averagemedium | [Off-Comm Threads]

Wherever you want to be? I'm not saying you have to move, just-- asking.

[He shrugs slightly, attention turning back to the sink.]

[He's quiet, not replying for a long few moments- and then, instead of saying anything at all, he steps over to stand just behind him. Threading his arms around to hug him, he rests his head against his back.]

[Ryan pauses his work as soon as he feels arms around him, reaching with one still-dripping hand to settle it on top of one of Henry's. He's silent in response, not really feeling the need to comment-- he just gives his hand an affectionate squeeze, letting it linger there before he reluctantly pulls it back to start finishing up.]

[The hand-touch gets a more genuine smile out of him, even if he can't see it, and Henry holds him a bit tighter for a moment. And he stays quiet like that for a while longer, only eventually mumbling:]

Are you gonna be okay?

...I will be when all this is over.

[He shuts off the tap, staying right where he is for now; he's comfortable, he doesn't feel like dislodging Henry to go hang the shirt up to dry yet, and he'll just be wringing it out for longer than is really necessary.]

And if it never ends?

[And Henry's not inclined to move anywhere for the time being, clinging just a bit tighter.]

That's a long time to not be okay.

...if it doesn't end, I'll just-- adjust. Managed just fine when the whole seeing-death-everywhere business never went away, yeah?

[He finishes wringing out the shirt and shifts in his grasp, turning to face him and drape his arms over his shoulders.]

I'll make it work.

[Henry doesn't want to point out the things that could go wrong there. He doesn't want to think about the things that could go wrong there, how that can change a person, one small, horrible experience at a time.

He turned out fine, after all.

And he's more than fine with it when Ryan shifts around, burrowing his face against his chest again, leaning against his body.]

Totally! What's a few accidental murders here and there? Or waking up in the park with glass in your hair and blood in your mouth you don't recognize, huh? We'll just come back and bandage each other up and laugh about it~

--wait, that's just an example, right? That hasn't actually happened, has it.

[Not that he would really be surprised if it had, but... it's a little more worrying than what he's already heard about breaking things, more worrying than what he's woken up to find himself doing.

If he's already killed someone in his sleep then maybe Ryan really should be worried about waking up.

He's shoving that thought aside as hard as he can, leaning down to rest his chin on top of Henry's head.]

Uh.

[The pause there is probably answer enough, and Henry idly scratches at Ryan's back with one finger while he tries to to think of something reassuring to say.]

...maaaybe it wasn't human? Or they got a way with just a good bite out of 'em?

...yeah, let's-- let's just hope that was it.

[Well, shit.

Not that it's anything he didn't half expect, honestly, but shit.]

At least it's probably not just you?

Yeah, it seems like most of the city is learning about the joys of a good killing.

[About time, really. And as thoughts went, that wasn't even an unusual one.]

Just don't you start, okay? Awake or not, I'll take care of it~

Promise you I'm going to try not to start, okay?

[And after giving him a light squeeze, he adds-]

...but if I did, that's exactly what I'd want you to do. Just. For the record, and everything.

...what do you mean?

[Henry pulls back, not quite frowning at him, but looking a lot more neutral than usual.]

I'd want you to take care of it. Make it stop, if I couldn't.

[He shrugs one shoulder, shifting uncomfortably as his fingers dig in to the fabric of his shirt.]

...so, uh. I guess this is-- my request for you to kill me if it ever happens.

[For a few seconds he stares at him, before a mild, and entirely normal smile crosses his expression.]

Sure.

[Lying. If Ryan went crazy, he'd protect him. If anyone else tried to stop him, he'd kill them. If Ryan tried to kill him- he'd let him, if he couldn't stop him safely.]

--You've gotta do the same though! I don't want to wake up remembering offing ya, right?

[Hypocritical, but he didn't particularly care.]

[There's a long pause before he finally nods, just slightly.]

...Okay, yeah.

[Also lying. He has enough problems killing the enemy, even if Henry were trying to kill him he's not sure he could manage it in self-defense. The fact that they come back doesn't really matter, not when the memory of doing it would never go away-- he would rather be killed than kill.]

I'd try, anyway. Think you're a lot better at it than I am.

Good think you've got control, huh? You can just make me do it myself~

[He doesn't even think of not believing him, and it's with a small laugh that he's pulling him close again, leaning up to press a kiss to his jawline.]

I-- guess I could?

[Yeah, no, no he really couldn't. He sounds uncomfortable, eyes flicking away from Henry's face. The kiss helps a bit, but he is so not okay with this thought.]

...theoretically. Think I'm more likely to try my luck with the sword.

Hm, that's right, you've been practicing haven't you?

[But he notices the discomfort, and it's distracting enough from the always-tempting idea of getting stabbed to death, and he strokes slowly at his back instead.]

Hopefully you'll never get around to needing to use it. Leave the slaughter for those of us who enjoy it!

Just try not to go nuts on me, and I'll do the same-- and then we'll be fine, 'kay?

[Maybe if he repeats it enough, that's going to make it true. That touch is relaxing, though, and he decides the shirt can just stay in the sink for all he cares.]

But for now, I just want to go lie down and forget about it for a while.

I'll try.

[If nothing else, the experience made him a little more conscious of possibly needing to control those intrusive ideas, instead of just going along with them like he had been doing.

So he pulls back with another smile, taking his good hand with both of his.]

So let's get you lying down, huh?

Sounds like a good idea to me.

[He gives him a small smile back, shifting to lead him back to the bedroom-- he quickens his pace a little while passing the living room, though. He'll need to find that needle later, see if anything else needs cleaned, but for now he doesn't want to go back in.]

...no idea if I'll be able to sleep tonight, but we can at least try to get comfortable, right?

Gotta get sleep when you can, these days. Day or night, as long as you're not walking off mid-way it's a success.

[He only reluctantly lets go once they're actually in the bedroom, pulling the blankets back from the bed.]

I'm trying, it just... keeps ending in walking off, yeah. About to just tie myself to the damn bed.

[He huffs out a sigh as he flops down onto it, not bothering to strip anything off first. All he wants is to curl up, that can wait.]

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