Wake unto me. [Gintama]
GINTAMA and all characters/ideas/concepts/places therein are not mine, although the writing certainly is.
Title: Wake unto me.
Characters/Pairing(s): Gintoki & Katsura
Rating: G
Summary: A conversation on the battlefield, with fussing.
Warnings? N/A
Notes: Set during the Amanto war.
Wake unto me.
It’s the rain that rouses Katsura at the end of it. It does not fall gently: it sounds, in fact, like a tiny wave of bullets crashing down on the rooftop of the outpost. He’s grateful, though, for the wake-up call. He had not meant to fall asleep.
“Oh, you’re up.”
From where Katsura’s lying down, Sakata Gintoki looks like some freakish white bat perched in front of the ledge. His sword is propped up against one shoulder; from the sinuous stream of smoke rising above his head, it’s obvious that he’s smoking. Katsura pushes himself to his feet with a scowl.
“You didn’t wake me up. Why are you smoking?”
“It’s cold up here.”
He can’t argue with that logic, even if he wants to. They’re up north, attempting to push the Amanto towards the coastline. Lighting a fire in these conditions is like putting up a welcome banner and practically inviting their enemies to shoot them up. They’re dry, at least, but it might not stay that way from how the wind’s looking.
Katsura gives himself a moment to recover before forcing himself up on his feet and joining Gintoki. He’s tired in an all-encompassing way that he cannot completely ignore. It’s almost ridiculous how every time he thinks he knows what true exhaustion is, something else happens on the battlefield and proves him wrong, testing his limits yet again. He can’t afford to slow down, though. None of them can.
Gintoki is watching him now, from over his cigarette. Katsura can’t, for the life of him, ignore the look in the other samurai’s eyes. He’s oddly grateful for the fact that his comrade looks away quickly.
“You should go back to sleep.”
“I’m fine.”
“Stop being a stubborn wig and rest.”
“And what about you, then? Are you going to rest?”
That’s enough to get Gintoki to look at him again. Katsura takes this opportunity to snatch his cigarette away.
“Shinsuke’s already become a chimney. I don’t need to deal with two of you.”
“You could always join us.”
“That suggestion makes no sense whatsoever.”
Gintoki only yawns, shrugs his shoulders once. “I just thought I was doing you a favor, I guess.”
“Huh?”
“You watch over all of us. Somebody ought to watch over you for once.”
Katsura turns away and tosses the cigarette. Gintoki pushes his arms upward, stretching wide. It’s at that moment that Katsura decides to plop his head down on his comrade’s shoulder. He shuts his eyes before he can see Gintoki’s expression properly.
“One more hour,” he says. He speaks again when Gintoki doesn’t answer. “Might as well milk your offer for all it’s worth.”
There’s nothing but the sound of rain for a good, long while. Then, right before Katsura drifts off, he feels a hand push the hair out of his face, warm and gentle.
“Rest well.”
Title: Wake unto me.
Characters/Pairing(s): Gintoki & Katsura
Rating: G
Summary: A conversation on the battlefield, with fussing.
Warnings? N/A
Notes: Set during the Amanto war.
Wake unto me.
It’s the rain that rouses Katsura at the end of it. It does not fall gently: it sounds, in fact, like a tiny wave of bullets crashing down on the rooftop of the outpost. He’s grateful, though, for the wake-up call. He had not meant to fall asleep.
“Oh, you’re up.”
From where Katsura’s lying down, Sakata Gintoki looks like some freakish white bat perched in front of the ledge. His sword is propped up against one shoulder; from the sinuous stream of smoke rising above his head, it’s obvious that he’s smoking. Katsura pushes himself to his feet with a scowl.
“You didn’t wake me up. Why are you smoking?”
“It’s cold up here.”
He can’t argue with that logic, even if he wants to. They’re up north, attempting to push the Amanto towards the coastline. Lighting a fire in these conditions is like putting up a welcome banner and practically inviting their enemies to shoot them up. They’re dry, at least, but it might not stay that way from how the wind’s looking.
Katsura gives himself a moment to recover before forcing himself up on his feet and joining Gintoki. He’s tired in an all-encompassing way that he cannot completely ignore. It’s almost ridiculous how every time he thinks he knows what true exhaustion is, something else happens on the battlefield and proves him wrong, testing his limits yet again. He can’t afford to slow down, though. None of them can.
Gintoki is watching him now, from over his cigarette. Katsura can’t, for the life of him, ignore the look in the other samurai’s eyes. He’s oddly grateful for the fact that his comrade looks away quickly.
“You should go back to sleep.”
“I’m fine.”
“Stop being a stubborn wig and rest.”
“And what about you, then? Are you going to rest?”
That’s enough to get Gintoki to look at him again. Katsura takes this opportunity to snatch his cigarette away.
“Shinsuke’s already become a chimney. I don’t need to deal with two of you.”
“You could always join us.”
“That suggestion makes no sense whatsoever.”
Gintoki only yawns, shrugs his shoulders once. “I just thought I was doing you a favor, I guess.”
“Huh?”
“You watch over all of us. Somebody ought to watch over you for once.”
Katsura turns away and tosses the cigarette. Gintoki pushes his arms upward, stretching wide. It’s at that moment that Katsura decides to plop his head down on his comrade’s shoulder. He shuts his eyes before he can see Gintoki’s expression properly.
“One more hour,” he says. He speaks again when Gintoki doesn’t answer. “Might as well milk your offer for all it’s worth.”
There’s nothing but the sound of rain for a good, long while. Then, right before Katsura drifts off, he feels a hand push the hair out of his face, warm and gentle.
“Rest well.”