Fic: Gai vs Metaphors (Jetman, Ryu/Gai, 1/1, PG-13)
Summary: Gai keeps seeing Ryu when he looks in the mirror. He doesn't *like* metaphors, dammit.
Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue.
Written for H/C bingo prompt "multiple personalities: sudden onset".
* * *
Leaning forward, hands planted on the black marble counter, Gai stared at himself in the bathroom mirror.
"You look really tense," Ryu murmured.
Gai sighed. "Wouldn't you be, if you had someone else's personality stuck in your head for a few days?"
Ryu moved Gai's face into a smile. Gai let him, though it felt weird as anything to give anyone that kind of control over his muscles, and also to see Ryu's smile on his face. It was almost -- almost -- endearing on Ryu's face, but it made HIM look like a sap. "It's only temporary, I promise," he said reassuringly. "They'll figure out what Vyram did. It's very good of you, Gai, but I always knew you were a good person."
Ryu was INSIDE his HEAD now, and still thought that. Do-gooder. "...yeah," he muttered.
"I'll go back to speaking inside your head if that's easier?"
Gai shuddered. "Nah, screw that."
It wasn't fun to have people stare at him if they caught him 'talking to himself', but it was better than having Ryu speak inside his head as well as just existing there. Weird enough having that reassuring, approving warmth inside his thoughts, never intruding -- intentionally
-- but casting a sort of saintly glow over everything. Made him want to be sick. Especially when he was feeling pissed off or worrying over something and Ryu made him feel better. That was insanely annoying.
Not like he needed Ryu's approval anyway. Even if it was kinda nice to have.
"Okay," Ryu said easily. "Now, how about a nice glass of milk before bed? I can take care of it, if you want? You just relax."
Gai splashed water on his face, inspected the results critically, and sighed. He wasn't going to look anything other than haggard until he got some sleep. "Nah, 'sokay. I'd prefer whiskey anyway. How come you're coping with this so well?"
There was a purple streak of worry/fear across the inside of Gai's head, but Ryu clamped down on it so fast Gai only barely caught it. "I'm not, entirely," he admitted softly.
"You repress your feelings too much. You're gonna turn into me," Gai told him with a touch of wry affection. "Screw it. Go on, take over. Make me drink milk. I won't stop you."
"I'm only interested in your health," Ryu protested, but Gai yawned at him mentally and let himself half doze.
He was vaguely aware of his feet moving, and Ryu singing some kind of happy working song under his breath. It was weird-ass, but that was life with Ryu anyway. He was almost used to it by now.
Gai realised he was standing by the fridge, swirling a glass absently. He looked down. "'snot milk," he murmured.
"No, it's not."
"'swhiskey."
Ryu laughed, using his mouth. "Yes. Yes, that's right, Gai."
"Not worried you'll be drunk tomorrow?"
Ryu's mind went all hazy with appreciation. Stupid Ryu. He wasn't being considerate. Just asking a question. "I'm sure one will be okay. And it's your body. I'm not about to do things to it that you really don't like."
Gai laughed. "You're such a boy scout. So you're not gonna make me get healthy, you're just gonna nag, then."
"That's right," Ryu said comfortably.
Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue.
Written for H/C bingo prompt "multiple personalities: sudden onset".
* * *
Leaning forward, hands planted on the black marble counter, Gai stared at himself in the bathroom mirror.
"You look really tense," Ryu murmured.
Gai sighed. "Wouldn't you be, if you had someone else's personality stuck in your head for a few days?"
Ryu moved Gai's face into a smile. Gai let him, though it felt weird as anything to give anyone that kind of control over his muscles, and also to see Ryu's smile on his face. It was almost -- almost -- endearing on Ryu's face, but it made HIM look like a sap. "It's only temporary, I promise," he said reassuringly. "They'll figure out what Vyram did. It's very good of you, Gai, but I always knew you were a good person."
Ryu was INSIDE his HEAD now, and still thought that. Do-gooder. "...yeah," he muttered.
"I'll go back to speaking inside your head if that's easier?"
Gai shuddered. "Nah, screw that."
It wasn't fun to have people stare at him if they caught him 'talking to himself', but it was better than having Ryu speak inside his head as well as just existing there. Weird enough having that reassuring, approving warmth inside his thoughts, never intruding -- intentionally
-- but casting a sort of saintly glow over everything. Made him want to be sick. Especially when he was feeling pissed off or worrying over something and Ryu made him feel better. That was insanely annoying.
Not like he needed Ryu's approval anyway. Even if it was kinda nice to have.
"Okay," Ryu said easily. "Now, how about a nice glass of milk before bed? I can take care of it, if you want? You just relax."
Gai splashed water on his face, inspected the results critically, and sighed. He wasn't going to look anything other than haggard until he got some sleep. "Nah, 'sokay. I'd prefer whiskey anyway. How come you're coping with this so well?"
There was a purple streak of worry/fear across the inside of Gai's head, but Ryu clamped down on it so fast Gai only barely caught it. "I'm not, entirely," he admitted softly.
"You repress your feelings too much. You're gonna turn into me," Gai told him with a touch of wry affection. "Screw it. Go on, take over. Make me drink milk. I won't stop you."
"I'm only interested in your health," Ryu protested, but Gai yawned at him mentally and let himself half doze.
He was vaguely aware of his feet moving, and Ryu singing some kind of happy working song under his breath. It was weird-ass, but that was life with Ryu anyway. He was almost used to it by now.
Gai realised he was standing by the fridge, swirling a glass absently. He looked down. "'snot milk," he murmured.
"No, it's not."
"'swhiskey."
Ryu laughed, using his mouth. "Yes. Yes, that's right, Gai."
"Not worried you'll be drunk tomorrow?"
Ryu's mind went all hazy with appreciation. Stupid Ryu. He wasn't being considerate. Just asking a question. "I'm sure one will be okay. And it's your body. I'm not about to do things to it that you really don't like."
Gai laughed. "You're such a boy scout. So you're not gonna make me get healthy, you're just gonna nag, then."
"That's right," Ryu said comfortably.