@hatngun​—

he slowly walked up to where lupin was resting. didn't approach him at first since he could tell the man needed some space. thoughtful and withdrawn after what had happened. but he needed to come back inside eventually. and it was getting dark now. it wasn't good when someone like lupin would be seen after dark. not in this town. not right now.

"hey." said jigen carefully, casually leaning against the door frame. he wouldn't look at lupin but out into the open sea that lay right beneath their balcony by the main road that was still quite busy at this hour. he puffed smoke from his lungs, then offered his fag to lupin. "wanna come back inside? imma cook somethin' for us."

      On the outside, he was merely a man who was watching the sun sink below the edge of glimmering waves – but even his gunman knew him better than that. Where there was beauty in solitude, there was inherent risk. If not risk of being spotted and recognized, then there was risk of spiraling into his own thoughts. It hadn’t been an easy run lately.

     Eyes hadn’t lifted from the scene before him when the other called out to him in careful manner, but only when there was a small cloud of smoke did he shift, wordlessly accepting the cigarette. There was no response as he closed his eyes and took a drag before passing it back, holding hot smoke within for a prolonged moment before exhaling as well. The buzz of nicotine was a pleasant enough interruption.

     “... all right, yeah.” Conceding the other’s unspoken point of the risk of staying out, Lupin heaved a sigh before standing. Perhaps some other night he’d ask what Jigen was going to cook, be interested in the news or sports, treat it like a normal evening, but upon heading inside he merely settled at the table in the kitchen, picking at his cuticles.

✧ Caring For Stubborn Muses ║ @hatngun​ ✧

“Your panic certainly won’t staunch it, Jigen. This is just an overextended flesh wound, no stab nor bullet... Nothing too grave.”

“Hmm... Given the amount of headbutts and plonking upon my chest I get from you... Your comparison actually makes quite a sense.”

“Sigh... Sorry, Jigen. Didn’t mean to sound like an ass.”

✧ Send over a 🥵 if your muse finds mine hot ║ @hatngun ✧

“Hmm... That’s... quite frank of you.”

✧ Close To You ║ @hatngun ✧

A soft bump upon and contact of skin outgrowing into habitual familiarity, time lingers before he would give any response to the silent gesture, eventually careful to lift and rest his palm upon the scruff of the gunsman’s neck in an unspoken permission. Tobacco is ever-present and thus not demanding much of his heed... There are the vapors of consumed liquor, yet too light to deem it an urge coming from one’s besotted mind... Building up the courage, but for what exactly?... Shadow falling from the fedora brim concealing both of their gazes away from the ambient expanse, the thumb is light to circle across Jigen’s nape as Ryou puts the softness of hush within his upcoming words, gentle to nudge the other towards the share of candor while they still remain in the brief seclusion of each other’s company.

“Sigh... Spill it, will you?”

@hatngun

@hatngun​ said: a loud knocking could be heard on zenigata's door. first very hasty. but gradually getting more quiet until it fully stopped. the one who knocked had no strength to keep knocking anymore as the blood loss was getting to him. jigen braced himself, trying to stay conscious but by the time the door opened his legs gave way and he collapsed.

       “J-- Jigen..?!”

       Instinct takes hold of Zenigata, immediately shooting him forward and yanking the fallen gunman into his arms-- a single swift movement. They’re inside mere seconds later; he’s about as well-versed in emergencies as they come, always five steps ahead. A modern-day Asclepius. With a first-aid kit already at his side, loyal as anything, the living room becomes an operating theater in the blink of an eye.