OOC: log - Kratos and Gojyo
Who: Kratos and Gojyo
What: KRATOS TO THE RESCUE. Also, an epic fight.
When: I don't remember which day Gojyo was saved. Couple of days ago.
Where: IN THE AIR, their house, and a Town.
Why: We WANTED to.
How: Paragraphs. :3
Rating: PG-13.
You weren't there. :|
If Kratos didn't possess the amazing strength that being a Seraph allowed him, he'd have plummeted to the ground long ago, thanks to the combined efforts of the weight of Gojyo on his back, and having just recovered from a huge mana drain. His wings moved silently, pushing them fluidly through the air. He wanted to get them home as quick as possible, especially after seeing Gojyo in such a messy state.
Gojyo was holding onto Kratos' back with one hand, and holding onto his smoke with his other. Kratos had brought a single pack for him, and he was already halfway through it, despite how close he came to falling off Kratos' back every time he tried to light a new one. It was worth it. "Still can't believe you fucking passed out," he muttered, trying to get a better grip on Kratos' shoulder without touching his wings somehow. He didn't feel like falling down from this height.
Kratos stopped short and dove quickly, as if he were to fall out of the sky. He couldn't stand to hear Gojyo go on about that anymore, and if he had to, he would throw the taller man off. Of course he'd catch him, but still. It was the thought that counted. "...I had to kill whatever infections had settled in. Otherwise, even if I healed the cuts, you probably would have died."
Gojyo gripped Kratos' shoulder tightly when he suddenly dropped like that, not caring if he bruised the other man since he was obviously doing that on purpose anyway. "D'you have any fucking idea how goddamn terrifying it is to have someone pass out on you like that?" he continued, ignoring what Kratos had said. He really didn't care much about that, and didn't really believe it would have killed him.
"I do." Kratos snapped back, "And I also know how terrifying it is to have someone dying right there in front of you. I wasn't going to risk that." He surged forward to gain altitude, emphasizing his point by flapping his wings hard, making the ride as bumpy as possible.
"You're a fucking idiot," Gojyo held on tighter, leaning closer to Kratos' back for balance. He'd finished another cigarette though, and he wasn't about to wait for them to land before lighting a new one. "For all I knew, you were dying," he pointed out, letting go with his other hand as well, squeezing his legs around Krato's waist so he wouldn't fall. He found a new cigarette and his lighter, slipping down Kratos' back a little as he tried to keep the flame from going out. It was nearly impossible and it took him ten tries to light a new cigarette, what with all the wind. "Could've fucking warned me, at least."
"I was breathing, wasn't I?" Another large bump.
"Fucking quit that," Gojyo nearly dropped his lighter as he tried to pocket it again. "I said dying, not dead."
"Don't smoke for the rest of the ride." Kratos growled, "And I did it to save you. It would have been worth it."
"I haven't smoked for a fucking week, I'm gonna fucking smoke now," Gojyo said, determinedly holding on to his cigarette. "It wouldn't have been worth it for me," he pointed out, annoyed. "I know you're suicidal, but goddammit Kratos."
At the mention of that, Kratos did a barrel roll, trying to force Gojyo off. Only this time, he wasn't sure if he wanted to catch him if he let go.
Gojyo hadn't been holding on tightly enough, and when he suddenly found himself upside down, there was nothing keeping him from falling. He resisted screaming, worried he might drop his cigarette as he plummeted towards the ground. If he was going to die, he was going to keep smoking until the very last second.
Almost as an afterthought, Kratos lazily flew to catch him, this time by the wrist, leaving him to dangle in the air as they pushed at full speed. "What was that?" he snarled this time.
"THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!" Gojyo yelled, somehow managing not to flail as he dangled there. "YOU'RE GONNA FUCKING DROP ME. GODDAMMIT YOU'RE PULLING MY SHOULDER OUT OF ITS FUCKING SOCKET."
"A dislocated shoulder won't kill you." Kratos half shrugged, "And I'll only drop you if you continue to distract me with your big mouth."
"FUCKING OUCH," Gojyo continued yelling. "WHY THE FUCK DID YOU HEAL ME IF YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HURT ME AGAIN YOU PRICK."
"Silence yourself, or I'll shut your mouth for you."
"Fucking ass."
"I didn't have to come for you."
"Never asked you to."
"...Yes you did."
"When?"
"Many times."
"No, I fucking didn't," Gojyo tried to somehow lift his body up so he could grip Kratos' wrist with his other hand, before his shoulder did end up being dislocated.
"If we get home, you can read for yourself." Kratos made no move to help Gojyo up, but at the same time, made no move to dissuade him from getting a better grip, either.
Gojyo managed to pull himself up a little, though he was getting sick of this. Narrowing his eyes, he tugged his wrist free of Kratos' grip and then let go.
That was unexpected-- and Gojyo called Kratos the suicidal one. Kratos cut the mana flow to his wings and dropped like a rock, only unfurling them once more when he was beneath Gojyo. With a clean flip, he caught the other man in his arms, greeted by a faceful of cigarette smoke. Lovely.
Gojyo had nearly swallowed his cigarette as he fell, but then he'd just about finished it anyway. He let it drop as Kratos' caught him, wrapping his arms around his neck. "You scared me. I'm allowed to be fucking scared," he said, going back to their original topic.
"Don't fear for me." Kratos retorted dryly, "And I hope you enjoyed that cigarette. It's your last."
"Fucking terrified," Gojyo insisted, ignoring that last bit. He'd smoke if he wanted to. "Who the hell else would I be worried about? No one else is as important to me."
Kratos blushed, "Don't be."
"How would you feel if I suddenly just passed out?"
"Concerned."
"You'd panic. Admit it."
"I wouldn't."
"Well, I fucking did. 'Cause I was so goddamn happy you'd found me, and then suddenly you just fucking fell over, and for the one second it took me to make sure that you were still breathing, because I didn't fucking know, I couldn't even breathe myself," Gojyo said, pulling back a little so he could look at him. "And what the hell was I supposed to do? What if you were fucking dying? What if you needed my help? I don't know shit about healing. I'd try to put a band-aid on a broken bone!"
"Gojyo."
"What?"
"Relax."
"... I can't."
Shifting to make sure they were both more comfortable, Kratos gently nuzzled Gojyo with his cheek, "I'm sorry."
Gojyo sighed, closing his eyes. "Thank you," he said, giving Kratos a squeeze. "And... I'm sorry for what I said."
"It's all right."
"... I love you."
"I know."
"And I knew you'd catch me."
"...And if I hadn't?"
"I knew you would."
"Nothing is certain."
"That is," Gojyo rested his head down on Kratos' shoulder, feeling tired now. He wanted another cigarette, but he supposed he could wait until they landed at least.
Kratos wouldn't argue it further. Not when they were close like this, "...We're almost there." Even though he didn't have to, Kratos found himself whispering that into Gojyo's ear.
"Mm," Gojyo smiled, looking forward to be able to smoke as much as he wanted again. He needed to shower, brush his teeth, eat, drink something, and rest, but that didn't seem as important somehow. "You promised me cucumbers."
"They're cut and in the refrigerator."
"I knew I loved you for a reason."
"So you're only using me?"
"Cucumbers and sex. That's all I need from you."
"No sex."
"... What the hell?!"
"You need a shower."
"... After I shower," Gojyo agreed.
"No. Then you brush your teeth."
"Right," Gojyo nodded again. "Shower, brush my teeth, sex."
"No. Then you eat."
"So when the hell am I getting sex?" Gojyo was sulking a little now. It had been over a week!
"Not tonight." Kratos didn't really care if it had been a week, a day, or even a month. He wanted to make sure
Gojyo was well above all other things.
Gojyo was definitely sulking now. He turned his head away a little and didn't say anything, plotting instead how to change Kratos' mind. Although staying outside all night just so he could smoke seemed like a good idea, too.
"...Is there anything wrong with just wanting to enjoy your return for a night?"
"........................... Fine," Gojyo relented, though it wasn't easy. He sighed, wondering when the hell ratos managed to get him this whipped, then realised he probably had been from the beginning. Not that he'd ever admit it.
"I love you." Kratos found himself whispering again, "......I'm just happy to see you're all right."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Gojyo turned his head again so he could press a kiss to Kratos' neck. "I love you, too."
"Brace yourself."
Gojyo nodded, tightening his grip on Kratos and getting ready for the landing. He wondered how many cigarettes he'd be able to smoke before being dragged into the house, and calculated that he'd be able to finish one if he was lucky.
As if reading his mind, Kratos said, "...Don't bother trying to smoke. I dropped what was left of your cigarettes." There was a slightly jarring bump as they landed, Kratos waddling a few steps as they came to a halt.
Gojyo dropped himself to the ground immediately. "What the hell? What the fuck did you do that for?!" he demanded, glaring. He needed his smokes dammit, that's why it was a fucking addiction, and he'd had nearly half a pack left! Now what was he supposed to do?
"You can smoke again after you've fully recovered." Kratos really didn't see the big deal behind it- in his eyes, he'd done Gojyo a favor.
"I won't fucking recover if I can't smoke!" Gojyo objected. There was still several packs inside the house, so he could just go get one. "You know I need to smoke!"
"Yes. The poison filling your lungs is sure to help speed recovery. How could I not see it before."
"I don't fucking function without those things," Gojyo reminded him. He needed a beer, too, now that he thought about it.
"Your body is backwards."
"... the hell?"
"You heard me."
"How is it backwards?"
"If such things as alcohol and tobacco heal it."
"It makes me feel better, at least."
"...That's not the same as being cured."
"Don't fucking care," Gojyo shrugged, heading up towards the house. The closest pack of cigarettes should be in the living room.
Kratos felt no need to beat Gojyo to the door-- he'd scouted out the entire house (along with the children) to find and destroy every last cigarette. He wanted Gojyo to stay in bed, and what better way than to remove his main reason for going outside?
Gojyo went straight for the living room to find his smokes, and when there weren't any there, just shrugged and headed for the next place he knew he'd kept a pack. However, after the fifth time it happened, he was definitely gettin suspicious. "Kratos..." he said, sounding angry.
After getting inside, Kratos had sat himself on the couch, picking up a newspaper. "Gojyo." he responded in a monotone. He knew what was coming next, but he was prepared.
Gojyo turned towards him, glaring. "Where are all my cigarettes?" he asked, trying to remain as calm as possible. It was a miracle he wasn't already yelling.
Kratos peered over the newspaper top, putting on as innocent a show as he could, "Why would I know where you put your cigarettes?"
"Don't fucking lie to me," Gojyo said, walking -- nearly stomping -- back towards him. "Where the fuck did you put 'em? I know where I keep every last one of my smokes and they're not fucking there."
Kratos' head disappeared behind the newspaper once more, "I didn't put them anywhere, nor did I touch them." It technically wasn't a lie- Kratos didn't have to touch anything to destroy it, and the children were the ones to gather them. He'd made it a nice game and daytime activity.
"Right," Gojyo grabbed the top of the newspaper and tore it away from him. "Where. The fuck. Are. My. Smokes."
"I was reading that."
Without hesitating Gojyo ripped the newspaper in half. "Where are my smokes, Kratos."
"I don't have them."
"Well, what the fuck did you do to them?"
"I've done nothing." Kratos remained almost annoyingly calm.
"In that case, I'll just go out and by some more," Gojyo turned away and walked towards the door before he ended up punching Kratos' face in.
"I'll be sure the kids know you put your cigarettes before seeing them after being gone for so long." Kratos' voice was still flippant.
"You do that," Gojyo grabbed his jacket before walking back outisde. Kratos seemed to want a fight.
Kratos sighed and stood up, He still felt a little weak from before, but that didn't stop him from suddenly teleporting in front of Gojyo. There was a rush of dizziness when he made it outside, but he pushed it aside.
Gojyo wasn't surprised when Kratos suddenly appeared, so he just pushed past him without a word. He didn't feel like talking about it until he had a cigarette in his mouth.
It was that kind of rudeness that irked Kratos the most, and he stormed after Gojyo, catching up with ease, "Rest inside."
"Fuck you," Gojyo said simply, continuing to walk.
This time Kratos grabbed his shoulder roughly, "You're in no shape to walk to town. Go rest."
Gojyo raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't have to if you hadn't destroyed my fucking smokes."
"Inside."
"No," Gojyo pulled his shoulder free and kept walking.
"Please."
"No."
"Gojyo."
"Fuck off."
"...I'm sorry."
"... What?" Gojyo blinked, turning towards him.
Kratos turned around and walked back to the house, leaving Gojyo to his own devices.
Gojyo shrugged, turned back around and continued walking towards town.
An hour passed and the nagging thought of leaving Gojyo alone proved unbearable, so Kratos summoned up what reserves of mana he had left and teleported into town to search for the missing half-breed. The dizziness returned as well, leaving Kratos reeling for a moment. He wouldn't be doing that again until he allowed his body to rest accordingly. But first, he'd have to find Gojyo.
Gojyo had, at least, not gone to any bars, but it had taken him a while to find a store that was open. He'd bought as many smokes as he could afford, as well as a sixpack of beer, just in case Kratos had destroyed those too. He was finally heading back, although he felt a lot more tired than he'd expected. He leaned against the wall of a house to rest for a moment, lightning up a cigarette as he stood there.
Kratos walked slowly through the crowd, grateful that he'd changed his clothing in the time he'd spent at home. Usually, his mercenary outfit earned him a fair amount of staring, and he didn't need the distraction. His sharp eyes scanned the area, making him jump every time he saw a flash of red.
Gojyo started walking again as soon as he'd finished his cigarette, lost in thought and not really paying attention to anything that was going on around him. He really wondered what the fuck Kratos had been thinking, and what he thought gave him the fucking right to do something like that. He'd have to ask him, later, once he'd gone through another pack of smokes. Gojyo didn't even notice as he nearly bumped into several people.
This was getting ridiculous. Kratos pushed through the small crowds, ignoring what looks he got. He partly wanted to rip into the various women, but abstained from doing so. Another flash of red-- this time it looked like it belonged to the right person. His pace quickened as he made a bee-line for who he hoped was Gojyo.
Gojyo was unknowlingly headed straight towards Kratos, which was probably a good thing, because he would have turned around immediately had he known. He paused for a moment, feeling slightly dizzy, probably from all the blood he'd lost over the past week.
Kratos' eyes narrowed when he saw Gojyo stop in his tracks. Something was wrong, and his fast walk turned into a trot-- it proved difficult to weave through the residents, but he made do.
Gojyo closed his eyes for a moment, shaking his head to get rid of the feeling. When he opened them again, Kratos was standing in front of him. He blinked.
"The hell're you doing here?"
"I came to find you." Kratos answered matter-of-factly, "...You don't seem well."
"I'm fine," Gojyo lied immediately. "Just need a smoke."
"You smell as if you've had enough."
"You'd say that no matter what," Gojyo replied, starting to walk again. The dizzyness was mostly gone already, so he wasn't worried that he'd suddenly fall over.
"...Stop."
Gojyo stopped, glancing at him over his shoulder. "What?"
"Come home?"
"... I was headed there. Kids, remember?"
"...Let's walk together, then."
Gojyo shrugged, before starting to walk again, not saying anything.
Kratos followed after, keeping a stride's distance away from him.
Gojyo refused to pause again, even if he was still feeling tired. Instead he lit another cigarette, almost hoping Kratos would make a comment so he could start yelling at him.
Kratos stopped himself from saying anything, however a short, disapproving huff escaped from his chest.
"It's my choice," Gojyo reminded him with a shrug. He was half-tempted to pull out a beer and start drinking, too.
"Indeed."
"So why'd you throw away all my smokes?" Gojyo asked again.
"So you'd rest."
"Don't need any."
"You do."
"You should've known me better, anyway. Can't rest if I can't smoke."
"It wouldn't do you well to smoke in your current state."
"My current state is fine," Gojyo exhaled slowly, before glancing back at Kratos.
He'd be met by a solemn gaze, "...If you say so."
Gojyo sighed. "Look. Worry 'bout me as much as you want, and maybe you got reason to," he admitted. "But that doesn't mean you can just do whatever the hell you want without asking me first."
"Hmph."
"Fucking control freak."
"Stubborn ass."
"I got a nice ass. Admit it. I caught you staring earlier."
"Idiot.
"Jerk."
"Imbecile."
"Arrogant prick."
"Self-destructive womanizing drunkard."
"... That'd be Kratosnizing now."
"Either way you're a lech."
"Guess you got bad taste, then."
"Your words, not mine."
"Not that it matters. Your goal is to die as soon as possible."
"The grief you cause me is only helping me reach said goal faster."
"Oh, good. Maybe I'll finally be able to smoke in fucking peace."
"If left to do that, you'd be joining me once more much sooner than you think."
Gojyo glared at him. "Don't need you to fucking take care of me."
"Obviously you do."
"Obviously I fucking don't!" Gojyo flicked his cigarette butt at him, speeding up.
Kratos kept up, doing his best to ignore the disrespectful gesture, "Perhaps I should have left you in the ruins, then."
"Aw, but you miss me, Kratos," Gojyo leered at him. "You're so terrified of being alone, after all."
"As you're terrified of being abandoned once more." Kratos didn't miss a beat as he snapped back to Gojyo.
"Why be afraid of the inevitable?"
"You tell me."
"At least you can just kill yourself if it happens."
"And you can find some prostitute." Kratos sneered, "Perhaps the three women from just a little while ago? Hisoka? Hakkai? I'm sure one of them would appease you just fine."
"Which reminds me," Gojyo threw an arm around Kratos' shoulder, grinning at him. "Even if you do kill yourself, I still won't be alone, will I? I got nothing to worry about."
"Then I'll get right on it." Kratos shoved Gojyo's arm away.
"See? Told you it was inevitable," Gojyo reached for another smoke.
"I never denied it."
"I was hoping."
"To be abandoned?"
Gojyo rolled his eyes. "No."
"Hmph."
"You're probably gonna head for your Cruxis quarters, right? Guess I better get back to the kids, then."
"Maybe I'll bring them with me, so I don't have to worry about them inhaling smoke."
"You do that."
"I'd be doing them a favor, keeping them away from you."
"Then why aren't you?"
"In due time."
Gojyo shrugged. "Alright," he said, turning around suddenly. "Might as well just head back to town, then."
Instinctively, Kratos grabbed the collar of Gojyo's shirt
Gojyo stopped, mostly to keep from being choked. "The fuck're you doing now?"
"You're going to rest."
"Fuck off."
"I'll not have you collapse."
"Like you give a shit," Gojyo said angrily, starting to remove his shirt to get out of Kratos' grip.
"Of course I do."
"Just fuck off!" Gojyo turned around, giving him a hard shove. "Go take the kids and stay with your boss. I'm gonna go get fucking wasted. Alright?"
"No! It's not all right!" Kratos' voice rose for the first time.
"You're the one who's so fucking desperate to make sure I got no one!"
"Just as you were intent on striking a nerve within me!"
"I didn't make any fucking threats."
"You didn't have to!"
"Neither did you."
"You're absolutely infuriating."
"I love you, too."
"Sometimes I wonder."
That was it. Gojyo really didn't care what Kratos said about him, or what threats he made, but to even fucking suggest... He didn't even know what he was doing anymore, but he suddenly found himself punching Kratos in the face, hard.
That happened a lot nowadays. Kratos dodged to the side and countered with a knee to Gojyo's gut. He didn't even care about the amount of power he put into it, he just wanted to hit him.
Gojyo wasn't fast enough, and he doubled over coughing, clutching his stomach. He was lucky he wasn't throwing up as well. His cigarette dropped from his mouth, before he ran forwards, tackling Kratos.
Kratos found himself lying in the dirt with a very angry Gojyo atop of him, and he gave a desperate shove.
Gojyo still hadn't recovered from the knee to his stomach, but that didn't stop him from straightening up, again punching Kratos' jaw. As an afterthought he hit him with his other fist as well.
Preoccupied with trying to get Gojyo off of him, Kratos didn't think to dodge the punches, instead taking them both at full force. He blinked, momentarily stunned.
Gojyo glared, shoving him against the ground once before starting to get up-- and then nearly fell over as the dizzyness hit again. He swore, before managing a half-hearted kick to Kratos' stomach, to make sure he stayed angry and not worried, which would only piss him off more.
Kratos rolled to the side, panting against the ground. Although, the expression on his face quickly changed from anger to concern. Something wasn't right... well... something other than them fighting like this.
Gojyo needed something to hold on to, and took a step forward to lean against the tree. He only ended up falling to his knees though, and he closed his eyes again. Fuck, he didn't need this. Not now.
Mustering up enough strength to push himself to his feet proved difficult for Kratos, so he wound up half crawling-half hobbling to Gojyo.
Gojyo could hear Kratos coming towards him, and that was the last thing he wanted. Worry. He was still angry goddammit. "Don't come near me," he said, though it didn't sound all that convincing, even to himself.
"Don't speak." Kratos growled when he finally reached Gojyo, "...It's just as I said."
"Fuck off. You can't walk either," Gojyo ignored that last bit, which he translated in his head to 'I told you so'.
"...I just want to help you, dammit."
Gojyo blinked. That was the first time he'd heard Kratos swear, ever. "... I know."
Kratos leaned against him, his forehead against Gojyo's shoulder. "You're going to have to carry me once more." Without giving Gojyo a chance to respond, he began channeling mana into him, hoping to revitalize him with enough energy to get home.
Gojyo wished he had the energy to stop him, because he refused to let Kratos pass out because of him again. "Kratos.." he objected immediately.
"Silence yourself. Let me concentrate." Already Kratos sounded breathless and tired.
"Stop!" Gojyo managed to pull away. He had enough energy now, he could get them home. "Don't fucking overdo it, at least."
Since Gojyo pulled away without warning, Kratos lost his balance and fell to the ground with a thud, his head narrowly missing the tree.
"Oh shit," Gojyo immedaitely moved to pick Kratos up. "You alright? I'll get you home."
"I'm... fine."
"Fuck you, not you're not," Gojyo pointed out. He lifted Kratos' up in his arms, before starting to walk towards their house, if slower than he normally would.
"...Sorry."
"... So am I."
Kratos leaned his head into Gojyo's shoulder, "....It was my fault."
"Who cares. I love you, you love me, we forgive each other," Gojyo shrugged, continuing to walk. It had been Kratos' fault, though.
"...You didn't deny it." Kratos' voice didn't rise above a whisper.
"I'm protective about my cigarettes," Gojyo pointed out, not even realising he'd left both them and the beer behind on the road. He did have one pack in his pocket, though.
"...I'm sorry." Kratos didn't know what else to say.
"It's fine. Stop worrying. If you hadn't started a fight, I would've."
"..."
"... Let's just get home," Gojyo insisted.
"...All right."
Gojyo walked a few more steps, before hesitating. "D'you really doubt that I love you?"
"No." Kratos leaned his head in more, "...I didn't mean any of what I said."
"Good," Gojyo let out a sigh of relief. "Neither did I."
"I'm sorry."
"Quit that."
"All right." Kratos let his eyes flutter shut, hoping that would help him keep his mouth shut as well.
Gojyo stayed quiet as well, walking a little faster to get them home sooner, while trying to think of some way to explain this to the kids. Maybe he should say they were attacked by evil knights or dragons.
As if reading Gojyo's mind, Kratos allowed himself to murmur, "...Tell them we were training in the forest. You can say you won."
"Well, I did," Gojyo pointed out.
Kratos merely grunted, not wanting to argue.
Gojyo grinned. "Y'know, I think all this fighting with you is making me stronger."
"Hn."
"So really, you're doing this to make sure I don't go and get killed on you?"
"..."
"Good plan."
"...Annoying."
Gojyo just grinned more. "I could drop you, y'know."
"Go ahead. I deserve it."
".. You mean I do."
Kratos shook his head.
"I do," Gojyo insisted.
"...Be quiet."
"No," Gojyo shook his head, sighing. He was feeling guilty now. "I didn't have to start a fight. I started it. If I'd explained why I needed the goddamn cigarettes before running off, I could've gone to buy them without the two of us fighting."
"I wouldn't have let you."
"I should've tried."
"...How far are we?"
Gojyo shifted his grip so he was holding Kratos better, starting to walk up the steps outside their house. "We're there."
"Good. Thank you."
Gojyo managed to get the door open somehow, getting them inside. "Need help getting off your shoes?" he asked, kicking off his own.
"No. Leave them."
Gojyo blinked. "Why? I'm putting you in bed."
"I'll take them off myself." Kratos hated seeming weak, and this was no exception.
"Alright," Gojyo set him down, keeping an arm around him to make sure he didn't fall over.
Kratos immediately tried to pull away-- not unkindly, but just to prove he could balance himself. He managed to neatly pull off his boots and take a couple of steps before stumbling.
Gojyo let him pull away, but as soon as he noticed Kratos stumbling he hurried to grab him again, steadying him. "C'mon," he said, slipping his arms around his waist and forcing Kratos to lean against him, before heading for their bedroom.
"...Thank you."
"Hey, I'm the one who gave you the beating," Gojyo reminded him, grinning smugly. He kicked open the door to their bedroom, getting Kratos' inside. "Now you're the one who's gotta rest."
"...You do, too."
"Yeah, but I gotta shower, brush my teeth and eat first," Gojyo reminded him. "And say hi to the kids."
"All right."
"I smell slightly bad," Gojyo picked Kratos up suddenly, carrying him over to the bed before just dropping him down. "Told you I'd drop you," he smirked.
"Hmph." Kratos pulled away the top blanket, burying underneath it and into the pillows. He wouldn't be able to sleep, but dozing here would do just as well.
Gojyo continued smirking, before disappearing off to take a shower. Oh, it was good to be home.
What: KRATOS TO THE RESCUE. Also, an epic fight.
When: I don't remember which day Gojyo was saved. Couple of days ago.
Where: IN THE AIR, their house, and a Town.
Why: We WANTED to.
How: Paragraphs. :3
Rating: PG-13.
You weren't there. :|
If Kratos didn't possess the amazing strength that being a Seraph allowed him, he'd have plummeted to the ground long ago, thanks to the combined efforts of the weight of Gojyo on his back, and having just recovered from a huge mana drain. His wings moved silently, pushing them fluidly through the air. He wanted to get them home as quick as possible, especially after seeing Gojyo in such a messy state.
Gojyo was holding onto Kratos' back with one hand, and holding onto his smoke with his other. Kratos had brought a single pack for him, and he was already halfway through it, despite how close he came to falling off Kratos' back every time he tried to light a new one. It was worth it. "Still can't believe you fucking passed out," he muttered, trying to get a better grip on Kratos' shoulder without touching his wings somehow. He didn't feel like falling down from this height.
Kratos stopped short and dove quickly, as if he were to fall out of the sky. He couldn't stand to hear Gojyo go on about that anymore, and if he had to, he would throw the taller man off. Of course he'd catch him, but still. It was the thought that counted. "...I had to kill whatever infections had settled in. Otherwise, even if I healed the cuts, you probably would have died."
Gojyo gripped Kratos' shoulder tightly when he suddenly dropped like that, not caring if he bruised the other man since he was obviously doing that on purpose anyway. "D'you have any fucking idea how goddamn terrifying it is to have someone pass out on you like that?" he continued, ignoring what Kratos had said. He really didn't care much about that, and didn't really believe it would have killed him.
"I do." Kratos snapped back, "And I also know how terrifying it is to have someone dying right there in front of you. I wasn't going to risk that." He surged forward to gain altitude, emphasizing his point by flapping his wings hard, making the ride as bumpy as possible.
"You're a fucking idiot," Gojyo held on tighter, leaning closer to Kratos' back for balance. He'd finished another cigarette though, and he wasn't about to wait for them to land before lighting a new one. "For all I knew, you were dying," he pointed out, letting go with his other hand as well, squeezing his legs around Krato's waist so he wouldn't fall. He found a new cigarette and his lighter, slipping down Kratos' back a little as he tried to keep the flame from going out. It was nearly impossible and it took him ten tries to light a new cigarette, what with all the wind. "Could've fucking warned me, at least."
"I was breathing, wasn't I?" Another large bump.
"Fucking quit that," Gojyo nearly dropped his lighter as he tried to pocket it again. "I said dying, not dead."
"Don't smoke for the rest of the ride." Kratos growled, "And I did it to save you. It would have been worth it."
"I haven't smoked for a fucking week, I'm gonna fucking smoke now," Gojyo said, determinedly holding on to his cigarette. "It wouldn't have been worth it for me," he pointed out, annoyed. "I know you're suicidal, but goddammit Kratos."
At the mention of that, Kratos did a barrel roll, trying to force Gojyo off. Only this time, he wasn't sure if he wanted to catch him if he let go.
Gojyo hadn't been holding on tightly enough, and when he suddenly found himself upside down, there was nothing keeping him from falling. He resisted screaming, worried he might drop his cigarette as he plummeted towards the ground. If he was going to die, he was going to keep smoking until the very last second.
Almost as an afterthought, Kratos lazily flew to catch him, this time by the wrist, leaving him to dangle in the air as they pushed at full speed. "What was that?" he snarled this time.
"THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!" Gojyo yelled, somehow managing not to flail as he dangled there. "YOU'RE GONNA FUCKING DROP ME. GODDAMMIT YOU'RE PULLING MY SHOULDER OUT OF ITS FUCKING SOCKET."
"A dislocated shoulder won't kill you." Kratos half shrugged, "And I'll only drop you if you continue to distract me with your big mouth."
"FUCKING OUCH," Gojyo continued yelling. "WHY THE FUCK DID YOU HEAL ME IF YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HURT ME AGAIN YOU PRICK."
"Silence yourself, or I'll shut your mouth for you."
"Fucking ass."
"I didn't have to come for you."
"Never asked you to."
"...Yes you did."
"When?"
"Many times."
"No, I fucking didn't," Gojyo tried to somehow lift his body up so he could grip Kratos' wrist with his other hand, before his shoulder did end up being dislocated.
"If we get home, you can read for yourself." Kratos made no move to help Gojyo up, but at the same time, made no move to dissuade him from getting a better grip, either.
Gojyo managed to pull himself up a little, though he was getting sick of this. Narrowing his eyes, he tugged his wrist free of Kratos' grip and then let go.
That was unexpected-- and Gojyo called Kratos the suicidal one. Kratos cut the mana flow to his wings and dropped like a rock, only unfurling them once more when he was beneath Gojyo. With a clean flip, he caught the other man in his arms, greeted by a faceful of cigarette smoke. Lovely.
Gojyo had nearly swallowed his cigarette as he fell, but then he'd just about finished it anyway. He let it drop as Kratos' caught him, wrapping his arms around his neck. "You scared me. I'm allowed to be fucking scared," he said, going back to their original topic.
"Don't fear for me." Kratos retorted dryly, "And I hope you enjoyed that cigarette. It's your last."
"Fucking terrified," Gojyo insisted, ignoring that last bit. He'd smoke if he wanted to. "Who the hell else would I be worried about? No one else is as important to me."
Kratos blushed, "Don't be."
"How would you feel if I suddenly just passed out?"
"Concerned."
"You'd panic. Admit it."
"I wouldn't."
"Well, I fucking did. 'Cause I was so goddamn happy you'd found me, and then suddenly you just fucking fell over, and for the one second it took me to make sure that you were still breathing, because I didn't fucking know, I couldn't even breathe myself," Gojyo said, pulling back a little so he could look at him. "And what the hell was I supposed to do? What if you were fucking dying? What if you needed my help? I don't know shit about healing. I'd try to put a band-aid on a broken bone!"
"Gojyo."
"What?"
"Relax."
"... I can't."
Shifting to make sure they were both more comfortable, Kratos gently nuzzled Gojyo with his cheek, "I'm sorry."
Gojyo sighed, closing his eyes. "Thank you," he said, giving Kratos a squeeze. "And... I'm sorry for what I said."
"It's all right."
"... I love you."
"I know."
"And I knew you'd catch me."
"...And if I hadn't?"
"I knew you would."
"Nothing is certain."
"That is," Gojyo rested his head down on Kratos' shoulder, feeling tired now. He wanted another cigarette, but he supposed he could wait until they landed at least.
Kratos wouldn't argue it further. Not when they were close like this, "...We're almost there." Even though he didn't have to, Kratos found himself whispering that into Gojyo's ear.
"Mm," Gojyo smiled, looking forward to be able to smoke as much as he wanted again. He needed to shower, brush his teeth, eat, drink something, and rest, but that didn't seem as important somehow. "You promised me cucumbers."
"They're cut and in the refrigerator."
"I knew I loved you for a reason."
"So you're only using me?"
"Cucumbers and sex. That's all I need from you."
"No sex."
"... What the hell?!"
"You need a shower."
"... After I shower," Gojyo agreed.
"No. Then you brush your teeth."
"Right," Gojyo nodded again. "Shower, brush my teeth, sex."
"No. Then you eat."
"So when the hell am I getting sex?" Gojyo was sulking a little now. It had been over a week!
"Not tonight." Kratos didn't really care if it had been a week, a day, or even a month. He wanted to make sure
Gojyo was well above all other things.
Gojyo was definitely sulking now. He turned his head away a little and didn't say anything, plotting instead how to change Kratos' mind. Although staying outside all night just so he could smoke seemed like a good idea, too.
"...Is there anything wrong with just wanting to enjoy your return for a night?"
"........................... Fine," Gojyo relented, though it wasn't easy. He sighed, wondering when the hell ratos managed to get him this whipped, then realised he probably had been from the beginning. Not that he'd ever admit it.
"I love you." Kratos found himself whispering again, "......I'm just happy to see you're all right."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Gojyo turned his head again so he could press a kiss to Kratos' neck. "I love you, too."
"Brace yourself."
Gojyo nodded, tightening his grip on Kratos and getting ready for the landing. He wondered how many cigarettes he'd be able to smoke before being dragged into the house, and calculated that he'd be able to finish one if he was lucky.
As if reading his mind, Kratos said, "...Don't bother trying to smoke. I dropped what was left of your cigarettes." There was a slightly jarring bump as they landed, Kratos waddling a few steps as they came to a halt.
Gojyo dropped himself to the ground immediately. "What the hell? What the fuck did you do that for?!" he demanded, glaring. He needed his smokes dammit, that's why it was a fucking addiction, and he'd had nearly half a pack left! Now what was he supposed to do?
"You can smoke again after you've fully recovered." Kratos really didn't see the big deal behind it- in his eyes, he'd done Gojyo a favor.
"I won't fucking recover if I can't smoke!" Gojyo objected. There was still several packs inside the house, so he could just go get one. "You know I need to smoke!"
"Yes. The poison filling your lungs is sure to help speed recovery. How could I not see it before."
"I don't fucking function without those things," Gojyo reminded him. He needed a beer, too, now that he thought about it.
"Your body is backwards."
"... the hell?"
"You heard me."
"How is it backwards?"
"If such things as alcohol and tobacco heal it."
"It makes me feel better, at least."
"...That's not the same as being cured."
"Don't fucking care," Gojyo shrugged, heading up towards the house. The closest pack of cigarettes should be in the living room.
Kratos felt no need to beat Gojyo to the door-- he'd scouted out the entire house (along with the children) to find and destroy every last cigarette. He wanted Gojyo to stay in bed, and what better way than to remove his main reason for going outside?
Gojyo went straight for the living room to find his smokes, and when there weren't any there, just shrugged and headed for the next place he knew he'd kept a pack. However, after the fifth time it happened, he was definitely gettin suspicious. "Kratos..." he said, sounding angry.
After getting inside, Kratos had sat himself on the couch, picking up a newspaper. "Gojyo." he responded in a monotone. He knew what was coming next, but he was prepared.
Gojyo turned towards him, glaring. "Where are all my cigarettes?" he asked, trying to remain as calm as possible. It was a miracle he wasn't already yelling.
Kratos peered over the newspaper top, putting on as innocent a show as he could, "Why would I know where you put your cigarettes?"
"Don't fucking lie to me," Gojyo said, walking -- nearly stomping -- back towards him. "Where the fuck did you put 'em? I know where I keep every last one of my smokes and they're not fucking there."
Kratos' head disappeared behind the newspaper once more, "I didn't put them anywhere, nor did I touch them." It technically wasn't a lie- Kratos didn't have to touch anything to destroy it, and the children were the ones to gather them. He'd made it a nice game and daytime activity.
"Right," Gojyo grabbed the top of the newspaper and tore it away from him. "Where. The fuck. Are. My. Smokes."
"I was reading that."
Without hesitating Gojyo ripped the newspaper in half. "Where are my smokes, Kratos."
"I don't have them."
"Well, what the fuck did you do to them?"
"I've done nothing." Kratos remained almost annoyingly calm.
"In that case, I'll just go out and by some more," Gojyo turned away and walked towards the door before he ended up punching Kratos' face in.
"I'll be sure the kids know you put your cigarettes before seeing them after being gone for so long." Kratos' voice was still flippant.
"You do that," Gojyo grabbed his jacket before walking back outisde. Kratos seemed to want a fight.
Kratos sighed and stood up, He still felt a little weak from before, but that didn't stop him from suddenly teleporting in front of Gojyo. There was a rush of dizziness when he made it outside, but he pushed it aside.
Gojyo wasn't surprised when Kratos suddenly appeared, so he just pushed past him without a word. He didn't feel like talking about it until he had a cigarette in his mouth.
It was that kind of rudeness that irked Kratos the most, and he stormed after Gojyo, catching up with ease, "Rest inside."
"Fuck you," Gojyo said simply, continuing to walk.
This time Kratos grabbed his shoulder roughly, "You're in no shape to walk to town. Go rest."
Gojyo raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't have to if you hadn't destroyed my fucking smokes."
"Inside."
"No," Gojyo pulled his shoulder free and kept walking.
"Please."
"No."
"Gojyo."
"Fuck off."
"...I'm sorry."
"... What?" Gojyo blinked, turning towards him.
Kratos turned around and walked back to the house, leaving Gojyo to his own devices.
Gojyo shrugged, turned back around and continued walking towards town.
An hour passed and the nagging thought of leaving Gojyo alone proved unbearable, so Kratos summoned up what reserves of mana he had left and teleported into town to search for the missing half-breed. The dizziness returned as well, leaving Kratos reeling for a moment. He wouldn't be doing that again until he allowed his body to rest accordingly. But first, he'd have to find Gojyo.
Gojyo had, at least, not gone to any bars, but it had taken him a while to find a store that was open. He'd bought as many smokes as he could afford, as well as a sixpack of beer, just in case Kratos had destroyed those too. He was finally heading back, although he felt a lot more tired than he'd expected. He leaned against the wall of a house to rest for a moment, lightning up a cigarette as he stood there.
Kratos walked slowly through the crowd, grateful that he'd changed his clothing in the time he'd spent at home. Usually, his mercenary outfit earned him a fair amount of staring, and he didn't need the distraction. His sharp eyes scanned the area, making him jump every time he saw a flash of red.
Gojyo started walking again as soon as he'd finished his cigarette, lost in thought and not really paying attention to anything that was going on around him. He really wondered what the fuck Kratos had been thinking, and what he thought gave him the fucking right to do something like that. He'd have to ask him, later, once he'd gone through another pack of smokes. Gojyo didn't even notice as he nearly bumped into several people.
This was getting ridiculous. Kratos pushed through the small crowds, ignoring what looks he got. He partly wanted to rip into the various women, but abstained from doing so. Another flash of red-- this time it looked like it belonged to the right person. His pace quickened as he made a bee-line for who he hoped was Gojyo.
Gojyo was unknowlingly headed straight towards Kratos, which was probably a good thing, because he would have turned around immediately had he known. He paused for a moment, feeling slightly dizzy, probably from all the blood he'd lost over the past week.
Kratos' eyes narrowed when he saw Gojyo stop in his tracks. Something was wrong, and his fast walk turned into a trot-- it proved difficult to weave through the residents, but he made do.
Gojyo closed his eyes for a moment, shaking his head to get rid of the feeling. When he opened them again, Kratos was standing in front of him. He blinked.
"The hell're you doing here?"
"I came to find you." Kratos answered matter-of-factly, "...You don't seem well."
"I'm fine," Gojyo lied immediately. "Just need a smoke."
"You smell as if you've had enough."
"You'd say that no matter what," Gojyo replied, starting to walk again. The dizzyness was mostly gone already, so he wasn't worried that he'd suddenly fall over.
"...Stop."
Gojyo stopped, glancing at him over his shoulder. "What?"
"Come home?"
"... I was headed there. Kids, remember?"
"...Let's walk together, then."
Gojyo shrugged, before starting to walk again, not saying anything.
Kratos followed after, keeping a stride's distance away from him.
Gojyo refused to pause again, even if he was still feeling tired. Instead he lit another cigarette, almost hoping Kratos would make a comment so he could start yelling at him.
Kratos stopped himself from saying anything, however a short, disapproving huff escaped from his chest.
"It's my choice," Gojyo reminded him with a shrug. He was half-tempted to pull out a beer and start drinking, too.
"Indeed."
"So why'd you throw away all my smokes?" Gojyo asked again.
"So you'd rest."
"Don't need any."
"You do."
"You should've known me better, anyway. Can't rest if I can't smoke."
"It wouldn't do you well to smoke in your current state."
"My current state is fine," Gojyo exhaled slowly, before glancing back at Kratos.
He'd be met by a solemn gaze, "...If you say so."
Gojyo sighed. "Look. Worry 'bout me as much as you want, and maybe you got reason to," he admitted. "But that doesn't mean you can just do whatever the hell you want without asking me first."
"Hmph."
"Fucking control freak."
"Stubborn ass."
"I got a nice ass. Admit it. I caught you staring earlier."
"Idiot.
"Jerk."
"Imbecile."
"Arrogant prick."
"Self-destructive womanizing drunkard."
"... That'd be Kratosnizing now."
"Either way you're a lech."
"Guess you got bad taste, then."
"Your words, not mine."
"Not that it matters. Your goal is to die as soon as possible."
"The grief you cause me is only helping me reach said goal faster."
"Oh, good. Maybe I'll finally be able to smoke in fucking peace."
"If left to do that, you'd be joining me once more much sooner than you think."
Gojyo glared at him. "Don't need you to fucking take care of me."
"Obviously you do."
"Obviously I fucking don't!" Gojyo flicked his cigarette butt at him, speeding up.
Kratos kept up, doing his best to ignore the disrespectful gesture, "Perhaps I should have left you in the ruins, then."
"Aw, but you miss me, Kratos," Gojyo leered at him. "You're so terrified of being alone, after all."
"As you're terrified of being abandoned once more." Kratos didn't miss a beat as he snapped back to Gojyo.
"Why be afraid of the inevitable?"
"You tell me."
"At least you can just kill yourself if it happens."
"And you can find some prostitute." Kratos sneered, "Perhaps the three women from just a little while ago? Hisoka? Hakkai? I'm sure one of them would appease you just fine."
"Which reminds me," Gojyo threw an arm around Kratos' shoulder, grinning at him. "Even if you do kill yourself, I still won't be alone, will I? I got nothing to worry about."
"Then I'll get right on it." Kratos shoved Gojyo's arm away.
"See? Told you it was inevitable," Gojyo reached for another smoke.
"I never denied it."
"I was hoping."
"To be abandoned?"
Gojyo rolled his eyes. "No."
"Hmph."
"You're probably gonna head for your Cruxis quarters, right? Guess I better get back to the kids, then."
"Maybe I'll bring them with me, so I don't have to worry about them inhaling smoke."
"You do that."
"I'd be doing them a favor, keeping them away from you."
"Then why aren't you?"
"In due time."
Gojyo shrugged. "Alright," he said, turning around suddenly. "Might as well just head back to town, then."
Instinctively, Kratos grabbed the collar of Gojyo's shirt
Gojyo stopped, mostly to keep from being choked. "The fuck're you doing now?"
"You're going to rest."
"Fuck off."
"I'll not have you collapse."
"Like you give a shit," Gojyo said angrily, starting to remove his shirt to get out of Kratos' grip.
"Of course I do."
"Just fuck off!" Gojyo turned around, giving him a hard shove. "Go take the kids and stay with your boss. I'm gonna go get fucking wasted. Alright?"
"No! It's not all right!" Kratos' voice rose for the first time.
"You're the one who's so fucking desperate to make sure I got no one!"
"Just as you were intent on striking a nerve within me!"
"I didn't make any fucking threats."
"You didn't have to!"
"Neither did you."
"You're absolutely infuriating."
"I love you, too."
"Sometimes I wonder."
That was it. Gojyo really didn't care what Kratos said about him, or what threats he made, but to even fucking suggest... He didn't even know what he was doing anymore, but he suddenly found himself punching Kratos in the face, hard.
That happened a lot nowadays. Kratos dodged to the side and countered with a knee to Gojyo's gut. He didn't even care about the amount of power he put into it, he just wanted to hit him.
Gojyo wasn't fast enough, and he doubled over coughing, clutching his stomach. He was lucky he wasn't throwing up as well. His cigarette dropped from his mouth, before he ran forwards, tackling Kratos.
Kratos found himself lying in the dirt with a very angry Gojyo atop of him, and he gave a desperate shove.
Gojyo still hadn't recovered from the knee to his stomach, but that didn't stop him from straightening up, again punching Kratos' jaw. As an afterthought he hit him with his other fist as well.
Preoccupied with trying to get Gojyo off of him, Kratos didn't think to dodge the punches, instead taking them both at full force. He blinked, momentarily stunned.
Gojyo glared, shoving him against the ground once before starting to get up-- and then nearly fell over as the dizzyness hit again. He swore, before managing a half-hearted kick to Kratos' stomach, to make sure he stayed angry and not worried, which would only piss him off more.
Kratos rolled to the side, panting against the ground. Although, the expression on his face quickly changed from anger to concern. Something wasn't right... well... something other than them fighting like this.
Gojyo needed something to hold on to, and took a step forward to lean against the tree. He only ended up falling to his knees though, and he closed his eyes again. Fuck, he didn't need this. Not now.
Mustering up enough strength to push himself to his feet proved difficult for Kratos, so he wound up half crawling-half hobbling to Gojyo.
Gojyo could hear Kratos coming towards him, and that was the last thing he wanted. Worry. He was still angry goddammit. "Don't come near me," he said, though it didn't sound all that convincing, even to himself.
"Don't speak." Kratos growled when he finally reached Gojyo, "...It's just as I said."
"Fuck off. You can't walk either," Gojyo ignored that last bit, which he translated in his head to 'I told you so'.
"...I just want to help you, dammit."
Gojyo blinked. That was the first time he'd heard Kratos swear, ever. "... I know."
Kratos leaned against him, his forehead against Gojyo's shoulder. "You're going to have to carry me once more." Without giving Gojyo a chance to respond, he began channeling mana into him, hoping to revitalize him with enough energy to get home.
Gojyo wished he had the energy to stop him, because he refused to let Kratos pass out because of him again. "Kratos.." he objected immediately.
"Silence yourself. Let me concentrate." Already Kratos sounded breathless and tired.
"Stop!" Gojyo managed to pull away. He had enough energy now, he could get them home. "Don't fucking overdo it, at least."
Since Gojyo pulled away without warning, Kratos lost his balance and fell to the ground with a thud, his head narrowly missing the tree.
"Oh shit," Gojyo immedaitely moved to pick Kratos up. "You alright? I'll get you home."
"I'm... fine."
"Fuck you, not you're not," Gojyo pointed out. He lifted Kratos' up in his arms, before starting to walk towards their house, if slower than he normally would.
"...Sorry."
"... So am I."
Kratos leaned his head into Gojyo's shoulder, "....It was my fault."
"Who cares. I love you, you love me, we forgive each other," Gojyo shrugged, continuing to walk. It had been Kratos' fault, though.
"...You didn't deny it." Kratos' voice didn't rise above a whisper.
"I'm protective about my cigarettes," Gojyo pointed out, not even realising he'd left both them and the beer behind on the road. He did have one pack in his pocket, though.
"...I'm sorry." Kratos didn't know what else to say.
"It's fine. Stop worrying. If you hadn't started a fight, I would've."
"..."
"... Let's just get home," Gojyo insisted.
"...All right."
Gojyo walked a few more steps, before hesitating. "D'you really doubt that I love you?"
"No." Kratos leaned his head in more, "...I didn't mean any of what I said."
"Good," Gojyo let out a sigh of relief. "Neither did I."
"I'm sorry."
"Quit that."
"All right." Kratos let his eyes flutter shut, hoping that would help him keep his mouth shut as well.
Gojyo stayed quiet as well, walking a little faster to get them home sooner, while trying to think of some way to explain this to the kids. Maybe he should say they were attacked by evil knights or dragons.
As if reading Gojyo's mind, Kratos allowed himself to murmur, "...Tell them we were training in the forest. You can say you won."
"Well, I did," Gojyo pointed out.
Kratos merely grunted, not wanting to argue.
Gojyo grinned. "Y'know, I think all this fighting with you is making me stronger."
"Hn."
"So really, you're doing this to make sure I don't go and get killed on you?"
"..."
"Good plan."
"...Annoying."
Gojyo just grinned more. "I could drop you, y'know."
"Go ahead. I deserve it."
".. You mean I do."
Kratos shook his head.
"I do," Gojyo insisted.
"...Be quiet."
"No," Gojyo shook his head, sighing. He was feeling guilty now. "I didn't have to start a fight. I started it. If I'd explained why I needed the goddamn cigarettes before running off, I could've gone to buy them without the two of us fighting."
"I wouldn't have let you."
"I should've tried."
"...How far are we?"
Gojyo shifted his grip so he was holding Kratos better, starting to walk up the steps outside their house. "We're there."
"Good. Thank you."
Gojyo managed to get the door open somehow, getting them inside. "Need help getting off your shoes?" he asked, kicking off his own.
"No. Leave them."
Gojyo blinked. "Why? I'm putting you in bed."
"I'll take them off myself." Kratos hated seeming weak, and this was no exception.
"Alright," Gojyo set him down, keeping an arm around him to make sure he didn't fall over.
Kratos immediately tried to pull away-- not unkindly, but just to prove he could balance himself. He managed to neatly pull off his boots and take a couple of steps before stumbling.
Gojyo let him pull away, but as soon as he noticed Kratos stumbling he hurried to grab him again, steadying him. "C'mon," he said, slipping his arms around his waist and forcing Kratos to lean against him, before heading for their bedroom.
"...Thank you."
"Hey, I'm the one who gave you the beating," Gojyo reminded him, grinning smugly. He kicked open the door to their bedroom, getting Kratos' inside. "Now you're the one who's gotta rest."
"...You do, too."
"Yeah, but I gotta shower, brush my teeth and eat first," Gojyo reminded him. "And say hi to the kids."
"All right."
"I smell slightly bad," Gojyo picked Kratos up suddenly, carrying him over to the bed before just dropping him down. "Told you I'd drop you," he smirked.
"Hmph." Kratos pulled away the top blanket, burying underneath it and into the pillows. He wouldn't be able to sleep, but dozing here would do just as well.
Gojyo continued smirking, before disappearing off to take a shower. Oh, it was good to be home.