hugtopia_logs | happy birthday to u

Entry tags:

happy birthday to u

♥ Who: sad rawna kids, maybe less sad other people
♥ Where: rawna’s house
♥ When: 7/4-7/8
♥ What: canon update party
♥ Rating: prolly pg for intense worry

This was not how the afternoon was supposed to go.

It was really just supposed to be a little lounge in the afternoon. Kai had taken Bug out for a little romp in the sunshine, let the little guy stretch its… uh… rind? Get its roll on. Enjoy that one patch of grass for a while, a fruitbug needed some quality time outside sometimes, probably. Kai did at least. Playing with the orange eventually devolved into just sitting around for a bit as it rolled around, and that eventually led to laying back to watch the clouds roll by. Had there been any plans for dinner? Was the kind of idle thought that passed by. Maybe when all three of them were home, they could try making oyakodon or something together. That seemed like a good time.

When idle thoughts and lazy clouds became a nap, he didn’t know.

He didn’t wake up when Rawna’s priests came and picked him up. He didn’t wake up when Bug squeaked at them either, so he missed all the erratic circles it rolled around them as they went off to the temple.

It rolled all the way there, and all the way back, rolling around in obvious circles in the yard until someone it knew came home. Was it you? Yes? Well, better follow that fruit cuz there it went down the road to Rawna’s house.

The priests were kind of expecting them. Even with the mishaps that had happened, Rawna’s priests were familiar enough with this group to know that there was one pertinent reason Shinji or Kyoko would have shown up right now…. Even if they didn’t yet. Yes, their friend was this way. Yes, they could visit with him.

He didn’t wake up then, either.

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The only thing Kai was going to blame them for was not going home and sleeping properly. Eventually, anyway. For now he hadn't even quite registered where he was just yet, the state of them briefly overshadowed by the fact that they were there at all. Together. Both of them.

How long had it been since his name had been said with such care? To think he'd ever had the chance to be spoiled enough that something like this had his heart twisting in his chest. It was easier to hear how small his voice was, and she had...!

Kai lurched himself forward a bit, tugging both of them towards him in a desperate motion. Whatever more casual quip was more in character for him was just going to have to wait, because all he could initially rasp out was a plea. "C'mere."

As hard as she'd fought against the fears that Kaito might just never wake up again, it had been hard to keep up much optimism that he'd wake up soon. The end of each long day had left her increasingly certain that there would be more to endure.

But here he was now, those golden eyes open again at last, and almost too bright to look at. Luckily, tears were already welling up to shield her from the dangers of staring directly at the sun.

Without really noticing, Kyoko released Shinji's hand, overcome with a fierce need to clasp Kaito's in both of hers, bringing his knuckles up to her brow as she buckled over. Maybe not exactly what he'd meant with that request, but she wasn't going anywhere.

Through the haze of fatigue that's long since settled on him, it takes Shinji just a moment longer than it might have to really register that he's not just seeing things, this isn't some kind of dream he's accidently stumbled in to, that Kai is actually awake and back with them. It's the sudden loss of that reassuring warmth in his one hand that really solidifies it, but that really just allows him to more solidly throw his arm around Kyoko's back as he swiftly stands up from his seat, paying no mind to the chair getting knocked away in the abrupt motion, and squeezes all three of them close together in a somewhat awkward, though wholly relieved embrace.

"You're back," he croaks out, legs shaking from both the sudden rush of adrenaline and the exhaustion running through every inch of him. He doesn't care about that, though, nor does he care about the tears welling up in his own eyes as he presses himself as close to Kai as he can from this angle.

'Thank goodness,' he thinks. 'Truly, thank goodness.'

There, that was a little bit more what he'd wanted. All of them together in one spot so he could fiercely hold Kyoko's hand even as he reached up to greedily bury his fingers in he back of Shinji's shirt. Let him knock his head gently against both of theirs, a shudder wracking through him.

"'m back," he echoed in a tense whisper. How close had he been to never coming back at all? The question made his head spin and all he could do was cling to the only anchors he had. "'m here."

Shinji's arm around her is warm and steadying, just like his presence has been these past few days. Ah, thank goodness he's here, pulling her closer to the place she wants to be. Left to her own device, she might have just sat there and bawled.

This is much better. Like this, she's free to bury her face in Kaito's shoulder and mumble pitiful things like, "I was--scared--!"

Nobody would have blamed anyone for simply bawling, but this is truly a better outcome. Everyone where they want to be, nice and warm and close with one another.

Shinji takes a moment to more securely wrap his arms around the both of them, using every ounce of strength he has left to hold them together, just like this. No one's going anywhere yet, not when this company needs to be savored fully.

Kai's other shoulder is quickly taken over by Shinji, who takes the opportunity to bury his face right there against the other boy's neck. He squeezes his eyes tightly shut and lets his tears spill over there, shoulders trembling. All he can really do beyond that is nod in agreement with Kyoko's mumblings - they were both scared! It was scary! But he's here now, which makes admitting as much feel so much safer.

"Welcome back."

They could all bawl together in a pile when they were all truly certain this was for real. Kai was getting there, the warmth of both of them against him building a strong foundation. After all those times of waking up somewhere dreary to empty arms, this was almost too much.

"'M sorry," he murmured between them, carefully turning this way and that to press a tiny smooch against both of them. This was not the time for careful consideration of what he should and shouldn't be doing. His heart was not going to be denied what it wanted right now, rational thought had no business here at the moment.

... Which was somewhat of a lie, because give him a few more moments of this bliss and he'd start to realize that all of this trembling wasn't only because of emotions running high.

Emotions kicking into overdrive was certainly playing a big part, though. Worn down as she was by exhaustion and relief, it took Kyoko a few good moments to really register what that soft press against her hair must have been--and then the shaking got out of control.

Kaito had just woken up. He was confused. He was overly affectionate anyway. She shouldn't feel anything about such a tiny, thoughtless gesture.

But a deep ache roared to life in her heart all the same, and she couldn't stop shaking. Sitting up and away from him helped a little, but she couldn't bring herself to go far. She kept his hand clutched tightly in one of hers too, scrubbing at her face with the other. "J-jeez..."

Edited 2021-07-14 15:39 (UTC)

Did Shinji even notice that two kisses had been doled out just now? More importantly, would he have even cared if he did? There's currently no room in his heart for any jealousy, every drop of worry he could muster already used up for other, far more terrifying reasons. Kai can do whatever makes him happiest right now, Shinji will be the last person to argue it.

Even if Kyoko hadn't wanted to go far in the first place, Shinji's still holding them close with no real intention on letting either of them go just yet.

"I'm so glad," he squeaks out quietly, voice still tight and shaky. "So glad..."

He'd reign in the smooches, maybe, but there was nothing to be done with the overwhelming surges of affection. Kai held on to Kyoko's hand tight, watching her with an unbearably soft expression as she tried to wipe away those tears. It was just as soft as he turned it on Shinji, sliding his other hand up to brush through the other boy's hair comfortingly.

"Me too," he murmured. "'M sorry." For the worry, for the trouble, for everything else he could have been sorry for. "I was supposed to be makin' both of you worry less." What a good job he'd done!

He was starting to get a better picture of where they were though, between his glances between them. The room was a little familiar. He'd dragged Shinji to a similar one before, he thought, and there was the equally old memory of watching over Ib while she'd been ill. Ah... Like this. Kai squeezed them both carefully.

"...How long...?"

There was no stopping the happy flush coming into her cheeks under that warm gaze, she was already too compromised. Maybe it would blend in with her puffy red eyes. Jeez--she was so stupid.

Ducking her head a bit, Kyoko rubbed more determinedly at her face, as if she could set it right that way. Kaito's apologies were accepted silently; everything was going to be all right now.

But Kyoko had to pause before she could answer his question. "Since... it was Sunday? And today is..." She frowned. How many days had it been? It felt like almost a week, or at least half of one.

A sudden, terrible realization hit, and Kyoko gasped, eyes going wide. "We--we missed your birthday!" No!!!

Wait... what??

Shinji finally pulls himself back a bit, slipping his hand out from around Kai, sorry buddy, so that he can extract his communicator from his pocket. His hand remains at Kyoko's back to steady himself a little bit, but shaky hands and wide eyes have to confirm those despairing words from Kyoko. His own sense of time has been pretty skewed by this rough lack-of-sleep-schedule he's been subjecting himself too, so this claim sounds so outlandish, and yet...

"We did!" No!!!! "It's already the 8th..." No... :C

Oh.

Huh.

Kai sucked in a sharp breath, eyes going wide. There was a lot there to sift through. The actual impact of it still being anywhere near his birthday far outweighed the birthday issue at first. It'd only been a few days for them. That was. That was good. It was good, right?

It was. It had to be. Now that he was getting a chance to better look at them, it was become alarmingly clear how haggard they looked after a few days. Kai tried to ignore that guilty jolt, swallowing hard.

"It's..." Oh, his throat suddenly felt real tight again. Hold on. "No, you're not the ones that missed anything. You.. have you been here the whole time?"

They had definitely missed something though! Something very important! She'd thought they were too long, but where had all those sleepy days vanished away to so quickly?

"We couldn't both stay the whole time," Kyoko moped, still preoccupied with the birthday tragedy. "Getting all of our meals delivered would have been too much." Not that they'd eaten much in the last few days that Kyoko would be comfortable defining as a meal, but the point stood.

"Aah... I really would have wanted to celebrate on the proper day..."

They only really had meals as far as they had restful sleeps, really. At least something is better than nothing, but it was hard to muster up much of an appetite when their spirits were already so low. It's fine, they're fine.

"We didn't want you to wake up alone." Taking turns running brief, essential errands was doable, considering the top priority here had been to make sure that there was always someone in the room. Both of them being there was definitely preferable, in the end.

Still, the birthday stuff, even while being small potatoes compared to the possibility of Kai simply vanishing, is kind of a huge bummer. He offers a few gentle circles rubbed into Kyoko's back - there, there - while he carefully pockets his communicator once more.

"At least we can push everything back to another day."

The birthday boy himself is now back with them, which means celebrations can, in fact, still happen.

It would have just been one more day waking up to no one. That would have been fine, he was sure. Even as he was thinking that, he couldn't deny how much of a relief it had been to wake up with their hands warm in his. Finally, he was home.

"It's close enough," he whispered, tugging them both back towards him the best he could. Please, come back, he didn't know how to express all the things that were firing off at once. There was far too much love and appreciation and worry, he felt just about to burst. "Felt like weeks to me."

He was grateful it hadn't been. He didn't want to think about them both toiling away in here for weeks just for him, a few days was bad enough. Giving them each another careful squeeze, he went, "Let's get you both home before we worry about birthdays."

Appreciative of that little rub to her back, Kyoko had given Shinji a little nod; missing the day was a letdown for sure, but nothing was called off. They'd just celebrate extra hard now! She was about to say as much, too, when Kaito pulled her in close again, and she forgot how to form words.

Ah, Kyoko thought as she bowed her head over Kaito's shoulder, nothing had changed in the last few days. If anything, she was even more hopeless now. All she wanted was to stay right there and listen to the sweet low rumble of his voice.

But that was silly, so she took his cue and pulled away as soon as he let her, though she couldn't will herself to release his hand just yet. "Let's get you home. I can't--" oh hang on, gotta stifle a big yawn, "bake a cake here."

It'll be an extra special surprise(?), whenever they get around to doing it. Hopefully soon. But not right now.

Now they have to get everyone home. Shinji's sure he doesn't have to push too hard on the idea that Kyoko doesn't have to, like, get started on that cake right away. Would she even last the trip home, after a yawn that mighty? (With that in mind, would he?)

"Right," he agrees, taking the opportunity to rest his forehead against Kai's other shoulder as he's pulled back in. Ahh, he didn't even realize how much he missed this, this kind of comfort that scratches a deep, days neglected itch. He sighs deeply, greedily savoring the contact for that much longer. "Bug's been rolling around here, too."

So many people to be herding home.

It was really hard to be responsible when they were lingering with their affections. The temptation to simply scoot back on the bed and try to cram them both on to the cot with him was immense, because he really wasn't ready to let either of them go just yet either. Kai gently rest his head against Shinji's, soaking that contact up and breathing out a soft laugh.

"Are they? Geez, you really were all having a party already."

It sure made his herding dog job a lot easier though. With another ruffle of Shinji's hair and a squeeze of Kyoko's hand, he moved to finally get out of that bed. Speaking of, there went Bug rolling between his feet, followed by one of those pink mice of Ainea's. Huh. Odd place for that friend to be, but Kai didn't pay it that much more attention than that, Luckily home was real close, so even with all their fatigue and unused limbs, he felt they'd probably make it alright.

Let's just get a supportive arm around each of them for the journey. Yes, even you, Kyoko. Your handhold has been upgraded.

Would Kyoko try to bake a cake immediately upon reaching the house? Would she fall asleep in the middle of the street? Gosh, who could say? Better hurry on home and solve this mystery.

To that end, she helped ease Kaito up onto his feet--gosh, it hadn't occurred to her until just now, but getting up and walking around after being bedridden for days was probably going to be kinda hard on him, huh? So she really couldn't protest too much when he suddenly looped an arm around her, even if her heart wanted to burst right through her chest.

"Ah--will you be all right? It's not a long walk, but..." Here, she was just gonna put a cautious hand to his back, as she sent a look Shinji's way. "We could probably carry him, right? Between the two of us."

Okay, okay, let's all put a pause on this cuddle pile until everyone gets home safe and sound.

Kyoko's concern is a smart one, but Shinji's not entirely sure how up to the task his own body would actually be if they needed to carry Kai's full weight back to the house. He'd certainly try, but maybe just sharing the work between all three of them is the best option.

He cozies in nice and close to Kai, which gives him plenty of room to slide his arm around the other boy's back to meet Kyoko's hand, his other now free to wipe away any tears still clinging to his face. "We can help, at least." They can combine their powers and maybe make one competent set of legs, perhaps.

"There's no rush, we can take it easy if we need to."

"Yeah. Let's just take it slow. This should work fine." And if it didn't, at least it was very nice for right now. What a nice way to stroll with each of them. If they both leaned on him they'd be keeping him upright, which meant he should be able to keep them upright in turn. "Just lean on me as much as you need."

Let the shuffling out into the halls commence, with one spritely orange rolling behind them.

Shinji's hand finding hers again was a surprise, but Kyoko didn't do anything more than blink round eyes over at the boy. It was fine, it was probably just convenient for him if they were both going to have their arms around Kaito.

... And besides, it would have felt kind of strange, just stopping after she'd held his hand for almost four days straight. Granted, she was going to have to stop for real soon, anyway, but... a little longer was nice.

"You're supposed to lean on us at a time like this," Kyoko countered, because what fatigue. That didn't exist. Nonsense. Kaito was fresh out of a coma, he was surely the most fragile of them.

It was a motion done largely out of convenience, true - if they have a more solid chain at Kai's back, that's just that much more support! But it also felt like... the right thing to be doing. They can keep supporting each other like this. Kyoko deserved that extra bit of comfort after sticking through this whole debacle.

Most of all, though, it simply felt nice. And Shinji didn't want to stop yet. Easy as that.

"You let us lean on you all the time, you know." Never mind that they might actually need it in a more literal sense. This fatigue is nothing! They'll be fine!!

It was sweet moments like these that brought calm to the turbulence in Kai's heart. With this much care between the three of them, was it really that hard to believe they'd turn out just fine if he said some wild truths out loud? Nothing about this felt like something that would need to change.

Kai tucked that thought away for later, just focusing on how warm his heart felt now.

"It's what I'm here for," he pointed out. "Wouldn't do it so well if I didn't have both of you proppin' me up."

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