from my twitter prompts! for nyatsuma on twitter!!
ginsaka + things you said when you were scared + joui 4 verse
Gintoki slashes through yet another Amanto soldier, grinning as the dead body drops to the ground. He’s lost track of the number of alien scumbags he’s killed over the course of this fight. At his side, Sakamoto takes down a smaller, lithe Amanto and lets out one of his signature war cries.
They’ve been at it for… hell, Gintoki doesn’t know how long they’ve been out here, cutting down these bastards.
Numbers, numbers, numbers- people always want to reduce battles and wars to numbers. Unless it’s Amanto casualties, Gintoki could really care less.
Nightfall is quickly approaching. Their opponents appear to sense the passing of time, and their leader, a massive and nasty tiger of a guy, calls for his men to retreat. Gintoki works in one final kill as their enemies rush off the battlefield. At his side, Sakamoto is strangely quiet.
The last word someone would use to describe Sakamoto Tatsuma: quiet.
They gather their own men and return to the campgrounds. Katsura is in the middle of recounting stories to a group around the fire, arms moving wildly, mouth moving at a mile a minute. Takasugi sits slumped alongside the rest of Katsura’s listeners, bored but clearly too tired to move.
Gintoki stalks back to his tent. He’s heard enough of Katsura’s ridiculous stories for the day and would rather catch some sleep before his watch begins.
To his surprise, Sakamoto doesn’t join the idiots by the fire.
Before the flap of Gintoki’s tent falls shut, he catches Sakamoto wandering off toward the main building on base. It’s where they conduct most of their meetings and battle plans.
He’s headed for the roof, Gintoki realizes. He tells himself it isn’t worth the trouble of getting involved, knowing how a post-fight Sakamoto can be, but finds his feet moving of their own accord anyway.
Gintoki stops in front of the dilapidated excuse for a building and glances toward the roof. As expected, the familiar drape of teal cloth settles on the tiles, tufts of brown hair visible by the light of the moon.
Not. Worth. It. Gintoki tries convincing himself one more time before heaving himself up, swinging his legs up onto the roof.
He approaches slowly and sinks next to Sakamoto. He’s staring into the sky overhead, expression filled with unmistakable longing. Gintoki shudders.
“Idiot, why aren’t you down there listening to Zura run his mouth?” Gintoki says by way of greeting, tone dry. “I thought you liked that sort of thing.”
Sakamoto lets out a boisterous laugh, but it sounds a bit forced. “Not tonight,” he answers. “Maybe another time.”
Gintoki rolls his eyes. “It’ll make you feel better, right?”
“Suit yourself,” Gintoki sighs, leaning back and stretching out with his head pillowed on his arms.
“I needed to come here first,” Sakamoto says, oddly cryptic. “To look at the stars.”
“They’re not going anywhere, dumbass.”
“No, but…” Sakamoto pauses and, ah, Gintoki knows the real reason is coming. He can feel it. “I keep thinking of what’ll happen if I die.”
Gintoki tenses. As much as hates to admit it, he understands. He’s wondered the same thing, earning himself many sleepless nights. Not that he’ll tell this guy.
“I don’t want to die without seeing what’s out there,” Sakamoto continues. “But that could happen, you know?” He lets out another laugh, and Gintoki feels a little sick to his stomach.
“You’ll get your chance.”
“Maybe,” Sakamoto scoffs, “Maybe.”
Gintoki hates that tone, especially coming from Sakamoto. He hates seeing any of his comrades act like this- like the world is ending. Sure, they could die at any second, but that’s true of everyone. Gintoki accepted this years ago.
But someone like Sakamoto deserves to see more of the universe before he bites the bullet; Gintoki knows that much.
