Forty-Sixth rebirth [Video]

[neverquitedies]

Mm.

[Yuca hums to himself, leaning down to pick up a book on the floor of the living room in the Cabal/Collabel household. He gently sets it on the side table before moving again to pick up a ribbon. A small pocketknife.]

People need to pick up after themselves. A messy house is an inefficient one.

[After a moment, he turns to smile at the

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[ahandsomedevil]

Shh, none of this mess is mine, love. [Such a lie. Who's encouraging the various food fights, Horst?]

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[neverquitedies]

You're the worst liar I've ever heard of.

[But he beams at him anyway.]

Get over here and help me, darling.

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[ahandsomedevil]

[Horst is a BIG HELP. He picks up a few dirty socks, stuffs them in the kids' shoes, then grabs Yuca around the waist and spins them both around.

Did he say he was glad you were home? No?]

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[neverquitedies]

[Yuca laughs though- it's predictable, and he doesn't actually mind, for once.

He kisses him on the nose.]

You're cheerful today.

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[ahandsomedevil]

The house smells like watermelon but, if you'll note, none of it is still on the floor or walls. Reason to be happy!

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[neverquitedies]

Is that really the only reason?

[Yuca gives him a little knowing smile.]

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[ahandsomedevil]

Well. [He kisses Yuca, smiling slightly as he pulls away]

I also didn't lose any of the kids while you were gone.

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[neverquitedies]

That's very good of you, Horst. I'd have been a little cross.

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[ahandsomedevil]

Well I won't lie, it was close. At one point I think I brought home the neighbors' kids, but you know ours. They come home when they're hungry.

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[neverquitedies]

[He laughs, tugging Horst over to sit on the couch with him.]

I notice you didn't starve them either.

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[ahandsomedevil]

Well I thought about it but Vincent always gave them food when my back was turned.

[He puts his arm around Yuca's shoulders, something he's become so used to doing over the years that he never even realizes he's doing it. Which is sometimes awkward in public, or when they're trying to make a 'good impression'.]

...How was your father?

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[neverquitedies]

[He smiles and tucks a bit closer, letting his head rest in the crook of Horst's neck.]

He was alright.

[A quiet contemplation.]

I know- you don't like him, and vice versa... but the two of you just don't understand one another at all. You can't comprehent the other's thought process. He seems cruel, and he is- but that's just... the way he is. It's not that he hates me, just that he doesn't have much capacity for affection.

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[ahandsomedevil]

[Horst doubts Kurotsuchi has any capacity for it. The man is like an angry machine. But what matters is Yuca's here, safe and solid and whole. Horst can be sympathetic enough to set aside his hatred of Kurotsuchi.]

Sometimes, I think I see what you see in him.

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[neverquitedies]

I appreciate you trying.

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[ahandsomedevil]

Good; I like earning extra brownie points.

[Most important, though, is that Mayuri will probably leave them alone for at least a week. That's usually just enough time for the house to settle and everyone to stop clinging so much to Yuca.]

How much did he heal you?

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[neverquitedies]

Enough.

[Which is Yuca speak for 'don't talk about it'. Thankfully though, he can shut Horst up in other ways- like a slow, languid kiss.]