SUNEATER /

   IN THE SILENCE, momo gathers the moment. she counts the number of times he acted on instinct. she counts the number of destruction. she counts the minutes that it took before everyone around them fell back into rebuilding, into routine. HE’S STILL but body language speaks volumes enough. 

 ‘ I THINK … we deserve something sweet. something like a pick-me-up. what do you think, amajiki? i saw them selling imagawayaki a couple streets over and i know this area is known for them! especially their curry-filled ones! i’ve only ever had imagawayaki with azuki !! ’

   ‘ WELL.’  abrupt, her shoulders hitch in a burst of unexpected, light laughter. she is not critical here, she does not mean to undermine; she just sees something in tamaki amajiki that she so often sees in herself. THIS CERTAIN HESITANCE. and a lack of confidence in execution she’s still trying to shake.  ‘ i’m sorry i made you feel that way. ’ fingers smooth through loose bangs and the realization that she’s a mess.  ‘ i don’t know about you but—–i’m planning on playing the what if game a bit tonight and then moving forward. or try to. ’ it’s hard not to fixate. ‘ will you be apologizing to me forever? ’

   ‘ ——– how’s that going? ’  his reluctant acceptance is only encouragement for further inquiry.  there is no expectation in tone,  no insistence.  it is a comforting thought,  to hear that amajiki doesn’t sound nearly as frazzled anymore,  not as keyed up as he’d been earlier.  and it is similarly an interesting thought:  the influence MIRIO TOGATA has over him and the ability to center him so completely.  she blinks slow,  she does not appear to mind the ache between bones nor the growing hunger grating at her stomach.  for now, she’ll take time to breathe.  for now,  there’s no rush even if they haven’t reached their destination yet.  

    SHE KNEW. SHE HAD HER suspicions of what could have caused his sudden, almost bold display of concern for her life, but when he tried to explain himself and failed to finish the sentence, she knew it was because of their latest mission together; and what happened to Togata. After all, being as close as the three of them were along with her keenly observational nature, even the slightest change in behavior would be noticed right away - and Nejire knew Amajiki’s anxieties over what had happened weren’t going away any time soon. She also felt the sense of disquietude from nearly losing him and not being there weighing heavy on her shoulders. Of course she understood. 

    HER BELONGINGS NOW FORGOTTEN ON THE TABLE, she turned to face him fully, still wearing a softer yet more serious expression than one would expect from her usually bubbly self. 

    “ I KNEW THAT. WHAT I MEAN IS THAT it’ll be like I’m gone for only a second, and then I’ll be right back!! But hey, Amajiki, you’re still feeling down about our last mission, aren’t you? That was a really tough one on us, huh? I get it, but I also don’t want you to feel too worried over that forever, you know? Ah, and did you know, I actually have a lot of time before I have to go? We can talk for a while, if you want! It’s better to say what’s on your mind than to let it sit in your head and get worse, did you know? ”

talking wasn’t something he wanted to do, not yet  if ever,  but her presence would be enough comfort to assuage this sudden burst of panic. he hoped.  for  how  long?  as long as he could keep thoughts at bay.  her attempted comfort caused his downward gaze to rise, dark eyes meeting hers bright.  bright and kind and understanding.  hadou, if tamaki’s in the mood to be sentimental about people he’s been around for too long to  keep track of, had become close to family he’s never asked for  but got anyways.  someone he didn’t know he needed, someone he likely wouldn’t have paid much attention to unless thrown continuously into similar situations.  but she’s always there, nevertheless; chattering curiosity and comments commonly seen as insensitive.  too observant, too inquisitive, too much in comparison to him.  too close for someone so different, for someone he’s met through coincidence.  but he was thankful even when he can’t put it into words.

❛           how    long    d’ya    think    we’ll    be    in    hospital    for    ?               i’m  already  gettin’  bored  !           ain’t  there  anythin’  to  do  around  here  ??         ❜            murmur  is  pulled  from  bitten  lips  ,        fatigue  undeniable  when  twined  through  such  careless  mien        ——        an  imposing  one        /        a  fake  one  .          carelessness  had  been  chipped  down  to  a  sharpened  edge  ,         now  remaining  a  falsified  solace  to  others         ;        excluding  avertable  disquiet  .          the  aches  and  pains  remain  in  their  bloomed  bruise  state  ,         nigh  palpable  when  juxtaposed  by  his  ailing  features  .  movement  is  painful  .           not  so  much  so  that  it  effectuates  tears  to  gather  in  eyes  edge  ,        like  it  once  had  ,         but  instead  stem  a  wheezed  curse  and  then  complaint  .           yet  boredom  still  strikes  at  inopportune  times  .           ah  .  .  .  he  really  should  be  sleeping  shouldn’t  he  ?

@sunmanifest​​    ❤

   HE SAYS IT EASIER THAN ANYTHING YET  but she hesitates,  fingers folding before tracing circular patterns against forearm,  her gaze lifts to his downcast.  ‘  amajiki.  ’  the name slips slowly as though  unfamiliar,  consideration lays heavy on tongue,  ‘ when you were out there? YOUR PRESENCE SMOTHERS.  ’  HIS SKILL SHINES even though fighting uncertainty.  SMOTHERS ANY SUN,  she thinks,  even when she knows intimately how quickly anxiety smothers self.   ‘  i think  —–  SUNEATER  suits you well. ’