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

[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.

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

[ ...By now, Tsuna's most likely propped against a pillow and half submerged in the covers trying to keep himself entertained with one of those crappy but incredibly addicting games on your phone that you can't ever seem to quit. He looks up at Mukuro, cheerful enough, and has to hold back a laugh. Actually, he doesn't really manage. ]

Is that a new look for you? [ Pruned pineapple? Well, you can't say it isn't creative. ]

I was waiting.

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

[He pointedly ignores that first comment, instead going for his dresser and pulling out a pair of comfortable pajama pants. He'll be slipping those on and nothing else, and climbing into bed, though he doesn't get close enough to be touching Tsuna, even if that puts him at the edge of the bed.]

What for?

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

[ ...scoots over, and gives Mukuro more space!! He half shrugs, laughs, and sets his phone aside. ]

What else?

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

[Takes the space, and gets under the covers himself, flopping on his side so nothing is really visible except the top of his head.]

It's been a long day.

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

Sleep.

[ That's cute, nappo head. ]

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

Mm. [It's a small noise, mostly because he started to drift off the moment his head hit the pillow. If Tsuna wants to grill him about anything, he'll have to do it in the morning.]

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

[ That's okay, Mukuro needs space, right? So Tsuna's gonna hit the lights, and then follow suit- though if he somehow ends up curled next to Mukuro in the night, he's not responsible for his own actions while asleep. ]

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't wake up til pretty late into the morning, and when he does it's with the familiar presence of Tsuna against his back, Tsuna's arm over his waist, Tsuna's breath on his neck. Of course, there's a moment where he starts to panic, and he starts a little, just enough to make the bed jerk. But the pleasant warmth is comforting, and with the distance of a good sleep between him and the events of yesterday, they're a bit less painful. He's good at bouncing back from things that might ruin another person, after all, so after a moment of tension he relaxes, closing his eyes again but not quite going to sleep, and resting his hand over Tsuna's to lace their fingers together. There's the thought that he could hurt Tsuna right now, but it's fleeting. He's too lazy right now.]

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

[ Great, it's good to know that Tsuna's spared the wrath of Mukuro because he's too lazy to move. And anyway, Tsuna barely even stirs, still sleeping without abandon, like a kid again, sprawled everywhere and draped over Mukuro. But it evokes a content, lazy sort of noise from him and he shifts a little along the bed, presses closer. ]

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

[Well, the laziness is kind of augmented by the fact that he's stiff as a board all over and moving HURTS, but, y'know. He's squeezing Tsuna's hand now, trying to wake him up gently. He'd rather not put him in the tub again.]

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

[ He's stirring, making something that sounds like a protest with a few random words thrown in here and there, like, "sleep longer", "mom", the usual morning things before jolting awake, eyes shooting open. ]

AslvSJg?

[69pineapples.livejournal.com]

[That's amusing, and he allows himself a small laugh, rolling over to look Tsuna in the face.]

I would bet you've missed your morning meetings by now.

[sentirigo.livejournal.com]

[ Tsuna still looks groggy, retracting his hand to rub at his eyes, and yawning widely, before-

Well, shit. ]

-it can't be that late already. [ But he's reaching over to the nightstand, for his phone. ]