silicone | 🎧 homophonic | pcs

[He sees that, and it's what he expected. Executions are brutal, and someone as kind as Eiden would be affected the most.

It makes Fukuzawa wonder just how black his own heart is, that such things don't phase him.]

Let's go.

[ nodding quickly, it's instant. he begins to walk with him. ]

Where do you want to go?

[ eiden hopes that maybe, he'll get to keep coming back. he'll enjoy the rest of today, he's determined to. ]

Anywhere is better than here.

[They're too close to the Jonasseum for his liking.]

Do you have a preference?

[ god isn't that the truth. ]

How about the park?

[ we can give the lake a big berth... for today. no lake. ]

[No lake today! Just deep into the trees. They'll walk in silence for a while before Fukuzawa speaks:]

Are you scared, Eiden?

[ he likes this a lot, actually. the woods are familiar to him, not in the sense that he knows where he's going, but more like he enjoys the general atmosphere of it. it reminds him of better things.

at the question, he hums. ]

I mean...

[ he could lie, that would be easy. he could smile and say no. but it spills out of him in a way he's almost ashamed of. ]

... Yeah. I am. It's another week, two people are dead now... it's going to keep going. I've seen some shit, but this is [ a nervous laugh as he lets his gaze fall downwards. ]

[He listens to the entire answer, and he gives Eiden a few moments after he goes quiet to make sure that was all of it. But when Eiden's gaze turns away, Fukuzawa speaks.]

It's alright to be afraid. This is a very stressful situation, and I would be more worried about you if you weren't.

But just know that things will be alright in the end, no matter how difficult the road there is.

[He seems pretty confident in that statement.]

[ it's the confidence in that statement that causes him to relax just a little bit, shoulders slumping downwards as he turns again to look at fukuzawa. ]

We have to keep hoping. Take what we learn every week and apply it to the next...

[ a soft huff ] Maybe we can beat them at their own game. Maybe we can win somehow. All of us.

We can, and we will.

[Someday Fukuzawa will explain why he is so confident in this. But today is not that day.

Instead, he'll run his thumb down the side of Eiden's hand. Being close like this settles unease in him and makes him feel more grounded.]

[ the touch comforts him, even more than words, and he once again just hesitantly rests his head against his shoulder. he squeezes his hand, a light pressure, and closes his eyes for a moment.

wordlessly, he slinks another arm around his waist, and he hugs him. it's loose enough to escape from, but it only means well. ]

[This is fine. After a moment, Fukuzawa slides his arms around Eiden's back and hugs him as well.]

[ success. he eventually shifts his head a bit, looking up with a look of understanding, and resolve more importantly, on his face. ]

We have to just... keep solving these. It hurts, but it's the only way we can move ahead for now.

Are you okay... after all of that today? [ he will never Not ask. ]

...as okay as anyone could be, I suppose.

[The thoughts that have been bothering him will stay with him, he doesn't want to burden Eiden with any of that.

He peers down at Eiden, not really moving to let go but still watching the man.]

As long as the people I've come to care about are alright, then I'll be alright too.

Alright... but you know there are people who have come to care about you too.

[ he lets his forehead bonk gently against his shoulder. ]

So let them care about you too, okay? It's about balance sometimes... I'm. Really glad you're here.

[In reality, he won't say what he's thinking. But this is close and he's...surprisingly okay with it. So he closes his eyes as he answers.]

I know. I'll try my best.

[He won't really manage it, but he'll try.]

[ he nods firmly. ]

That's all I'm asking for.

[ that's enough, he doesn't want to scare fukuzawa with being too touchy, so he pulls away, but doesn't release their hands. instead, he'll continue their stroll, swinging hands lightly. ]

... You know, I was thinking. Would you tell me more about Ranpo?

[Oh no but the forehead touch was so sweet. Oh well, this is fine.]

I can. What did you want to know about him?

[ gotta make 'em miss it ;) ]

Hmmm, I don't know. How about... A time with him that you look back on fondly?

...When I first met him, I took him to a restaurant as a thank you for solving a case for me. He ordered nine bowls of zenzai but only ate the red beans, leaving behind the mochi. I asked why and he said he only likes sweet things.

[There are a lot of other memories too, but that one is kind of funny in hindsight.]

[ oh eiden just... hides his smile behind one of his hands and. well, it doesn't dampen the sound of his chuckle behind it. ]

He sounds like he gives you a run for your money... [ affectionate ] Did you finish them for him? [ raises eyebrow. that's a lot. ]

No, I didn't eat. I was trying to figure out how to get my paycheck with my client dead.

[A pause.]

Ranpo didn't kill anyone. He burst in on me trying to solve a murder case, pointed out the murderer, and an assassin killed that man.

[ he winces. oh damn. ]

Oh... yeah, I guess that'd be kind of difficult - damn. That's some seriously bad luck.

I couldn't just abandon him afterwards either, he was an orphan. But I also lost my job because of him.

[ oh... there's a small smile on his face. ]

That's really tough, but... the fact that you stuck with Ranpo even through something like that says a lot about you, Fukuzawa.

[ he looks down a little before gently nudging him with his shoulder. ]

[He grumbles a little bit at that.]

I'm too soft. Strays keep wandering in and I just keep them all.

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