[complete]

[cupofsass]

Who: Hisoka and Tsuzuki
When: Wednesday night
Rating: PG
Warnings: a smidgen of angst!
Summary: Tsuzuki has just arrived in Purgatorium and Hisoka has some things he wants to talk about.

Comments

[cupofsass]

"Tsuzuki, I- two weeks, but that's not-" Hisoka looked directly into Tsuzuki's eyes. "I-I just-"

Everything had happened so fast; waking up in this strange, frightening place - with decrepit buildings that moaned in the wind and reeked of blood, eyes that followed his every move, reports every day of senseless murders, screams and explosions and fires - and the monsters that scrabbled at his door and howled late into the night, and Muraki, taunting him, reinforcing his weaknesses and his uselessness, and that bastard was the reason this was all happening to him, but he couldn't get past, he just couldn't, and his senses had had all they could bear, and it was so dark-

And here was Tsuzuki, smiling just like he did in the office.

Hisoka knew it was selfish of him to ask for so much when Tsuzuki himself had to cope with his arrival, but seeing his partner broke through the wall of passivity he had tried desperately to build around himself. He came forward and silently wrapped his arms around Tsuzuki's waist, breaking eye contact to bury his face in Tsuzuki's chest.

[cheerfulreaper]

Tsuzuki's smile softened. He returned the embrace gently, reaching up to stroke Hisoka's hair.

"It's been hard for you, hasn't it...?"

uh... this got sappy ;;;;;

[cupofsass]

"I'm glad you're here," Hisoka replied, in a choked, muffled voice. There was so much that could go wrong - the natural dangers of Purgatorium, the presence of Muraki, the need to face up to their sins - but Hisoka felt viscerally that they could survive together. They'd already been through the fires of hell - what was purgatory compared to that?

[cheerfulreaper]

"So am I. ...well, except for the obvious downsides, of course." Tsuzuki chuckled. "We'll be okay here. I know we will."

[cupofsass]

Hisoka pulled back with a deep breath, regaining a little of his composure.

"Yeah..." Hisoka smiled faintly. "You're always chasing after me, even when you shouldn't."

[cheerfulreaper]

Tsuzuki laughed. "Only to make sure you're staying out of trouble~ So... Where are you staying? Do you have a job?"

[cupofsass]

"I'm working in Makubex's general store." Hisoka shrugged. "He was kind enough to offer me a job - he'd give you one if you ask. As to where I'm staying, there's a boarding house near here. It's free if you're willing to do chores."

He hesitated for a moment. "You said you've... been here before?"

[cheerfulreaper]

"Ah, that's a good place to work. I might have to talk to him, since I can't find the bakery..." Tsuzuki sighed wistfully. He missed that job... "And, yes~ I was here... oh, a couple months ago. And my old roommate's kept my room up, so I'm going to be staying with her. But... I'm sure she wouldn't mind another person, if you wanted..."

[cupofsass]

Hisoka blushed faintly at the sudden request. He hadn't minded sharing a room with Tsuzuki while they were on assignment, but he hadn't ever thought Tsuzuki would want to make the circumstances permanent. But... Tsuzuki was the one person Hisoka knew here, and it wouldn't be so bad sharing with him, right? Besides, that way it would be easier to know if anything... happened.

Not that Hisoka was comfortable saying, "yes, I do want to move in with you."

"That depends," he replied. "Do you still snore?"

[cheerfulreaper]

Tsuzuki laughed. "I don't know. You'll have to tell me."

[cupofsass]

"I guess I don't have a choice," Hisoka sighed. "Someone's got to keep an eye on you."

[cheerfulreaper]

"Guess so," Tsuzuki sighed, grinning. "Although I should be the one watching you~"

[cupofsass]

Hisoka blushed, swatting at his partner. "I'm not a child!"

[cheerfulreaper]

"I'm still older than you~" the violet-eyed man teased.

[cupofsass]

"Old enough to be my great-great-grandfather," Hisoka retorted.

[cheerfulreaper]

Tsuzuki pouted. "Hey, I'm not that old!"