Apartment Above the Boards, Tuesday Late Night
It was just past midnight when Ino finally, finally made it back to the apartment above the Boards. (It wasn't home, not yet, maybe not ever. Home had a green and black and smoky sky.)
Out of respect for Zack's sleeping mind (peaceful, for once), and out of habit, Ino slid into the apartment so silently that not even a whisper of rustling clothes marked her passing. She was so tired. And sore, though she'd taken care of injuries before coming back here.
Her uniform had seen better days but… well… that was another reason why it was good Zack was sleeping. She poked her head into the living room and paused. He was on the couch, bare-chested, with a puppy sleeping on him.
Irritation borne of her own exhaustion and the unexpected presence of the puppy rustled at her nerves, but her eyes were drawn more to the grey-scale and moon-lit tracery of torture scars that rippled Zack's chest, and while her nerves jangled, that made her stomach drop.
She was glad he was asleep. She had no idea what he'd say but-Ino didn't think he'd want her to see. (She'd always had good eyesight, though, and the moon helped-)
And the puppy…
Ino took a deep breath and headed, silently, for a shower. They'd talk about it tomorrow. She didn't want a dog but-they'd talk about it tomorrow. If she woke him up to talk about it now, neither of them would be happy.
(Maybe it was out of character to be so thoughtful but… but Ino was tired. She wouldn't enjoy this fight, the way she enjoyed a lot of them. But not this time, not now, not like this.)
Shower, bed, sleep. Tomorrow she'd deal with everything currently drowsing in the living room.
[Establishy! Zack and puppy modded with permission.]
Out of respect for Zack's sleeping mind (peaceful, for once), and out of habit, Ino slid into the apartment so silently that not even a whisper of rustling clothes marked her passing. She was so tired. And sore, though she'd taken care of injuries before coming back here.
Her uniform had seen better days but… well… that was another reason why it was good Zack was sleeping. She poked her head into the living room and paused. He was on the couch, bare-chested, with a puppy sleeping on him.
Irritation borne of her own exhaustion and the unexpected presence of the puppy rustled at her nerves, but her eyes were drawn more to the grey-scale and moon-lit tracery of torture scars that rippled Zack's chest, and while her nerves jangled, that made her stomach drop.
She was glad he was asleep. She had no idea what he'd say but-Ino didn't think he'd want her to see. (She'd always had good eyesight, though, and the moon helped-)
And the puppy…
Ino took a deep breath and headed, silently, for a shower. They'd talk about it tomorrow. She didn't want a dog but-they'd talk about it tomorrow. If she woke him up to talk about it now, neither of them would be happy.
(Maybe it was out of character to be so thoughtful but… but Ino was tired. She wouldn't enjoy this fight, the way she enjoyed a lot of them. But not this time, not now, not like this.)
Shower, bed, sleep. Tomorrow she'd deal with everything currently drowsing in the living room.
[Establishy! Zack and puppy modded with permission.]