Failed attempts at living simple lives always keep me coming back to you [CLOSED]

[heretic_blade]

Who ⬤ Izō, Majima, and Emily
What ⬤ Everyone's finally back home
When ⬤ After the curse is dealt with
Where ⬤ Emily's apartment
Content Warnings ⬤ None


[ It hasn't been long since Izō was found and practically dragged back home. Not the home that was the apartment he and Majima shared, but the home to be found in the people he loved and cared about. The home they'd created with each other was always the most comforting.

It took some time to scrub the stink of the streets off of him. He didn't have any clean clothes, either, so the towel would have to do to keep him decent. His hair had been neglected, so the brush he tries to rake through it is doing little good.

He holds the brush out to Majima in a plea for assistance. ]

...She on her way?

Comments

[no_kyouken]

[ He comes to help with the brush, pulling Izo to sit down in front of him. He has a surprising amount of experience in this task from working the cabarets and clubs. Some girl running late and in a hurry pushing the brush in his hand and whining for his assistance; Majima-han! So he starts at the ends and works carefully. ]

Yeah, food should get here first though.

[ Literally the last thing they'd wanted was for her to try to cook dinner upon arriving, so they'd just ordered for something simple that would feed all of them. (Chijoku objects to this dire mischaracterization. ]

[medicative]

[they're correct on that front. the food will arrive before her, because as Majima will know, she's been assigning herself long shifts. she gets up early, she comes home late, and she barely sleeps - she's just keeping it together as much as she can for now. still, she smiles, she speaks gently, and she looks to Majima's welfare over her own - she'll manage, that's what she's been saying. manage, even as she's working herself to the bone for it.

her key in the door, and she expects to see one face in the house as she enters, kicking off her shoes. only, that's not just one person there, and she whips around as she shuts the door, eyes wide as she stands in the entry.]

...Izo?!

[when....how...so many different emotions pool up in her that it freezes her to the spot.]

[heretic_blade]

[ Izō doesn't fuss, even when the knots are particularly bad. An occasional hiss or swear here or there, sure, but nothing major. It feels good, very good to have Majima brush his hair like this. Familiar, comforting, and safe are all feelings he needs right now and this little act delivers.

He's relaxed to the point he barely notices Emily come in. It's only after she shouts that he properly looks up. ]

...Yeah, I'm alive.

[ Sheepish. He's more ashamed about fleeing and hiding than anything else now. ]

[no_kyouken]

[ Majima nudges him to go say hi to her, picking hair out of the brush distractedly and balling it up for the trash. ]

[medicative]

[he doesn't need to go far, because she hangs up her bag in a hurry when she hears his voice, moving into the living room. so many things flash across her face as she stands there - shock, relief, disbelief, amazement - before she manages to say something else.]

You disappeared.

[he knows he did.]

I thought you were kidnapped, that something happened, that the curse had done something...

[the despair had consumed her. there were no words for it.]

And you - [to Goro] - did you know? How long - were you hiding him?

[say something quick, because she's so close to falling apart right then and there.]

[heretic_blade]

[ Izō keeps one hand on the towel around his waist as he goes over to her, looking for all the world like a kicked puppy. ]

He didn't know shit. He jus' found me and dragged my ass back here. [ He can't look at her. ] Sorry ain't enough for what I did...I thought everyone'd be safer without me around.

[ Shame washes over him. He still can't look at her. ]

Thought ya'd be better off without me. Didn't think I'd make ya worry so much...

[ The more he says, the dumber it sounds. He shrinks in on himself, lending to the scolded dog impression. ]

[no_kyouken]

[ Majima had a better understanding of what was probably going on. He and Izo have enough shared experiences in their background that he understands very intimately the other man's self-loathing and fear. Majima just handles his own in a different way. ]

We had a talk.

[ He says with simplicity, not moving from where he's sat. 'A talk' with them is usually 'a fist fight' but it's what works for them. ]

[medicative]

[looking at her or not, she flings her arms around him, holding him close so he can't disappear on her again. breathe in, breathe out - don't cry, because he's here. don't fall apart, because he's fragile like this.]

Of course I'd worry.

[it had consumed her, deeply, in his absence. losing both of them, she was acutely aware of how she needed both of them to feel even halfway stable here.]

I'm so sorry I didn't help find you sooner...I should have, I'm sorry...

[words Goro would hear an echo of for the apologies she had spilled when he woke. she was so sorry, here she was telling them she loved them and she wasn't out there finding them. never mind the countless responsibilities she has that had practically chained her in place. this had to be more important.]

[heretic_blade]

[ This is not at all the reaction he expected. He expected -- wanted -- her to yell at him and get angry. Anger is something easy to understand. Anger is justified in this situation. He deserves her anger and to be the target of her ire. So why is she apologizing?

Izō freezes, stiff in her grip. How does he even react beyond disbelief? He brings his arms up slowly to return the embrace, forgetting about his decency for now. Not like they both haven't seen him naked before. It just adds to the intense vulnerability he's feeling at the moment. ]

Don't apologize. Ya got nothin' t' be sorry for. [ It's hard to talk without getting choked up. Keeping his voice from hitching is an impossible task. ] I-I...didn't wanna be found. I didn't fuckin' think...I'm sorry.

[ Don't leave him for making such a huge mistake. He can't stop himself from crying for a variety of reasons. It just makes him feel that much more pathetic. He'd cried on Majima, now it's Emily's turn. ]

[no_kyouken]

[ Majima frowns to himself. He's frustrated that he didn't even have a chance to help either of them and now they're all like this. Sorry and hurt when it's not really anyone's fault. But it made their promises feel stupid and fragile for a moment. How do you keep your promises when the world is always trying to rip them to shreds.

He lets them have their tears for a minute before he gets up to nudge them. ]

C'mon, everybody sit down an' eat somethin'.

[medicative]

You came back.

[they survived. it's what they have to do. she breathes shakily, feeling him cry, trying to not dissolve into tears herself. it's hard, and a few still do slip out. but Goro gets up to remind them that they got through this, and she nods, pulling back just enough to kiss Izo before letting him go for a moment. surely they can forgive her if she's bringing back a sheet for him to drape himself with - there'll be room for his wings as well. breathe. breathe, and a great knot in her chest undoes itself, finally at peace.]

I hope I didn't keep the both of you waiting so long the food got cold.

[heretic_blade]

[ A sheet is better than nothing. Once he has a little more energy, he can solve his clothes problem. Until then, though, the sheet will make him decent.

He takes a deep breath and wipes at his face. It feels much better to be back with the both of them, more complete and safe. Everything is back to how it should be, at least for the moment. ]

Nah...Not that long. Gave me enough time t' get clean. Be happy ya didn't see how fuckin' gross I was. [ A thought occurs as he looks at a conspicuous garbage bag. ] Uh, don't open that...I'll take care'a it later.

[ Sharing a meal with people he loves. No matter how often it happens, it never stops feeling special. ]

[no_kyouken]

[ Majima says nothing about it but makes a face over Izo's head that indicates 'fucking gross, yes'. It's fine, they took care of it and didn't make a complete mess of her bathroom. Majima takes a slice on the pizza but also goes to sit in the window so he can smoke. Chainsmoker behavior. ]

Ya did a real good job takin' care of things, Em.

[medicative]

[she's used to it, it's why she has ashtrays in her kitchen cabinets now. if they feel good enough to smoke, then she won't worry too much. it'll be easier now, knowing exactly where they are - because she's not letting them go tonight, they're all going to sleep under the same roof and know where they are.]

Kind of you to say so. I was only doing what I should, regardless of the rest.

[she doesn't do her job for any sort of praise. later, this will result in a call she doesn't want to take. but for now, she picks up her piece of pizza and takes a bite, chewing before looking at Izo.]

I don't doubt Goro's already offered, but you're welcome to stay here for now. There's no time limit on that.

[you know. since you have no apartment and all. they'll manage the situation, whatever it ends up being.]

[heretic_blade]

[ Izō grabs a slice and joins Majima by the window because they've both got a problem. He stays quiet for a bit, just savoring the moment. It's such a small thing, but he can't take it for granted. Peaceful, quiet, safe.

He's also trying not to devour the slice of pizza he took in two bites. Being half-starved will do that to a person. ]

Thanks...Promise I won't be a pain in th' ass or nothin'.

[ No, he's just going to become a semi-permanent fixture by the window until they get a new place. ]

[no_kyouken]

[ He makes room for Izo at the window, leaning back and loosely hugging him in against his front. ]

We'll pick up after ourselves.

[ He adds this dryly to their promises. ]

[medicative]

I'm not worried about that.

[they know how to behave at her place. she doesn't care if it's snug - they're safe, and that's what matters.]

You could never be a pain. And...I know there's going to be a lot to face since this has cleared.

[them being ranked Shutens who disappeared after all.]

Just tell me if there are those I need to say you're unavailable to. Those who you'd rather not know of your reappearances.

[heretic_blade]

[ Izō settles in against Majima, comfortable and relaxed. Clan responsibilities are the last thing on his mind right now. ]

Yeah...Jus' don't get yerself in trouble on account'a us.

[ If The last thing he wants is her getting hurt in the name of covering for them. ]

[no_kyouken]

[ Shuten already knows Majima has returned, he was on the network to check on everyone as soon as he was able to, hospital clothes and all. He did not, however, say he was staying past his release from the clinic. That's not his subordinates' business. ]

Nobody we don't know should be sniffin' around for us.

[medicative]

Then best case scenario, I worry for absolutely nothing.

[you can provide dinner and make her promises, but nothing would stop her from worrying the way she does about them. call it the price of her affection or something like that.

for a moment, she just looks at them, feeling all the things that were pulled too taut, too thin, settle back down.]

...You don't have to be in a haste to leave.

[she knows they'll probably say no - they need their space as much as she does, disregarding the difficulties of their clans. but it means something to offer. the keys she gave them were never going to be optional.]

[heretic_blade]

[ Maybe a few extra days before they really looked for a new place wouldn't hurt. Izō especially needs them both right now, something to ground him and drag him out of the self-loathing spiral he keeps finding himself trapped in. ]

...Ain't like we got anywhere else right now. [ He manages a shy smile, though he can't look at either of them. ] A li'l extra time ain't gonna kill anyone.

[no_kyouken]

Ain't in a rush.

[ He agrees mildly. Even if the apartment hadn't burned down, this would have been a better place for them with the rain out. ]

Other things t'deal with.

[medicative]

Good.

[and despite the rain, despite how much there still is to deal with, the misery of the last few days, she can smile, fond and true. for at least part of a single night, she'll cease worrying, cease the fuss - exist in the moment with them.]

[heretic_blade]

[ It'll be the most peaceful night he's had since this all started. How foolish he felt over running is the first place is at least soothed by their presence. A restful night, a safe place.

He looks up with a genuine smile -- he can at least do that. ]

What, really thought we'd be in a bigger hurry t' get outta here?