"(815): I've noticed we have slowly begun to phase the "B" out of our Bromance." Action | Closed

[deathcough]

Who: Souji and Hajime
Where: Souji's apartment
When: like a day before the werewolf hunt or w/e

[Honestly, Souji likes this part of his relationship with Hajime. The part where he has a key and comes in, doesn't even have to announce himself anymore, and will fix Souji dinner like it's no big deal. The part here they can hang out without saying a word, communicating through nonverbal means and gestures that they can easily read into. The looks and touches and other little nuances they've grown so used to over the years.

Souji stifles a yawn and stands in the middle of his living room, stealing glances at Hajime finishing cooking their evening meal as he flicks through netflix]

What are you in the mood for? I don't really feel like a horror movie...

Comments

[iaijutsu]

[If anything, Hajime was in the mood to get some of that homework done, and his bag is still sitting at the end of Souji's coffee table, as though to remind him of all the work he should be doing. He has a feeling Souji's not going to let him get away with that so easily, but -]

I'm not feeling picky.

[This is usually Hajime for "pick what you want and I'll do a little calculus while we're watching it."

It's worth a shot.]

[deathcough]

[Souji side-glances him again, debating on if he should be nice or be his usual asshole self.

After a moment he settles for something in the middle] Pick something and then you can do some homework, nerd. [But it's said affectionately and the corner of his mouth lifts in a little smile. It almost feels like everything's normal again.]

Nothing with werewolves though. I'm putting my foot down on that shit. [Almost normal.]

[iaijutsu]

[Hajime is hard pressed to think of a werewolf movie he's honestly enjoyed that much, really, so that stipulation doesn't bother him much as he finishes dishing up the lasagna.]

Hold on, I'll look in a minute.

[First he's going to go rooting around in Souji's fridge for...oh.]

You only have chocolate milk?

[He can't really say he's surprised.]

[deathcough]

I like chocolate milk. [it's said a bit defensively because secretly Souji is like 5 years old

I used the last of the milk making cereal this morning, I didn't get more. Sorry. [He flops gracelessly onto the couch and settles in to watch Hajime move around, smiling a little again. He enjoys watching the other and finding out the little ways he's changed since they first met. It's a favorite past time]

[iaijutsu]

It's fine.

[He's not that wild about chocolate milk, himself, but if it washes everything down then it washes everything down, so he pours two glasses, sticks the carton back in the fridge, and soon emerges into the living room, somehow miraculously balancing two plates and holding two glasses with nothing even wobbling and threatening to spill. It's a god-given talent.]

[deathcough]

[Souji whistles low, impressed, and rises enough to take a plate and glass for himself, scooting over on the couch to give Hajime some room]

We should just get married, then you can cook for me all the time. [he grins shamelessly and waits for Hajime to get comfortable before passing the controller over] Pick something, you promised.

[Okay he didn't really promise but w/e close enough.]

[iaijutsu]

[He's getting there, he's getting there.

Nothing's really standing out as he scrolls through the pages, though, and by the time he's gone through three categories without finding anything he's got a feeling he should probably just give up and pick something at random before they spend all night just finding the movie, and -

- hey, what's this.

It is no particular secret (from Souji, at least) that Hajime has a soft spot a mile wide for adorable kitties. Hope you were in the mood for Milo and Otis, Souji.]

[deathcough]

[By the time they find the right movie, Souji's almost completely finished his meal, setting aside the last bit as he starts to feel full. He downs half the chocolate milk and settles back against the couch with a feeling of contentment.]

I can't even pretend to be surprised. [He can't help but laugh at the other a little, shaking his head. NOPE NOT SURPRISED AT ALL but hey cats are cute.]

Maybe we should get a cat.

[iaijutsu]

[The food isn't cold yet, thankfully, since Hajime - though he's been taking a few bites while flipping through the movies - hasn't been eating as fast. So he settles back, plate balanced across his knees, and takes a moment to chew and swallow before answering.]

We?

[That sounds an awful lot like "let's get a cat so you can take care of it and I can just pet it every once in a while."]

[deathcough]

We'll be mom and dad. You take care of it and feed it and scold it, and I sit on the couch drinking beer. I think it's a great partnership.

[He laughs and watches the movie. The second the puppy starts following the cat around and trying to keep him out of trouble, he side-eyes Hajime]

If you were a dog, you'd be that dog. You're Otis.

[iaijutsu]

[Somewhere amidst all that, Hajime's finished eating and pushed his own plate aside, and although he's got his math textbook and his notebook spread across his lap...well, it's hard to focus on the math when there's so much cute on the TV.]

Clearly someone has to keep Milo out of trouble.

[Kind of like you, huh.]

[deathcough]

I wonder if Milo realizes how lucky he is. [it's said casually, but yeah shut up he knows okay.

He has a feeling Hajime's not going to be actually doing any homework any time soon.]

[iaijutsu]

[He does look down at his book again for a moment - because he catches the double meaning there, thank you very much, and -]

I doubt Otis minds.

[- and looking at math is less embarrassing than looking up.]

[deathcough]

[Souji coughs a little, clearing his throat--but there's a smile and a tinge of color to his face that gives away his embarrassment.]

That's good, at least. The last thing Milo'd want is Otis starting to regret befriending him or anything.

[He tugs at his collar in a faux-nonchalance and ow the window is suddenly looking very interesting]

[iaijutsu]

That wouldn't happen.

[This sure is some fascinating calculus.]

[deathcough]

Heh. [Souji falls silent for a while.]

If I fell into a box and floated down the river would you chase after me?

[iaijutsu]

Of course.

[Who knows what kind of shit he'd get into at the other end? Not happening.]

[deathcough]

[He can't help but laugh--jeez, he didn't even have to think about the answer did he?--and he shifts on the couch to drape an arm along the back of it, behind Hajime.]

You're alright, Hajime, I guess. [His tone is teasing though aaand he's just gonna go right ahead and get comfortable against him nbd.]

[iaijutsu]

[That's...pretty comfortable, actually, and after a moment, the pencil slips out of Hajime's hand as he leans back into it, head against Souji's shoulder.

He's a lot more tired than he thought he was, the more he thinks about it - but that's not so surprising, maybe, with everything going on. He's been shaving a little sleeping time off here and there to keep up with all this...stuff, and a little slower to get to sleep when he does try, with all the things he has to think about and keep himself awake with. Seeing Paul Ben get shot. That unshakeable feeling that he'd been shot. The sight of the grues taking over a person. The look on Souji's face when he'd touched the statue.

It was a lot of reasons to be tired. It wouldn't hurt if he just...leaned back for a few minutes to find his second wind, right?]

[deathcough]

[Souji doesn't mind at all, shifting and pulling Hajime closer so Souji as laying more on the couch and Hajime was sort of laying on him.

His weight is comfortable and arm, making Souji more than a little sleepy himself. He rests his head briefly against the other's, resting his arm comfortably around his shoulders. Getting all entangled on the couch was totally a platonic sort of thing, right? His heart beat speeding up was just a side-effect of... the action going on in the movie. Yep.

His thumb rubs small circles on Hajime's shoulder.]

...Hey, Hajime?

[iaijutsu]

[...really comfortable.

It takes Hajime a moment to realize that his eyes have closed, but Souji's voice brings him back to reality enough for him to open them again.]

Yes?

[deathcough]

You should... [Souji pauses, licks his lip, and hesitates.]

You should promise to not leave me. No matter what happens, stay with me.

[iaijutsu]

[It's funny how Souji says that like it's something Hajime has to promise first.

Because really, for all that he doesn't breathe a word of it out loud, Hajime isn't sure what he'd do without Souji, either. Souji may have driven everyone else who might've given him a chance away, but Hajime...

...Hajime just isn't used to getting those chances in the first place. Nobody approached him, and he never went looking.

Nobody but Souji.]

I promise.

[deathcough]

...Good. [His grip tightens briefly before relaxing again, continuing to rub circles again.]

And I won't leave you either. Ever. [A low chuckle] You're stuck with me forever.

[iaijutsu]

...I'm glad.

[He sinks back a little deeper against Souji.]

[deathcough]

[Souji relaxes himself, yawning as he starts to drift off himself. Briefly he entertains the idea that maybe he should get Hajime up before they really do fall asleep--or at the very least maybe they should crash on his bed, but...

Well, that requires effort and energy that Souji just doesn't have. So he shifts, gets a little more comfortable, and leans his head down. Sleep time.]

[iaijutsu]

[If he weren't already this tired, Hajime might wonder if it's really in any way appropriate to be thinking about what a good pillow his best friend makes.

Oh well.]

[deathcough]

[no homo man we're just two teenagers with dubious heterosexuality cuddling on a couch together while sleeping. Vaguely homoerotic feelings are a natural part of the equation.

Right?? The fact Souji may or my not end up lacing his fingers with Hajime's is also totally...normal. Yes.]

[iaijutsu]

[Just as normal as the fact that Hajime is in no way pulling away from it and might in fact tighten his grip a little in response.]