[Thread] When You Need It The Most

[invisikid]

Characters: OU Naoki Kashima, AU Lyle Norg
Where: First in front of the first building, then around the compound
When: Early Afternoon
Summary: After a brief scare where Lyle thought the Demi-Fiend had vanished, the pair decide to go for a walk.
Warnings: Fluff, flirting, awkward; the usual with these two.

Comments

[invisikid]

He couldn't help but be skeptical. Though Naoki's resistance to fire made some sense in relation to his acceptance to cold. "If you say so..." He dropped the subject hesitantly, though it was obvious that the older teen's request that he not worry would be ignored completely. The Legionnaire was more stubborn then that. "I'm not going to get sick either. I'm a biochemist." As if that solved all possible chances of him getting a cold. But it was a rather persuasive matter-of-fact voice. Almost preparing for a physical onslaught of chill caused diseases, he tugged the folds of his jacket collar up more- though not fully unfurled so his cold pinked cheeks and ears were still visible.

More flush, but this time at the expecting gesture. His fingers twitched in his pockets, curling testingly and feeling odd at the prickling tingles caused by muscles held still for too long. "I'm always ready." On came the grin, remembering how much he'd been dreading that gap for the past few days. It was that, and the fear that had struck him halfway through (perhaps we haven't seen one another because he's gone), that bade him to lift his own gloved hand and brush them together, interlacing as naturally as they had before. It was confident, it was a sure hold, despite his glance to the side and shuffling. "Well?" Lyle offered with misted breath. "Where to?"

[hands_of_reason]

At least he tried to keep him from worrying, so that has to count for something, right? Laughing quietly at Lyle's argument, he replied with a pleased, "Well, if you do get sick, I'll take care of you." It wasn't often he could be this nice and caring for someone, and it felt satisfying to be that way again, especially because it was something he wanted to do for the Legionnaire. He deserved someone to be there for him, at the very least, and what sort of boyfriend would Naoki be if he wasn't that someone? Noticing him hitching up the collar of his jacket, the Demi-Fiend tilted his head slightly in concern. "Do you want a scarf or something? I got two, but I haven't used either yet; I don't think I'll need them."

He squeezed the other hand gently, enjoying the sudden weight and warmth it brought against his own. Naoki had missed being around him all the days they were separated, but it didn't feel quite as strong as it did now that he was finally with the younger teen again. How could just being away from someone for a few days feel so bad? "Let's just call it a surprise for now." Smiling again, Naoki pulled a little at Lyle's arm, stepping forward and indicating for him to come with.

[invisikid]

The Legionnaire shook his head, feeling the rough edges of his coat catch on strands of his hair. ""I'm fine," If they stopped by Naoki's place again before they parted, he'd consider taking one of those scarfs off of the older boy's hands. But for now the weather was fine enough, especially in the full gaze of the sun. Instead he let himself be tugged, taking the quick short strides needed to fall in step with the Demi-Fiend. The tightening grip on his own was like a balance between the two of them, like a slow steady blending of boundaries and freedoms that came with the blending of friendship and whatever this was growing to.

"A surprise, huh?" He asked, a bit after a considering pause. The following 'should I be concerned?' was left unsaid, merely hinted at with an amused grin. Even so, he never stopped letting himself be led, or enjoying the mix of warm and cold and fall.

[hands_of_reason]

"Yep, a surprise. One so secret even I don't know what it is." Which was just his way of saying he had no idea where they were going without actually saying, 'I have no idea where we're going'. One thing about it was obvious, though: they were definitely moving away from the buildings.

Wanting to keep the silence away, he glanced over at Lyle. "So, what have you been up to these last few days?" Hopefully he had more of a story than Naoki did, which was no story at all. Aside from near philosophizing with Hao and the few days he spend randomly singing like an idiot, he hadn't really been doing much of anything.

[invisikid]

He laughed. He couldn't help it. That was just something Naoki would do. Lyle gave him props for creativity though, and felt all the more willing to walk closer when they weren't in the open glare of the buildings. It had nothing to do with Naoki; Lyle was just never one to flaunt relationships, even if it was rather obvious when he liked someone, ergo having it never really matter in the end. Especially since no relationships had previously even come to the slow gain of footholds he and Naoki had no.

"Nothing specific..." Though finding out he was dead in another dimension could count as something. He frowned, but waved it off, deciding to point out the positives before the negatives. "There's another Legionnaire, a second Brainiac 5, Querl. And I helped Brainy and Kon out a bit." Brainy when they'd all gone through those changes, and later Kon with identifying the other half of his genes. "I ran into an enemy of my friends. That was an interesting experience..." Lyle grumbled, remembering the back and forth conversation he and Tomo had bantered with. "Oh, and I met the demon from your world, too."

[hands_of_reason]

Naoki was glad that he laughed, relieved that his lack of planning didn't bother Lyle. A little shiver sparked up when Lyle moved closer, spreading quickly like electric ripples from the epicenter their arms clashing. It wouldn't be fair to compare this to any of his past relationships, as the past was something he'd learned to leave behind, and there wasn't any vast history to speak of. His dating record could be counted on one hand, with only one other male in the ranks, not counting Lyle. Even then, it had been a fluke of a relationship, and something that was in mutual agreement between them to never speak of in public again.

"Heh, you've been busier than I have," he commented with a smile, though it weakened a bit when the demon was brought up. (It was also hard to keep it from fading at the mention of a second Brainiac, since he still didn't think the first would ever really be able to forgive him for what he did as a full demon, honorary Legionnaire or not.) "She didn't do anything stupid, did she? I never really could control Nekomata; she always liked doing her own thing." The urge to facepalm was strong, as having a clingy, moody demoness run into his boyfriend was not an ideal situation- for all involved.

[invisikid]

"No, uh..." He reached up with his free hand, training his eyes on the ground ahead of them with a nervous laugh. He ran the gloved fingers through his hair. "She wasn't bad, she... uh... talked about... scent." And the fact that theirs were apparently all over one another. Sprock, that implied so much. "That's how she figured out I knew you. Heh, that was an interesting introduction."

They had the street to themselves, so it seemed. The stray Econtrian paid little mind to them, thank the weather or the time of day or simple luck. Each brush was a comforting step into the other boy. Little mattered, not even the time limit, the notions he usually kept track of with absentminded accuracy for the sheer way his mind worked and it was nice to subtly realize that this was part of why he'd let Naoki kiss him so easily. Nothing he could pinpoint, like the inability to define exactly what this was.

"..." A quick glance up at the taller teen, reassurance in that tumble of inner thoughts.

[hands_of_reason]

He gave Lyle a curious look. Scent? After a moment or two, he finally gave in to the urge and slapped a hand against his face with a little groan, barely hiding the little rush of blood that stained his expression pink. "...Oh, hell. I wondered why my room was a mess, but now it makes sense." That damn cat! This is why he didn't ever get a cat- too aloof and prickly, and too curious. "I need to get a lock. ...Or a dog." And have a nice conversation with the demon over a little concept called 'personal space,' a thing she never did respect much anyway. "But she didn't get violent or anything? Didn't say anything odd; threatening?"

Naoki paused in thinking about it when Lyle looked up at him, putting that fond smile back on and squeezing their interlaced hands again, other hand now back at his side. Sometimes, there just wasn't a word for things. Things like their relationship. It wasn't quite dating, and while it wasn't just friendship anymore, 'friends with benefits' didn't fit, either. It just wasn't like that; it was a stand-alone genre of togetherness without a name. How he felt was too abstract to be weighted by a single word as well. More than infatuation, less than honest-to-goodness love, a happy medium somewhere between all those stages of attraction that was more balanced and- somehow- appropriate. It was just too soon to think of it as anything more, but there was a certain sort of security in it.

What importance did words have, anyway? He didn't have to say anything to smile, and that alone said enough: things were fine as they were, neither had to worry, everything would work out in the end.

[invisikid]

"Violent? Well..." He paused, considering. "I did kind of feel like..." He raised his free hand again, curling his fingers a mimicry of catlike claws and wiggling them ominously, making a face. "A fish in a fish bowl." But it was all in jest. Sure, the demon had made him a little wary, but she'd been well behaved. So he laughed afterwards, attempting to reassure Naoki. "So she went through your stuff..." It was such an amusing idea, especially when it was embarrassing. His smell being all over Naoki's room, clothes... They'd been close enough for so long that their scents intermingled like that, and it was just now that they held hands, acted like whatever sort of couple or pair they were.

The sun was bright, but there were patches of rolling clouds shifting shadows over the Econtrian buildings. One managed to crawl between the bright rays and the city below, covering it with a darker chill that would only blow away in a few minutes. Lyle observed this event absently, tugging the last bit of his jacket's zipper up. It smelled like the month, something distinctly October that became prominent in the temporary shade; like leaves and grass and smoke. "...I missed fall last year. I was on a mission most of the time, or stuck in HQ." It wasn't really a conversation starter, more of a musing outside of general talk, on the brim of thought and just easy to pass the lips. Their elbows bumped, crossing and there was the sound of Naoki's skin against his jacket. It wasn't an embarrassing noise, but it still made him suddenly aware of heat in general; on his cheeks and flaring against his hand where gloved and bared fingers laced.

He hummed, a few bars of a strained tune, not carried properly and just loud enough to blend with the air and rustling of leaves.

[hands_of_reason]

He chuckled at the pantomime claws. "She's like that to everyone, really. I only put up with her because I needed an extra hand before I took on the Assembly of Nihilo." After a pause, he added, "A group trying to set up a Reason. They almost killed everyone Ikebukuro for their own gain." It wasn't something he'd thought about in a long time, but remembering it brought a sour taste to his mouth. They were going to kill all the demons in the Mantra building just to have their Magatsuhi... And he was so close to destroying the Nightmare System when he was pulled here! He had Ose right under his thumb; it would have all been over...

Naoki shook his head to get rid of the thoughts, coming back just soon enough to catch Lyle's comment on fall. "Then enjoy it now. No one's going to take it from you here." It was a feeling he could relate to, having missed who knows how many seasons since the world ended. "It is a nice day, really. I'm glad you're with me to see it." He offered the Legionnaire a smile, feeling his earlier anxiety settle into the rhythm of their walking and the faint swing of their arms.

[invisikid]

"...I am too." The Legionnaire returned the smile shyly, shifting his grip as if reassuring himself their hands were still connected. Sometimes it was easy to just feel the blend of their pulses and hold and warmth and not feel the individual fingers. Especially after hearing more about Naoki's world, his burden. He'd seen that look, the one that the Demi-Fiend got when he was thinking about something painful and was keeping it to himself. But Lyle hesitated to press it. How often did they have such a calm moment like this, only for it to collapse into some twist of their separate dark pasts? They were in a war, they were going back home to wars in their own sense, and who knew when another battle would start. So he decided to be terribly selfish, impulsive and needy.

They had arced around the fountain area, past his own rooms and now their steps slowed as the end, and the empty lot, appeared. Through it was the park. Here was a point for them to separate, and his brain entertained the image of his unfinished work. Easily it was over run with a simple tightening of their hold on one another. He didn't want to leave Naoki, not yet at least. Lyle blushed. When had he started feeling such impulses? They'd barely had one date, and that alone had only been considered a date near the end, once they'd kissed. But then again, their time alone together had built up whatever emotions he was feeling now.

"We can... go to the park now. Or you can come up to my room." Wait...Wait! What did that imply? He made a strained noise, going red again and covering it as much as he could with his free hand. "Sprock. I-I mean up to Nyi-Eski."

[hands_of_reason]

Honestly, he didn't want to ever think of that world again. He never wanted to see it again. The only reason he was even willing to go back was to fix the huge mistake he'd made in allowing Yuko to kill everyone. If that hadn't been weighing on his shoulders, he'd make every plea and bargain in the book to escape returning to his Vortex World, that horrible place he'd never be able to look at the same way again. He'd have to live knowing that every single one of those people had died because he didn't stop her, and he'd have to live that life without Lyle around to make that burden lighter. The Legionnaire was honestly a blessing, and he was already starting to wonder how he'd be able to keep going without that support.

Naoki hadn't even been paying attention to the areas they passed, his attention diverted elsewhere, though he felt a certain resistance to parting so soon. Maybe it was just that he hadn't seen Lyle in a few days, or maybe it was worry that he had to get in as much time with him as possible in case one went away and didn't return. Just the week Lyle had left for had been painful, even in his Fiend state before he was aware that it was more than a desperate need to cling to his only friend that made it hurt like it did.

He sighed and leaned against him a little, putting their heads together. "Can I go with you?" It was more of a little begging than his usual way of asking- when he did ask, anyway. Naoki didn't want to make him late for whatever it was he had to do, or get in the way of his work, but he didn't want to say goodbye, either.

[invisikid]

The sudden change in proximity had him reeling, the flush never managing to recede even when the Demi-Fiend wasn't enforcing it at all. "Sure," Honestly, the papers didn't seem so important anymore. Not so much when Naoki had that odd edge in his voice and was all the closer. He stood and basked a moment, that strange and not too unpleasant feeling squirming in his stomach. "You're more then welcome..." He pressed, closing his eyes. "It might be boring though."

But he couldn't imagine sitting and working, leaving his friend, his boyfriend to sit and watch. No, the work was shot. And he didn't care at all. He could go through the motions, but nothing would be added or changed to his already complete formulas. If Naoki let him, he would tug softly at the other teens hand, and lead him back to the 2nd building, where they would ascend the stairs towards Nyi-Eski.

[hands_of_reason]

Naoki just shook his head a little. "Thank you. I don't mind." Just sitting in a quiet corner of the room, watching like a prop against the background, would be better than going back to Ast-Okto and standing around the empty apartment. He was sure that he wouldn't feel much like walking around again, either. "Besides, how could I be bored being with you?" In all the times they'd hung out, he really hadn't found himself to be bored. Besides, there was plenty one could do through just staring, as he'd found out.

He would offer no resistance to the pull, following Lyle through the building and up the stairs obediently, slight elation already working previous anxiety away. No doubt he would have felt guilty if he knew his company would ruin the Legionnaire's earlier plans, but secretly glad he could work himself so easily into the younger's schedule, fed by that bit of possessiveness he harbored. "I won't get in the way."

[invisikid]

He tipped his chin down, feigning focusing on unlocking Nyi-Eski but really he was hiding his darkening blush behind his hair and jacket collar, still upturned. "You're never in the way." The key turned in the slot, and a seemingly empty apartment greeted them.

The Legionnaire walked in, unbuttoning his jacket before tugging off one of his gloves with his teeth; they were always too difficult to get off with each hand still clad. Expecting the other teen to follow, he tossed the outside clothes into his room carelessly, walking to the living area and placing his hands on his hips thoughtfully. "There's some snacks, and I think someone requested some hot chocolate mix earlier. You want anything?" Or maybe the Demi-Fiend wanted some ice-cream to go along with that shirtless walk in October. The idea wasn't so preposterous, he recognized as it made him grin.