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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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."

Ignorant to whatever tender thoughts were happening in anybody's head right now, Kyoko was free to pout and quibble as much as her tired heart desired.

"Shinji's right, though. Just because we rely on you a lot," she grumbled as they carefully made their way out into the street, "That doesn't mean that's what you're here for. You're supposed to rely on us too, sometimes, you know."

"We want you to be able to rely on us just as much as we rely on you." Even if it's for something as menial as getting home without collapsing. Well, menial, but currently fairly challenging, given their current statuses. Slow and careful, but at least they're getting somewhere on these unsteady legs. Goodbye for now, Rawna's temple. They're all gonna need a little break before they see any of you again for sure.

"We're here for you whenever you need us."

hey no that's his username

Gosh, so many grumbles. Cute. "Mmm, that's what I was sayin' though," he said, pausing a moment before they really got going again. Much as he didn't want to admit it, he needed a moment to recollect his bearings on which way they ought to be shuffling to reach home. Yes, good, this was correct. Carry on.

"Might not seem like it, but I'm leanin' on you guys all the time." He'd just had a real cool glimpse at what happened all on his own, he was very sure that he was correct on this. "Even when I don't know it."

Kai gave them the best semblance of a hug he could muster while they hobbled along. "... Know I don't need to, but... Thank you for looking after each other."

All these sweet words and warm squeezes, jeez, gosh. What could she even say to all that? Kaito certainly had woken up in an extra sentimental mood, hadn't he?

Even thanking them for taking care of each other during his nap! After sending a quick, flustered look Shinji's way, as if to silently ask him what's that about??, Kyoko shook her head. "We are friends already, you know."

Is it really so strange that he'd want two people he cares about to be taken care of? Even in his absence? Kyoko's bafflement is met with a pretty neutral look from Shinji. This isn't odd to him at all, sorry Kyoko.

In fact, "I don't know what I would have done if Kyoko hadn't stayed with me." There will be more gratitude, whether she wants it or not. "I owe her a lot, just for that."

See, Shinji got it. Now Kyoko had two extremely sentimental boys on her hands, but was that really any different from usual?

"Mmm... sure we both do," he murmured warmly. "Though I'm sure we owe you too."

Shinji!! Why are you murdering her in cold blood like this? After everything they've been through!

"I--I'm saying, we're friends, so all of that is natural!" There was no need for Kaito to thank her for it. "I was also really grateful to have you with me, so--we're already even! Nothing is owed!" There!!

He is a criminal, it's just in his nature to murder.

But that flustered protest does manage to crack a smile out of him, and even a small puff of a laugh! For the first time in days, even if it is weary and thin from several sleepless days. "Okay, okay, we're even." That goes for you too, Kai. "I'm just saying, it meant a lot to have you there."

Oh! A rare puff! Kai smiled a bit. This was why he'd thanked them in the first place. It was easy to say that that's what friends did, but not all friends were the same. It'd been such a relief to see they'd had each other.

"Mhmm."

Ah... it really was good to see that smile again. It was enough to calm her fluster a bit, as she softened down into a smile of her own.

"It was where I wanted to be," she insisted softly, looking at Kaito as well. "I... we both wanted to stay until you woke up no matter what."

"Exactly." No matter how long it had taken, neither of them were going to give up. Nearly four days was... pretty rough, but not nearly as bad as it could have been. With that thought in mind...

"You said... it had felt like weeks to you, right? Even though it was just a few days for us."

He doesn't have to elaborate on what happened if he doesn't want to, but the option is there, if he wants to take it.

Right where they wanted to be, huh. Kai could only give those tender sentiments another warm squeeze as he dipped his head slightly. It wasn't quite to hide that soft flush on his cheeks, but if that was a bonus than sure.

It was more to soften the tight line his mouth became for a moment, thinking about those weeks. "Yeah," he said quietly. "We can... we can talk about it later."

There were more important things that needed to happen first, like getting them well rested and fed.

That was right... had Kaito really meant it literally, when he said it felt like weeks? To be honest, Kyoko wasn't super clear on what happened during these weird Havenwell comas. The way Mina had described her experience, it sounded like getting a glimpse of home, but how real was it? Did you really feel time pass? Four days was a lot, but weeks was pretty dramatic.

But the secrets of Kaito's time away from them would stay locked away for now. Kyoko looked cautiously at him sidelong, frowning a little. Had it been terrible, like it was for Mina?

"... Mm. Whenever you want," she promised softly. "You can let us hear about it."

Perhaps when they are all a bit more... stable. If Kai doesn't feel the need to share right away, it's not so important that it can't wait.

"Of course."

Shinji's mind wanders to thoughts of tall prison walls, and impossible flights over them. Had Kai gotten to finally experience that sight? He can wait to hear the answer - he'd already waited days, after all - and surely they'll all be in a better place to deal with whatever new information Kai has after some substantial food and rest. It's just another part of letting him lean on them, whenever he's ready for it.

"Mmm. In a little bit then."

There was no rush to express how much of an idiot he'd been. Everything had turned out fine in the end, at least, so even if he was a bit loathe to unveil the depths of his stupidity, there wasn't a good reason not to. He was fine, somehow. There was just that one detail in the middle that probably wouldn't go over very well with two sleepless worried hens. It'd be better to wait.

"'M just glad to be back where I wanna be too."

Here with them, shuffling up to the home they'd made for themselves so far.

So whatever Kaito had seen in that deep sleep, it hadn't swayed him in his preference for Havenwell. Probably it was hypocritical and cold for Kyoko to be relieved about that, but she was too weary to deal with complex feelings. He was here with him, and he was glad for it, and that was all that mattered.

But they couldn't all stay glued together like this forever, especially if they wanted to do important things like Enter Their House. For some reason, the front door was not designed to admit three people walking abreast. What was with that, huh.

So Kyoko would gently disentangle herself at last to go open it up, and then usher the boys in. "Aah, Kaito, do you think you can eat? You'd better at least have some water right away."

Kyoko's not the only one who feels a sense of relief at knowing Kai still doesn't want to go back to his own world. Here is where he'd rather be, with them. In their home, greeted back by the flowers blooming all across the front yard. Which can really only comfortably accommodate one person walking through the door at a time. What's up with that?

Shinji falls back a step, using his hand to lightly guide Kai through the door before reaching back to offer his other one to Kyoko. No reason to stop the support train if they're all just as tired as they were before the short journey back.

"That's probably a good idea for all three of us, honestly."

Without all of that worry weighing them down, stomaching some essentials might be a bit easier.

Awfully rude of you to break up their party, door. At least an orange could go tumbling through around their legs to go find the kotatsu to scoot around under. Thanks for your services, little buddy.

"Hmmm, maybe."

Suddenly the conductor of this line of handholds, Kai scooted them along inside. Everyone take a moment to toe your shoes off. Okay let's go.

"I was thinkin' you guys could get a proper nap and I could get a little food going?" Let him use the power of all his sleep to stand up for a bit while they rested.

Shinji reaching for her hand again, even now, here in the safety of their own home after the scary things were all over, made Kyoko pause and blink. He... still wanted this? Enough to go back for more when it would make perfect sense to let it end naturally here?

Or maybe he just thought she needed assistance. A fair assessment, she had to admit as she stepped inside and felt herself sway a little. Well, all right then. Maybe she shouldn't think too hard about it at this point.

But almost as soon as she'd slipped her hand back into Shinji's, Kaito was chiming in with a truly wild idea. "Huh?? Making you do chores when you just woke up? That's too much!"

Incredible, having the energy to overthink such a small gesture. Not Shinji, he's definitely just going on what feels the most right to be doing without examining why.

Any overthinking should be devoted to making sure that Kai's not pushing himself, anyway. It doesn't entirely feel like they'd be making him do anything particularly big and involved if he wanted to whip up some kind of meal, but it still seems kind of. Hm.

"You were just asleep for nearly four days," he reminds Kai. Even if he remembers being up at all kinds of things, his body was still just hanging out doing nothing for that long! "You should be taking it easy, Kai."

"It's not a chore, geez," was Kai's first protest as he led them through the house. Notably and without much surprise, they were not going to the kitchen.

"And both of you were apparently awake for nearly four days," he pushed back. No one was actually in a position to be doing much of anything! He at least had a backup option. "If it's too much I can always just pop the omurice button, don't worry about it."

There was no convenient nap button though. There was only bed. This bed.

Correct, they were not going to the kitchen. Kyoko didn't even break away to go to her own proper bed, at least not yet. She wasn't getting into this one either though, just nudging the boys towards it.

"We were not!" Not that whole time! There were definitely An Amount of naps, between the two of them. "I was sleeping even when you woke up!" How long she'd been asleep before that was a mystery nobody needed to solve.

"We'll have omurice for sure, but you have to at least sit down and recover from the walk first!"

Surely, a brief sit-down with them is a doable compromise. Shinji's not about to argue the opportunity to finally get some kind of meaningful rest, which means that even as he has yet to let go of Kyoko's hand, he's trying to give Kai in closer to the bed as well.

"Even just for a little while," he insists.

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