week 5, tuesday

[digestif]

Majima-kun!

[ that might sound like trouble, but it's just Mizuki. Who is often synonymous with trouble, and with the cheery expression on their face, might still look like it as they catch up with him in the streets of the west wing. ]

There you are! I was looking for you. [ they've got two small paper parcels in their hands, one of which they hold out to him. ] Are you busy? If you're not, come sit down with me for a while.

[ it's a croquette, still warm; they must have grabbed it from one of the stores. Not high-end food in the least - still, it's comforting and familiar, which is more than they can say about most things here. And they have a feeling they're going to need those two things to get through this. ]

Please?

Comments

[digestif]

[ he's got some strange kind of magic, they swear. A second ago, they felt like they might cry from the pressure of everything they have to do (and have to lose) - but now he's got them smiling again, and they suppose that's the reason they're here telling him any of this at all. ]

After I was nice enough to get you your own, too. [ they lean in again just enough to steal another kiss, barely long enough to register. ] Greedy.

[ and then they pull back and turn towards their poor neglected croquette, although they choose not to inhale it in a single bite like certain other people present. Despite everything, they can't help feeling lighter; the tension arching their shoulders has gone slack, and their expression is more natural, less forced, a pleased little smile sitting on their face as they eat. (Magic.) ]

[haw]

[ as they eat, he finds himself entranced by... well, them. seeing them relax like a literal weight has been lifted from them is enough to get him to smile fondly, the quick brush of their lips reflected in his own expression. he knows they must have been holding all that in for some time, and he squeezes their hand gently to let them know that he's here, that he appreciates them and everything they've trusted him with.

that still leaves one free hand, though; with it, he reaches out...

and pokes their nose. ]

[digestif]

[ He's a good one. They never would have guessed by looking at him, but he is... Maybe it's a hidden blessing that they don't have to go home and try to introduce friends and family to him. That's about what they're thinking as he squeezes their hand - then their thoughts are interrupted by him booping them out of nowhere. They blink over at him, eyebrow cocked quizzically, and they'd probably ask "what" if their mouth wasn't full of cheesy potatoes at the moment, so instead he just gets a interrogative "mmph?"

(they were about to tell him to stop staring at them so much while they eat, because that's also kind of embarrassing, but.) ]

[haw]

[ WHAT THE FUCK... THAT'S SO CUTE... IF HE WASN'T HOLDIN THEIR HAND HE WOULD BE CLUTCHIN HIS CHEST ]

Was just wonderin' what kinda sound ya'd make.

[ since they squeaked in surprise that one time... ]

[digestif]

What's with that reasoning...

[ with the croquette now properly in their stomach, they can respond - and give him a look, although it promptly turns into a chuckle and a shake of their head. ]

You're strange. And that's coming from me, so you'd better take it seriously.

[ they could make some racy comment about how he's already gotten plenty of sounds out of them, but... they don't, for once. They just squeeze his hand back, and lean into his side. Just a little. ]

[haw]

[ oh, trust him, he's already thinking it... but he's actually kind of glad they don't say it. they don't need to be horny all the time! the two of them deserve to be good and pure sometimes!!! ]

C'mon, lemme have this much.

[ after that squeeze, he hesitates as he lets go of their hand. then, he carefully brushes some of their hair out of the way and drapes his arm around them. ]

[digestif]

[ they're not really used to being the smaller one in their relationships - it's an odd feeling, being held this way, but not bad. Not at all. After a moment of deliberation, they rest their head on his shoulder, giving a short, warm laugh. ]

I let you get away with a lot more than you think.

[ from the beginning, they have... they didn't imagine things would end up like this. They're quiet for a few seconds before continuing, a little hesitant. ]

... There are more things I should tell you. Is that okay? They're not very romantic.

[haw]

[ feeling the light pressure of their head upon his shoulder is... nice. he softly presses them closer to him as he begins to stroke their hair, tangling his fingers between the strands of luxurious purple.

this is . . . nice, he thinks again, as if to really drive the point home. ]

'Course. I'm listenin'.

[digestif]

[ It is nice. Nice enough to make them hesitate before continuing onto the next topic. There's a reason they've never said anything about it to him. ]

You remember when Nito-kun was cursed and left that paper with his god's name on it in the courtyard? That was my doing. I don't know why Uchiha-kun took the blame, but he was lying.

[ they shut their eyes, sighing through their nose, and hope that Majima doesn't get too angry. ]

He wouldn't tell me who he was allied with. Since we were sharing a house, I thought it was important for me to find out if I could trust him or not, and I thought the courtyard would be an anonymous place to drop off the note and have it be found... I wasn't expecting anyone to figure out how to read it, and I wasn't expecting Nito-kun to confess that it was his god, either. Regardless of my intentions, though, I put him in danger for my own benefit. That's the truth.

[haw]

[ well, that's. certainly a thing to learn from your significant other within like ten minutes of becoming facebook official.

as they explain their actions, he turns to look at them in their place tucked under his arm. he doesn't take his hand away from their head, but he does stop stroking their hair. hm. ]

So ya do have Eye of the Beholder.

[ his voice is even and metered as he merely states what he's pretty sure has just been confirmed as fact. ]

[digestif]

[ it's something he deserves to know. If part of the reason he likes them is because he thinks they're selfless and pure, then they'd just be deceiving him to let him continue. They haven't killed anybody. But if they'd been partnered with a god that wanted them to, they can't say that they wouldn't have. ]

That's right. [ a beat. ] I've only used it one other time, to check Cinque-kun's innocence - but that time, I was more careful. I didn't want to repeat the mistakes I made with Nito-kun.

[ they pause, opening their eyes now to look at him once more, not moving from their spot on his shoulder. ]

Nito-kun knows what happened. I spoke to him right after the trial to explain things. [ ... ] And I asked him not to tell you, because I didn't want you to distrust me. But I'm telling you now. I don't want to keep a secret from you.

[haw]

[ of course he doesn't think that—even makoto, for as pure as she seemed on the surface, had her demons and darkness born from turmoil. that hadn't changed his feelings for her; it won't for mizuki, either.

his expression is still a little unreadable, but he holds them close, as if to reassure them he isn't going anywhere. ]

As long as the two of ya made peace with it, it ain't exactly my business what happened between ya. But I'm glad you're bein' honest with me.

[digestif]

[ it is reassuring, and, once again, Mizuki is mildly disappointed in themself for letting themself become so vulnerable. But they're exactly five minutes too late to be having regrets. ]

I know you care a lot about him. [ he can say it's none of his business, but they know better than that. ] ... You care a lot about everyone.

[ a pause; their smile comes back, gentle. ]

But that's one of my favorite things about you.

[haw]

[ hey you know what's a great way to respond to receiving affection from your bae? derailing from the subject matter entirely! ]

Eh—you're gonna turn right back around an' use that as fodder against me? I didn't take ya for the type to fight dirty like that...

[digestif]

Eh? Goro-kun, don't tell me you're shy and weak to compliments? That's really cute.

[ the c-word is BACK with a vengeance. One gets the sense Mizuki is not really joking, though. They shift, resting a hand on his shoulder and their chin on top of it to more directly look at him with a smug smirk... before continuing without an ounce of shame. If he's shy, they want to fluster him. ]

I'm serious, though? The way you stood up for me back with Guy-kun made me really happy - how you're always trying to protect Kaname-chan and Nito-kun, too. You're strong, but you use your strength to protect what matters to you. You're easy to talk to, and you're honest and straightforward... I like that. [ their eyes narrow in catlike satisfaction. ] Of course, you've got a thousand and one flaws, but to be honest, I like that about you, too. Is saying that fighting dirty?

[haw]

[ well, if their goal was to get him to blush, then they've achieved it. with the arm that isn't wrapped around them, he reaches for the back of his neck and rubs it sheepishly for a few moments... before bringing it back around to hide his face a little. ]

Geez... an' here I thought I was the sappy one. Even though we're together—[ ugh, they are, aren't they, as if he still hasn't completely grasped that despite everything that's happened, ]—hearin' about myself like this is still embarrassin', ya know?

[digestif]

[ success. They give their best angelic smile. ]

Sorry, sorry! Your reactions are just fun, so I can't help teasing you. [ a beat. ] Oh - not that I didn't mean it, though.

[ it does feel weird to hear him say they're together, though - it gives them pause for a second, too, if only mentally. They can't believe they're seriously doing this: literally setting themself up for a fall. At the same time, though...

They doubt their ability to sever this attachment. Their eyes linger for a little while on the harsh edges of his profile, half-hidden by his hand. They recall his dejection from only a few minutes ago when he'd thought they were shooting him down. And they recall their unease from last week, when they'd thought he was gone, and the frustration of being hopeless to help him during the trial. Throwing all of it away now would be worse than losing it in a few weeks, wouldn't it? ]

[haw]

[ he keeps his eye closed for a bit out of sheer embarrassment... but the way they so fondly comment on his personality gets him to peek at them through the cracks between his fingers.

. . .

god. he doesn't even want to think about the eventual future that's just around the corner. that's why he's gotta start living in the present, right?

he places his hand at the side of their head and nudges them lightly, encouraging them to
sink even further into the crook of his neck. ]

Even the flaws part?

[digestif]

[ teasingly: ] Especially that part.

[ they go along with coaxing, nuzzling up against his neck and closing their eyes. Mizuki normally isn't the most physically affectionate of people, especially in a manner as docile as this; as someone who's constantly trying their damnedest to be completely impenetrable, they don't like the vulnerability it shows. But it's all right. Just for a little while. They're alone. Majima is warm and comfortable; they can feel his pulse faintly beneath his skin.

It's all right to love him just for a little while. ]