damp | homo: hikari

[ Rin draws one leg up, resting his forehead against his knee. ]

Is that the right thing to do?

[not that rin sees maybe, but something sadder settles in hikari's expression, even if his gaze is as steady as ever. softly,]

What do you mean?

[ Hikari... Rin doesn't see, unfortunately. His gaze fixed downward, hands gripping the blankets tighter. ]

Is it wrong to give up? Do you have to keep going because it's the right thing to do?

[...

in a way, it's not a sentiment hikari can relate to. even in the moments where he acknowledges his exhaustion, that walking forward has cost him much—the simple matter is that it's not his right to give up, when so many have placed their hopes on him.

but it's because he's aware of that that suddenly anything he could say feels trite, hollow. his belief hasn't changed, but he doesn't know how to express it in a way that won't hurt rin further.

after a few moments of silence, he reaches over—with the stiffness of someone not exactly used to this—to wrap his arms around rin in a hug.]

[ Rin doesn't expect the hug. Despite how friendly and kind Hikari is, he's noticed that he isn't particularly physical with his affection, always a little awkward if Rin touches him unexpectedly.

So it means a lot for him to reach out now, and Rin makes sure to lean in toward him, grateful for the closeness. ]

... Sorry. It wasn't fair to ask you that.

[hikari continues to hold him, trying to remember what his mother might've done years ago. gently, he rubs circles into rin's back, in hopes that it's soothing in some way.]

Again, you've no need to apologize. I would rather know your feelings than have you feel obliged to conceal them.

[ hikari really turning into rin's third mother

but he does appreciate the gesture, the tension easing from his muscles as he relaxes against hikari. the exhaustion of the day is finally catching up with him, his eyes falling closed. ]

... Thanks. For being here.

[yea

this is definitely getting to be longer than the average hug hikari has become relatively accustomed to, and he'd start internally fretting over whether he's invading rin's personal space and rin is being too polite to just shove him away if it weren't for rin relaxing—that's probably a good sign? right?]

No need for thanks either. I will be here for as long as you need it.

[ It is a good sign! He's like those hamsters that become flat when you pet them enough.

For a second, it almost seems like Rin might drift off to sleep like that.

Except then he bites Hikari. Hard. Probably through his clothes, but trying to bite through them to draw blood. ]

[??????

hikari's fingers dig into rin's back on reflex, before he forces them to relax to avoid hurting rin even as his mind goes into startled overdrive.]

Rin—!?

[hands going to rin's shoulders to see if he can gently push him away...!?]

[ a trial tag... don't worry, Rin jerks back immediately, hand covering his mouth. ]

Sorry! Sorry! I don't know what came over me.

Are you okay?

It's—I'm fine.

[he'll reach up to where rin bit him, fingers moving under his collar to touch the wound and coming away with a bit of blood.]

I've certainly had far worse. Are you all right?