I got no one who will bring me a big umbrella;

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

[It's late night again -- past midnight, when Mukuro finally enters the hallways of the Vongola base in Rome. A bare few hours have passed since this incident, most of which has been spent calming his shaken nerves, bandaging the worst of his injuries with makeshift bandages torn from his t-shirt, and working up the energy to walk in smoothly, not stumbling despite his exhaustion, a half-heated illusion of a healthy body thrown over him to deter all but the most perceptive he may run into. But he's not stalking silently as usual -- it's a slow plod, masking pain and discomfort with a false sense of nonchalance. And for once he isn't looking to irritate anyone tonight. He just wants a bath, a bed, and sleep.]

Comments

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

[Well, that was amusing. He turns the water off, laughing a bit more enthusiastically than he usually does. It's good -- he needed a laugh.]

Awake now, hm?

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

[ JACKASS. Tsuna stands, dripping everywhere, and flings his arms around Mukuro in a giant bear hug.

THERE, now he's wet too. ]

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

[His initial reaction is to tense, and for just a moment there's a look of panic on his face, as frantic thoughts of "don't touch me!" go through his head. But he smoothes his expression fast enough, leaving only the tension he can't entirely dismiss.]

Is this your idea of vengeance?

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

[ --maybe he went a little too far? is his first thought, and Tsuna lets go, with a small laugh.

It's cold. ]

It worked, didn't it?

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

Well enough. But the bandages are damp now. [Shrugs, calming down when Tsuna leaves his personal space bubble. He wanted a bath anyway, but he didn't really intend to get wet that way.]

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

--I forgot. [ A total derp moment there, but ah- it's too late, anyway. And it's like he reads Mukuro's mind: ] Maybe you should have a bath?

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

Maybe I should, but you might just fall asleep in my bed again.

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

It's a big bed. I won't take up all of it.

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

And if I'd rather not share it with you?

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

Why not?

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

[There's hardly a flicker in his calm facade, as he leans casually against the bathroom counter.]

We'll just say I've had more than enough intimacy for awhile.

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

[ Lame, Mukuro. Tsuna's grabbing a towel, tousling his hair dry with it. ]

--coming from you, that's different.

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

Is it? Well, things change. [Here he'll be ushering Tsuna to the bedroom again.]

You may as well head back to your own room.

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

[ --lets himself be ushered out, but stops, plants his feet at the doorway, and asks quite seriously. ]

Is something wrong?

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

What would make you think that? [There's a bitter sarcasm in that voice. He's so tired... so very tired, and he knows that the longer Tsuna keeps bothering him, the harder it will be to hold together.]

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

You're-- [ Different, maybe, is the word he wants to use. Beaten down, thrown around, that, and then some, but Tsuna knows for a fact Mukuro would probably be offended by any of those, so he settles on: ] You look like a mess.

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

Unsurprisingly. And there isn't a thing you can do about it, so perhaps you should consider worrying about something else.

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

Haven't you ever heard of letting someone comfort you?

[ Such a lonely boy. ]

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

Of course, I've just preferred not to participate in that activity.

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

You're so stubborn.

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

You are too. [Pauses for a bit, then sighs and puts a hand to his forehead, rubbing his temples.] Let's be honest. Is there any chance I'll get you to go away before dawn, or should I just give up now?

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

I promise I won't snore.

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

[Makes a face, and decides to just give in. :| He doesn't try to get Tsuna to leave anymore, and instead just trudges back to the bathroom for that bath he wanted so badly, to soothe the aches and maybe wash away some of that violated feeling that's like dirt under his skin.]

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

[ Good boy. Tsuna's just going to sit out here, dry off a bit more and then steal a shirt to change into before he's left sitting on the edge of the bed, scrolling through the text message inbox on his phone.

Waiting! ]

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

[Takes a long time. He's making sure his wounds are clean, trying to scrub away the strange tainted feeling he feels all over, especially at the places where those hand-shaped bruises are forming, darker now than they were a little while ago. After he's turned good and pruny, though, he gets out of the bath, feeling much less stiff, and at least physically clean, and rebandages his injuries with the first aid kit in his cabinet. He doesn't like doctors or medical facilities, so he prefers to take care of himself and he has plenty of supplies. After that, with a towel draped over his shoulders and one around his waist, he emerges and is a bit surprised to see Tsuna still awake.]

...I thought you'd be sleeping.