✧ ex-gang

[reignitions]

[There's one thing Shio can say about his life now and that it's, for the most part, quiet.

Disbanding BLAZE was not the easiest decision (no matter how it felt at the time, grief is a bitch, etc), but... well, in hindsight, it's one he's glad he made now. Gen is moderately successful and that's good enough for him. Nobody causes trouble in this quiet little out-of-the-way noodle shop.

Even if that is partially by design.

He should be expecting one of his regulars in about three, two, one...]

Comments

[reignitions]

You can at least rest for tonight. You've done a lot these past few days and you're not even fully healed.

[threebetrayals]

I'll heal if I rest or not.

[reignitions]

You also won't potentially re-open anything if you rest.

[threebetrayals]

I'm fine--fuck.

[He starts to pull away, only to stumble and fail to catch himself thanks to the pain of one of his injuries.]

[reignitions]

[Luckily, Shio is right there to catch him--

And also to scoop him up in a princess carry to take him over to the sofa.]

[threebetrayals]

[SQUAWKING]

Hey! What are you doing?

[reignitions]

Carrying you over to the sofa so you can rest. Leave the rest of tonight's cleaning up to me, alright?

[threebetrayals]

No, let me up!

[He can barely stand for more than a few minutes tonight. Kuni is stubborn.]

[reignitions]

You're not going to get anything done like this anyway. Come on, just take some painkillers, rest, and let me handle things. I just... don't want you reopening your injuries. Please?

[threebetrayals]

[. . .]

Fine. I get the feeling you'll sit on me if I don't.

[reignitions]

And you'd be right!

[That's said as he grabs the painkillers and some water to take them with.

Once those have been handed over, he gently squeezes Kuni's shoulder.]

[threebetrayals]

[And he will take the painkillers, sulking the entire time.]

You don't need to worry so much about me. I'm not a normal human, after all.

[reignitions]

I know, but I can't entirely help it. And I don't like you being hurt to begin with.

[threebetrayals]

...you don't like it? But it's not who's hurt.

[reignitions]

I care about you and I don't like seeing the people I care about hurt or in pain.

[As he takes one of Kuni's hands and gently squeezes a little.]

[threebetrayals]

You...care. About me.

[What. Yes Shio said they were friends but.]

[reignitions]

[Listen, Shio was expecting to have to take this slowly anyway.]

Yes, I care about you.

[threebetrayals]

...I'm not used to that.

[reignitions]

[He manages to not say the first thing that crosses his mind, which amounts to "yeah, didn't figure".

Instead--]

Well... you've got time to get used to it?

[threebetrayals]

At least until you get tired of me or whatever.

[Kuni has vaguely implied some abandonment issues before, unrelated to the Raidens.]

[reignitions]

You're a pain in the ass sometimes, but... I definitely won't get tired of you.

[threebetrayals]

Hmph.

[He settles down on the sofa, clearly tired.]

I'll believe it when I see it.

[reignitions]

Fair enough.

[And he'll just leave it at that.

Things quiet down after the whole mess (Shio has a laugh about how both of them were wrong with proposals among the gambler and his two boyfriends, having heard about the first restaurant's from Jiaoqiu--guess where it happened--and then the second one actually happening at Gen. Shio might have quickly texted Kuni to come look when he realized it was happening).

The months pass and Shio... honestly has forgotten what day it is by the time it's August 19th. He drags himself up to the apartment after work, ready to flop on the sofa for a while.]

[threebetrayals]

[And there is a cake on the counter and Kuni in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on a dinner full of Shio's favorite things. Three boxes sit on the coffee table, wrapped and labeled for Shio.]

Go sit down, I'm almost done!

[reignitions]

[... Give him a minute, his brain needs to catch up.

He'll do as he's told once his brain does catch up, at least, lowering himself onto the sofa with a lot more care than he had been originally planning.]