estoria | Was it good for you?

Entry tags:

Was it good for you?

Who: Hyoubu

covenantal, & Merlin

sortileges
When: 3 IC days after Team 10 gets TPK'ed
Where: Yu's bedroom
What: Three men in a bed
Rating/Warning: death mentions

[ The last thing he remembers…ok it’s a bit fuzzy, his mind feels like a plate of scrambled eggs at this moment, but whatever it was, it was awesome. He’s going to bask in that warm, happy sensation for a few moments, until he realizes that his side hurts. Because there’s an elbow in it.

…

…

Because there’s more than one elbow in it.

Ok so he knows he had great time last night, but somehow that isn’t quite what he was expecting!!!! He’s almost afraid to open his eyes (and briefly considers teleporting away without even doing so but brain: still a little scrambled, and teleportation is one of the trickier esper skills), but when he does he can see at a glance that he’s in a bedroom that isn’t his own. It’s a typical teenage boy’s room oh god. If anyone finds out, he’s going to get called a pervert and worse, and so obviously the thing to do is surreptitiously disengage himself from this tangle of limbs and pretend this (whatever it was) never, ever happened.

Of course, in those few instants, his brain does indeed begin to remember exactly what happened, but the rest of his mind beats that part with a stick and sits on it. The only thing (THE ONLY THING) worth thinking about is getting out of this (very small) bed, without disturbing its other occupants.

It’s a good plan, and it would have worked too, except for the soft squeaking of the mattress as he wriggles. ]

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[ This time, it happens slowly.

Then, underground, and then above, in that prison, they'd had about an hour of a lot of things all happening very quickly. One after another after another. Getting yanked into that place, transported, figuring out their bearings, making their way out into the prison proper, making contact with the ghosts, his getting dropped two stories into a broken heap of a person, and then...

And then.

But now, it's slower. Quieter in a way that doesn't feel threatening, the empty menace of pain and death to come. It would be comfortable if it wasn't all so crowded. It's a bit too warm.

Yu is a pretty light sleeper, so he was already only sort of dozing when Hyoubu even started to move. He's wide awake by the moment of that squeaking, though he doesn't startle or anything. Just pulls in a breath out of sync with the steady breathing of sleep and blinks his eyes open, shifting to get an elbow beneath him and push himself up.

Well. He's in his own bed. That's a good thing.

What's slightly less good, or at least just very weird, is Hyoubu and Merlin piled into it with him. ]

... Hyoubu-san? [ Obviously awake. Obviously trying to leave. Yu's look is a little incredulous for him. As for Merlin... is he awake? ] Merlin?

[ What happened to all of them? They settled on a plan, and decided to attack, and then...

And then...

Hyoubu might be looking at him, and Merlin might be stirring, just in time to see the change on his face. It's subtle. His eyes widen just a little and the hand he isn't leaning on shifts uselessly. This face means: oh god, we died. ]

[ It could have been slower. He could have slowed time, to ensure he had more time to respond had something gone wrong, but he hadn't.

It had gone slow enough without that in place, honestly. Feeling fire and still not going down. Nimueh had hit him with a ball of fire once straight in the chest and he'd risen to his feet merely 10 seconds later. It makes sense that it'd be the ceiling caving in on his head that'd really do it but--

--it also means that while the others might be coming around. He doesn't want to. Screw that. Poor Hyoubu will find his hand twisting to grip at the sleeve of his jacket. ]

Five more minutes... [ It's a soft mumble, one that doesn't want to face the world and gives no fucks that they've been revived in the same bed. Ah. ]

I — don't look at me like that.

[ Between Yu's look and Merlin's grabby hand, the Denial Soufflé that Hyoubu's brain had been so carefully preparing falls in. Memory asserts itself.

He could have done with remembering only the amazing parts, i.e. unleashing absolutely everything he had at that thing. The not-so-amazing parts, though...

Ugh. ]

And you —

[ All that aside, he still desperately needs to extricate himself from the present situation. He attempts to pull out of Merlin's lamprey grip, but doesn't use telekinesis. He doesn't quite trust himself to use his powers yet. ]

You're grabbing me, not your boyfriend. I'm not your sweet lemon, okay? Let go!

[ He starts up his wriggling again, trying desperately to free himself from the tangle of bodies, this time making the bedsprings squeak in a way that is absolutely obscene. ]

Edited (html faaaailure) 2016-06-06 20:46 (UTC)

[ It's hard to swallow when your whole mouth feels like ash. Yu does anyway, breathing past the low-key horror that is the bass line to his thoughts as he composes his expression again. His mouth pulls to one side, gently incredulous, as he watches Hyoubu start to make a fuss. ]

Hyoubu-san, it's alright. Just calm down. Shouldn't we talk?

[ After a beat he adds, almost like an afterthought: ]

We're not dating, by the way.

[ WHY CAN'T THEY JUST LET HIM SLEEP...

When he finally opens his eyes it's to give Hyoubu a small glare for making such a huge fuss out of this. ]

And lemmon doesn't even mean lemon. [ He barely shifts, just enough to rest his arm over Hyoubu, half sinking against Yu as well. He probably got the best place here lbr. ] And now we're not in a life or death situation--I have a girlfriend. Stop making a big deal out of it.

[ Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed...?!?! This is what happens when you force him awake. At least he didn't have water dumped on him this time. ]

[ Oh my god STOP HUGGING HIM ALREADY. But he's well and truly trapped for the moment, as both Yu and Merlin are much bigger than he is. He contemplates actually trying telekinesis now; but there's a chance he might use more power than necessary, and literally explode them off the bed. Which, in normal circumstances, he'd have few qualms about doing, but right now...

...

He used to pluck esper children out of war zones. So many of them just wanted to cling to him, unwilling to leave his side for days, weeks, months, even years. What Merlin's doing right now isn't so surprising, given what happened. And it's far more harmless than what Yu wants to do ("Shouldn't we talk?"), as long as they aren't discovered.

Hyoubu exhales and stops struggling. He makes a show of glaring back at Merlin, and says in his most incredulous tone: ]

You have a girlfriend?

[ lbr this is clearly the most important thing to be talking about right now. ]

Fine. What does "lemmon" mean?

[ Yu, for his part, is glancing down at Merlin with a good bit of fondness when his friend kind of sinks against him. It's comfortable and familiar and comforting. Something he needs more than he'd ever admit right now. Yu just settles back against his pillows with kind of a shrug, more than content to platonically snuggle with one of his bffs.

You need to chill out, Hyoubu.

And it is true that the physical touch is anchoring him right now. The realization of their deaths beats at the back of his mind, nothing he wants to acknowledge, because it has the bloody tang of failure all over it. So instead, to Hyoubu, he confirms in a light tone: ]

Yeah. She's a good friend of mine, too.

[ A beat, and he glances at Merlin again, curious this time. ]

Though I have to admit, I've been wondering about that, too. I don't remember most of the rest of the words, but since Hyoubu-san made such a big deal out of that one, it kind of stuck out.

[ Nah. This is more comfortable than a floor or a tree, he's taking this as a make up for what they just went through. Really he's glad the ceiling caved because if it hadn't... Well. Best not to think about that. Instead he just rests his cheek down against Yu as well, shifting his feet a bit to flop them over Hyoubu's legs.

There really is no escape now. Sorry. ]

For two months pretty much. I have pictures if you don't believe me.

[ :( Just believe him tbh. Though ah. Why is this what they're talking about?! ]

It's like... beloved. I guess. I just tried to think of a soothing song at the time.

"Beloved." Oh well. That clears everything up.

[ He tries, without success, to keep from snickering.

In truth, he doesn't try very hard. Arguing about this will keep them from talking about that. ]

Yu-kun, do all your friends sing you soothing love songs, or is it just Merlin-kun here?

[ Yu, meanwhile, is trying not to laugh as Merlin makes himself perfectly comfortable, but the way his shoulders shake might be his give. This is the kind of trolling he can appreciate. ]

Beloved... [ He repeats the word musingly, his tone warm. But he's sincere when he says: ] I didn't get a chance to say it before, but it helped. Thanks.

[ It's ... probably not a good sign that Hyoubu's question actually gets him to pause and think for a second. Does Rise count? She is a pop idol. Her music isn't technically soothing, but they are love songs... they also weren't really just for him? But she was definitely very flirty about that kind of thing back in Inaba...

this silence has taken more than a few seconds and has probably edged into "wait does he really have multiple friends who sing him soothing love songs" territory but in the end he confirms, mildly: ]

No, it's just Merlin. I guess I'll have to teach myself poetry if I'm ever going to return the favor.

[ Hyoubu what are your priorities. Either way, he'll find that he isn't that bothered about it. He isn't like Arthur who gets touchy about these kinds of things. ]

No problem. I didn't want to leave Mars to look after Yuri on her own, besides I was keeping cover on the area so. [ A shrug, before he peeks up. ] Sorry I didn't go down there as well.

[ But ah. ] Anytime though. I can always send you a love song too if you find them so funny.

[ Now he just sends Hyoubu a cheeky smile though. That's what you get!!!!! ]

[ Merlin's doing the Thing. That Thing. The talking about things Thing. At mention of Yuri and Mars' names, he can see in his mind's eye, a searing memory: the two girls crumpling to the floor, like marionettes with their strings cut. His body goes stiff. ]

[ And then there's something about that cheeky smile and it pushes one of his buttons. He twists around, scowling. ]

DON'T SAY WEIRD THINGS! I NEVER ASKED FOR THAT!

[ Achievement unlocked? ]

[ Yu just hums, a thoughtful sound, and shakes his head when Merlin looks up at him, his eyes crinkling a little from the warmth of his smile. ]

Don't worry about it. They needed you up there with them.

[ And he's glad Merlin made the choice he did, even if the way things proceeded with the girls seems inevitable now in hindsight.

He feels what happens with Hyoubu. For a split second a feeling of pure cold crawls across his skin, an adrenaline spark of concern over whatever is about to happen--

--and then Hyoubu busts out with that, and his expression goes blank as his eyebrows lift beneath the fringe of his hair. To Merlin, blandly, after a beat: ]

I think we should write him something.

[ Look, when it comes to Mars or even Rei he already knows she won't appreciate them being apologetic, for being sorry and if the way Yuri talked... it seemed like she was ready to die for the cause too. They were probably the strongest out of the five of them. Hence why these three are laid out talking about love songs and poetry and neglecting the death itself.

Good job, guys.

He gives Yu a quick smile in return, half laughing as he feels Hyoubu twist away under his legs and arm. ]

I'm sure we could think of something combined. Maybe start with something uplifting?

[ And then softly they'll hear a soft hum as he does actually sing this time, though he's definitely trying to not laugh at the same time. All for winding Hyoubu up after all the sweet lemon gip, tbh. ]

You have given me hope for a better tomorrow
like an angel guiding me out of my sorrow.

My fears I want to let go
but can my past I forgo?

I ask you this as you have my heart
will you always be there so we may never part?

I don't have much to give
but I will give you my everyday to live.

I love life and what it has to give
because through the depths of sorrow I have learnt to live.

[ WHAT IS THIS, WHAT IS HIS LIFE???? This is the gayest thing ever, except for that dating sim with Minamoto that time. ]

I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU!

[ We're all adults here. Adults who respond in adult ways. By very maturely emitting a psychokinetic blast, to get these goddamn idiots off of him! ]

[ So this part happens very quickly again.

Hyoubu emits that psychokinetic blast, and Yu and Merlin go flying - except for the part where they go flying into Izanagi's arms, because Yu has lightning reflexes after a year and a half of constant combat and managed to very quickly summon him. The Persona catches them both and lets them down onto their feet, ruffled as they both look. Yu actually looks a little annoyed, too, which is rare for him. Izanagi shimmers back out of existence. ]

Hyoubu-san... two of my roommates are pretty young, so could you keep it down?

[ This is the most tsundere he's ever seen in his life, and a bunch of girls have hit him for his comments, so Hyoubu please, keep calm. ]

Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Sorry, did you prefer the left?

[ Oh, Hyoubu probably didn't realise he actually was a sassy little shit as well outside of life threatening situations.

He had been very comfortable there though, thanks for that. ]

[ He sails out of the bed and lands lightly on his feet. He straightens his uniform and slides his hands into his pockets, calm for the moment. A little cartoon violence is always good for that. ]

Someone woke in the wrong bed. I'll leave you two to it.

[ He turns, as if to walk out the door (he still doesn't feel quite up to teleporting), but then seems to waver. Finally he sighs and says: ]

This... never happened. I was never here. We'll never speak of this. We just... independently... went exploring in the jungle and... and got lost. Broke our Cerevices. Something like that, make up an excuse.

Hyoubu-san.

[ Yu's voice is quieter, more somber, and the look on his face is one to match. He tracks the other man as he goes, his mouth pulling into a line. ]

Is that what you're going to say to Mars-san? To Yuri-san?

[ The ones who died first? So bravely? For all their sakes? ]

We can't push this away. Burying the truth will only make it worse to deal with later.

[ Yu might go with the somber approach, but Merlin isn't the best at that. He's an evader too. At least with most people. Yu is someone he doesn't mind opening up to now, but he'd rather not do it in front of Hyoubu now. Especially after he reacted with violence again. ]

To be honest it might be nice to watch Mars throw him around a bit. You know she wouldn't take that lying down.

[ Even Rei wouldn't, honestly. ]

[ He goes stiff again, at mention of the girls, and his expression freezes.

Quietly: ]

That's not what I...

Not to them. To anyone else. Don't say anything to anyone else.

[ At that point, his Cerevice buzzes in his pocket. He takes it out reflexively.... ]

I doubt my absence has been noted yet and I'd like to keep it that —

[ He stares at the screen. He goes white and abruptly sits down on the edge of the bed.

Ten messages from the Queen. If he's reading the time stamps correctly, she called him the instant he died. ]

[ Yu goes still, surprise washing over him at whatever's just happened to Hyoubu. With a brief pacifying gesture in Merlin's direction, he moves towards Hyoubu, concern writ large across his features. ]

Hyoubu-san? What's happened?

[ I'd like to keep it that way. Of course he would, but after looking at the device he'd gone still. It probably means he can't now. ]

Someone noticed you were gone?

[ Thankfully he doesn't ask it in a teasing way, if anything he looks sympathetic because really... He's a big no-sharer too. Sadly he already knows Athena probably was beside herself, along with Shigeru if they both made it too. ]

[ He'd hoped she wouldn't notice. Or if she had, that she'd simply say something to him, later. But she had noticed and it upset her enough for her to call him ten times. Which means that somewhere in the real world, the one he'd left behind when he'd been teleported into imaginary space (and Cerealia), the Queen also noticed that he'd disappeared. And was (is?) upset by it.

It's a revelation. It honestly hadn't occurred to him that his death or disappearance would discomfit anyone. ]

I have to go home.

[ Home home, though he doesn't say so specifically. ]

I can walk you out.

[ If Hyoubu was going to use his powers to get himself out, he figures, it probably would have already happened, and there must be a reason he hasn't done it. Better just show him the way to the door. ]

But, Hyoubu-san... I know you don't want to discuss this, but if that changes... [ He pauses, looking at Merlin, eyes searching his friend's face.

Then he looks at Hyoubu again, heading for the door of his bedroom and pulling it open. ]

Let me know.

[ Me, not us. There was a great deal of unspoken communication in the look he just gave Merlin. A quiet understanding of why Merlin kept snarking instead of being serious. An implied wait for me? because he has something he wants to say before Merlin goes, too.

And he'll lead Hyoubu out if that's what the other wants. ]

[ And Merlin looks away, looking towards Hyoubu instead. ] And if you don't want to ever discuss this, let me know.

[ Then quieter, he adds: ]

You never know, maybe one day people will stop surprising you and making you scream like a girl.

[ Because this wouldn't be team shgayde otherwise. ]

[ Yu is a good kid, Hyoubu thinks to himself. And, it occurs to him, if he and Merlin aren't an item, then he must still be hurting over the loss of Minato. "If you want to discuss this," Yu is offering; but what he most likely means also is, "There are things I need to talk about, too" — even if Yu doesn't consciously realize it. Fine, fine. He'll make time for that, after he's spoken to the Queen and set her mind at rest.

He slides off the bed and stands, while Yu is glancing at Merlin.

Actually... there is something he wants to ask Yu. He turns towards the door, and on his way out, brushes his fingertips against Yu's arm.

Do you still have the key? If so, don't tell me out loud or look at it. Get it to the Sanctuary, preferably via — ]

[ AND THEN MERLIN THROWS SOME GODDAMN SHADE ]

Who are you calling a little girl?

[ He lets go of Yu and rounds on Merlin, right in his face. ]

You were the one who —

[ — screamed his heart out and wept, down in the dungeon.

But he doesn't finish the sentence. It's too cruel. And also comes way too close to the whole talking about things thing that he wants no part of right now. So instead, he does the only other reasonable thing, which is to attempt to put Merlin in a headlock and deliver noogies. ]

[ What happens first is a hand on his arm, and a mental question, barely there.

... does he still have the key? He knows better than to look at it, but he can safely touch it without risking anything. Yu slips his hand into his pocket, and finds his fingers closing around metal warmed by his body heat.

He can't reply before the bickering breaks out, and Yu finds himself staring at people older than he is snarking and arguing like children.

Normally, Yu might play along with Merlin's teasing; far be it from him not to tease with the best. But he knows how Hyoubu will react, and he's all too aware of Dipper and Mabel, possibly here. Yosuke and Rise, too. His friends. All four people who will know he was dead, and the two boys in this room have the benefit of time and distance that he doesn't, right now. The choice of when and how to approach those who care for them. If any of his roommates are home and overhear--

especially Dipper and Mabel, who by now have probably heard worse things, but still--

It's when Hyoubu physically goes for Merlin that Yu intervenes, physically, putting himself between them with a hand on each boy's shoulder and pushing them apart. ]

Stop! Not here. If this happens, it can happen later. I don't know who else is home, but I--

[ He stops abruptly, his jaw clicking shut. When he continues, he's collected again, but quieter. ]

One of my friends can sense me. [ This part he says to Hyoubu. Merlin will know who he means. ] That she hasn't already come in just means she's not here. She will be soon. [ Rise. ] Think we could hold off on the brawling for another day?

[ Yu is a good kid in comparison, though. Merlin, having given into his own destiny to a skewed degree, has a moral compass that is a hell of a lot more skewed than he ever lets on. There are certain things he wouldn't push (like Hyoubu had desperately tried to revive Yuri, had been shouting at Yu to get him to change Personas to bring Mars back) but something like being embarrassed because of a love song? Even if it's bad timing? Yeah, he'll go for it.

His eyes definitely narrow when Hyoubu goes to return it for other reasons though and he had been about ready to try and deck him (but really, he's a noodle... even if it hit out of surprise it wouldn't hurt) when Yu's hand lands on his shoulder. Funnily enough, it feels like a deja vu of when he met Arthur, with them both winding each other up... only he can't bring himself to argue with Yu's statement there.

He wouldn't do that to Rise, at least. ]

Wasn't he leaving anyway?

[ Sorry... Yu........ ]

[ He's not actually fighting seriously, so he yields pretty quickly when Yu forces him and Merlin apart. ]

Okay, okay. I get the hint. I'll leave you two lovebirds alone.

[ A grin and a wave and he's mid-snap when he adds: ]

Remember, not a word of this to anyone. Bye~~~~!

[ His mind has sufficiently un-addled itself, so he disappears. Which is half the battle, honestly. Let's hope he reappears somewhere reasonable, like not half-inside a wall or anything. ]

Hyoubu-san!

[ It's too late, though. He'd thought Hyoubu was choosing not to use his powers, but maybe the other was feeling up to the task after all....

Yu wasn't even positive he could do something like teleport. It wasn't like he really saw the full extent of Hyoubu's powers back there. He knew the man could fly, and levitate others, and had been preparing to take them through the wall when they'd been stopped by the guard, so teleporting was a safe assumption, but actually seeing it is something else entirely...

The room is left quiet in Hyoubu's absence, and Yu only sighs. He'll drop his hand from Merlin, his expression inscrutable. ]

... I understand your feelings. But we can't fight any time the three of us are together.

[ He knows Merlin isn't entirely to blame, but Merlin did his fair share of the instigating. ]

[ He doesn't even blink when Hyoubu disappears. He's seen it often enough now while here in Cerealia that it isn't a huge shock. He'd understood the principal of it when Hyoubu tried to teleport them out earlier anyway.

Merlin doesn't look ashamed or even try to hide the fact that he had instigated a little as well. Instead, all he says is: ] He's a bully.

[ Um. ]

And you provoked him. [ Steadily. But after a beat, he relents slightly. ] Like I said, I understand your feelings. Hyoubu-san... he was acting rashly. [ He grips his loosely curled fist in his other hand, pressing lightly on his knuckles. ] But I think he means well, deep down. He was concerned about all of us, in his own way.

Well I'm hardly going to take it lying down, am I? [ Ah. ] I've seen more caring toads than him.

[ I'm so sorry.. Yu................ ]

He rescued me, [ Yu points out coolly. ] I'm not asking you not to stand up to him. I'd like to ask you both to think of your surroundings a little more. Dipper and Mabel live here. I didn't want any fights.

[ ... something softens in his expression, thoughtful and old and tired. ] I'm glad we're back.

[ He goes quiet for a minute, mumbling "and almost got us both killed before we got answers" under his breath, but the rest he'll at least quieten for.

He only glances back at him when he says that last thing, his own expression kind of blank for a moment, like he's trying to process the meaning behind it. ]

Right. [ In the end nothing else comes though, and he doesn't know what else to say. So he starts... rambling. Naturally. ] Better than what was going on before, right? You aren't going to do what he said though, are you? Keeping it a secret and all? I'm preeetty sure that isn't going to work for any of us, even if he might want it to.

[ Because he doesn't want to talk about the feelings part either... sorry. ]

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