Wandering SOLDIER

He smiled a bit as well “I see, that’s good,” He said, nodding slightly “I imagine he was very happy to see you again. He was very troubled by your and your comrade’s deaths.” Thinking of that he frowned a bit “Concerning that… I’m aware of the circumstances of your  death, and I wonder, have you taken any precautions for that condition possibly coming back?” It was a serious matter, it would not be good to have a Raven on the loose again.

"So I've heard..." He spoke sadly, giving a small sigh in response. It seemed his and Sebastian's death had a rather negative effect on both Zack and Kunsel, and the bluenette didn't like this think of his friends in that way. The other's latter words however took the Essai by surprise and he was unsure as to how to respond for some time. Mako eyes glanced down and he sighed again before he answered. "I've not seen any signs of it since then but...what even is there that I can do...?" 

Part of him wanted to be childish and say that he would be however he liked; but he thought that adding such a thing was just going a bit too far. He did not want the kids to think that he was a complete child. He was a man, even if he had the mind of a child most of the time. “Sure you were, Essai. Sure you were.” He squinted at the other, but he was grinning too much to really be taken seriously at the moment. He would just need to impress the kids again later. Or something of the like. “Oh woof, woof.” He shot when the other insisted that he had been like a dog. He was just trying to get the kids to like him, though he had a feeling that Essai knew that already. the look he gave him after, was one of slight warning. Zack could handle a certain amount of teasing, but even he had his limits.

When Zack began to cease his dog-like actions, the twins began to calm down once more, both shifting to cuddle up to Essai on his lap. The action caused the SOLDIER to smile lightly, though he turned his attention back to the other and gave a small chuckle at the look of warning that was given. Essai knew full well that the ravenette would only accept so much teasing from him and he didn't plan to push it too far, though it was still amusing. With both Ash and Melody more at ease around Zack, and wanting to prove he wouldn't tease him too much, the bluenette opted to change the subject. "Anyway~ I'm pretty sure you've not been acting like this the whole time you've been back, so what else have you been doing?" 

“S-Sebby… Please… Don’t walk away again…” His voice was weak once more, pleading with the other to stay. 

Pauses despite his brain screaming for him to keep moving. “Essai…it’s probably better if we just…part ways ya know..?”

And then he broke. “N-No it’s not! You…you trying to leave, that’s what started all this! Y-you can’t leave, not now!” 

“Now’s the best time..” He couldn’t help the tears welling in the corners over his eyes. Essai had been there for him from the start. But things were different now, even the best of friends drifted apart…right?

"N-no it's not! Never is the best time!" He'd almost lost Sebastian completely, and now that he was finally able to get past his own idiotic actions he refused to accept that again. 

“S-Sebby… Please… Don’t walk away again…” His voice was weak once more, pleading with the other to stay. 

Pauses despite his brain screaming for him to keep moving. “Essai…it’s probably better if we just…part ways ya know..?”

And then he broke. "N-No it's not! You...you trying to leave, that's what started all this! Y-you can't leave, not now!" 

“Of course I’m being careful.” Though that may have not been believable  considering the state he’d come home in on one of his last missions. 

“Good, I don’t want to have a repeat any time soon…”

“You won’t. I promise.” Leaning closer, Essai pressed a light kiss to Kunsel’s kiss. After everything in the past, he couldn’t blame the redhead for being so easily worried like that. 

Relaxing against him, Kunsel hummed lightly and returned the kiss with a smile. “Good~.”

Smiling in return, Essai wrapped his arms around the other and held him close. 

Laughing lightly, Essai kissed the top of Kunsel’s head. “I think it’s a very fair question~” 

“Nu uh…~” Shaking his head lightly, he kept his face hidden in Essai’s chest to prevent his husband from noticing the blush beginning to appear.

Despite not being able to see, Essai knew the blush would be present on his love’s cheeks. “What, is it really that hard to answer~?” 

Shaking his head again, Kunsel peeked up at him, “No… But I’ll answer it later at home~.”

“Oh~? Well maybe we should head home so you can give me that answer now then~”

Blushing more, he gave a small nod. “We- we could…~”

Smirking lightly he offered a hand to Kunsel. "Then shall we~?" 

Raising an eyebrow, Essai blinked at Sebastian in disbelief. “Since when did you have a roommate?” Briefly, the blunette wondered it it was Koda, though he hadn’t heard mention of the man in quiet some time so part of him doubted it. 

“It doesn’t matter…I’ve gotta get goin’ or I’ll be late..” Tearing his eyes away from the other he tried to shove past the other.

"S-Sebby... Please... Don't walk away again..." His voice was weak once more, pleading with the other to stay. 

Laughing lightly, Essai kissed the top of Kunsel’s head. “I think it’s a very fair question~” 

“Nu uh…~” Shaking his head lightly, he kept his face hidden in Essai’s chest to prevent his husband from noticing the blush beginning to appear.

Despite not being able to see, Essai knew the blush would be present on his love’s cheeks. “What, is it really that hard to answer~?” 

Shaking his head again, Kunsel peeked up at him, “No… But I’ll answer it later at home~.”

"Oh~? Well maybe we should head home so you can give me that answer now then~"

“I could hear someone moving around inside at least twice, and I know it wasn’t Romeo…” Although the thought still saddened him, Essai was pleased to see more of his friend’s usual self in his tone. 

Raising an eyebrow, Essai blinked at Sebastian in disbelief. "Since when did you have a roommate?" Briefly, the blunette wondered it it was Koda, though he hadn't heard mention of the man in quiet some time so part of him doubted it. 

“It would help if you actually answered the door every now and then…” What with seeing Kunsel, taking care of the kids and works, Essai had little time for much else recently, though the few times he had tried to see Sebastian there had been no answer at the door. 

“…May not have been home. I’ve been busy lately…” There was little strength behind his voice. There was little of his past boisterousness in him; most of that had been beaten out of him these past few months. 

"I could hear someone moving around inside at least twice, and I know it wasn't Romeo..." Although the thought still saddened him, Essai was pleased to see more of his friend's usual self in his tone. 

“It was good, I got a lot of work done and still manage to keep the kids entertained~. How about yours~?”

“That’s good, and I’m sure they’re both happy about that~ Mine was better now, not as boring any more now I’m not stuck in that office still~” He had been ecstatic to finally have that cast removed. 

“That’s good, I know you hate being stuck with paperwork. Just promise you’re being careful.”

“Of course I’m being careful.” Though that may have not been believable  considering the state he’d come home in on one of his last missions. 

“Good, I don’t want to have a repeat any time soon…”

"You won't. I promise." Leaning closer, Essai pressed a light kiss to Kunsel's kiss. After everything in the past, he couldn't blame the redhead for being so easily worried like that. 

“What~? Why not~? You’d rather be sat behind your computer spying on Sebastian than being kept busy in bed with me~?” Leaning closer, Essai smirked at the other.

Blushing more, he hid his face in Essai’s chest, “That’s not a fair question.”

Laughing lightly, Essai kissed the top of Kunsel’s head. “I think it’s a very fair question~” 

“Nu uh…~” Shaking his head lightly, he kept his face hidden in Essai’s chest to prevent his husband from noticing the blush beginning to appear.

Despite not being able to see, Essai knew the blush would be present on his love's cheeks. "What, is it really that hard to answer~?" 

“Not if you keep running away and hiding I don’t…” His voice was weak and almost hopeless as he spoke, just wanting to have his best friend back again. 

“You know where I live..Nothing’s stopping you from stopping me, but you never seem to have time for me. Nothing’s changed…” Long fingers closed over his creaked materia out of instinct, clutching the memento tightly.

"It would help if you actually answered the door every now and then..." What with seeing Kunsel, taking care of the kids and works, Essai had little time for much else recently, though the few times he had tried to see Sebastian there had been no answer at the door. 

“It was good, I got a lot of work done and still manage to keep the kids entertained~. How about yours~?”

“That’s good, and I’m sure they’re both happy about that~ Mine was better now, not as boring any more now I’m not stuck in that office still~” He had been ecstatic to finally have that cast removed. 

“That’s good, I know you hate being stuck with paperwork. Just promise you’re being careful.”

"Of course I'm being careful." Though that may have not been believable  considering the state he'd come home in on one of his last missions.