o19. [Written]

[aphephobic]

[Ten days after waking in the middle of the night with the feeling that the world was wrong somehow, Hisoka started awake with a sudden and profound awareness that whatever had gone wrong before had gone wrong all over again -- only in reverse. That, for the duration of a Malnosso experiment, he'd had a family, had love and warmth and people who

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[letsplaysurgeon]

[He stops for a moment, as though listening to the shaken silence following his outburst. It was useless to Muraki in answering any of his questions, but he couldn't be completely frustrated when he was crumbling in front of him. He could almost smell his distress, and the instincts it roused inside him. The cold desire to take care of the sick and the trodden, overlapped by the need to break him and possess the pieces.]

...Is that what you think? Or is that what you tell yourself every time that you prove to be more than just a pretty little house pet? [Another two steps and he's standing in front of Tsuzuki with only a sliver of space to call personal.] You said that you would end me in Nagasaki. Is that what you will say when I am gone? That you had no choice in the matter?

[Muraki frames his shoulders with his palms, and the sudden force to the metal shelf knocks over another precarious catheter package. But his body language is something other than angry, staring into Tsuzuki's eyes just as he did when he last had him pinned.] Have some respect for me, Tsuzuki, when you have yet to fathom just how deep our bonds run. I refuse to become another one of your sins that you so sloppily justify to yourself.

[neverplaysfair]

[ There was no sound, no real warning. No sound of footsteps because there weren't any footsteps in the first place. Just one moment, empty space. The next, Joshua in his adult body. ]

Two adult men hiding away in a closet together, and yet you both still have your clothes on? That's rather disappointing.

[ But despite the amused, teasing tone to the words, there was no mistaking that Joshua's expression was anything but amused. It wasn't that he was angry. Annoyed, mostly, and maybe a hint bored if you knew to look for it. But not amused.

When he spoke again, the casualness had dropped from his voice. ]

I think it's about time this little conversation between you two ended.

[purpledemoneyes]

[He flinched at the surprise visitor's voice, though there was too little room to move in to truly react. He'd just bump into Muraki, and they were already standing too close. Shame made him freeze up, arms curling around himself protectively. Tsuzuki had never been able to handle the doctor's way of invading his personal space.]

...Hiding? No, no, you got it all wrong!

[Whether Muraki intended for it, Tsuzuki found comfort in the doctor's refusal to die. He may be the one living person that knew how dangerous Tsuzuki was and wasn't scared of him. That carried a promise of something else, as well. Muraki did, in one way, claim that he'd manage to dominate him. That was an offer that Tsuzuki found tempting, and he loathed himself for even considering it.

Tsuzuki took a shaky breath and turned his attention to the teenager, offering a wide smile he didn't feel. It was still possible to make the best out of a bad situation.]

Joshua? W-what are you doing here?

[letsplaysurgeon]

[Because there was no warning--footsteps, door opening or otherwise--he almost assumed that he imagined the other voice. He might’ve ignored it except Tsuzuki responded to a presence over his shoulder, and then he had to take note.

It was as if the stranger's first little quip manifested into written words on Tsuzuki's forehead when Muraki flicked his eyes over his face, digesting what this Joshua character said. Then he quickly becomes bored--a sarcastic voice supporting homosexuality was just as tedious as being chastised for it. He curls some hair behind his ear and sighs.]

Hm. That almost wounded me.

[Then he deliberately shifts his body so his thigh rubs Tsuzuki between his legs while he glances over his shoulder. Part of it was defiance, never one to take his entire hand out of the cookie jar when instructed to. By and large it was a punctuation mark to his conversation with Tsuzuki to end it on his note. Several hints run through the brief touch: possession, apology and humor (like his harassment was a private joke between them), and little splinters of something more promising. It ends before anyone can remark on it, and he turns to face Joshua with a thin smile.]

Eager to have a lesson, are we? I can guarantee the conversation will end, eventually. [Someday it would.] ...Unfortunately I can’t say that you will have any part of it--audience or otherwise. This is not an event for the peanut gallery.

[neverplaysfair]

[ This wasn't Joshua's problem, and had the circumstances been otherwise, there's no way he would have stepped in. But with Hisoka being so vague on his request, Joshua was only working off of his own judgment, and Tsuzuki had had enough stress in his head that Joshua decided he was drawing the line. So here he stands, breaking up arguments that aren't his business and don't interfere with his business. Hisoka you owe him for this. ]

Too bad, I'm ending it now. Tsuzuki will be coming with me. [ He lets a small smirk appear on his face, but there's decidedly an edge to it. ] I'm afraid this isn't up for negotiation.

[purpledemoneyes]

[He jumps as Muraki brushes up against him, though he tries his hardest to keep a straight face. This whole situation is tense enough without giving Joshua more to joke about.

Tsuzuki shoots Muraki an alarmed look when he hears the comment about 'lessons'. Although he's relieved and confused by Joshua's desire to help him, he is also afraid of what Muraki might do to him because of it. That is, more than anything else, the fuel he needs to muster up the will to act if he needs to.

As the two men talks, Tsuzuki wisely keeps his mouth shut. It doesn't seem like his opinion is needed, since he can't really move until they get out of the closet first. He just hopes that Muraki will cooperate.]

[letsplaysurgeon]

[He lets out a chuckle at Joshua's comment, low and entertained, because it doesn't threaten or inconvenience him at all. The inside of Muraki's head was a twisted, arrogant landscape where irritations surfaced, but he always got what he wanted in the end. Winning was never a concern.

Muraki could put his appetite on hold if he chose to (he often didn't, but he could). And apart from the moment being decidedly ruined, it was far too early in his plan to possess Tsuzuki body and soul.

So he shrugs his shoulders and pretends to lay down his cards.] If you say so. It's past my shift, anyway. [He makes his way past Joshua as politely as he can in the cramped space and shapes his hand around the doorknob before turning his head.] Take care, Tsuzuki. Let me know if you have any more concerns. [Translation: I'll see you again soon enough. And he leaves.]

[neverplaysfair]

[ Joshua watches him go, taking care to give Muraki as much space as he could when the man passes him. He doesn't say anything until a decent period after Muraki has taken his leave. Finally, he turns to Tsuzuki. ]

We're going.

[purpledemoneyes]

[It's only after Muraki has left them that Tsuzuki allows himself to truly react. He covers his mouth worriedly, his hands shaking.]

[Thankfully, it passes within a few minutes. He takes a trembling breath, looking at Joshua.]

Okay. Where are we going?

[neverplaysfair]

Not here.

[ That's the most important part. He steps out of the closet and looks around, just to make sure there's no Muraki in sight. Then he's turning again, making sure that Tsuzuki follows. Joshua is grudgingly admitting that there's a nontrivial chance he'll have to help support Tsuzuki, especially if he's freaking out over this. ]

[purpledemoneyes]

Right.
[Tsuzuki's not freaking out enough to refuse to come out of the closet, at least. He's just slow about it. It isn't helping that he stops to clean up the mess Muraki made when he pushed him into the supplies.]

[neverplaysfair]

[ Joshua says nothing, but you can bet he's inwardly rolling his eyes. He's not going to stop you but really. ]

[purpledemoneyes]

[Sometimes it's important to control the things you can control. It also gives Tsuzuki a chance to take a deep breath and kick himself back into gear. That done, he walks out, looking in both directions like Joshua had done.]

Joshua?

[neverplaysfair]

Let's go. [ And without further ado they will be walking out of this place. ] Is there somewhere we should be heading?

[purpledemoneyes]

[Walking he can do. Tsuzuki stuffs his hands in his pockets, feeling a bit more secure knowing that he still had spell paper available.]

There's nowhere in the clinic, no. Did you mean after we get out?

[neverplaysfair]

Yes. After we get out. [ He is not here to help you spy he is here to save your ass kthx. ]