape. ]
Ah. [ He can put a name to a face now. And... well. That's good then. They're close, and if you've got something picking at your weaknesses, you need support from someone you know. ] That's good then. You weren't dealing with that entirely alone.
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[God, Yusuke, let him be a terrible human being when he wants to be?? He smirks into Yusuke's shoulder, amused -- maybe even pleased.]
And yeah, Baren's got his own ways of helping.
... He made sure I got over here, too.
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And then he sort of... rolls his head slightly to look at Sanji. ]
I'll have to say thank you then. I assume you were planning on avoiding the conversation for as long as possible, otherwise?
[ It's accompanied by a light pinch to the crook of Sanji's elbow. There's no point in getting annoyed when they've had the conversation anyway -- getting mad would be a waste of energy. ]
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[He knows Yusuke's pinching in jest, but he chooses an honest answer for once in his life. Meeting Yusuke's look, he reaches over, smoothing some of the other's bangs out of his eyes.]
Okay, for the record, I didn't wanna ignore you. [Huffing a sigh] But yeah, he... might've had to threaten to call you first to finally get my ass out the door.
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[ YUSUKE THAT SOUNDS OMINOUS?? ]
If youâd been ignoring me I wouldâve asked why, if it was ongoing. But still, if itâs involving your own health and well-being...
[ Heâd hope that he wouldnât have waited until he was on deathâs door to come along and have this conversation in some way, shape or form. Still, he ended up here one way or another. ]
If the mark is fading does that mean youâre feeling a little better...?
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[He's so amused, bury him here.]
And... yeah. [Pulling his hand away from Yusuke's bangs, he presses the back of his hand against his forehead, gauging his own temperature.] Don't feel as hot? I think?
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How is my finding you to check up on you âterrifyingâ...?
[ He stares for a moment, before sliding his hand under Sanjiâs and pressing it palm down to his forehead, feeling slightly cooler skin there. If he had a fever, itâs definitely cooling. ]
No, I would agree. Youâre cooling down.
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