dumbshow | answer your god damn phone

Of course I trust you.

[His voice is low, but they're awfully close so it's loud enough to be heard. By now, Kurapika's hands have shifted to grip at the front of Leorio's pajamas for bracing, the most natural he can manage now.

He trusts him a lot. A move like this could damage his use of nen completely. It could hurt organs and mess with things that shouldn't be messed with, but Leorio is familiar with the anatomy of a human body by now. He's the best person to ask to perform something like this.

Then, he taps. An even stronger sensation than before, he still feels pain but it's more controlled somehow. Heavy at first, he lowers his head into Leorio's chest without thinking, fingers curling tight and tugging at his shirt. But just that quickly, the pain dissipates. The best part may be that there's a visual cue. Kurapika's nen spikes automatically, and from it, a different, darker colored nen is forced out before being struck completely and fading out of existence.

It doesn't hurt anymore, but Kurapika stays where he's leaning, catching his breath without any of the coughing this time.]

[The arm around Kurapika holds him tighter instinctively the moment Leorio can tell something is happening. After that push of aura he leaves his hand where it is but doesn't try again, waiting to see what happens. It feels like a much longer wait than it has any right to be, but if the worst happened and Kurapika is hurt even more than before...

In seconds, though, after days of waiting and worrying, it works. Leorio still feels frozen in place, and if he were a... quieter man, he could be content to sit here and listen to Kurapika breathe without it being ragged, but-

Well, he makes it a minute or two. Then he's restless, tapping his fingers on Kurapika's shoulder in a plain old impatient way.]

Better? Give me something.

[He did it.

That's all he can think at once, but he waits. Rests there, listening to his own breathing, using en, feeling for any coming coughing fit. There was only leftover damage from what had already been done that could soon heal in time. No remaining issues he could detect. It was the same as before he'd come down with the cough.

He wasn't going to die. The rest of them could be saved. Relief floods through him, and he rests there in it longer, enjoying the comfort without even realizing what it is.

Leorio's words actually get him to jump slightly, a very small twitch in his motions. He hadn't realized-- how long was he just laying there?]

Ah, sorry. [Pulling back in his embarrassment, he looks somewhere else even as he reaches up to take Leorio's wrists, guiding them gently down.] You did it. Unless you can sense something yourself, everything seems to be fine. I never expected that in just one night...

[He's smiling, actually, reacting without thought to the warm feeling in his chest now.] Thank you.

[Kurapika is alright. The tension in Leorio breaks all at once and raw emotion rushes up to the surface, held back since he started using his nen. He shakes his head mutely and somewhat shocked; it worked, it works, they have proof now and he can do the same thing with Melody and the others-

Tomorrow, when he isn't so tired all of a sudden. Tomorrow for sure, he'll save them all, but for now Kurapika is smiling at him and not dying on him and his throat burns as he definitely looks like he's about to burst into messy tears-]

Goddamn it!! [okay] I was so worried— [That's as far as he gets before he reaches up again to pull Kurapika bodily against him now in what is unmistakably a hug. He's only crying a little, don't look, it's embarrassing.]

[This time, he doesn't react poorly to the hug. It's overwhelming and embarrassing, but this has been so much pressure on Leorio... His hands raise and wrap around Leorio in turn, loosely reciprocating the hug.]

I'm sorry, Leorio. [Hearing him being open has always made it easier to be open, himself. Even their first meeting had gone that way. He's nowhere near crying himself, that small smile still on his face, but there's definitely emotion laced through his tone.] For placing this burden on you, and for convincing myself that I had to be alone. I shouldn't have ignored you.

[In fact, this is very reminiscent to their first meeting. He's less idealistic and naive, and he has his own dark thoughts about his goal with the spiders, but... Maybe he missed this a little. Leorio being Leorio.]

You don't have to cry.

[Well, now that it's obvious he's a blubbering mess— he'll continue. It takes him a couple seconds to catch up with what Kurapika is saying - apologizing to him. He wanted to yell about this very topic just earlier, yet somehow Kurapika being alright makes all of his annoyance and urges to shake him seem far away and unimportant. For now. As long as he doesn't do it again, then they'll have to have Words.

Of course, he'll want to dissolve into the floor from embarrassment tomorrow morning, but for now he's murmuring something incoherent and relieved into Kurapika's shoulder while he belatedly remembers how to form a sentence.]

You owe Gon an apology too!! And Killua! [just for the record... He makes a noise like he's about to follow with another statement, probably something about already forgiving him, but ahh... maybe he shouldn't be that emotionally available. Just wibbling everywhere. At the same time, he is significantly happier now.

So, what to say—] Shut up for a minute.

[romance]

I know. [At that, he does look extremely guilty. THE SONS...] But at least in the meantime, they have each other.

[He doesn't realize how close to an earlier thought from Leorio that is, and he doesn't realize the implications that come out with that. It doesn't matter. His hands slide down Leorio's back slightly (he can only hug effort for so long), but he doesn't pull back, at least.

He does, however, shoot whatever part of Leorio he can view right now a mildly offended look.]

How many times are you going to tell me to shut up tonight? [After all those calls, he thought he'd want to talk.]

[Ah- that gives him pause, but he won't get into it right now. Save that for a time he's not tearing up fresh every 30 seconds...]

Well, it isn't working yet, so I'll have to keep at it! [So THERE. He'll want to talk later, but since he clearly directs all the conversations Kurapika artfully pirouettes away from like a child avoiding doing his chores, it's not going to happen right now... He's tired. Heavy nen usage tiring a person out is something he vaguely recalls hearing about, and after what he just did, it would make sense. As the adrenaline wears off, too, tiredness whacks him in the face.]

I don't think you know how to shut up. [He considers and then moves, scooting closer to the wall to lean his tired head there and thoughtlessly dragging Kurapika with him - this hug isn't over.] I think if you stop talking, your brain shuts down.

[but how obvious is it that he's tired, in all honesty...]

You should get that looked at.

Edited (i am also tired) 2014-12-28 09:05 (UTC)

[The scoot is certainly noticeable, but just as Leorio is tired, Kurapika is wiped out. He hasn't slept much the past few days (or weeks?) and he'd just had some sort of poison nen removal procedure performed.

He finds that he doesn't have the strength to complain about it, using gravity as an excuse to lean in the hug (which his arms are still barely holding onto, by the way, this is a really long hug...), eyes closing as he registers those comments.

He lifts a hand and slaps it against Leorio's chest in retort.]

You're the one speaking nonsense now. [So why don't YOU shut up, is what he's saying. He'll keep that hand there and his eyes closed, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly. Even like this... it's comfortable. He'll end up embarrassed about this in the morning, but right now, he can't even keep his eyes open, let alone speak about moving.

Fine, he'll shut up, he thinks, and stays like that. It's a reason to give in to tiredness, and he does just that, almost instantly drifting away to sleep, regardless of if Leorio keeps trying to talk.]

[This is Leorio's victory... Kurapika is shutting up. He scoffs at the half-hearted slap, equally half-hearted as he is also half asleep. He definitely says something like "no, you are" before he gives up and appreciates the quiet. No death coughing, no Kurapika speeches—this is a miracle.

He doesn't manage to stay awake much longer than Kurapika, nodding off with his head against the wall. At some point in the rest of the night he definitely tips ungracefully over sideways and his glasses are going to leave an imprint of frames on his head for the next day, but for the first time in days it's an undisturbed sleep for them both.

Ruined, naturally, by Kurapika's way-too-early phone alarm going off, which both startles Leorio into consciousness and gets him to whack his head against the wall. Good morning already. It takes him a moment to wake up properly and another to remember he may have neglected to fall asleep in his own bed.

Ah.

Perhaps if he stays still (now, after beaning himself like a scrub), Kurapika won't smother him with a pillow.]

[Undisturbed and enjoyable, at least in Kurapika's case. Sleep was so hard to get in this business, and even when he managed to, he's usually too stressed from it to actually sleep deeply. There's those occasional nightmares about the Spider, too.

This one, though, was warm, relaxing, and didn't feel too short at all. So when the alarm goes off at its usual time, there's no jolt from him. He doesn't even register the slam of someone's head against a wall or the movement next to him. There's a small noise as he contemplates neglecting to get up, but he's never so irresponsible, so it only takes a couple more moments to sit up and reach sloppily for the table nearby and shut it off.

His eyes only just opening, he recognizes something off and turns slowly to face behind him on the bed.

It's still the morning, and even if he's an early riser, it takes a few moments to register who he's blinking sleepily at. Slowly, it hits in, and a shocked and embarrassed expression settles onto his face.]

L-leorio?! [He's going to grip the pillow next to him and throw it at Leorio's face, now, thanks.] What are you still doing here?! [And come to think of it, when did he fall asleep, actually... Oh my god, he's so embarrassed.]

[Right in the face, good morning to you too, sunshine. Leorio sputters indignantly and throws the pillow right back, hurriedly pushing himself up to a sitting position before he's whacked again.]

Hey, quit it— I don't know!! [Leorio has chosen yelling to quell his embarrassment.] You fell asleep on me!

[This isn't his fault, see??]

You--!!

[Fell asleep under him? No, wait--] You--! [Hugged him! That was it! Hugged him for like ever and wouldn't let go! And it's not even that Kurapika minded that, or minded this. There's a strange fondness in his chest that he's trying to beat down because all it's doing is adding to the embarrassment.

Clutching the pillow in his frustration for all that time, he finally tosses it aside and stands up in a huff. He stops at the mirror, checking that his earring is still on (it is), and then going through some of his things to find his contact solution. Ah, he left them in too long again, where was it...]

Nevermind. Just let me get dressed and go do that yourself. [Please, this PJ thing, it's embarrassing. Everything is embarrassing and he's actually 14. He does pause, though, when his contacts are out and in some solution, to look back over to Leorio.

Honestly... When the fiery embarrassment does start fading, it's a little funny. And he recalls the more important events last night. The illness, the words, the cure, and the tears. For a brief moment, anger wipes from his face completely, and he actually looks pleased.

But he's quick to turn his attention back to his mirror set-up.]

Nevermind. Just go get dressed so I can as well. [A pause.] You have to save everyone else, after all.

[Um, only Leorio gets to yell here, sit down Kurapika.]

Kurapika, you-!! [Are seriously harshing his morning yell, here. Leorio's fumbled his way off the bed and onto his feet while Kurapika acts like a little wimp in the corner, and he's ready to get into it when Kurapika gives him that look and, oh... never mind. It's like someone popped a balloon and his agitation just wheezed out and left him standing there, not angry, kind of- okay?

He scratches his cheek, only a moment later remembering to awkwardly stick his glasses back into place, oops.]

Uh- sure. I'll meet you... [here?? the elevator?? downstairs?? which one is the least lame, why does he care] I'll meet you.

[And he's stealthily going back to his own room now, finally...]

[It's like he's acknowledging all of these things and what they lead to, but he refuses to register what it means. It's right there, but he's stubborn, staring into the mirror for a good minute before he moves to get changed. Today, he doesn't need to wear a suit, so he puts on his old outfit just because.

From there, it's his contacts, making the chains appear on his right hand, and stepping out that door. He hasn't heard Leorio come out yet, so he knocks on his door first, light and patient. If he doesn't do this, who knows where Leorio would try to 'meet him'.]

Are you ready?

[Leorio dresses without thinking about it- he's put a suit on every day for the past who knows how many years, it's automatic- and yet still isn't ready when Kurapika knocks on his door.

There's no deep or meaningful reason for this, exactly. His glasses are bent just enough to sit crookedly and it's super annoying, that's all. He's still fussing with them when he opens the door, pausing to raise an eyebrow at the outfit. But he's doing it with an embarrassing grin...]

Feeling nostalgic? [nerrrrd he got you]

[Ah, and that relatively peaceful look he'd had on his face is gone in an instant. Really, does he have to be so rude?? Hiding his embarrassment with irritation, he gives him a Look, all while moving to his tiptoes to reach up for those glasses.

That still doesn't work, so he yanks down on his tie a bit so he can properly take them off.]

They're more comfortable. They're also from my clan. [So shut up, punk, before he hits you!! That tie tug was pretty harsh to make up for it, though, so he's satisfied for now.

With a few careful tweaks to the glasses, he offers them back.]

[What, what did he say??]

Oof—hey! [That's around his neck, is Kurapika really trying to kill him this early in the day?? He grumbles as he snatches his glasses back and puts them on. ... Oh, they're fixed.

Well, NO thank you, so there.]

I wasn't trying to start something. [grumble mumble, he's turning to head for the elevator now, rude.] It's better than watching you march around in a suit.

What's wrong with a suit? You wear them.

[The tone comes across as offended, and that's because... well, he kind of is. What's Leorio trying to say? That he's not fit to wearing clothing for someone in charge? Or higher up? He can't help but automatically hear it as an insult.

When they enter the elevator, he hits the bottom floor for them.]

[Don't say "it doesn't suit you," do not say it— Leorio frowns; what did he say now? He feels like he's been batting a zero game since waking up, and it's been maybe ten minutes. How long is this day going to be?

He doesn't say anything at first, and it's not until the floor indicator lights in the elevator blink helpfully to tell them they've passed that spare floor that he gives in. Whatever, Kurapika asked for it-] Maybe I'm feeling nostalgic.

[The silence is more irritating, but by the time that answer comes, Kurapika can only blink. He looks up and over to Leorio.]

You're always feeling nostalgic. [Or at least he seems that way... He's that type of person. That's the impression he got.]

[Can he not win today?? This is the second time Kurapika's made him sputter in futile defense of his dignity.]

I'm not!! I'm definitely not!

Oh, really?

[Ah, victory. This actually does make him nostalgic, though. From the fight upon waking up to Leorio being flustered now, Kurapika lets it sit in silence for a few more floors before he lets a smile break through. It's small, but noticeable.]

With all of your voicemails, I thought I heard a lot of talk about the past. It seemed pretty nostalgic to me. [Implying that he's listened to every one, yes indeed. In good timing, the elevator door opens, and Kurapika moves to step out.]

[This is rude...]

My— [Oh, shit, the voicemails- they seemed like a great idea when he was leaving them, but it never actually occurred to him that one day he'd have to confront the fact that Kurapika heard them. He looks away as they leave the elevator, thoroughly embarrassed.

... But. Oh.] You listened to them?

[It's funny to him that Leorio would leave all of those messages without expecting anyone to listen. And well, for a while, he didn't. But with their persistence, Kurapika got to a point where he went back and listened to them. The concern, the anger, the sadness, even the drunken nonsense. All of it made him feel a little less lonely, even if he felt he couldn't actually pick up the phone.]

You should really keep your phone away if you're drinking to the point of getting drunk.

[That's easier than saying 'yes' and easier than explaining all of his other thoughts, too.]

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